holiday events in St. Louis

Delight in brilliant, colorful light displays with spectacular photo opportunities throughout the Zoo during Wild Lights. Walk through two tunnels with dazzling lights, and enjoy themed displays featuring snowflakes, candy canes, gumdrops, penguins, polar bears, tigers, giraffes and much more at this St. Louis family-favorite holiday tradition.

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Winterfest

The magical sights of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation's Winterfest return to downtown St. Louis this holiday season. Winterfest includes family fun, beautiful holiday lights, s'mores stations, ice skating and festive activities and fireworks, plus special character visits and a New Year's Eve celebration.

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Winter Getaway at the Missouri History Museum

Bring your kids to the Missouri History Museum for the Winter Getaway for free activities, family films and live music just for kids.

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Garden Glow Family Nights at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Visit one of the most dazzling holiday light displays in the Midwest on these special Family Nights when children's tickets are just $5.

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Supper With Santa at The Butterfly House

Santa is making a stop at The Butterfly House before he makes his trip around the world, and he wants to enjoy a meal with your family! Enjoy a delicious dinner, visit Santa's Workshop and Mrs. Claus's Cookie Kitchen, have your picture taken with the guest of honor - Santa!

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Festival of Lights at Kiener Plaza

Welcome the holiday season at Kiener Plaza with the lighting of the Salvation Army Tree of Lights, live entertainment, and ice skating at the Winterfest Ice Rink.

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Cold-Nosed Candids with Santa at Purina Farms

Gather your pack – your kids and your cold-nosed companions – for a pet-friendly visit with Santa this year at Purina Farms. Cold-Nosed Candids are for families and their cats and dogs to have their photos taken while they frolic through the snow provided by the Bubble Bus! Reservations are required.

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Things to Do

Planetarium Shows at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park

Visit the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park and see a star show to experience the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere. Star shows are lead LIVE by one of the Planetarium's educators, creating a new and tailored experience for every audience.

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Spring Training Sea Lion Shows at the Saint Louis Zoo

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Monday, March 17, 2025

See the amazing sea lions at the Saint Louis Zoo perform for the crowd and cheer them on from the bleachers as the popular Sea Lion Spring Training Shows return. You'll see these beautiful animals perform flipper walks, ball balancing, Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, lots of splashing and even more surprises!

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Preschool Science Series: Storybook STEM at the Saint Louis Science Center

Sunday, March 16, 2025

The Saint Louis Science Center has expanded its Preschool Science Series to include new offerings for different age groups of young scientists. Storybook STEM is for ages 3 to 5.

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Science Storytime at the Saint Louis Science Center

Young visitors and their families are invited to the Life Science Lab Classroom at the Saint Louis Science Center to enjoy interactive read-alouds of science-themed picture books. Story times are followed by a short demonstration or discussion connected to the book's main concepts.

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Animals Aglow at the Saint Louis Zoo

Explore the Saint Louis Zoo in the evenings at the Chinese lantern festival Animals Aglow! Animals Aglow returns to illuminate the Saint Louis Zoo for the second year with dozens of new, towering lanterns and light displays.

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On your mark. Get set. Go! Who will cross the finish line first — the fast and confident hare or the slow but determined tortoise? The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra brings The Tortoise and the Hare to life as children dance and play along with the musicians of the SLSO. The Tortoise and the Hare is based on the book by Alison Ritchie, and set to the music of Beethoven, Rossini, Elgar, and Dvořák. The Tortoise and the Hare will be performed on Saturday, March 29 at 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Sheldon Concert Hall. It is most enjoyed by ages 3-6 and their grownups. Pre-concert activities begin 30 minutes prior to each performance. GET TICKETS

Vetta Sports Spring Break and Summer Camps are where every kid wants to be! Give your kids a full week of sports, activities and friends during their school's Spring Break or all summer long at Vetta Sports. Enrollment is open for kids ages 5-12 for camps in a fun, active, creative environment full of sports, games, friends and special activities. LEARN MORE AND ENROLL TODAY!

On the Fly Pros is the most unique summer camp in town! This summer, let your kids perform, fly, and defy gravity at On the Fly STL Studios Aerial & Flying Summer Camps! Each action-packed week combines aerial, dance, acting, and harness flying with circus arts and performance fun! Campers will create an exciting performance by the end of the week - because at On the Fly, every camper is a star! Camp themes include Superheroes, Wicked & Wizard of Oz Mash-Up, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and more. Recommended for ages 6-16 (campers are broken into smaller age groups). Flexible scheduling is available! Learn more at ontheflypros.com

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