8 Essential Events for Families This August

The kids may be gearing up for back-to-school, but there's still plenty of summer fun left. Here are our top picks for family-friendly events in August around the St. Louis area:

1. Archaeology Day at Cahokia Mounds (8/5):

Channel your inner Indiana Jones at Archaeology Day at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. This fun, free event features ancient craft demonstrations, tours of excavations, artifact washing, screening of soils from dig, Indian games, spear throwing, archaeological methods and more. Food and refreshments also will be served.

Archaeology Day takes place on Saturday, August 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cahokia Mounds, located at 30 Ramey Street in Collinsville, Ill. For information, visit cahokiamounds.org.

2. Back to School Fun Fair at Purina Farms (8/5 & 8/6)

This free back-to-school celebration includes plenty of great activities for kids including bounce houses, face-painting, pony rides and live book readings in the indoor theater. Plus, kids can play games to win a variety of school supplies and visit with . Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the Visitor Center snack bar. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Call 314-982-3232 M-F between 9:30a.m. - 3:30p.m. to make a reservation.

Back to School Fun Fair takes place on Saturday and Sunday, August 5 & 6 from 9:30a.m. – 3:30p.m. each day at the Purina Farms Visitor Center, located at 200 Checkerboard Loop in Gray Summit, Mo. For information, visit purina.com/purina-farms.

3. Famiy Sundays at The Butterfly House (8/6, 8/13, 8/20 and 8/27)

Take a journey with beloved monarch butterflies during Family Sundays at the  Butterfly House. The theme for August is Monarch Journey. Visitors will learn about the monarch's migration, what their colors mean and even how to safely track a single monarch's journey south. Through hands-on activities, families will leave ready to take thier own journey with the monarch. The event is included with regular Butterfly House admission. Ages 2 and under are free.

Family Sundays at the Butterfly House take place August 6, 13, 22, and 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House located in Faust Park at 15193 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield. For information, visit butterflyhouse.org.

4. Newsies The Musical at The Muny (8/7 – 8/13)

Based on the cult 1992 film that became a smash 2012 Broadway musical, this Disney favorite makes its long-awaited Muny debut. With incredible music by Alan Menken, Newsies reveals the thrilling story of the Newsboy Strike of 1899 – how a bunch of rag tag orphans took on the mighty Joe Pulitzer and nearly brought down the city of New York. Newsies at The Muny is family fun for all ages.

Newsies runs at The Muny in Forest Park from August 7 through 13 with 8:15 p.m. performances each evening. For tickets and information, visit muny.org.

5. Grooving in the Garden – Celia's Sing-A-Long Dance Party at The Magic House (8/11)

This fun musical extravaganza that is sure to hit the right note with visitors of all ages. Families can dance and sing the night away in the front garden to music by popular children's performer Celia while enjoying samples of Andy’s Frozen Custard (while supplies last).

Celia's Sing-A-Long Dance Party takes place Friday, August 11 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at The Magic House, located at 516 S. Kirkwood Road in Kirkwood. For information, visit magichouse.org.

6. Free Family Day at Laumeier Sculpture Park (8/13)

Laumeier Sculpture Park’s Free Family Days give families the chance to bond while encouraging observation, imagination, curiosity and creativity. Activities are designed to be simple enough for ages four and up to enjoy, yet complex enough that more experienced young artists can take their projects to another level. Families have fun exploring new media and concepts while finding inspiration in Laumeier’s artworks and the natural environment.

Free Family Day takes place on Sunday, August 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Kranzberg Education Lab at Laumeier Sculpture Park, located at 12580 Rott Road in Sunset Hills. For information, visit laumeier.org.

7. 11^th Annual Kids Block Party at St. Charles Convention Center (8/19)

This fun, free family community event returns, encouraging healthy, active and safe lifestyles among children ages 3-10.  The 11th Annual Kids Block Party includes inflatables, arts and crafts, games, music and dancing, favorite trucks, Disney characters and more. Parents will appreciate important information on health, nutrition, and safety.

The 11^th Annual Kids Block Party takes place on Saturday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Saint Charles Convention Center, located at 1 Convention Plaza in St. Charles. For information, visit stcharlesconventioncenter.com.

8. Festival of Nations at Tower Grove Park (8/26 & 8/27):

Take your family on a virtual trip around the world at St. Louis' premier multicultural celebration. Festival of Nations features more than 40 ethnic food booths, dance and music from many cultures, arts and crafts, and an international bazaar with unique gifts from all over the world. Kids will enjoy mask making, face painting and attending the Kids Music Workshop, where they can make hand-held instruments and learn to play a song.

Festival of Nations takes place on Saturday, August 26 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, August 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Tower Grove Park, located at 4256 Magnolia Avenue in South St. Louis. For more info, visit www.festivalofnationsstl.org.

Still looking for fun things to do? Check out our Things To Do calendar, and sign up for our daily Things To Do email! 

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_{Photo courtesy of Purina Farms}