reading

St. Louis County Library's Little Readers Festival

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Celebrate reading at the Little Readers Festival. This free event features a variety of activities and performances, and kids ages 5 and under will receive free books and shaved ice. Activities will be provided by the Bubble Bus, Miss Libby's Music Party, Llama Llama Story Time, and more. Guests will also get to meet Fredbird and the St. Louis Blues mascot Louie from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.!

View this event »

Celia's Sing Along Dance Party

This world-famous, one-woman show is a rockin', stompin', hollerin', good time. Wear your dancing shoes!

View this event »

In the Library with Louie

Meet Louie, the St. Louis Blues mascot, who will pose for photos and sign autographs at this free library event. Your kids will learn what it's like to be a mascot and what it takes to get ready for the season too!

View this event »

Block Party for Preschoolers

Your preschooler can stack 'em up and knock 'em down! They'll explore their inner artist as they explore the third dimension with a variety of blocks at this free workshop.

View this event »

The New StoryBook Walk at Central Park Gets Kids’ Minds and Bodies Moving

The next time your family takes a walk around Central Park Lake in Chesterfield, your kids will go on a literary adventure that revs up their imagination and stirs their love of the great outdoors.

Read it Together with Author Vanessa Brantley-Newton: A Free Born to Read Program

At this free Born to Read program for kids ages birth to 8 years and their parents or caregivers, each family will receive a free copy of the book, while supplies last.

View this event »

Is Your Child Ready for Chapter Books?

There is a logical order to the way parents and teachers introduce literature to children. After board books for babies and toddlers, comes picture books, the staple of pre-schoolers that will continue to be interesting up to ages six or seven. But, once children master decoding, the unlocking of sounds into meaningful words and sentences, they are ready for a greater challenge. They want to join the world of “real readers” and that means tackling chapter books.

Pages

Things to Do

Ballwin Days Festival

Friday, August 14, 2026

Saturday, August 15, 2026

This annual community festival includes lots of live entertainment, a parade on Saturday morning, a carnival with rides, a Kids Korner on Saturday, games, crafts, live music, fireworks and more.

View this event »

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.

View this event »

Parents Night Out at Miss Kelly's Gym

Friday, August 14, 2026

Friday, September 18, 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!

View this event »

Water Waddlers Outdoor Drop-In Swim

Splash and play with your little one in this fun morning activity. No registration is necessary.

View this event »

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.

View this event »

See All Things to Do

Want daily ideas of things to do? How about special offers & giveaways? Sign up and we’ll handle the rest.

Popular Stories

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:

You Might Also Like...

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.

From Our Sponsors