The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus is Metro Theater Company's annual fall touring production and is perfect for all ages. In addition to appearing at schools across the St. Louis region and in Nashville, there will be several free public performances that are open to all.
The story centers on Sheila and her friends, who, as the desert sun beats down, find themselves in search of something – anything – interesting to explore. When a walking, talking (and surprisingly well-dresssed) coyote shows up, the kids find themselves on the adventure of a lifetime.
The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus was written by Eric Coble and workshoped by Metro Theater Company in April, 2018, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of New Visions/New Voices 2018. Catch this modern-day fable before it returns to the Kennedy Center next April!
Free performances take place at the Missouri History Museum on Oct. 12 and 13 at 2 p.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The November 9 free performance will take place at the St. Louis Public Library, Central Branch (1301 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103) at 2 p.m.
More information: metroplays.org
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.
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.
Families can enjoy the Fall Fest Kids Zone and all the fun of the farm at the Grant's Farm Fall Fest. There will be seasonal treats, animal feedings, a petting zoo, themed photo spots, and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales too!
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.