fun things for kids to do in STL

Laser Light Shows at the McDonnell Planetarium

Visit the McDonnell Planetarium at the Saint Louis Science Center for the return of Laser Light Shows! Laser Light Shows fuse music, laser artwork, immersive lighting, and 3D-atmospheric for an exciting live experience.

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Children's Garden Meet Me Outdoors Weekend at MOBOT

Visit the Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden for two festive fun-filled days of hands-on activities celebrating the changing of the seasons. There will also be activities throughout the Garden to celebrate this special weekend.

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Kids Open Play at Ultimate Ninjas

Kids and teens ages 6-15 can practice and explore a variety of obstacles, fine tune their skills on a single obstacle, or practice running the customizable courses at Ultimate Ninjas Open Play. Registration is recommended.

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Mary Poppins Jr.

Everyone's favorite practically perfect nanny takes the stage in this supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical adventure.

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Grand Opening of the New Museum at the Gateway Arch

Join in the celebration featuring master of ceremonies St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, food trucks, games, face painters, appearances by Fredbird and Louie, and live music from Boogie Chyld.

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Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip

The Summer Reading Road Trip is a reading festival for kids ages 0 to 12 and their families that includes author signings, crafts, and photo opps with your kids' favorite costume characters.

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Things to Do

Budding Artists Preschool Art Program

Thursday, August 27, 2026

At this free art program for ages 3-6 the focus is on the process of making art rather than the finished product. Dress to get messy!

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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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Free Children's Yoga at Brentwood Public Library

Take part in a free yoga session just for kids! Children's yoga, presented by Complete Harmony, is held at the Brentwood Public Library on Thursdays from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Classes include stories, movement and mindfulness and are geared for children up to age 5. Bring a yoga mat or towel.

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Purina Incredible Dog Team at St. Louis Union Station

See the Purina Incredible Dog Team perform extraordinary feats of athleticism and skill right here in St. Louis at Union Station this summer! 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.

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Wee Weekend at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Friday, August 28, 2026

Saturday, August 29, 2026

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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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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