parenting in St. Louis

Chesterfield Fall Festival at Chesterfield Amphitheater

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Enjoy tons of family fun at Chesterfield's Fall Festival. There will be live music, miniature pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides, pumpkin painting, balloon twisters, a photo booth, hay rides and plenty of festival food. Visit the vendor area to shop for crafts, too.

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Halloween Hullabaloo at the Ballwin Pointe

Friday, October 23, 2026

This free, family-friendly night out features pumpkins, crafts, games and more.

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Toddler and Me Workshop at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Friday, September 18, 2026

Friday, October 2, 2026

Visit the Saint Louis Art Museum for free Toddler & Me workshops featuring a variety of fun themes, hands-on activities, animal meet & greets, story times, special guests and more.

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Trucks and Treats

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Kids can climb into the driver's seat and explore big trucks - maintenance trucks, emergency vehicles, and machines and learn about how they work in the community. Everyone is invited to come in costume and enjoy some spooky treats.

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Trike Town at The Magic House

The iconic Trike Town exhibit returns to The Magic House with an all-new twist.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Route 66, this one-of-a-kind experience invites children to ride trikes through a kid-sized town inspired by America's most iconic highway. Along the way, little drivers will pass familiar St. Louis favorites like Donut Drive-In, Ted Drewes, Crestwood Bowl and Spencer's Grill, bringing the spirit of the open road to life!

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Paws for Reading from the St. Louis County Library

Read to a friendly therapy dog from DUO Dogs, Inc. After the story, the dog's handler will answer any questions kids have about therapy dogs, pet care and more. For ages 3-11. Registration is required for this free program.

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Third of July Fireworks at Twin Oaks

Enjoy a 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on July 3 in Twin Oaks Park. This annual, very popular fireworks show includes live musical entertainment beginning at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks at approximately 9 p.m.

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Things to Do

Wee Weekend at the Saint Louis Art Museum

Friday, August 28, 2026

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Preschoolers can learn, play, explore and grow at the Saint Louis Art Museum's Wee Weekend program for its youngest visitors. Join in on the adventure as your little one discovers new ways of interacting with art and each other.

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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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Music & Movement

Friday, August 28, 2026

Explore songs, finger plays, music and more during this free Music & Movement class for ages 0-6.

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Preschool Science Series at the Saint Louis Science Center

The Preschool Science Series is an open exploration learning lab for young scientists, ages 18 months to 5 years and their families. Activities are designed around research that shows children learn best through play, inquiry and shared experiences with their parents and caregivers.

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Cuentos En El Museo - Storytelling at the Museum in Spanish

Friday, August 28, 2026

Hear stories in Spanish read by native Spanish-speaking storytellers at the Missouri History Museum's Cuentos En El Museo - Storytelling in the Museum in Spanish. In these free storytelling sessions, the museum's youngest visitors explore traditional and contemporary storybooks and do hands-on crafts.

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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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Make the most of the rest of summer at Upper Limits Rock Climbing Summer Camp! Our 5-day camps run Monday through Friday and are packed with climbing, games, water days, challenges, and new friendships. Choose the schedule that works best for your family with half-day and full-day camp options available. We're conveniently located in Maryland Heights and Chesterfield, making it easy to find an adventure near you! Save $10 on camp registration with promo code CLIMBINGCAMP2026. Come spend the rest of your summer reaching new heights at Upper Limits! LEARN MORE

Great Rivers Greenway has teamed up with the Saint Louis Zoo for the fifth annual free greenway scavenger hunt. Community members are invited to look for the many varieties of native bees that you can see buzzing around greenways and search for special hidden souvenirs you can take home! Starting August 1, BEE on the lookout for hand-painted bee rocks along all 140+ miles of greenways. Saint Louis Zoo ALIVE (Active Leaders in Volunteer Education) teen volunteers hand-painted hundreds of rocks like three different species of bees found along the greenways: American bumblebee, brown-belted bumblebee and two-spotted bumblebee, plus a few of the endangered rusty patched bumblebee. If you find a painted rock, you can take it with you. Be sure to log your rock at www.GreenwayQuest.com for a chance to win prizes from both organizations, including Saint Louis Zoo Adventure Passes! Rocks are along edges of greenways or at trailheads, never far away from the path and never on private property. LEARN MORE AND GET STARTED!

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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