August means back-to-school for many area students, so the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday is important for St. Louis families to note. In the state of Missouri, the three-day holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 2 and runs through Sunday, August 4.
During this time period, back-to-school purchases (including clothing, school supplies and personal computers) are exempt from sales tax, so if you have a lot of shopping to do or large purchases to make, this is a great way to save. Expect large crowds in local stores that weekend – and keep in mind that items purchased online qualify for the exemption too.
Some cities and counties in the state opt out of the tax holiday, including St. Charles County, and the cities of Kirkwood, Manchester, Brentwood, Des Peres, Ferguson, Maplewood, Crestwood, Richmond Heights, Overland, Clayton, Town and Country, St. Peters, University City, Rock Hill, Webster Groves and more. For a full list of cites opting out, go here. For more specifics, go to dor.mo.gov
It's the Not-So-Haunted House that is oh-so-fun, where storybook characters come alive! Kids are invited to dress in their most "boo-tiful" Halloween costumes and have a ghoulishly good time going on a spook-tacular scavenger hunt throughout The Magic House to find trick-or-treat locations and seeing their favorite storybook characters.
Get into the Halloween spirit with some spooky fun and celebrate with the animals at Grant's Farm. Enjoy Halloween tram rides featuring Halloween lights, spooky scenes, live actors, scare zones, a Halloween-themed show, monster mash party and more. Costumes are encouraged.
Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Creve Coeur.
The Best of Missouri Market at the Missouri Botanical Garden features more than 150 vendors offering handcrafted items, locally produced food, native plants, herbs, live music and local brews, plus a two-acre Kid's Corner with farm animals (like llamas, alpacas and sheep!), circus performers, face painting, crafts, and a pumpkin patch with decorating let by Perennial.
Kids in kindergarten through 5th grade can fun evenings making spooky crafts. Parents can drop off their kids and enjoy an evening out. Enrollment is limited.