Illinois Metro East

Healthy Kids Day at your local Family YMCA

Get kids moving and learning and find out about ways your whole family can have fun and be healthier at this free family event at your local branch of the Gateway Region YMCA.

At Healthy Kids Day, happening at YMCA branches across the St. Louis metro area, you can learn about the Y's programs for kids and adults, find out about summer camp opportunities, take part in games like kickball, take sampler classes, arts and crafts, kid-friendly yoga, free health screenings and lots more. Activities vary depending on the branch. Activities are free and open to the public.

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Storytelling at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

Take your kids to hear storytelling at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Sponsored by the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the 35th Annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival.

2 p.m. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville.

More information: cahokiamounds.org

There is no admission fee, but a donation is suggested.

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Masters of the Sky

Learn about the majestic wonders of the sky - eagles, owls, falcons, vultures and hawks, at the Masters of the Sky show taking place at the National Great Rivers Museum.

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Dine with Anna and Elsa

Your little ones are invited to attend a festive dining event with Frozen's Anna and Elsa. Join in the merriment with lunch, singing, dancing and a keepsake photo with the queen and princess!

This event takes place at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Jan. 23, 24, 30 and 31, and on Feb. 6, 7, 13 and 14.

Cost is $22.50 per person. At Eckert Farms in Belleville.

Learn more and register at eckerts.com

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Dine with Anna and Elsa, Meet Olaf and Sven

Bring your best wintery cheer to this festive dining experience with Anna and Elsa from Frozen! You'll have lunch, enjoy singing and dancing and get to take a keepsake photo with the Anna and Elsa. Then meet and take photos with Olaf and Sven.

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Gingerbread House Workshop

For those who have always longed to build a gingerbread house but were intimidated by the thought, here is your chance to create a beautiful display for the holidays.

Supplies and guidance will be provided. You provide the creativity! For all ages. Cost is $14 per gingerbread house.

Workshops are held between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Country Store at Eckert's in Bellville.

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Chip off the Old Block Ice Carving

See artisans create one-of-a-kind ice sculptures including the American Bald Eagle. Watch Chip Off the Old Block demonstrate how to create an eagle ice sculpture that will be on display until it's melted.

12 to 2 p.m. at the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower in Hartford, Illinois. Free.

More information: confluencetower.com

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Things to Do

Budding Artists Preschool Art Program

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!

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Discovery Club at the St. Louis County Library

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Discovery Club is an exploration of all kinds of science! Kids ages 7-11 will navigate through the sciences with projects, experiments and activities at this free program. Themes include robots, roller coasters, potato batteries and more.

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Toddler Time at The Magic House

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!

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Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Cottleville

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym is an opportunity for any child to have supervised free play in the gym. They can work on existing skills, try something new, or simply play around. It is completely up to them! Open Gym is open to both members and non-members ages 12 and under.

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Gateway to Reading

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Saturday, February 14, 2026

The Gateway to Reading program is a parent-child workshop that focuses on strengthening reading skills while engaging in fun, literacy-based activities. Participants will receive a free toolkit of materials to help children in their reading journey.

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From the moment they step onto a ninja training course, kids snap into activation mode – using their athletic skills to jump, climb, and balance their way through physical challenges and activating their minds to out-maneuver the puzzle of obstacles that stand in their way of victory. That combination is a powerful one and equips kids with the confidence, persistence, self-esteem, and creative thinking skills they need throughout their lives. And now, with the opening of Ninja Central, a top-tier ninja training facility in Maryland Heights, even more young athletes will get the chance to reach their full potential.

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Step into 36,000 sq ft of tropical, action-packed fun - built for kids and grown-ups! Climb through a massive 3-story jungle gym, race down the towering volcano slide, bounce on trampolines, dive into foam pits, and explore a toddler area made just for little adventurers. Hungry? Their in-house cafe has everything you need to fuel the fun: pizza, wings, mac & cheese, funnel fries, a coffee bar, and more!

Planning a birthday? Celebrate big in epic themed party rooms like the Princess, Space, Jungle & more! Ditch the screens - plan your ultimate indoor adventure! LEARN MORE

Be one of the first families to experience Ninja Central's brand-new, purpose-built ninja training facility! Opening in January 2026, Ninja Central features state-of-the-art Ninja challenges – walls, bars, obstacle courses, beams and more. PLUS, register to attend the Ninja Central Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, January 17 from 2-4 p.m. to win BIG prizes, including three months of free tuition, and free Kid's Night Out and Open Gym sessions! All attendees can try out the new Ninja challenges & equipment, meet the awesome coaches, enjoy face painting, balloon animals and snow cones. Learn about Ninja Central's classes for ages 4 and up here. Register to attend Ninja Central's Grand Opening Celebration here. From beginner to advanced Ninja skills, Ninja Central in Maryland Heights is the place for confidence-building, not just muscle-building, for flipping fear into fun, and for kids who need space to grow, move, and belong. Classes begin January 5!

Plan your child's summer at the biggest Summer Camp Expo in the St. Louis area, featuring 60+ local and regional summer camps offering day- and sleep-away camp experiences all across the St. Louis region and beyond. Bring your kids to Summer Expo 2026 and learn about a wide variety of summer learning and summer camp opportunities for kids of all ages. The Summer Expo is presented by Parkway-Rockwood Community Ed, sponsored by STL Parent and STL Camps, and is open to all families from any school district across the St. Louis metro area. Admission is free! 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at Parkway West High School. Stop by the STL Camps booth at the entrance and enter to win a free week of camp!

Learn more at summerexpostl,com

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