Illinois Metro East

Discovery Day: Trees

Kids of all ages will learn about common trees at this free Discovery Day at the Watershed Nature Center. Then they'll make leaf sun catchers with colorful leaves, tree bark rubbings, examine leaf anatomy and tree rings, sort leaves and seeds and more.

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Discovery Day: Creatures of the Night

Kids of all ages will learn about owls, bats and spiders at this free Discovery Day at Watershed Nature Center. Visitors will disect owl pellets, learn about owl body part, build a spider and play a spider web game.

10 a.m. to noon. Free, but tickets are required.

For more information and tickets: watershednaturecenter.org

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Family Hike and Play Day

Bring your whole family to learn, explore and play on the farm at Family Hike and Play Day at Willoughby Farm. Explore the nature trails and then enjoy games around the farm yard.

Cost is $2 per person with a maximum of $10 per family.

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Story Telling in the Treehouse

Ike Day, a former librarian for the City of Edwardsville, will lead preschoolers through a wonderful story telling time in the treehouse at the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville. The stories are focused on teaching children about nature through storytelling and exploration.

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FredBird at the Farm

Cardinals mascot Fredbird will visit Eckert Farms in Belleville so he can meet and greet guests.

Bring your kids to meet Fredbird between 11 and 11:30 a.m. on July 18. or from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on August 8.

The visit with Fredbird is free. No reservations are required.

More information: eckerts.com

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Superhero Night with the Gateway Grizzlies

Celebrate the hero in your life at Superhero Night with the Gateway Grizzlies. Enjoy the baseball game, a costume contest, kids' pirate and superhero-themed games, a bounce house and lots more.

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Summer Safety Fest

Summer is the season for sunshine, sports and barbecues, but with all of that fun comes an increased risk of injuries as families head outdoors. Touchette Regional Hospital and Southern Illinois Healthcare are helping Metro East families enjoy a safe summer by sponsoring this free Summer Safety Fest.

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Things to Do

Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park

Experience the holiday lights at Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park, where you'll find two million beautiful holiday lights and animated displays.

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Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden

More than a million lights will illuminate some of the Missouri Botanical Garden's most iconic locations, walkways will be transformed into sensory light tunnels providing an explosion of visual magic, and traditional candlelight village displays, festive drinks, s'mores and great photo opportunities will delight crowds of all ages.

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Winter Getaway at the Missouri History Museum

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Bring your kids to the Missouri History Museum for the Winter Getaway and enjoy free holiday and history-themed activities for the whole family.

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Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Enjoy the iconic lights that adorn the Anheuser-Busch Brewery close up during walking tours. Brewery Lights features more than one million twinkling lights, a Kids Winter Wonderland, a nightly parade featuring the World-Famous Clydesdales, and lots of family-friendly activities.

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Holiday Magic at The Magic House

Celebrate the magic of the holidays the entire month of December at the Holiday Magic experience at The Magic House! Holiday Magic features festive decorations throughout the museum, Winter Wonderscape, a Snowball Showdown, Story Time with Mrs. Claus & Santa, a special Toddler Time experience and more.

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10 Family-Friendly New Year's Eve Celebrations in St. Louis

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The St. Louis Children’s Choirs Give Every Singer the Chance to Shine on Stage

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The Missouri History Museum Winter Getaway: Four Days of Free Fun and Learning for Your Family

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Winter Break Camps Offer School Break Fun for Your Kids

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Miriam Celebrates Neurodiversity, Supports Unique Learners

At Miriam School, students with complex learning differences are supported and celebrated as they grow academically, socially and emotionally. Miriam provides a tailored educational experience for learners in grades K-12 who have not found success in traditional classroom settings. Students’ challenges may stem from specific learning disabilities (i.e. dyslexia or dysgraphia), ADHD, level 1 autism, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, or speech and language disorders.

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Learn more at summerexpostl,com

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