parenting resources in St. Louis

Halloween Family Day at the Contemporary Art Museum

'Tis the season to be spooky! Dress up your kids in their best costumes and head to the Contemporary Art Museum for a haunted dance party, ghoulish art projects, face painting, a kids' costume contest, and special guests, including Louie from the St. Louis Blues. Registration is requested for this free event.

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Halloween Wild Walk

Dress up your kids in their favorite costumes and go trick-or-treating at businesses in the Wildwood Town Center! In addition to lots of treats, trick-or-treaters will enjoy free hot dogs, a costume contest, and giveaways. Free.

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Ferguson Fall Spooktacular

The Ferguson Fall Spooktacular includes trick or treating and a lot more! Families are invited to the Ferguson Community Center for hayrides, s'mores, lots of trick or treating fun, Halloween themed rooms, and more than 5,000 pieces of candy.

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City Wide Trunk or Treat

The Second Annual City Wide Trunk or Treat is fun for the whole family! This free event includes lots of candy and prizes for kids, three bounce houses and an inflatable slide, costume contest, face painting, games, a coloring table, fire truck and a DJ. Everyone is welcome.

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Artscope Family Picnic and Fun Fair

Grab your family and friends, fill up your picnic basket and join Artscope for its Family Picnic and Fun Fair. There will be fun for all ages, including carnival-style games, art activities for kids to make and take with them, face painting, raffle, live music from Firedog and DJ 18 and Counting, popsicles from Poptimism, food for purchase from Harvest Food Truck, cotton candy and more.

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Ghosts of the Arch Grounds

Meet at the West Entrance Plaza at the Gateway Arch for Ghosts of the Arch Grounds. Visitors will learn about the various incarnations of the Arch Grounds as they evolved from French fur trading post to warehouse district to the present Gateway Arch National Park. Experience the ups and downs of historical figures like Pierre Laclede, Thomas Targee, James Eads and Percy Green.

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Mad Science Under Pressure Workshop for Kids

Kids will learn the science behind air pressure as they create a whirlwind with an Airzooka vortex generator and make pucks and balls levitate. They'll also launch foam rockets with the Air Blaster Kit.

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Things to Do

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

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Friday, December 1, 2023

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 twinkling light displays, enjoy fun photo opportunities, holiday carolers, Santa's woodland workshop, roaming entertainers, and lots more in this enchanting holiday wonderland.

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Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Friday, December 1, 2023

More than a million lights will illuminate some of the Missouri Botanical Garden's most iconic locations, walkways will be transformed into sensory light tunnels providing an explosion of visual magic, and traditional candlelight village displays, festive drinks, s'mores and great photo opportunities will delight crowds of all ages.

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Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Enjoy the iconic lights that adorn the Anheuser-Busch Brewery close up during walking tours. Brewery Lights features more than one million twinkling lights and lots of family friendly activities. New this year is an enhanced parade with Clydesdales and street performers, giant branded nutcrackers and interactive stage performances.

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Water Waddlers Indoor Drop-In Swim

Stop in and have some fun in the indoor pool at the Lodge of Des Peres with your little one at this drop-in swim time for kids up to age 6. No pre-registration is needed; Water Waddlers is open to residents and non-residents of Des Peres.

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

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

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Family Night with Fredbird is back at Cardinals Nation! Join us at Cardinals Nation Restaurant & Bar on select Wednesday evenings this off-season! Bring your family for games, prizes, and meet Fredbird and take photos with him from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Kids eat free every Wednesday from 5 - 9 p.m.* To view the dates and make your reservation, visit cardinals.com/familynight

*One free kids meal per adult meal purchased. Dine-in only. For kids 12 and under.

The Pet-acular Holiday Bazaar is a family-friendly holiday festival especially for kids and dogs! This St. Louis favorite returns to the state-of-the-art Purina Event Center on Dec. 2-3. Visit the Kids Activity Area, take photos with Santa, have fun in Jingle Bell Junction, watch live musical entertainment and canine demonstrations, meet adoptable pets, visit the Slobber Town Activity Area for dogs, and shop for unique gifts from more than 25 local retailers! Pet-acular Holiday Bazaar admission is free; parking is $25 per car. There will be a dedicated sensory-friendly space for the duration of the event that will offer photos with Santa for families with children of all abilities from 12-12:30 each day. The Pet-acular Holiday Bazaar will be held December 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Reservations are required. LEARN MORE AT PURINAFARMS.COM

As you roam throughout the Zoo during U.S. Bank Wild Lights you’ll see dazzling displays, including new light tunnels and a 40-foot tree, as well as an inflatable maze, blizzard boulevard, camp fire corner, candy cane lane, polar point and lots more. Need a warm-up? Step inside the Insectarium to see invertebrates, sip on a novelty hot chocolate, toast some s’mores at one of the fire pits, or enjoy “The Polar Express” at the 4D Theater. If you’re cool with being cool, you’ll enjoy seeing the animals at Penguin & Puffin Coast, where it’s a brisk 45 degrees, or embrace the winter chill as you ride the Conservation Carousel. Adding to the merriment are holiday carolers, performing nightly. And for the kiddos: be sure to stop by the Woodland Workshop, where they can work on a free craft and write a letter to Santa. Select nights, Nov. 24 through Dec. 30, 5 to 8:30 p.m. Learn more at stlzoo.org/wildlights; tickets are on sale now!

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