With egg-themed events held throughout St. Louis, weekends in April are as packed with fun as your kids’ Easter baskets. But the excitement isn’t all focused on the bunny—this month features kid-friendly theatre productions, Earth Day celebrations and STEM-related activities that will open up a world of fun for your little ones.
Spring means it’s finally time again to get your hands dirty and feet muddy in the great outdoors! Missouri Botanical Garden celebrates the changing of the season with a special event just for aspiring gardeners in its Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden. For two days, kids can take part in hands-on activities, like Pot-A-Plant and Nature Art & Plant Pigments, that teach them about the wonders of nature, meet Finn, the Children’s Garden frog mascot, and on Sunday, enjoy a live performance from Emmy award-winning WildHeart.
Activities run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Meet Me Outdoors is included with Children’s Garden admission: free for ages 2 and under as well as 13 and up, $3 for Garden members, and $5 for non-members. Learn more on the Missouri Botanical Garden’s website.
For two days, The Magic House turns into an enchanted castle, at least until the stroke of 4 p.m. Princes and princesses from around the kingdom are invited to dress in their finest royal attire for high tea and a special crown-themed arts and crafts project. Fairy Tale Tea also includes a live performance of Cinderella before a meet-and-greet with Cinderella, Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother. Reservations are required, and tickets are $15 per guests for Magic House members, $22 for nonmembers.
Fairy Tale Tea will start serving at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. each day. To reserve your child’s place, visit magichouse.org.
In a vacant lot in Cleveland, Kim, a young Vietnamese girl, plants beans in memory of her father, but in turn, harvests hope in a fractured neighborhood. Over time, Kim’s little community garden brings together neighbors from all walks of life whose bonds grow alongside the fruits and vegetables they plant. With its unique “spoken musical” format and spotlight on diversity and unity, Seedfolks is ideal for kids age 4 and up. Performances will be held at Greencubator, 1124 Lumiere Place Blvd.
Shows begin at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 and 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased through COCA’s website.
If your child has ever wanted to be a veterinarian, a zookeeper or conservationist, the Saint Louis Science Center has a day just for them! During SciFest: Animal Kingdom Expo, kids can learn more about their favorite animals directly from the experts who have dedicated their lives to their care. In addition, they’ll discover animal-related career and volunteer opportunities they may never have thought of before!
Animal Kingdom Expo goes from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is free for SLSC guests. For details, visit the SLSC website.
Think the Easter Bunny only hides his stash of eggs in our backyards? At the Saint Louis Zoo, he’ll hop his way into Jungle of the Apes, River’s Edge and Sea Lion Sound to leave fun-filled eggs for our furry friends to find! Watch residents hunt for eggs in their enclosures and learn how the Zoo’s animal enrichment program keeps life interesting for them with out-of-the-box activities, toys and games. Plus, your little animals can take part in their own Easter-themed enrichment activities in Schnuck Family Plaza.
Enrichment Eggstravaganza is free for Zoo guests and will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids’ activities will be offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
With the number of incredible attractions St. Louis has to offer, we sometimes forget about all the adventures that can be had! Revisit the city you love by joining Explore St. Louis for Be a Tourist in Your Own Town and get the inside scoop on the summer’s hottest events and activities. Held in Kiener Plaza before the St. Louis Cardinals/Milwaukee Brewers game, this family-friendly trade show features representatives from St. Louis landmarks, organizations and attractions as well as activities for the littlest of local tourists.
Be a Tourist in Your Own Town is free and runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For details, visit explorestlouis.com.
It’s a day of play downtown during Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s Kiener Kids event! Start the morning with an all-ages yoga session led by YogaBuzz at 9:30 a.m. before trying your hand at a variety of larger-than-life lawn games, including Bananagrams and Jenga. The fun also includes live storytelling, a magician from Circus Kaput, the chance to build a seven-foot replica of the Arch, and other family activities. Register for the free event online and get a free goodie bag the day of the event.
Kiener Kids runs from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Kiener Plaza. The event is free to attend, but registration at archpark.org is encouraged.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the St. Louis Earth Day Festival has expanded to two days of fun focused on green living, sustainability and environmental stewardship. Check out the stages for live performances from local DJs, children’s artists and global music acts while you grab some grub from Green Dining Alliance food trucks and vendors. Afterward, burn off those calories with free yoga or rock climbing while your kids participate in arts and educational activities from organizations like Endangered Wolf Center, Absolute Martial Arts and St. Louis Chess Club!
The Festival will be held on the Muny Grounds in Forest Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. For more details, visit earthday-365.org.
Main photo: Gateway Arch Park Foundation. Other photos: The Magic House, Saint Louis Zoo.
Metro East mom Nicole Plegge has written for STL Parent for more than 12 years. Besides working as a freelance writer & public relations specialist, and raising two daughters and a husband, Nicole's greatest achievements are finding her misplaced car keys each day and managing to leave the house in a stain-free shirt. Her biggest regret is never being accepted to the Eastland School for Girls. Follow Nicole on Twitter @STLWriterinIL
Celebrating the history, culture, and people of Japan, the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States. Your family can enjoy guided walking tours, bonsai, cooking, martial arts and origami demonstrations, sumo wrestling, and special activities for kids.
Bring your babies and toddlers to this free story time at the Missouri History Museum.
Storytelling in the Museum is an in-person storytelling event happening at 10:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum. This event, perfect for the preschool set, features engaging stories with themes like Juneteenth, Sweet Treats, Summer and more. Storytelling in the Museum is free.
Visit The Magic House for Toddler Time, a special early-morning program for toddlers. Children age 1-4 can take part in exhibits and exclusive interactive activities designed just for little ones. There are new themes every week!
Your child is old enough to start kindergarten, are they ready? Are you? At this special presentation, both you and your child will get a brief overview of what is expected before your child even enters the classroom. You'll also receive a free backpack and school supplies. Registration is required.
