2025 marks the 10th year since the inception of the UYYC Contest which will be held at the Missouri History Museum. The Missouri History Museum is located in beautiful Forest Park, on the site of the main entrance to the 1904 World’s Fair. The galleries of the museum are free and include the 1904 Worlds Fair exhibits!
PARKING
The Missouri History Museum has two free parking lots located on the East and West sides of the building. One can also find plenty of free parking in the connecting side streets. Each lot at the museum has eight accessible parking spaces. If these spots are all in use, the next closest accessible parking spaces are located in the Forest Park Visitors’ Center parking lot.
Explore a Map of Forest Park
ENTRANCE
The contest area of the museum will open to competitors before the museum opens to the general public. The South entrance doors facing Forest Park will open at 9:30am for all competitors and their guests; the main entrances remain locked until 10am. Please use the South entrance and take the elevator or stairs to the bottom level. Keep in mind the North museum doors remain closed until 10am. When exploring other sections and or galleries of the museum all guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
CONTEST AREA
Saturday, June 7 join us for the 2025 United YoYo & Kendama Contest at the Missouri History Museum. We have rented out the entire bottom level of the History Museum for another world class UYYC event. After you arrive take the stairs or elevator to the bottom level of the museum. Guests have access to the Lee Auditorium, AT&T Room, and the Atrium. Registration is open at 9:30am for general admission and competitors. Players can practice before going on stage in the Atrium or visit with our vendors in the AT&T Room. Doors open at 10:00am to the Lee Auditorium and the first competitor takes the stage at 10:30am in the amateur Sport Freestyle Division; please check our schedule page for more details.
The Lee Auditorium is a state of the art theater with backstage dressing rooms, 300 seat capacity, full stage, sound, lighting, and a state of the art projection system! Please keep in mind there is no kendama or yoyoing allowed in the aisles of the auditorium while competitors are on stage since there is no space for it. However, we will have the stage available to film reels and practice kendama and yoyo from 10am to 10:30am and during the lunch break. Otherwise we ask everyone to please use the Atrium as the official practice area.
LUNCH
Once everyone is registered and checked-in we will post the competition order for the day. As long as you are back in time to compete feel free to break for lunch at anytime throughout the day. On-site is an express food option on the 2nd floor of the History Museum for your breakfast and lunch needs. For anyone that uses door dash to have food delivered please eat lunch in the outside courtyard; outside food or beverages is not allowed in the auditorium or inside the museum.
The Forest Park Boathouse is just a 10 minute walk and you can eat and return relatively quickly and we recommend to allow for a 40 minute break if walking to the Boathouse. For everyone that sends someone to grab to go food please be aware food may be eaten in both outside courtyards on the main level. Another option is to drive somewhere close for lunch like the Central West End or send someone to bring something back, just use your current location and type food!
HOTELS
We encourage everyone to book your rooms early as the wedding and convention season is in full gear at this time; please take a moment to shop for the best hotel for your needs. There are many hotels in the downtown areas of St. Louis that are only a 10-15 minute Uber ride away.
If you have time catch the Loop Trolley it is free to ride and travels to and from the Missouri History Museum to the Delmar Loop entertainment district. You may even consider booking your stay at the boutique Moonrise Hotel in the Delmar Loop. In addition there is the Metro-link train that takes you from St. Louis Lambert Airport to the Moonrise Hotel in the Loop. Wherever you decide to stay there are many options for affordable hotels and AirBnB!
AIRPORT
St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the primary airport in the St. Louis area, with Mid America St. Louis Airport, about 37 miles east, serving as a secondary metropolitan commercial airport. The two airports are connected by the Red Line of the city’s light rail mass transit system, the MetroLink. If flying into St. Louis consider using the MetroLink from inside the airport for $5 to get to your downtown destination. Or use one of the many taxis or Uber’s to get to your hotel.