16 Holiday Events You Won't Want to Miss This December in St. Louis
December is a busy month for most families. Between shopping for the perfect gifts, baking cookies with the kids and attending (not to mention preparing for) all those holiday parties, it’s easy to get caught up in the busy nature of the holiday season.
This year, be sure you make a little time to also appreciate all the wonderful holiday fun that St. Louis has to offer. To make it easier, we’ve rounded up 16 of our favorite holiday events so that you and your family can see the lights, sip some cocoa and enjoy what really is the most wonderful time of the year.
1. Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo is one of our city’s greatest treasures, so don’t miss the opportunity to see this local institution transformed into an enchanting holiday wonderland. Stroll through colorful light displays, listen to the sounds of the season, hear fireside stories about penguins and reindeer and visit some of your favorite creatures on select evenings throughout December.
Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo is open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through December 14, and nightly December 19-23, 26-30 and January 2-3. Admission is $6 for Zoo members and $7 for the general public. Children under 2 are free.
2. Garden Glow
Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden returns this year for an expanded second season that promises to be even more amazing than its first. Buy tickets to this tremendously popular event in advance if you can, so you will be sure to see all that this whimsical winter wonderland has to offer. More than half a million lights will light up the Garden on select evenings from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. through January 3, with admission ranging from $6 to $18 per person.
3. Winter Jewels at the Butterfly House
Looking for a simple way to celebrate the winter season, without being bombarded by holiday cheer? At Winter Jewels: A Holiday Celebration more than 1,000 jewel-toned butterflies will surround you in free flight, and you can go on a treasure hunt through the Animal Exhibit Hall, discover fairies in the Tropical Conservatory and watch out for battling pirate cockroaches. Winter Jewels is included with Butterfly House admission; for dates and times, visit www.butterflyhouse.org.
If you do want to see the big guy in the jolly red suit, make reservations to enjoy Supper with Santa at the Butterfly House on December 7, 14, 20 or 21 (other dates are already sold out).
4. Winter Wonderland at Tilles Park.
Thousands of beautiful holiday lights adorn Tilles Park at this time of year, and a visit to this popular destination has become a St. Louis tradition for many area families. Through January 1, Winter Wonderland is open for vehicular traffic and carriage rides Sundays through Fridays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays are closed to vehicular traffic and open for carriage rides only. No reservations are needed, and admission is paid as vehicles exit the park.
5. Christmas Traditions in Historic Saint Charles
Christmas Traditions on Historic Main Street in St. Charles is a month-long celebration of the magic of Christmas. Through December 24, Victorian carolers, roasting chestnuts, festive shopping and famous holiday legends like Jack Frost and Ebenezer Scrooge will all be part of the various holiday festivities.
And of course, Santa Claus himself makes several appearances; children especially love the Santa Parade, which takes place on Saturday, Dec. 6 and 13 and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 14 at 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.historicstcharles.com.
6. O’Fallon Celebration of Lights
The O’Fallon Celebration of Lights in Fort Zumwalt Park has been a holiday tradition in O’Fallon, Mo. since 1991. Designed and funded by local organizations, businesses and churches, the spectacular light display is open nightly through Dec. 30, with the exception of Christmas Day. Vehicle and walking tours, as well as carriage, sleigh, train and Segway rides are all available. Find hours and admission rates at www.ofallon.mo.us.
7. Circus Flora – A Winter’s Fable
Christmas AND the circus come to the St. Louis Symphony this holiday season. Beautiful music, a classic fairy tale and your favorite circus acts all combine to create a holiday extravaganza the whole family can enjoy. Performances of Circus Flora – A Winter’s Fable take place on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Find more information at www.stlsymphony.org.
8. Winter Getaway at the Missouri History Museum
Get “away” from home over winter break and head to the Missouri History Museum for three fun-filled days of family movies, interactive music performances and drop-in “make and take” craft projects. Winter Getaway activities begin at 10:30 a.m. daily on Saturday, Dec. 27, Monday, Dec. 29 and Tuesday, Dec. 30 and last throughout the afternoon. Featured movies include Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and The Lego Movie. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.mohistoryorg.
9. Maplewood Christmas Tree Walk
Head to the city of Maplewood on Friday, December 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. for the city’s 13th annual Christmas Tree Walk. You and your family can enjoy caroling, the grand lighting of the Christmas tree, free carriage rides and hot chocolate and, of course, pictures and visits with Santa Claus (who arrives at 6 p.m.) If the kids are cooperative, you can also stroll through the Maplewood shops and take advantage of special holiday deals.
10. Christmas Candlelight Tours at Daniel Boone Home
The historic Daniel Boone Home and Heritage Center in Defiance is always a fascinating (and educational) place to visit. And during December’s Christmas Candlelight Tours, guests have the opportunity to tour the frontier home of the infamous pioneer in the evening, with thousands of candles lighting the way. Step back in time to experience a 19th century Christmas, complete with period decorations, hot apple cider, cookies and more.
Christmas Candlelight tours at the Daniel Boone Home are offered on December 5, 6, 12 and 13. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children.
11. Gingerbread House Workshop, Holiday Story Time and Breakfast with Santa at Eckerts.
Eckert’s always delivers fantastic holiday fun, and this year is no exception. Little ones will be entertained by the story of the gingerbread man and a special gingerbread craft at Holiday Story Time on Saturday and Sunday mornings in December, and even adults can learn a thing or two by attending a Gingerbread House Workshop, also on weekends in December. And of course there is always Santa; enjoy Breakfast with Santa or – if you just aren’t morning people – Breakfast with Santa at Dinnertime at the Eckert’s Belleville location. Visit www.eckerts.com for a complete schedule of holiday events.
12. Gardenland Express
Train enthusiasts (and non-train enthusiasts too) will be delighted by a visit to the Gardenland Express, one of the St. Louis area’s longest running holiday traditions. This annual Holiday Flower and Train Show at the Missouri Botanical Garden features G-scale trains traveling through a miniature holiday landscape made up of festive decorations and fresh plants, flowers and poinsettias.
Gardenland Express is open daily through Jan. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with additional evening hours during the Garden Glow. Daytime admission is $5/person for non-members ages 3 and up; evening admission is $4/person for non-members ages 3 and up. Admission is free for Garden members and their children.
13. Grinchmas
The Grinch arrives on south Grand on Saturday, December 6 to spread holiday cheer and raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children. Grinchmas takes place at MoKabe’s Coffeehouse and Tower Grove Creamery from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include photos with the Grinch (for a small donation), face painting and balloon animals with the Moolah Shriners and free coloring books and activities for kids.
A special children’s menu at MoKabe’s and children’s ice cream for $1 at Tower Grove Creamery will also be available.
14. Skate with Santa and Frosty.
With so much ice at the North Pole, of course Santa Claus is a great ice skater! And you can skate with Santa at Steinberg Skating Rink – the largest outdoor rink in the Midwest – on December 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. or at the Kirkwood Ice Arena on Saturday, December 20 from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Prefer to skate with Frosty the Snowman? Visit Shaw Park Ice Rink on Friday, December 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. for a special Snowman Skate. Enjoy hot chocolate, fireworks and discounted $3 admission, which even includes rental skates. And if you can’t skate to save your life and simply want to watch ice skating, get tickets to see talented local skaters – and some of your favorite holiday characters – in Winter Wonderland on Ice at the St. Peter’s Rec-Plex.
15. Holiday Lights Walking Tours at Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Enjoy the iconic lights at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery during free, stroller-friendly holiday walking tours that will delight guests of all ages. Live music, s’mores stations, souvenir photos and beer samples (for those over age 21) are also part of the fun, with additional fees for some experiences. Holiday Lights Walking Tours are offered from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through January 4 with the exception of Christmas and New Year’s Day.
16. A Visit with Santa Claus.
Santa is all over the Gateway city this holiday season, so if you’re planning a visit, you’ll find him having Breakfast at the Magic House, dropping by the Elf Express Workshops at the Museum of Transportation and, as always, getting photos taken at many area malls. For a comprehensive list of where you can spot the big guy with the white beard, see our story on Where to Find Santa in St. Louis This Holiday Season.
Looking for more? You’ll find more holiday happenings and lots of fun family events in our Things to Do calendar. You can also sign up to receive our free Daily Events Email Newsletter and get a handy list of the day’s events sent directly to your inbox each morning. Do you Pin? Pin with us at pinterest.com/stlparent and follow our Holiday Events for your St. Louis Family board.
Post by STL Parent.
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Alyssa Chirco is a freelance writer, mother and margarita lover, not necessarily in that order. In addition to writing for STL Parent, she is Contributing Editor at Parenting Squad, and covers parenting, health and lifestyle topics for publications across the country. She recently moved from the suburbs of St. Louis to a small town in rural Jefferson County, where she is learning to survive with no Target or Starbucks in sight. Follow her on Twitter @AlyssaChirco
