Many St. Louis family attractions have re-opened with limited capacity and enhanced safety protocols for visitors and staff. Read more about family attraction re-openings and safety guidelines here. We invite our readers to enjoy virtual events and socially distanced events highlighted in our Things To Do calendar. Public health experts recommend that when you go out, follow public health guidelines: wear masks (required in St. Louis City and County), practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently. To learn why social distancing is important and effective in lessening the spread of COVID-19, hear from Dr. Alexis Elward, Chief Medical Officer at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

holiday events in St. Louis

U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo

U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo is back for another beautifully lit season. Your family can stroll through the Zoo grounds surrounded by a million lights! Visitors will see animated light displays, enjoy fireside stories, campfire s'mores, fun photo opportunities, the Conservation Carousel, the 4-D Theater featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and lots more in this enchanting holiday wonderland. Parking is free.

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Breakfast with Santa at the Chesterfield Family YMCA

Enjoy a fun breakfast with jolly old Saint Nick and Mrs. Claus, photos with Santa (parents, bring your cameras!), and fun holiday crafts.

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Holiday Lights at Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Enjoy the iconic lights that adorn the Anheuser-Busch Brewery close up during walking tours (that are stroller-friendly).

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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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Supper With Santa at The Butterfly House

Supper with Santa includes a pasta dinner, cookies and hot cocoa, a picture with Santa, a night stroll through the tropical conservatory, and Santa's Workshop stations, where kids can make fun crafts and act silly in the photo booth. After dinner, you'll visit Mrs. Claus's Cookie Kitchen for cookies and hot cocoa. Reservations are required.

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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 $3.

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Sensory Night at U.S. Bank Wild Light at the Saint Louis Zoo

People of all abilities can enjoy the popular U.S Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo during Sensory Night, which offers quiet areas and trained Zoo staff to assist children and families who may benefit from a sensory-friendly experience.

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Things to Do

Virtual Story Time for Kids Hosted by the St. Louis County Library

In-person story times are on hold, but children can still enjoy virtual story times from the expert storytellers at the St. Louis County Library!

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City Museum on Air

Monday, August 3, 2020

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Make art. Go on a guided tour, DIY a time capsule. Peek behind the scenes. Watch the Cassily Crew at work. Help inspect the slides. All from home! Every Monday through Friday the staff, crew, artists and historians at City Museum are going LIVE on Facebook to share stories, offer free art classes, and entertain kids and families in all the ways they know how (read: mischief, mayhem and making).

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Zoom with Saint Louis Zoo Educators

Enjoy the Saint Louis Zoo online! Zoom with Saint Louis Zoo educators is a live, free presentation that allows families to learn more about animals and how amazing they are. Themes vary, and registration in advance is required. After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email letting you know how to join.

If you can't join the live presentation, the recordings are available on the zoo's web site at stlzoo.org/STLZOOms

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Explore Purina Farms: Animal Connections

Monday, August 3, 2020

Monday, August 10, 2020

Monday, August 17, 2020

Purina Farms is bringing the best of the farm to your home every week! You can virtually explore Purina Farms through videos featuring the animals, dog trainers and others who work there, as well as the pets who work and play at Purina Farms every day. Each day of the week features videos on a variety of topics including animal connections, training tips and responsible pet care advice for kids.

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Magic At Home with The Magic House

Monday, August 3, 2020

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

The Magic House is bringing innovative, hands-on learning to you at home with its #MagicAtHome series of interactive, instructional online presentations. The Magic At Home series of activities includes lots of fun projects that you can make at home with common materials. The easy-to-follow directions mean your kids can make paper sculpture, do shaving cream marble painting, create make-your-own flowers, go "fishin," make TP roll animals, make salad spin art and more.

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St. Louis Area Summer Camps, Some Family Attractions to Open In June with New Safety Guidelines

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Saint Louis Zoo Announces Opening Date for Summer 2020; New Safety Protocols

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Coming Soon: Why the Forest Park Playscape, Opening This Year, Will Be Much More Than a Playground

Since breaking ground on the child-inspired Nature Playscape in Forest Park last summer, Forest Park Forever, the City of St. Louis and their team of partners have been pushing forward on this much-anticipated project at full speed, constructing eight activity areas where your kids will soon splash, climb, build, and learn. Already halfway completed, this one-of-a-kind play area in the heart of the park is destined to grow children’s interest in the natural world around them.