kids fun in St. Louis this holiday season

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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Holiday Lights at Grant's Farm: Drive-Through and Walk-Through Experience

Grant's Farm welcomes visitors this holiday season to the 2024 Holiday Lights Drive-Through and Walk-Through Experiences featuring dazzling light displays, Santa and Mrs. Claus, a 50-foot LED Christmas tree, Clydesdale photos, and more.

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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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Grinch Slime & Storytime

Join in on some Grinch-tastic fun at Play Street Museum! At Grinch Slime + Playtime, kids will enjoy a special storytime featuring the Grinch storybook, then make some Grinch-y slime!

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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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Photos with Santa at Eckert's

Visit Eckert Farms in Belleville and have pictures taken with Santa.

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Brewery Lights Drive-Thru Experience

Anheuser-Busch Brewery Lights has long been a favorite holiday activity for St. Louisans. In addition to the walk-through experience, visitors can drive through the iconic display on select nights.

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Things to Do

Water Waddlers Outdoor Drop-In Swim

Splash and play with your little one in this fun morning activity. No registration is necessary.

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Toddler Thursday at Mastodon State Historic Site

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Toddlers and their grownups can learn, create and play during Toddler Thursday at Mastodon State Historic Site. Each session explores a different topic related to nature and includes activities and a craft.

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Sunsets and Snowcones on the Greenways

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Enjoy free snow cones and watch as the sun sets on greenways across the St. Louis metro area at Sunsets and Snowcones sponsored by Great Rivers Greenway. This free summer series is designed to connect people to nature and community while highlighting the 135 miles of greenways maintained by the agency.

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Toddler Time at The Magic House

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!

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Gateway to Reading

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

The Gateway to Reading program is a parent-child workshop that focuses on strengthening reading skills while engaging in fun, literacy-based activities. Participants will receive a free toolkit of materials to help children in their reading journey.

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10 Ways to Improve Your Child's Listening Skills

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The Fulton School is a toddler-through-12th-grade Montessori community in Chesterfield. The Montessori Method will blow you away. The early childhood programs focus on the foundation necessary for the rest of their education while also developing their self-confidence and character. The children work hard, but it feels like play because the beautiful environment is built just for them. Montessori-trained teachers prepare the environment with tried-and-true, research-proven materials to keep the children engaged and excited to learn. Students grow from concrete, hands-on learners to abstract thinkers, beginning with early reading and math skills.

Classrooms span three age levels, which allows teachers to build strong relationships and develop a deeper understanding of each child’s learning style over the course of three years. Children benefit from being the youngest and learning from peers to being the oldest and learning leadership skills, enjoying the pride of their hard work. Schedule a tour to see the campus, observe the complex beauty of a Montessori classroom, and chat with students/faculty. Come see how a Fulton School education helps children grow up well. LEARN MORE >

If you are new to Just Between Friends, you may be wondering what JBF is all about! We are a MEGA kids + maternity consignment sale franchise! We host 2 to 3 pop-up events each year, offering selections of THOUSANDS of new + gently used items, marked up to 90% below retail. The best way to SHOP this Back to School season for everything your kiddos need for LESS!

Find out how to SELL your items & grab your shopping tickets for our upcoming sale, August 13-17 at the St. Peters Rec Plex! LEARN MORE AND GET TICKETS

At The College School in Webster Groves, our Reggio Emilia-inspired Early Childhood program nurtures each child’s natural curiosity through a thoughtful balance of play, exploration, and meaningful project work. Rooted in the belief that children are capable, creative thinkers, our program invites students to investigate real-world ideas and express their understanding through the “hundred languages” of art, nature, and play. Days are filled with joyful learning experiences—indoors and out—as children build foundational skills in language, math, social-emotional growth, and problem-solving. Our approach blends child-led inquiry with intentional guidance, allowing each student to grow at their own pace while developing confidence and a love of learning. With ample time spent in our outdoor classrooms, gardens, and nearby parks, students connect deeply with the natural world and learn the value of stewardship from an early age. We offer both part-time and full-time options to meet your family’s needs, and tuition assistance is available to help make our program accessible. Come see our warm, vibrant community in action—contact our Admissions Office today to schedule a personal tour! LEARN MORE

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