kids fun in St. Louis this holiday season

At Holiday Night Lights, families can stroll through the beautifully lit front play garden of The Magic House with snowmen galore, play in two new holiday themed outdoor play spaces, hear a special bedtime story complete with delicious cookies and milk in a socially distanced heated outdoor space, say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021 with a fun photo booth and enjoy private playtime in the museum with less than 10% capacity.

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Christmas Tree Decorating Party at Play Street Museum

Kids can decorate their own mini Christmas tree at Play Street Museum's Christmas Tree Decorating Party. Each child will have a variety of ornaments to adorn their tree's branches. This event include playtime in the museum, a take-home treat and other festive activities.

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Find Gifts for All the Kiddos On Your List in our 100% Local Holiday Gift Guide

In a year when every parent could use a break, why not make gift giving easier, faster, and while you're at it, help support local organizations and businesses? That's why we've made our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide 100% local for 2020. Keep St. Louis strong, and those on your list happy, with these gift ideas that are just a click away.

Our Picks for the Top Holiday Events in St. Louis in 2020

The holidays are looking different this year for everyone, but we found plenty of family fun to be had (safely) across the St. Louis area for all ages. Here are our must-do holiday events for your family in 2020.

Holiday Fairy Lantern Workshop at Yucandu Art Studio

Kids will create a miniature magical scene of winter wonderland inside a 14.5" tall wood and metal lantern with tons of awesome goodies to decorate it.

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Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol

COCA presents a holiday classic like never before in Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol! Through hundreds of paper puppets, miniatures, silhouettes, and a live original score, Chicago-based performance collective Manual Cinema takes on the Charles Dickens classic with an imaginative and visually stunning twist specifically created for the 2020 holiday season.

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Cookies with Santa at The Magic House

Enjoy cookies and milk, plus a private indoor visit with Santa with your immediate family. Cookies with Santa at The Magic House includes all day admission.

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Things to Do

Fall Fire & Ice Festival in Town and Country

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Enjoy the Fall Fire & Ice Festival in Town & Country featuring live music, bounce houses for the kids, a Kids Corner, food trucks, arts & crafts and fireworks.

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Big Truck Day at The Magic House

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Roll on over to The Magic House for a truckload of fun! Truck lovers of all ages will get up close to a crane, firetruck, bucket truck, sleeper cab and more!

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Halloween Nights at Grant's Farm

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Get into the Halloween spirit with some spooky fun and celebrate with the animals at Grant's Farm. Enjoy Halloween tram rides featuring Halloween lights, spooky scenes, live actors, scare zones, a Halloween-themed show, monster mash party and more. Costumes are encouraged.

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Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Creve Coeur

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Friday, October 9, 2026

Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Creve Coeur.

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Fall Fest at Grant's Farm

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Families can enjoy the Fall Fest Kids Zone and all the fun of the farm at the Grant's Farm Fall Fest. There will be seasonal treats, animal feedings, a petting zoo, themed photo spots, and the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales too!

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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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Lace up and leash up for a great cause! You and your dog are invited to run, jog, or walk in the Purple Leash 5K & Fun Run at Purina Farms. Compete for top dog in the 5K race or take it easy in the 1-mile fun run. Put your paws to the pavement and then head over to the TAILgate after party for food, drinks, music and more all while raising awareness for the Purple Leash Project. All purple outfits and purple dog gear are highly encouraged! The Purple Leash Project was born out of the Purina mission to bring and keep pets and people together and the RedRover® mission to bring people and their pets from crisis to care. Your support of the Purple Leash Project assists domestic violence shelters on their journey to welcome family pets by funding pet-friendly renovations. Sunday, October 11. FIND OUT HOW TO REGISTER

The Missouri History Museum celebrates education and family learning with History Exploration Days! One Friday per month from September to May, homeschool families with kids of all ages can explore a different historical topic—together! All activities are FREE. Explore St. Louis history in new and exciting ways through interactive guided gallery tours, hands-on workshops, and community performances that align with each month’s theme, encouraging investigation, exploration, and creative fun. Activities are offered at various times throughout the day and are customized for specific grade-level groups.

Storytelling takes place in the morning, and all ages are welcome. Visit the craft room for fun learning experiences, with museum educators available to help learners participate in meaningful ways. Topics this school year include colonial St. Louis, baseball, Black history, and wildlife. Detailed schedules for each day will be posted to the Museum’s website. The program is offered on October 9, November 13, December 11, January 15, February 19, March 19, April 9, and May 14. 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.

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