free things to do with kids in St. Louis

Summer Children's Concert Series in Tower Grove Park

The Tower Grove Park Children's Summer Concert Series has returned for 2021 with three months of concerts geared to children, with each month introducing a different genre of music education. Concerts are free but require reservations. Bring your little Mozart or Verdi for a music-filled summer!

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Free Summer Camp Demos from Metro Theater Company

Interested in online Creative Arts Camps for your Pre-K through 5th Grader? Join Metro Theater Company for a free interactive preview of their Creative Arts Camps! Creative discovery is what it's all about as the arts disciplines blend together.

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Family Fun Night: Tech Playground

Your family can play together with today's top tech! This Family Fun Night is free and for ages 3 and up.

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Storytime Theater Presents: A Christmas Carol

Christmas Eve provides a backdrop to explore the arrival of four spirits sent from beyond to teach a miserly Scrooge about the interconnectedness of people and the importance of kindness, compassion, and community. This free performance is geared toward kids in grades kindergarten through grade 5.

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Family Fun Night: Explore Outer Space

Explore the cosmos with fun activities and experiences at Family Fun Night: Explore Outer Space at the St. Louis County Library. Members of the St. Louis Astronomical Society will join in for some out-of-this-world fun. Free for all ages.

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Family Day Block Party

Join the Contemporary Art Museum, the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, and the Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries for the free Family Day Block Party. This free event includes live performances and art activities for kids at each location in the Grand Center Arts District.

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Life in Space with the Challenger Learning Center

Want to know what it's like to live in space? Kids ages 6-11 can learn about the different ways astronauts have adapted every day tasks like eating and sleeping in the microgravity of space with special activities.

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Heritage and Freedom Fest

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Friday, July 4, 2025

Saturday, July 5, 2025

The city of O’Fallon, Mo., throws a fantastic, family-friendly celebration at the Ozzie Smith Sports Complex over the 4th of July holiday weekend.

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Webster Groves Community Days and Fourth of July Celebration

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Friday, July 4, 2025

Year after year, Webster Groves Community Days continues to be one of the largest Independence Day community celebrations in the area, including one of the most popular 4th of July parades.

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Planetarium Shows at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park

Visit the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park and see a star show to experience the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere. Star shows are lead LIVE by one of the Planetarium's educators, creating a new and tailored experience for every audience.

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Water Waddlers Outdoor Drop-In Swim

Splash and play with your little one in this fun morning activity. No registration is necessary.

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

It's time to celebrate Independence Day in St. Louis, and because this year July 4th falls on a Friday, your family can look forward to a full weekend of festivals and fireworks. Check out these family-friendly celebrations that include carnivals, fantastic fireworks and lots more.

Summer Fun in St. Louis Starts Now! Your Guide to Family Fun this June

For many St. Louis families, the start of June represents the real start of summer. That's when the summer fun really starts to kick in, and the fact that so many activities and attractions are free is just a bonus!

Why Summer Camp is Great for . . . Parents

Being able to focus on yourself, your partner, and other people in your life who mean a lot to you is no small matter. As parents, we’re used to being responsible providers and caregivers. However, there’s so much more to a person: we’re also partners and friends. These are important parts of our identities that we need to cultivate. Sending your kids to summer camp may bring out your more playful side that you haven’t shown for a while.

7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp

It’s time to decide whether to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know that's the right thing to do? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

Want Your Kids to Learn? Teach Them It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

It’s normal for parents to want to protect their children from failure. It’s also normal to want them to achieve, win, and do their best. But here’s the truth: We don’t learn anything new without making mistakes. I’ll say it again. Making mistakes is a crucial step in learning. If we’re fearful of making mistakes, learning comes to a screeching halt.

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Visit the Missouri History Museum on Wednesdays and Fridays in June and July for their Summer Family Fun Series! On Wednesdays, enjoy a variety of free family activities, including crafts, performances, and scavenger hunts, all are tied into Museum exhibits and centered on a different theme each week. Learn about Caribbean, Latin American, and German cultures in STL, discover Missouri’s trains, planes and other forms of transportation innovation, celebrate the 10th anniversary of the History Clubhouse, and more! Fridays feature Storytelling in the Museum and Cuentos en el Museo programs followed by a drop-in craft workshop. Hear classic American folktales, stories about Juneteenth, sweet treats and the 1904 World’s Fair, as well as other topics that families will love. The series is appropriate for children ages 2–12. For more detailed information on each day’s activities, visit the Museum’s website. Please note there is no program on Wednesday, July 2.

Vetta Sports Spring Break and Summer Camps are where every kid wants to be! Give your kids a full week of sports, activities and friends during their school's Spring Break or all summer long at Vetta Sports. Enrollment is open for kids ages 5-12 for camps in a fun, active, creative environment full of sports, games, friends and special activities. LEARN MORE AND ENROLL TODAY!

From arts, to STEM, to nature, sports and beyond, you'll find the best summer adventures for your kids in our Summer Camp Guide. Enroll now and plan your family's best summer yet. Our Summer Camp Guide is searchable for your child's interests, age, your location, whether you need before and after-care, and even for specific weeks. You'll find exciting opportunities for kids ages 3 to teenagers. Check our Summer Camp Guide now to get started!

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