fun for kids in St. Louis

Experience Big Changes and New Events at Purina Farms All Season Long!

Pet lovers heading to Purina Farms this spring and summer will notice some exciting developments at one of the region’s favorite free family attractions. After a multi-year construction project, Purina Farms is putting the final touches on its revamped Visitor Center to create a more welcoming and inviting place where guests of all ages can learn about dogs, cats, and the rest of our furry and feathered friends.

Join the Quest to Find 100 Turtles that have Escaped from City Museum!

Your biggest summer adventure awaits along the 128 miles of Great Rivers Greenway trails! Families are invited on the Greenway Quest to see if they can find one of 100 hand-painted turtle rocks that have been hidden along the trails in St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County, and even a few hidden at City Museum! Those who find the "turtles" can register them and win prizes, and you can even enter to win prizes before you start your adventure!

Seven Ways to Safely Celebrate Spring in St. Louis With Your Family

Now that the sun is out and our vaccines are in, we can finally ditch our Cheetos-streaked-yoga-pants for a clean pair of yoga pants and head back out in the world – as long as we stick with the recommended health guidelines. So, toss on your mask and hit these seven spots for socially-distanced excitement that will thrill every member of your family.

Sunday Funday Workshops at Sweetology

Sunday Funday Workshops feature a different unique decorating project each week. There will be a variety of edible art mediums to create a delicious masterpiece. For ages 6 and up.

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Fossil Fun at Play Street Museum

Visit the Play Street Museum for some Fossil Fun! In addition to playtime, kiddos can learn about dinosaurs on the Discovery Rug and take a turn at making salt-dough dinosaur fossils.

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Forts and Clubhouses featuring TapeScape at The Magic House

It's back and bigger than ever! The popular and very hands-on exhibit at The Magic House, Forts and Clubhouses returns May 26, this year featuring TapeScape, an innovative playground made almost entirely out of tape! PLEASE NOTE: The TapeScape playground opens June 2.

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Family Movie Night at the Pointe

Three will be pizza, snacks, and desserts as you watch one of today's newest family movies on the big screen.

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Things to Do

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

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Wednesday, August 12, 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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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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Toddler Time at The Magic House

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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Movie Nights at 9 Mile Garden

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

9 Mile Garden presents family-friendly movie nights all summer long on Wednesday evenings. Enjoy a free movie on the 325-inch big screen along with food trucks, kiddie cocktails, slushies 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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