St. Louis Family Fun
FIRST Robotics Competition
Watch the best robotics teams from around with world face off in a rock 'em, sock 'em competition with homemade robots. Teams compete for top honors in design excellence, competitive play and sportsmanship.
Events include the FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships and te FIRST LEGO League World Festival. Also featured is the Junior FIRST LEGO League World Festival Expo.
All events are free and open to the public.
Competition times vary. Events are held at the Edward Jones Dome, Union Station and America’s Center.
Animal Babies at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
This is a good time of year to celebrate furry little animal babies. Aren’t they cute? They wake up, dash around, leap and jump, play hard with each other, and then cuddle up and fall asleep again. While their parents feed, protect and teach them, the babies are learning about the world around them.
Bring your kids, age 3 and up, to celebrate animal babies, and make a furry little animal to take home.
9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Free. At Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center.
Backyard Maple Sugaring at Rockwoods Reservation
So you’ve got maple trees and you love maple syrup… join this program to learn how to develop your very own backyard maple syrup and maple sugar operation. You’ll learn to identify sugar maple trees, details of tree tapping, cooking methods and finishing your sap to syrup. Join the growing community of maple sugaring enthusiasts and gain experience in every step of the process by working with naturalists. Call 636-458-2236 for reservations. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. At Rockwoods Reservation.
Surviving an Italian Family. In turn, he – a first generation Sicilian who shares a name with the Godfather – likes to remind me that hot-headed and easily offended Italians are known for leaving the people who cross them to “sleep with the fishes.” 
Lattes are back at Starbucks. Another sure sign of September is the annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race. The party kicks off on Friday night with one of St. Louis’ favorite gatherings, the Balloon Glow. During this uber-popular event, thousands of people hit Central Field in Forest Park to enjoy the breathtaking (and up close) views of burners illuminating inflated balloons. The event wraps up around 9 p.m. with a fireworks finale.
