fun things to do in St. Louis with kids

Time to Celebrate Spring in St. Louis! See Our Top Picks for Family Fun in April

With egg-themed events held throughout St. Louis, weekends in April are as packed with fun as your kids’ Easter baskets. But the excitement isn’t all focused on the bunny—this month features kid-friendly theatre productions, Earth Day celebrations and STEM-related activities that will open up a world of fun for your little ones.

Family Fun in St. Louis: Eight Ways to Play in March

March isn’t known for being a “party” month, but the next four weeks are packed with some of the biggest celebrations of the year! From St. Patrick’s Day to Mardi Gras to Holi, your family can take part in fun-fueled festivities from around the globe without leaving St. Louis.

Purina Pet Parade

Enjoy the world's largest costumed pet parade, a family friendly part of St. Louis' Soulard Mardi Gras celebration. See adorable pet in amusing and whimsical costumes, or dress up your own pooch and participate.

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Blues Kids Boogie and Mardi Gras Party at the National Blues Museum

Head to the National Blues Museum for Blues Kids Boogie and a family Mardi Gras Party! This event includes live music, scavenger hunts, story time, hands-on activities and crafts. There will also be a musical petting zoo!

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Conservation Kids: Animal Signs

Winter is a wonderful time to look for animal signs. If not in the snow, then in wet mud. This nature program, for ages 6-12, takes kids on a short hike to look for tracks, scat and more.

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Holiday Classics for $5 at Marcus Theatres

It's the most wonderful time of the year, so celebrate it by taking your family to see classic holiday films on the big screen! Admission is just $5 for all ages. Marcus Theatres is hosting special showings of these family favorites from Nov. 30 - Dec. 13: Elf, Home Alone, It's a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation, The Polar Express, and Miracle on 34th Street.

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Challenger Learning Center's 15-Year Anniversary Community Celebration

Join the Challenger Learning Center in celebration of its 15-year anniversary! This celebration is a community event for all ages, and includes simulated space missions, drone demonstrations, hands-on activities for kids and a screening of the film Earthrise. Admission also includes lunch! Visitors will also see the winners and entries of the Center's logo design competition and rocket design competition.

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Things to Do

Spring Fling at Longmeadow Rescue Ranch

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Longmeadow Rescue Ranch is hosting its annual Spring Fling for families on April 20. The fun includes an up-close look at the Longmeadow Rescue Ranch horses, wagon rides through the 165-acre state-of-the-art horse farm and animal rehabilitation facility, and lots more.

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Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym

Friday, April 19, 2024

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Friday, April 26, 2024

Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym. Reservations are not necessary.

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Free Family Saturday at the St. Louis Artists Guild

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Young artists and their families are invited to complete a fun craft activity in the galleries at the St. Louis Artists Guild. This program is designed for Pre-K to elementary-age children and their families.

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Wee Weekend at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Friday, April 19, 2024

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Friday, May 24, 2024

Preschoolers can learn, play, explore and grow at the Saint Louis Art Museum's Wee Weekend program for its youngest visitors. Join in on the adventure as your little one discovers new ways of interacting with art and each other.

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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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Child development researchers at Washington University School of Medicine are inviting 4-7-year-old children and a caregiver to participate in a study investigating what children know about suicide along with risk factors for experiencing suicidality early in life. We are seeking children who have and who have not experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Children who participate will 1) answer brief questions about their understanding of suicide (we want to learn what children at different ages know, we do not teach them anything new), 2) play games, and 3) complete a safe and non-invasive EEG. Caregivers will complete interviews and surveys. Families can earn up to $110 for participating. LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP HERE

We also have current studies for 12-14-year-old girls and their mothers. Check out our website or email us at childlab@wustl.edu.

In this thrilling blend of classical music and classic animation Bugs Bunny and his Looney Tunes pals join audiences of all ages at Stifel Theatre with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra for Bugs Bunny at the Symphony. A dozen of the world’s most iconic Looney Tunes—What’s Opera, Doc?, The Rabbit of Seville, Corny Concerto, Baton Bunny, Long-Haired Hare, and many others—plus five brand-new animated shorts—will be projected on the big screen, while their exhilarating original scores are played live by the SLSO, conducted by George Daugherty. Bugs Bunny at the Symphony will be presented on Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at Stifel Theatre. LEARN MORE AND GET TICKETS. Want to win tickets? Enter our contest.

Witness high-flying canine athletes, experience up-close encounters with farm animals, or visit adoptable cats and dogs all at the Purina Farms Visitor Center, located just 30 minutes west of St. Louis! Officially opening for the 2024 season on April 20 & 21, guests who visit opening weekend will get the first look at the newly renovated Visitor Center lobby. Visit on Saturdays this season to attend our NEW magic show focused on responsible pet ownership. Open mid-April to October, Wednesday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Daily admission is free unless otherwise stated during a special event. We look forward to seeing you! LEARN MORE

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COCA Ignites Creativity and Sparks Fun for Kids of All Ages, All Summer Long

Stroll along the Walk of Fame in the Delmar Loop, and you’ll spot the playwrights, actors, and artists who got their start in St. Louis, from Tennessee Williams and Katherine Dunham, to Tina Turner and John Goodman. Just a few steps away and around the corner, a new generation of Gateway City superstars will discover their love for the visual and performing arts this summer.

Farmer's Markets Make Great Family Outings! Here is Your 2024 Guide to Farmers Markets Across the St. Louis Area

A trip to the farmer’s market is a fun outing for the entire family – and it can be educational too. Make plans to visit one (or several) of these top St. Louis farmers’ markets this spring and summer, so that you and your kids can learn more about where your food comes from and indulge in some of the freshest, seasonal produce the St. Louis region has to offer. Plus, many of these markets offer activities just for kids, feature food trucks, welcome dogs, and more.

Life Lessons Learned at Overnight Camp

With the perfect blend of adventure and responsibility, camp life teaches kids valuable lessons they can use for the rest of their lives. If you send your child to overnight camp, here are some life lessons they are likely to learn.

Spring Break Camps Offer a Variety of Activities for Kids and Teens in St. Louis

Excitement is building for summer and the wide variety of summer camp experiences available for kids in the St. Louis metro area. But first! Spring break is around the corner, and there are plenty of Spring Break camps now enrolling.

10 Reasons Your Teen Might Love to be a Camp Counselor

Day or sleepaway summer camp is the perfect place for teens to transition to the world of the employed. The paycheck is nice, but being a summer camp counselor has other rewards, too.