free events

Celebrate African-American literature, culture and heritage at the fourth annual African American Read In at the Gateway Region YMCA.

Guest authors Candi Pettiford, Floyd Boykin Jr., and Sylveser Chison will share their stories, passion and journey as authors. There will also be literacy and art activities for families, resource tables, and poetry performances by students of Crossroads Preparatory School and spoken word artists. Refreshments will be provided.

For all ages. 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Monsanto Family YMCA. Free.

Watch St. Louis city high school students compete in the St. Louis regional Competition of Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation contest in which the winner will advance to the state championships. 

Kick off the new year by taking part in a free Stroller Strides class at a new indoor location. The one-hour class will feature co-teaching from three Stroller Strides instructors, and be filled with music for mom interlaced with songs for kiddos.

The morning kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with a "Women Who Rock"-themed Stroller Strides class, followed by giveaways, prizes, refreshments and more than an hour of playtime for children 12 months to age 7 on Vetta's indoor playground of giant inflatables!

The LUME Institute invites parents with children from birth through age 8 to a series of free parent workshops focusing on developing parenting skills and learning about child development.

The Parent Cafe sessions are opportunities to build relationships with other parents and hear from child development experts on the following topics:

Jan. 14: A Vision for Me

Feb. 11: Building Our Families

March 10: Empowering Community

Stop in to The Lodge Des Peres and take in free exercise sampler classes for Sunday Funday.

The Lodge Fitness Team will showcase some of the new exercise classes being offered in 30 minute sessions from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Sessions are open to all, members and nonmembers, residents and non-residents.  Free.

Sessions include zumba, yoga, pilates and group strength. In the Lodge group exercise studio. For adults and teens ages 16 and up. Child care is not available.

At this free hands-on workshop, kids ages 5 to 12 can build a wooden valentines mailbox to hold all of their valentines just in time for Valentine's Day. All supplies will be provided.

Participants will receive a free Kids Workshop apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement. 

9 a.m. to noon at local Home Depot stores. To register and find the workshop nearest you, go to homedepot.com/workshops

Did your child’s school miss out on a Maple Sugar School Field Trip? No problem. Learn the history of maple sugaring, visit the sugar bush to collect sap, and learn to boil it down into syrup. Dress for the weather as the entire program is outdoors and part of the trail is not stroller accessible.

Free. 4-5:30 p.m. at Rockwoods Reservation in Wildwood. 

More information and reservations: www.mdc.mo.gov