chess

Ages

Elementary Age, High Schoolers, Middle Schoolers, Teens and Tweens

Locations

St. Louis County, St. Charles County, St. Louis

Extended Care

Looking for an engaging and educational activity for your child this summer? Our Chess Summer Camps are the perfect choice! Whether your child is just discovering chess, wants to sharpen their skills, or dreams of becoming a chess champion, our camps offer something for everyone. Why Choose Our Chess Summer Camps? Expert Guidance: Your child will learn from Grandmaster instructors, receiving daily lessons, puzzles, and gameplay tailored to their skill level.

Special Offer: Use promo code STLParentChess to receive 10% off!

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Free Kids' Chess Lessons at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis

Kids at the beginner to intermediate level can receive free chess lessons each Sunday at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis.

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Kings, Queens and Castles Opens at The Magic House

Designed for children ages 3 to 11, Kings, Queens and Castles features an array of interactive elements including a medieval castle complete with turret slides, a giant chess board floor and life-size chess pieces, the chance to make custom made fanciful crowns, oversized interlocking bricks to build the castle wall, a custom digital memory book app and more.

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Once A Pawn A Time

Celebrate the new chess exhibit at The Magic House – Kings, Queens and Castles – at this very special event featuring Jugging Jeff.

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Kids' Beginner Chess Tournament

The Magic House is hosting a low-stakes introduction to chess tournament play for children in grades 1-8 who want to gain experience in tournament play.

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Kings, Queens and Castles: Final Days!

Kings, Queens and Castles is an innovative exhibition that brings the chess board to life and provides an engaging introduction to individual chess pieces and game strategy.

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At Kings, Queens & Castles, Kids Become the Chess Game

When it comes to teaching your kids the game of chess, you could introduce it hunched over a game table for hours, discussing strategy with antsy little ones whose attention spans are short as they are. Or, you could truly immerse them by taking them inside the game, where they can learn the finer points of competition through make-believe play and plot out their winning moves on a giant chess board.

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Things to Do

Eureka Days

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Enjoy an old-fashioned community festival at Eureka Days. This annual event includes lots of children's activities, carnival rides, fireworks, vendors, live music, bounce houses and lots more.

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Fall Farm Festival

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Enjoy farm-themed fun at The Magic House during the Fall Farm Festival. Families can meet and pet friendly farm animals like horses, cows, donkeys, pigs, goats, rabbits and chickens. Plus, kids can sit on a real tractor!

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Applefest at Eckert Farms

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Wagon rides, live entertainment, great festival foods, a petting zoo and much more make this an apple pickin' good time for the whole family. There will be pony rides, a children's carnival, opportunities to feed goats and other farm animals, caramel apples, funnel cakes and more.

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St. Louis Hills Art in the Park

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Artists will showcase their creative wares at Francis Park in St. Louis Hills, where visitors can enjoy live music, tasty food and kids' activities. Admission is free.

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Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo

Sunday, September 27, 2026

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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Popular Stories

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.

Get Ready to Climb and Explore at These Free Big Truck Days

If your kids love to explore big trucks and vehicles, these upcoming Big Truck Days are a perfect weekend or weeknight outing. They'll get to climb on and explore fire trucks, police vehicles, bulldozers, bucket trucks, ambulances 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.

City Museum's Stuff the Bus Campaign Provides School Supplies for 160 St. Louis Schools

Visit City Museum August 3-31, bring school supplies to donate, and get discounted admission! That's the idea behind City Museum's Stuff the Bus campaign.

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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Lace up and leash up for a great cause! You and your dog are invited to run, jog, or walk in the Purple Leash 5K & Fun Run at Purina Farms. Compete for top dog in the 5K race or take it easy in the 1-mile fun run. Put your paws to the pavement and then head over to the TAILgate after party for food, drinks, music and more all while raising awareness for the Purple Leash Project. All purple outfits and purple dog gear are highly encouraged! The Purple Leash Project was born out of the Purina mission to bring and keep pets and people together and the RedRover® mission to bring people and their pets from crisis to care. Your support of the Purple Leash Project assists domestic violence shelters on their journey to welcome family pets by funding pet-friendly renovations. Sunday, October 11. FIND OUT HOW TO REGISTER

The Missouri History Museum celebrates education and family learning with History Exploration Days! One Friday per month from September to May, homeschool families with kids of all ages can explore a different historical topic—together! All activities are FREE. Explore St. Louis history in new and exciting ways through interactive guided gallery tours, hands-on workshops, and community performances that align with each month’s theme, encouraging investigation, exploration, and creative fun. Activities are offered at various times throughout the day and are customized for specific grade-level groups.

Storytelling takes place in the morning, and all ages are welcome. Visit the craft room for fun learning experiences, with museum educators available to help learners participate in meaningful ways. Topics this school year include colonial St. Louis, baseball, Black history, and wildlife. Detailed schedules for each day will be posted to the Museum’s website. The program is offered on October 9, November 13, December 11, January 15, February 19, March 19, April 9, and May 14. LEARN MORE

See the Purina Incredible Dog Team perform extraordinary feats of athleticism and skill right here in St. Louis at Union Station this summer! Featuring some of the most talented canines in the country, the Purina Incredible Dog Team consists of more than 20 remarkably gifted dogs and two trainers who entertain audiences with extraordinary feats of athleticism and skill. Spectators can watch the team demonstrate a variety of canine sports while dogs of different breeds fly through the air to catch a flying disc, leap over a high jump, and maneuver through a series of obstacles in an agility course. 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. Learn more at purina.com/purinafarms.

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