free things to do in St. Louis with kids

Join in on lighting up the Wildwood Town Center Plaza with a Tree Lighting Ceremony, enjoy visits with Santa, shopping from local vendors, and stay warm by the fire pits while you make s'mores!

Trick or Track is a family Halloween celebration featuring a costume parade and trick or treating around the National Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood.

The Ferguson Fall Spooktacular includes trick or treating and a lot more! Families are invited to the Ferguson Community Center for hayrides, a bounce house, a balloon artist, lots of trick-or-treating fun, a haunted house, games and more.

See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.

Celebrate reading at the Little Readers Festival. This free event features a variety of activities and performances, and kids ages 5 and under will receive free books and shaved ice. Activities will be provided by Ready Readers, the Animal Protective Association, Cardinals Care, Nine PBS, Florissant Valley Fire Protection, Parents as Teachers, St. Louis Science Center, Missouri Botanical Garden, and many others. Visitors will also enjoy performances by Miss Libby's Music Party and story times with Bruce the Bear.

At this free art program for ages 3-6 the focus is on the process of making art rather than the finished product. Dress to get messy!

Moms, grandmas and great-grandmas can enjoy free admission at City Museum on Mother's Day. Bring the kids for a special mom-themed craft project at Art City, then swing by the Cabin Inn or Beatnik Bob's to enjoy a Mom-mosa or a City Museum Hard Seltzer from 4 Hands Brewing.