fun activities for kids St. Louis

Juneteenth at the Missouri Botanical Garden & Children's Garden: Free Admission

The Missouri Botanical Garden is offering free admission to all visitors on June 19 in honor of Juneteenth. Admission to the Children's Garden will also be free for the day.

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In My Granny's Garden by Metro Theater Company

Step into a visual feast inspired by world-renowned artist Radcliffe Bailey's original paintings, and discover the one superpower that fuels Granny's garden. The play promises to leave the very young nourished in body and soul.

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Metro Theater Company to Mark 50th Anniversary With a Season of Unforgettable Shows

For the past five decades, Metro Theater Company (MTC) has charmed, delighted, and educated generations of St. Louis families. This year, MTC is excited to celebrate its 50th Anniversary Season with a line-up of spectacular shows starting in September.

Innovative Playscape TapeScape coming to The Magic House MADE for Kids

For the first time since opening in 2019, The Magic House, MADE for Kids is hosting an exhibit of its own as TapeScape, an innovative playscape made almost entirely out of packing tape, opened for play on June 3 in the makerspace. Kids can crawl, climb and slide through this playful, STEAM-inspired exhibit. TapeScape is sure to stick with them as one of the most amazing forts ever built!

MADE for Kids Makers Market

Shop a wide variety of items handmade by young entrepreneurs at the MADE for Kids Makers Market, plus, enjoy live music and food trucks.

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Reading with a Ranger

Take your kids to a new reading program offered at the Gateway Arch Museum. Reading with a Ranger is a free program for families. You'll receive a copy of a themed children's book and read it together with a park ranger, have a group discussion, then explore the museum and Gateway Arch grounds.

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Fun Friendship Bracelets: Family Program at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Join an educator at the Saint Louis Art Museum as you and your kids make your own bracelets with string and beads. Learn a simple technique for making a friendship bracelet, or experiment with your own designs.

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Museum Babies Storytelling

Bring your babies and toddlers to this free story time at the Missouri History Museum.

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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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Storytelling in the Museum from the Missouri History Museum

Storytelling in the Museum is an in-person storytelling event happening at 10:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum. This event, perfect for the preschool set, features engaging stories with themes like Shapes, Black Music Month, STEAM, Juneteenth, The River, and more.

Storytelling in the Museum is free.

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First Art: Free In-Person Art Program for Ages 18-36 Months

Join in on First Art, a free art program for toddlers where the focus is on the process of making art rather than the finished product. Dress to get messy!

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Toddler Time at The Magic House

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Visit The Magic House for Toddler Time, a special early-morning program for toddlers. Children age 1-4 can take part in exhibits and exclusive interactive activities designed just for little ones. There are new themes every week!

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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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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.

Make the most of the rest of summer at Upper Limits Rock Climbing Summer Camp! Our 5-day camps run Monday through Friday and are packed with climbing, games, water days, challenges, and new friendships. Choose the schedule that works best for your family with half-day and full-day camp options available. We're conveniently located in Maryland Heights and Chesterfield, making it easy to find an adventure near you! Save $10 on camp registration with promo code CLIMBINGCAMP2026. Come spend the rest of your summer reaching new heights at Upper Limits! 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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