St. Louis County

Acorn to Oak Tree

It's amazing that one tiny acorn can grow into an enomous oak tree. Little ones, ages 3 to 6, will investigate the life of an oak tree and its importance in the forest then go on a hike to search for oak trees and acorns.

10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Free, but reservations are required.

At Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood, near the intersection of I-44 and I-270. Call 314-301-1500 for reservations.

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Movie at the Ballwin Golf Course: Star Wars

Bring your family, a blanket, and some snacks to the Ballwin Golf Course for a free showing of Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

Watch Luke Skywalker as he trains with Yoda all while avoiding being captured by Darth Vader. The movie is free.

At Ballwin Golf Course. 8:30 p.m.

More information: ballwin.mo.us

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Hold the Line for Flamion

Enjoy live music, lots of kids' activities, food and drink vendors, raffles, a silent auction and lots more.

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Things That Go Bump in the Night

Discover the critters and creepy-crawlers that inhabit Laumeier Sculpture Park at night!

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Monarch Mania

Learn about monarch caterpillars as they prepare to transform into beautiful butterflies during this parent-child workshop.

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Fall Festival and Pumpkin Race at Des Peres Park

Celebrate Fall at this free community festival that features a little bit of everything for all ages. Enjoy hayrides, balloon animals, pumpkin races, a pet costume contest, live bluegrass music and a family movie under the stars.

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Digging for Dinosaurs

Kids can learn all about their favorite prehistoric creatures at Digging for Dinosaurs, a free workshop for preschoolers age 3-5.

Presented by Mad Science of St. Louis, in this workshop, get an up-close look at a dinosaur tooth and participate in a mini dinosaur dig. Registration is required.

Digging for Dinosaurs will be held:

Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. at the St. Louis County Library, Grand Glaize Branch.

More information and registration: slcl.org

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Things to Do

Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo

Friday, December 19, 2025

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Delight in brilliant, colorful light displays with spectacular photo opportunities throughout the Zoo during Wild Lights. Walk through two tunnels with dazzling lights, and enjoy themed displays featuring snowflakes, candy canes, gumdrops, penguins, polar bears, tigers, giraffes and much more at this St. Louis family-favorite holiday tradition. New this year: Visits with Santa!

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Supper With Santa at The Butterfly House

Friday, December 19, 2025

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Santa is making a stop at The Butterfly House before he makes his trip around the world, and he wants to enjoy a meal with your family! Enjoy a delicious dinner, visit Santa's Workshop and Mrs. Claus's Cookie Kitchen, and have your picture taken with the guest of honor - Santa!

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Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park

Experience the holiday lights at Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park, where you'll find two million beautiful holiday lights and animated displays.

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Free Family Night at The Magic House

Friday, December 19, 2025

Friday, January 16, 2026

Friday, February 20, 2026

Come play at The Magic House for free during Emerson Free Family Night. Capacity is limited.

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Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden

More than a million lights will illuminate some of the Missouri Botanical Garden's most iconic locations, walkways will be transformed into sensory light tunnels providing an explosion of visual magic, and traditional candlelight village displays, festive drinks, s'mores and great photo opportunities will delight crowds of all ages.

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The St. Louis Children’s Choirs Give Every Singer the Chance to Shine on Stage

Something beautiful happens every time a child performs their favorite song. Even if they stumble over a lyric or tumble off key, the joy they find in exploring their musical journey can be felt by those lucky enough to listen. When hundreds of these young voices come together on one stage, that’s when something truly magical happens.

The Missouri History Museum Winter Getaway: Four Days of Free Fun and Learning for Your Family

This year’s annual Winter Getaway event is packed with free kid-friendly activities, performances, arts and crafts, and workshops that tie in with the Museum’s current collections and celebrate our city’s rich culture and holiday heritage.

Winter Break Camps Offer School Break Fun for Your Kids

Winter Break Camps offer your kids a fun way to spend their break from school. They'll participate in engaging activities that will make their school break memorable. We rounded up some fantastic options for Winter Break Camps for kids of all ages.

Miriam Celebrates Neurodiversity, Supports Unique Learners

At Miriam School, students with complex learning differences are supported and celebrated as they grow academically, socially and emotionally. Miriam provides a tailored educational experience for learners in grades K-12 who have not found success in traditional classroom settings. Students’ challenges may stem from specific learning disabilities (i.e. dyslexia or dysgraphia), ADHD, level 1 autism, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, or speech and language disorders.

7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp

It’s time to decide whether to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know that's the right thing to do? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

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Families seeking festive fun over winter break are invited to join the Missouri History Museum for its annual Winter Getaway. Celebrate with make-and-take crafts, musical performances and wintery storytelling themes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Ring in the New Year with little ones at the Noon Year’s Eve Celebration. For a complete daily schedule, visit the Museum’s website.

December 27 | Wild Winter. Explore the history and importance of animals in our region with touchable artifacts, storytelling, interactive workshops and crafts.

December 28 | All Dressed Up. Learn about all things clothing, fashion, and design, from kids to adults. Drape mannequins, design sneakers, watch a fashion show, and make your own paper dolls.

December 30 | Christmas across Europe. Discover how European Christmas traditions became part of American celebrations. Enjoy Christmas carols in a variety of languages, make ornaments and play pretend winter market.

December 31 | Noon Year’s Eve. A family celebration of the new year that ends at noon, with TWO giant balloon drops, live music, crafts and storytelling.

Step into 36,000 sq ft of tropical, action-packed fun - built for kids and grown-ups! Climb through a massive 3-story jungle gym, race down the towering volcano slide, bounce on trampolines, dive into foam pits, and explore a toddler area made just for little adventurers. Hungry? Their in-house cafe has everything you need to fuel the fun: pizza, wings, mac & cheese, funnel fries, a coffee bar, and more!

Planning a birthday? Celebrate big in epic themed party rooms like the Princess, Space, Jungle & more! Ditch the screens - plan your ultimate indoor adventure! LEARN MORE

Plan your child's summer at the biggest Summer Camp Expo in the St. Louis area, featuring 60+ local and regional summer camps offering day- and sleep-away camp experiences all across the St. Louis region and beyond. Bring your kids to Summer Expo 2026 and learn about a wide variety of summer learning and summer camp opportunities for kids of all ages. The Summer Expo is presented by Parkway-Rockwood Community Ed, sponsored by STL Parent and STL Camps, and is open to all families from any school district across the St. Louis metro area. Admission is free! 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Parkway West High School. Stop by the STL Camps booth at the entrance and enter to win a free week of camp!

Learn more at summerexpostl,com

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