This October, the Dardenne Greenway Stops at Mexico Road and Legacy Park Takes the Whole Season
October 8, 2026
October 8, 2026
Great Rivers Greenway has closed the Dardenne Greenway from Mexico Road to Dardenne Park in St. Peters, including the underpass beneath Mexico Road, for construction expected to last through summer 2027. Meanwhile, nearly every fall event on the Cottleville calendar sits within a few blocks of the CWS Rotary Amphitheatre in Legacy Park. That runs from a 21+ festival on the first Saturday of the month to a Halloween-morning 10K on the last.
So this October, the Cottleville end of the corridor carries the season on its own. Each event changes the same few blocks differently. One closes a favorite patio to anyone without a ticket. Another fills it with dogs in costumes the next morning.
Construction on the stretch between Mexico Road and Dardenne Park started the week of August 3, 2026, and Great Rivers Greenway expects it to continue through August 2027, weather permitting. Crews are removing and replacing the paved trail. They're also adding a walking and biking bridge, a boardwalk, native plantings, retaining walls and fencing.
The closure covers Mexico Road to Dardenne Park, as the notice describes it. Great Rivers Greenway hasn't posted a detour on its project pages. Questions go to [email protected] or 314-436-7009.
The Cottleville section keeps its own features. A shelter and fishing dock sit at the east end of Harmony Lake in Legacy Park, and "botanical vignettes" of native flowers and grasses line the St. Charles Community College campus. This fall, that is the part of the Dardenne Greenway the October calendar uses.
The City of Cottleville and its community partners have scheduled the following for October 2026.
Only the Arbor Day planting takes place somewhere other than Legacy Park or the Historic Cottleville blocks across the street. Frankie Martin's Garden, at 5372 St. Charles Street, faces the park directly. The city points concertgoers there for food trucks. The Garden calls itself an outdoor venue with food trucks, more than 60 wines, more than 200 whiskeys and Missouri beers. With this much happening in so small an area, how the city handles parking matters a lot.
The first weekend shows the pattern clearly. On Saturday, Oct. 3, Frankie Martin's Garden is closed to the public, and only Witches in Cottleville ticket holders can get in. The festival's stages are at Frankie Martin's Garden, Oak Street Inn & Lounge and Bemo's. Tickets include access to Oak Street's rooftop bar and its speakeasy, which is open from 3 to 6 p.m. that day. Tickets also cover more than 70 vendors, psychic and tarot readers, and a costume contest. Ticket buyers can choose a Give-Back ticket that supports St. Charles County CAPS and Community Living. Ticket prices differ between the event's FAQ and its ticketing page, so check the current price at checkout.
The festival moves its parking off-site. The FAQ is direct about it:
Please do not park in Historic Cottleville, Private business lots, or Legacy Park.
Attendees park in the Yellow Lot at St. Charles Community College instead. Buses run back and forth to Historic Cottleville from 3 to 11 p.m., and the last bus leaves Frankie Martin's Garden at 11 p.m. sharp. If you live nearby and aren't going, expect the usual Saturday spots on those blocks to be off-limits from midafternoon on.
Sunday morning, the same patio is open to everyone. Pet-treat shop Yadi's Yummies, which has a store at 1251 Jungermann in St. Peters, holds its seventh annual Barktoberfest at Frankie Martin's Garden. This year it starts with a new 5K at 9 a.m. and a one-mile run/walk at 10 a.m. in Legacy Park, both chip-timed by MSE Racing. Entry is $35 for the 5K, $25 for the mile or $40 for both. Leashed dogs run free, and all proceeds go to Annie's Fund, which pays for medical care for dogs and cats in rescues and shelters. The Garden's own listing promises vendors, music, food trucks, raffles and a costume parade and contest. It's labeled "Everyone Welcome."
Within about 16 hours, the patio goes from ticket-only and 21+ to open to families and their dogs.
The rest of October uses the park. On Oct. 20, the event uses the greenway itself. The city's free Halloween movie, The Addams Family, plays next to the CWS Rotary Amphitheatre after a hayride along the Dardenne Greenway. Tom's Coffee and the Dirty Dogz food truck are scheduled to be there, along with popcorn from Kirkwood Pop.
The city built the amphitheater for neighbors who walk, bike or take a golf cart in. Paved parking is at the Legacy Park entrance, next to City Hall, and at Kochanski Multi Sports Field in back. The first two parking aisles are held for golf carts, accessible parking and band loading, and golf carts aren't allowed on the hill or the grass. The city also suggests bringing blankets or chairs.
If you'd rather eat dinner first, Bemo's Grill is at 5373 Hwy N, The Rack House Kitchen Wine Whiskey is at 5065 State Route N, and Oak Street Inn & Lounge at 5521 Oak St. takes dinner reservations and has a rooftop patio.
The closure explains the October event crowding, and the plans explain what changes next fall. The old route had an awkward gap. Mid Rivers Newsmagazine reported that the trail ran north under Mexico Road just east of Dardenne Creek and then put people on the Mexico Road sidewalk. From there they had to cross a standard concrete bridge to pick up the trail west of the creek. That western stretch was overgrown and close to homes, and the plan reduces it to service access only.
The new trail stays under the bridge on the east side of the creek, rises onto an elevated boardwalk to get out of the flood path, then crosses a new pedestrian bridge through the field and woods before joining the existing asphalt trail to Dardenne Park. The renderings also show added lighting, an overlook and a gentler curve coming off Mexico Road for better visibility. Along the St. Peters Golf Club, an eight-foot fence will protect trail users where stray golf balls can reach the path. The lowest bid for the work was $5,321,868.
A second segment will run from Dew Court at Dardenne Park to the Water's Edge Banquet Center. Later phases are planned to reach Brown Road Park, Sports Center Park, Old Town St. Peters and the trails at 370 Lakeside Park.
Those future stops already host St. Peters' own October events. For now, you have to drive between them and Cottleville, but they're filling the same weeks. The St. Charles Lions Farmers Market moved to the Sunset Pavilion at 370 Lakeside Park this year and runs Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 31. In Old Town St. Peters, the free Twilight Market runs Oct. 10 from 3 to 7 p.m. on Depot Street, next to Whistle Stop 301 at 301 Main Street, with makers, music, food and drinks.
The Rec-Plex adds two more. Halloween Spooktacular on Ice is Oct. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. Skating with rental costs $13, and there are costume and pumpkin contests. The Halloween Carnival for children 10 and under is Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you're planning a full Saturday on Oct. 24, the Rec-Plex carnival ends just after lunch and the PRAC campout at Kochanski Multi Sports takes over the evening. Under the current plan, that trip is a drive this fall. Once the full corridor is built, it's meant to be a greenway ride.
If changes like this greenway work have you wondering how your own corner of St. Peters or Cottleville is shifting, I'm glad to talk through what I'm seeing on both sides of Mexico Road. With Kristen Weld, it starts with a simple conversation. Let's Connect.
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