outdoor events

Garden Buds Summer Saturdays: Forever Flowers

Discover the amazing world of plants with your preschooler during the Garden Buds Summer Saturdays series at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

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Garden Buds Summer Saturdays: Journey to China

Discover the amazing world of plants with your preschooler during the Garden Buds Summer Saturdays series at the Missouri Botanical Garden. These fun, hands-on classes are for children ages 4 to 6 with a parent.

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Garden Buds Summer Saturdays: Search for Secrets

During this class, kids will discover why birds find the Garden such a wonderful place to live, then make a bird feeder to take home and help attract birds to their own yard.

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Plaquey Wacky 5K and Obstacle Relay Race

Join the Delta Dental Health Theatre for its 2nd annual Plaquey Wacky 5K and Obstacle Relay Race on June 20. The event is for all ages, and includes a lot of fun exercises, "gross" activities for kids, an inflatable obstacle course, music, healthy snacks and giveaways.

Registration ranges from $15 to $40 per person, or $50 to $100 for groups of 4-5. The 5K begins at 9 a.m. and the Wacky Obstacle Course begins at 10.

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Food Truck Sundays in Shaw Park

Bring your family and friends to enjoy Food Truck Sundays in Shaw Park. Some of St. Louis' most popular food trucks will be on hand to provide tasty eats, and there will also be family entertainment, and live music. Picnic tables are available throughout the part (both covered and uncovered sites), or bring your own blankets or lawn chairs.

4:30-7:30 p.m.

More information: claytonmo.gov

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Slide the City is headed to St. Louis and O'Fallon in July

For lots of local families, the hot summer months are all about exploring the many pools, waterparks and splash pads the St. Louis area has to offer.

National Trails Day Celebration at the World Bird Sanctuary

Enjoy the outdoors at this family-friendly event, with three different length trails to suit your pace. Naturalists with live animals will be at interpretation stations along the trails. There will also be free children’s activities with prizes, and snacks will be on sale.

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Things to Do

Heritage and Freedom Fest

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Friday, July 4, 2025

Saturday, July 5, 2025

The city of O’Fallon, Mo., throws a fantastic, family-friendly celebration at the Ozzie Smith Sports Complex over the 4th of July holiday weekend.

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Webster Groves Community Days and Fourth of July Celebration

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Friday, July 4, 2025

Year after year, Webster Groves Community Days continues to be one of the largest Independence Day community celebrations in the area, including one of the most popular 4th of July parades.

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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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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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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.

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Festivals & Fireworks to Celebrate July 4th in St. Louis

It's time to celebrate Independence Day in St. Louis, and because this year July 4th falls on a Friday, your family can look forward to a full weekend of festivals and fireworks. Check out these family-friendly celebrations that include carnivals, fantastic fireworks and lots more.

Summer Fun in St. Louis Starts Now! Your Guide to Family Fun this June

For many St. Louis families, the start of June represents the real start of summer. That's when the summer fun really starts to kick in, and the fact that so many activities and attractions are free is just a bonus!

Why Summer Camp is Great for . . . Parents

Being able to focus on yourself, your partner, and other people in your life who mean a lot to you is no small matter. As parents, we’re used to being responsible providers and caregivers. However, there’s so much more to a person: we’re also partners and friends. These are important parts of our identities that we need to cultivate. Sending your kids to summer camp may bring out your more playful side that you haven’t shown for a while.

7 Signs Your Kids Are Ready For Their First Sleepaway Camp

It’s time to decide whether to send your kids to sleepaway camp, but how do you know that's the right thing to do? How can you tell whether your kids are ready for their first extended stay away from home? Here are 7 important signs that experts say should inform your decision.

Want Your Kids to Learn? Teach Them It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

It’s normal for parents to want to protect their children from failure. It’s also normal to want them to achieve, win, and do their best. But here’s the truth: We don’t learn anything new without making mistakes. I’ll say it again. Making mistakes is a crucial step in learning. If we’re fearful of making mistakes, learning comes to a screeching halt.

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Visit the Missouri History Museum on Wednesdays and Fridays in June and July for their Summer Family Fun Series! On Wednesdays, enjoy a variety of free family activities, including crafts, performances, and scavenger hunts, all are tied into Museum exhibits and centered on a different theme each week. Learn about Caribbean, Latin American, and German cultures in STL, discover Missouri’s trains, planes and other forms of transportation innovation, celebrate the 10th anniversary of the History Clubhouse, and more! Fridays feature Storytelling in the Museum and Cuentos en el Museo programs followed by a drop-in craft workshop. Hear classic American folktales, stories about Juneteenth, sweet treats and the 1904 World’s Fair, as well as other topics that families will love. The series is appropriate for children ages 2–12. For more detailed information on each day’s activities, visit the Museum’s website. Please note there is no program on Wednesday, July 2.

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!

From arts, to STEM, to nature, sports and beyond, you'll find the best summer adventures for your kids in our Summer Camp Guide. Enroll now and plan your family's best summer yet. Our Summer Camp Guide is searchable for your child's interests, age, your location, whether you need before and after-care, and even for specific weeks. You'll find exciting opportunities for kids ages 3 to teenagers. Check our Summer Camp Guide now to get started!

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