The Saint Louis Zoo's eight cheetah cubs known as the "Bingwa Bunch" are one year old! Three males and five females were born on Nov. 26, 2017 to mother Bingwa and father Jason at the Zoo's River's Edge Cheetah Survival Center.
It was the first time in the Saint Louis Zoo's history a cheetah gave birth to eight cubs, which is rare! In over 430 litters documented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, this was the first time a female cheetah produced and reared on her own a litter of eight cubs at a zoo. The average litter size is three to four cubs. The cubs are now almost full grown and weigh about 55 pounds each.
To celebrate, families are invited to the International Cheetah Day event on Sunday, December 2. Kids can make their very own cheetah mask, complete a Cheetah Passport and learn about cheetah care and conservation programs from zookeepers. You can also visit the cheetahs at the River's Edge (weather permitting) where you can meet Zoo educators and complete hands-on activities about the amazing cheetah. The Living World will be the event site in case of inclement weather.
International Cheetah Day activities are happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Saint Louis Zoo. Admission is free.
More information: stlzoo/cheetahday

Photos courtesy of the Saint Louis Zoo
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.