Gateway Arch

Building the Arch

Kids will use their hands and brain to engineer their very own arch made out of everyday materials at this free workshop.

Part of the StArt@Your Library series at the St. Louis County Library. For ages 7-11.

Building the Arch will be held:

June 29 at 7 p.m. at the Florissant Valley Branch

Free, but registration is required. Learn more and register at slcl.org

View this event »

National Junior Ranger Day at the Old Courthouse

Come to the Old Courthouse for Junior Ranger Day and Night Explorer Workshop conducted by a sky ranger with the National Park Service. Kids can earn a special, limited-edition Junior Ranger badge commemorating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service by completing a craft project relating to American pioneers, Plains Indians, Colonial St. Louis or Lewis & Clark. This special badge workshop will be held between at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

A special Junior Ranger Night Explorer Workshop, where kids can earn a Night Explorer Badge, will be held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

View this event »

$1 Journey to the Top Tram Rides at the Gateway Arch

For one day only, Journey to the Top tram rides at the Gateway Arch will be sold at their original price of $1. Visitors to the top will receive a 'Top of the Arch' lapel button modeled after one that was originally distributed when the trams opened in 1967.

View this event »

Arch 50 Fest

Celebrate the 50th birthday of the Gateway Arch at the Arch 50 Festival. The day long, free celebration will include children's activities, food and drink vendors and live music throughout the day. The celebration culminates in a world-class fireworks display showcasing the Arch.

View this event »

Meet the Builders of the Gateway Arch

Commemorate the 49th anniversary of the completion of the Gateway Arch at the Meet the Builders event. The National Park Service, along with the Jefferson National Parks Association invites the public to meet the builders of the Gateway Arch in the 1960s.

View this event »

National Parks Service Fee Free Day at the Gateway Arch

At the Gateway Arch, the $3 entrance fee included in each adult Tram Ride to the Top and adult Documentary Movie ticket is waived, reducing the cost of each ticket.

View this event »

Camp In’ Under the Arch Opens Kids’ Eyes to Our National Parks

Camping is usually considered a summertime activity, but really there’s no better time to spend a few days living outdoors than now – when the summer heat transitions into autumn relief. No longer will you have to swelter on hikes, become a drinking fountain for mosquitos, or roast around the campfire – but instead soak up nature in cool comfort. To get your kids pumped up about the great outdoors, join them for a camping trial run at Camp In’ Under the Arch this weekend, a special event hosted by the National Park Service (NPS) in honor of Founders Day, its 97th birthday celebration.

Pages

Things to Do

Museum Babies Storytelling

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

View this event »

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.

View this event »

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.

View this event »

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!

View this event »

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!

View this event »

See All Things to Do

Want daily ideas of things to do? How about special offers & giveaways? Sign up and we’ll handle the rest.

Popular Stories

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:

You Might Also Like...

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.

From Our Sponsors