parenting in St. Louis

Paws for Reading from the St. Louis County Library

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Saturday, August 8, 2026

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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Passport to the World Cultural Program Series at The Magic House

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Visit The Magic House to celebrate cultures from around the world.

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Family Day at the Contemporary Art Museum

The Contemporary Art Museum invited families to celebrate creativity, play and community at Family Day. Drop in anytime to participate in free hands-on art activities, live jazz performances by HEAL Center for the Arts, a puppet meet-and-greet with the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, complimentary sodas and seltzers from 2nd Shift Brewing, plus free snacks, outdoor games, and more.

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Spider-Man Day at MADE for Kids

Friday, August 7, 2026

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Spider-Man is having a birthday party at MADE for Kids and all young superheroes are invited! Visit MADE for Kids and meet Spider-Man and his superhero friends!

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Read, Play, Grow in the Nature Playscape

Come see the Nature Playscape in Forest Park filled with books, puppets, flannel boards & flannels, and young families at Read, Play, Grow! This unique "come and go as you please" outdoor event for kids ages 0-5 and their families is designed for parents and caregivers to enjoy the simple pleasure of reading with their children while connecting with nature.

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Storytime in Forest Park: Storytime in the Meadow

Monday, July 20, 2026

Monday, July 27, 2026

Meet up in Forest Park for a fun storytime followed by nature adventures! These free story times are open to children of all ages and their caregivers.

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Things to Do

Free Family Night at The Magic House

Friday, July 17, 2026

Friday, August 21, 2026

Friday, September 18, 2026

Come play at The Magic House for free during Free Family Night. Capacity is limited.

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Flying Bird Show at the World Bird Sanctuary

Take your family to watch birds of prey fly right over your head, meet the wonderful bird ambassadors of the World Bird Sanctuary up close and much more.

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Food Truck Friday in Tower Grove Park

Friday, July 17, 2026

Friday, August 7, 2026

Friday, August 21, 2026

It's the food truck event that started them all! Local food trucks gather for an evening of friends, fun, live music and plenty of great food at Sauce Food Truck Fridays. St. Louis' favorite mobile restaurants will be dishing out fresh fare and local brews in Tower Grove Park.

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Parents Night Out at Miss Kelly's Gym

Friday, July 17, 2026

Friday, August 7, 2026

Friday, August 14, 2026

Let Miss Kelly's give you the night off while your child takes part in many different fun activities, including games, obstacles and challenges!

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Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Creve Coeur

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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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.

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

It's time to celebrate Independence Day in St. Louis and our nation's 250th birthday! Check out these family-friendly celebrations that include carnivals, fantastic fireworks, drone shows, parades 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.

Summer STEM Camps Create Hands-On Fun + Immersive Learning for Kids & Teens

Want your child to learn about subjects in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and have fun doing it? Help them further understand the inner workings of what's all around them by enrolling them in a STEM-fueled summer camp. You may be surprised at the wide variety of highly-acclaimed summer camps in the St. Louis area that put new and exciting twists on STEM concepts, creating hands-on fun for kids with the benefit of introducing them to some of the latest technologies in AI, engineering, coding and more.

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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One hour a week. It doesn't sound like much. But ask any Olympia parent, and they'll tell you - one hour a week has a way of changing everything. Maybe it's the moment your toddler sticks their first landing and looks up with that enormous grin. Maybe it's watching your school-age kid tackle something hard and realize they can do it. Maybe it's your teen finding a place where they truly belong.

Those moments add up, week after week. At Olympia Gymnastics, we've been creating those moments for St. Louis families for 47 years. Our coaches don't just teach skills, they show up for your kids. They get to know them, celebrate their wins, and cheer loudest on the hard days. One hour. Big Impact. Olympia Gymnastics + Ninja | 9 locations across the St. Louis area. LEARN MORE

Our Summer Camp Guide at stlcamps.com is the fastest and easiest way to find the perfect summer camps for your kids! We feature camps for ages 18 months to 18 years of age, and for every interest you can imagine. Our guide is searchable for your child's age, camp location, type of camp, camp dates, and even extended care availability. Whether your child is into sports, arts, robotics, coding, outdoor adventures, musical performance, climbing or just about anything else, you'll find it at stlcamps.com! Book your child's camp sessions now! GET STARTED

Visit the Missouri History Museum on Fridays in July for their Summer Family Fun Series! Enjoy a variety of free family activities, including crafts, performances, food, movement, and more! All activities are tied into Museum exhibits and St. Louis history, and focus on a different theme each week. This summer kids and families can learn about Juneteenth, celebrate America’s 250th birthday, explore Vietnamese culture in STL, and discover the wonders of the Mighty Mississippi!

Storytelling in the Museum programs are part of the fun this year, with themes that match the rest of the day’s activities. Don’t forget, the History Clubhouse is open for play and exploration! In this hands-on family gallery, kids can travel back in time to the World’s Fair, Cahokia and more as they learn about the history of the city they call home. Appropriate for ages 2–12. Fridays through July 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more detailed information on each day’s activities, visit the Museum’s website.

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