West County

Summer Outdoor Movie Series at The Magic House

You and your little ones can enjoy fun family movies outdoors at The Magic House this summer. The new movie series will be held on select nights throughout the summer.

Films include:

July 9: The Wizard of Oz Enjoy hands-on activities inspired by the movie and snacks too!

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Free Sand for Pick Up at The Magic House

The Magic House is giving away the beach! The exhibit Sandcastle Beach is leaving for the summer and on June 28, famillies are invited to take some of the beach home with them. Anyone intererested in filling their sandboxes or backyard should bring shovels, bags, buckets and trucks to get digging. With about 200 tons of sand, there is plenty to go around.

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Free Family Night Swim and Canned Food Drive

Everyone is invited to this free open swim at the outdoor pool at the Lodge of Des Peres. In addition to swimming, there will be games, a live DJ, Italian ice and other cool treats, snacks and fun giveaways.

Suggested donation per person is two cans of food items to be donated to a local food bank. For all ages. Open to the public.

4 to 7 p.m. More information: desperesmo.org

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Chinese Culture Day at The Magic House

Visitors to The Magic House can participate in hands-on arts and crafts projects, simple cooking demonstrations and chopstick games and contest during Chinese Culture Day.

Supported by the St. Louis Modern Chinese School. Activities are free with Magic House admission.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Mud Day

NOTE: The Missouri Department of Conservation announced on 6/19 that Mud Day has been cancelled due to projected flooding of the Meramec River. More information can be found at mdc.mo.gov

It's all about fun in the mud at Mud Day! At this free event, kids will

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Mammal Mania

Kids ages 6 and up will learn about mammals living in Missouri, touch animal pelts and skulls. Part of the Super Summer Series at Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood.

10 to 11 a.m.

Free. For reservations, call 314-301-1500.

More information: mdc.mo.gov

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Nature: Friend or Foe?

Kids ages 6 and up will learn how to identify some common outdoor hazards and safely enjoy the great outdoors. Part of the Super Summer Series at Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood.

10 to 11 a.m. Free, but reservations are required.

For reservations, call 314-301-1500.

More information: mdc.mo.gov

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Things to Do

Flying Bird Show at the World Bird Sanctuary

Take your family to watch birds of prey fly right over your head, meet the wonderful bird ambassadors of the World Bird Sanctuary up close and much more.

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Family Sunday at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Families are invited to the Saint Louis Art Museum on Sunday afternoon to participate in free hands-on art activities with fun themes and to explore the galleries. Each Family Sunday focuses on a different family-friendly theme.

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Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo

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.

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Preschool Science Series at the Saint Louis Science Center

Saturday, July 11, 2026

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Monday, July 13, 2026

The Preschool Science Series is an open exploration learning lab for young scientists, ages 18 months to 5 years and their families. Activities are designed around research that shows children learn best through play, inquiry and shared experiences with their parents and caregivers.

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Purina Incredible Dog Team at St. Louis Union Station

See the Purina Incredible Dog Team perform extraordinary feats of athleticism and skill right here in St. Louis at Union Station this summer! Free performances are happening Thursdays through Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Union Station's Performance Plaza in front of the St. Louis Wheel.

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Dinoroarus Comes Roaring Back at the Saint Louis Zoo

The Dinoroarus exhibit brings prehistoric fun back to the Saint Louis Zoo this summer with 20 lifelike dinosaur animatronics and sculptures on the Zoo's Historic Hill.

Festivals & Fireworks to Celebrate July 4th in St. Louis

It's time to celebrate Independence Day in St. Louis and our nation's 250th birthday! Check out these family-friendly celebrations that include carnivals, fantastic fireworks, drone shows, parades and lots more.

Travel Back in Time Every Friday at the Missouri History Museum’s Free Summer Family Fun Series

There comes a point every summer when all that “free time” isn’t so fun anymore. Your kids are bouncing off the walls, it’s too hot to hit the playground, and every activity seems to come with a big price tag. That’s when the screens come out, and parents find themselves counting down the minutes to bedtime. Thankfully, when Friday rolls around each week, your family can experience a mini summer getaway through history – no travel required.

Summer STEM Camps Create Hands-On Fun + Immersive Learning for Kids & Teens

Want your child to learn about subjects in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and have fun doing it? Help them further understand the inner workings of what's all around them by enrolling them in a STEM-fueled summer camp. You may be surprised at the wide variety of highly-acclaimed summer camps in the St. Louis area that put new and exciting twists on STEM concepts, creating hands-on fun for kids with the benefit of introducing them to some of the latest technologies in AI, engineering, coding and more.

Your Guide to Free Outdoor Family Movies this Summer

Seeing a movie at the theater is a magical experience, but when summer rolls around, it’s time to get outside and enjoy free movies under the stars! Free family movie nights abound across the St. Louis area, so grab your kids, a blanket or lawn chairs, and get ready for some cinematic fun. Here's where to find them:

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Those moments add up, week after week. At Olympia Gymnastics, we've been creating those moments for St. Louis families for 47 years. Our coaches don't just teach skills, they show up for your kids. They get to know them, celebrate their wins, and cheer loudest on the hard days. One hour. Big Impact. Olympia Gymnastics + Ninja | 9 locations across the St. Louis area. LEARN MORE

Our Summer Camp Guide at stlcamps.com is the fastest and easiest way to find the perfect summer camps for your kids! We feature camps for ages 18 months to 18 years of age, and for every interest you can imagine. Our guide is searchable for your child's age, camp location, type of camp, camp dates, and even extended care availability. Whether your child is into sports, arts, robotics, coding, outdoor adventures, musical performance, climbing or just about anything else, you'll find it at stlcamps.com! Book your child's camp sessions now! GET STARTED

Visit the Missouri History Museum on Fridays in July for their Summer Family Fun Series! Enjoy a variety of free family activities, including crafts, performances, food, movement, and more! All activities are tied into Museum exhibits and St. Louis history, and focus on a different theme each week. This summer kids and families can learn about Juneteenth, celebrate America’s 250th birthday, explore Vietnamese culture in STL, and discover the wonders of the Mighty Mississippi!

Storytelling in the Museum programs are part of the fun this year, with themes that match the rest of the day’s activities. Don’t forget, the History Clubhouse is open for play and exploration! In this hands-on family gallery, kids can travel back in time to the World’s Fair, Cahokia and more as they learn about the history of the city they call home. Appropriate for ages 2–12. Fridays through July 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more detailed information on each day’s activities, visit the Museum’s website.

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