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. 11th 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 11th 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

Related:

Best Places to Watch the Solar Eclipse in St. Louis

Get Back to the Farm with Family-Friendly Food Tours

Photo courtesy of Purina Farms

 

 

Share This Story

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.

Our Daily Things to Do email is the easiest way to plan your day.
Follow Us
 
Want daily ideas of things to do? How about special offers & giveaways? Sign up and we’ll handle the rest.
Things to Do

Water Waddlers Indoor Drop-In Swim

Stop in and have some fun in the indoor pool at the Lodge of Des Peres with your little one at this drop-in swim time for kids up to age 6. No pre-registration is needed; Water Waddlers is open to residents and non-residents of Des Peres.

View this event »
Spring Training Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Friday, March 29, 2024
Saturday, March 30, 2024

See the amazing sea lions at the Saint Louis Zoo perform for the crowd and cheer them on from the bleachers as the popular Sea Lion Spring Training Shows return. You'll see these beautiful animals perform flipper walks, ball balancing, Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, lots of splashing and even more surprises! 

View this event »
Daytime Playtime at Olympia Gymnastics

Daytime Playtime is an open gym for children ages 2-5 where the possibilities for fun and learning (through fun) are endless! Children will participate in activities that build coordination, strength, balance and self-confidence. They'll develop stronger motor skills, social skills, and take part in theme-based creative activities.

 

View this event »
Books for Babies

This special story is geared to little ones ages 6 months to 2 years with a parent or caregiver. In addition to stories, there will be lap bounces, songs, rhymes and more!

 

View this event »
You Might Also Like...

From Our Sponsors
Popular Stories

COCA Ignites Creativity and Sparks Fun for Kids of All Ages, All Summer Long

Stroll along the Walk of Fame in the Delmar Loop, and you’ll spot the playwrights, actors, and artists who got their start in St. Louis, from Tennessee Williams and Katherine Dunham, to Tina Turner and John Goodman. Just a few steps away and around the corner, a new generation of Gateway City superstars will discover their love for the visual and performing arts this summer.

Continue reading »
Farmer's Market Make Great Family Outings! Here is Your 2024 Guide to Farmers Market Across the St. Louis Area

A trip to the farmer’s market is a fun outing for the entire family – and it can be educational too. Make plans to visit one (or several) of these top St. Louis farmers’ markets this spring and summer, so that you and your kids can learn more about where your food comes from and indulge in some of the freshest, seasonal produce the St. Louis region has to offer. Plus, many of these markets offer activities just for kids, feature food trucks, welcome dogs, and more.    

Continue reading »
Life Lessons Learned at Overnight Camp

With the perfect blend of adventure and responsibility, camp life teaches kids valuable lessons they can use for the rest of their lives. If you send your child to overnight camp, here are some life lessons they are likely to learn.

Continue reading »
Spring Break Camps Offer a Variety of Activities for Kids and Teens in St. Louis

Excitement is building for summer and the wide variety of summer camp experiences available for kids in the St. Louis metro area. But first! Spring break is around the corner, and there are plenty of Spring Break camps now enrolling. 

Continue reading »
10 Reasons Your Teen Might Love to be a Camp Counselor

Day or sleepaway summer camp is the perfect place for teens to transition to the world of the employed. The paycheck is nice, but being a summer camp counselor has other rewards, too.

Continue reading »
Follow Us