Looking for fun and unique Valentine’s Day gift for the kids? Teach them the value of helping animals. 
Through the Saint Louis Zoo’s Zoo Parents program, you can “Adopt a King Penguin” for your little Valentine. For a donation of $40, all of which goes toward the care and feeding of the animals, the Zoo will provide a Valentine’s Day adoption package including:
Pick up your adoption package through Feb. 14 at the Zoo’s Welcome Desk or call 314-646-4771 for more information. If you're picking it up on Sunday, be sure to check out the Mardi Gras festivities in The Living World from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a parade at 3 p.m. The free event offers live music, face painting and stage performances by Delta Dental, plus prizes for the best Mardi Gras spirit, best penguin float and best float celebrating the Zoo's centennial. (By "float" we mean wagon or stroller, not behemoth truck filled with revelers!) There will be beads for everyone, and no advance tickets are necessary.
Amy Burger is a mom, freelance writer and communications professional with nearly 20 years experience working in St. Louis. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and media outlets including STL Parent, Missouri Life magazine, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Town & Style and kdhx.org, among others. When she's not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two beautiful girls at home in Kirkwood.
Visit the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park and see a star show to experience the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere. Star shows are lead LIVE by one of the Planetarium's educators, creating a new and tailored experience for every audience.
At this free art program for ages 3-6 the focus is on the process of making art rather than the finished product. Dress to get messy!
Science Tots is designed for children ages 18 to 36 months. The class provides opportunities to support brain development and learning. Toddlers and their grown-ups will explore STEM topics through songs, stories, hands-on exploration and play.
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.
Free outdoor concerts are back at the Missouri History Museum. The Spring series of concerts features favorite bands, food trucks, and exhibits inside the museum that are open to the public until 8 p.m. on concert nights. Concerts are held from 6-8 p.m.
