free events

Celebrate the Monarch butterfly with games and crafts, and learn how to attract them.

Bring your kids for a day of free, action-packed fun at the Free Family Funs Day at Vetta Sports. There will be soccer demos, carnival games, a balloon twister, face painting, great snacks, inflatable bouncers, superhero prizes and lots more.

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Movie in Lafayette Park: Guardians of the Galaxy

Enjoy a free showing of Guardians of the Galaxy, games, arts & crafts. and more in Lafayette Park.

Entertainment starts at 6 p.m. The movie starts at 7 p.m.

More information: lafeyettesquare.org

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Movie in Lafayette Park: Brave

Enjoy a free family movie in Lafayette Park complete with pre-movie activities, including games and arts & crafts.

Tonight's movie: Brave. Activities begin at 6:30. The movie begins at 8 p.m.

More information: lafayettesquare.org

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Open House at Vetta Sports

Stop in to Vetta Sports for a free open house, featuring soccer demo classes for kids, fun on inflatables, raffles and prizes and other fun activities for kids.

Soccer demos will be led by Coach Dave Fernandez.

Open Houses will be held:

Saturday, Aug. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Vetta Sports Sportsplex in Belleville, Ill.

Sunday, Aug. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Vetta Sports O'Fallon, Ill.

Free and open to all.

More information: vettasports.com

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Library Olympics

Play "Minute to Win It" style games as you celebrate the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Free. 2-4 p.m. at the St. Louis Public Library, Carpenter Branch.

More information: slpl.org

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Free Pokemon Go Night

Join fellow Pokemon Go enthusiasts at Laumeier Sculpture Park for an evening of hunting and battling Pokemon.

With five gyms and Pokestops at every sculpture in the Park, make sure to stock up on Lure Modules, Incense and Potions before the event. Whether to rep Team Mystic, Team Instinct or Team Valor, come out and catch 'em all at Laumeier!

6 to 8 p.m. at Laumeier Sculpture Park.

More information: laumeier.org

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Things to Do

Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Sunday, September 6, 2026

Monday, September 7, 2026

Celebrating the history, culture, and people of Japan, the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States. Your family can enjoy guided walking tours, bonsai, cooking, martial arts and origami demonstrations, sumo wrestling, and special activities for kids.

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Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Creve Coeur

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Friday, September 11, 2026

Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Creve Coeur.

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Applefest at Eckert Farms

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Sunday, September 6, 2026

Saturday, September 12, 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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Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Sunday, September 6, 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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LEGO Club at the St. Louis County Library

Saturday, September 5, 2026

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

LEGO Club at the St. Louis County Library is a free opportunity for kids to gather and have fun building with LEGO bricks. LEGOs are provided.

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

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Your Guide to Free Outdoor Family Movies this Summer

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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 September 11, 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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