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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Things to Do

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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Preschool Science Series at the Saint Louis Science Center

The Preschool Science Series is an open exploration learning lab for young scientists, ages 18 months to 5 years and their families. Activities are designed around research that shows children learn best through play, inquiry and shared experiences with their parents and caregivers.

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Storytime in Forest Park: Storytime in the Meadow

Monday, August 17, 2026

Meet up in Forest Park for a fun storytime followed by nature adventures! These free story times are open to children of all ages and their caregivers.

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Baby & Me

Monday, August 17, 2026

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Friday, August 21, 2026

Learn ways to nurture your baby's development and make new friends in a relaxed, supportive environment at Baby & Me, a free class offered at the St. Louis County Library. Baby & Me classes are for parents and caregivers with pre-walking infants ages 0-12 months.

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Baby Bookworms Storytime with the St. Louis Public Library

Bring your little ones, 0-18 months, to Baby Bookworms Storytime to enjoy songs, stories and more.

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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.

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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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

Great Rivers Greenway has teamed up with the Saint Louis Zoo for the fifth annual free greenway scavenger hunt. Community members are invited to look for the many varieties of native bees that you can see buzzing around greenways and search for special hidden souvenirs you can take home! Starting August 1, BEE on the lookout for hand-painted bee rocks along all 140+ miles of greenways. Saint Louis Zoo ALIVE (Active Leaders in Volunteer Education) teen volunteers hand-painted hundreds of rocks like three different species of bees found along the greenways: American bumblebee, brown-belted bumblebee and two-spotted bumblebee, plus a few of the endangered rusty patched bumblebee. If you find a painted rock, you can take it with you. Be sure to log your rock at www.GreenwayQuest.com for a chance to win prizes from both organizations, including Saint Louis Zoo Adventure Passes! Rocks are along edges of greenways or at trailheads, never far away from the path and never on private property. LEARN MORE AND GET STARTED!

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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