Nearly 40 years ago, leaders in the St. Louis community helped organize and fundraise to save Forest Park. Today the community’s generosity continues to sustain what those efforts started, by raising funds needed for the daily care and maintenance of what is now considered the best city park in the nation.

On Thursday, June 6, that community support was reflected in a sold out 33rd Annual Forest Park Forever Hat Luncheon, which raised over $370,000 for the Park’s needs and its 15.5 million visitors.

Above, right: 2024 co-chairs with Lesley Hoffarth and John Kemper, and with 2025 co-chairs, Leslie Gill and Ali Hogan

As Forest Park Forever’s signature event and largest annual fundraiser, the Hat Luncheon depends on event sponsors – which include individuals, corporations and foundations – as well as full table and individual ticket purchases plus in-event gifts and new memberships from attendees. Among the in-event support opportunities this year were raffles to win a special Forest Park picnic experience from one of several local favorites—Parker's Table, Butler's Pantry, Clementine's Naughty & Nice Creamery, Orlando Catering and Event Design, Pure Catering and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company.

Attendees were entertained by emcee Carol Daniel and the beloved Hat Contest, which had an additional feature this year in the form of a live online vote for a People’s Choice winner. In all, five individuals were deemed contest winners by the event judges, one inspired and coordinated group received the award for Best Table, and one individual People’s Choice awardee was determined by voting from attendees during the event.

Left to right: Two of the five Best Hat winners as selected by guest judges; the Best Table; the People’s Choice winner

On a sunny June afternoon, guests enjoyed the Forest Park views from the overlook above Government Hill as well as the festive atmosphere under the World’s Fair Pavilion. They heard from Daniel, City of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, Forest Park Forever Chair of the Board John Kemper, President and Executive Director Lesley Hoffarth, and the 2024 Hat Luncheon co-chairs, Jennifer Poindexter and Laura Shaughnessy.

“We are here today to celebrate, but also to make sure this Park continues to be a great place for our community, today and forever,” said Hoffarth, who also recognized several City officials and partners in attendance. “It’s a true public-private partnership that is behind Forest Park’s turnaround: a combination of private donors and the public funding dedicated to the Park, with smart, collaborative management that has made Forest Park the best city park in the country.”

In a twist to this year’s program, Poindexter and Shaughnessy, who earlier recognized a dozen former co-chairs in attendance, closed the event by passing the baton – or rather, the hat – to the co-chairs for next year’s event. Leslie Gill and Ali Hogan, leaders of Rung for Women, will take the reins for the 34th Annual Hat Luncheon, which they announced will be at the World’s Fair Pavilion on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

Find information, photos and more at forestparkforever.org/hatluncheon.

See many more photos from the event in this Forest Park Forever album on Facebook.