St. Louis Public Schools

Back to School and Community Empowerment Festival

St. Louis Public School and the Urban League of Metro St. Louis present the annual Back to School and Community Enpowerment Festival, free for all city residents.

This year's festival features a main stage on the arena floor where student performances and academic showcases will take place. Free school supplies will be given away while supplies last and a free lunch will also be served.

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Poetry Out Loud

Watch St. Louis city high school students compete in the St. Louis regional Competition of Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation contest in which the winner will advance to the state championships.

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More Than Band-Aids: What School Nurses Do for You

There are some places kids just don’t want to be at school:

St. Louis Public Schools Receive Grant to Provide iPads to Kids in Autism Program

The St. Louis Public School District has been awarded a grant valued at $10,900 from the Innovative Technology Education Fund to provide iPads in six self-contained autism classrooms serving students in grades 9-12 at Gateway Institute of Technology High School.

Known as the Learning and Communicating Using iPads Project, the District will incorporate the iPads into instructional learning by utilizing applications recommended by Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, and by providing two full days of technical training for teachers and paraprofessionals by Apple, the creator of the iPad.

So, Where'd You Go To High School?

Education in St. Louis is a hot topic. We are, after all, the city of “Where did you go to high school?” a question so loaded with implications of judgment and box fitting it would make Cojo blush. Because, in St. Louis, where you went to school and where you send your kids to school means something. We all love to run through our "peek into your neighbor’s medicine cabinet" filter. It indicates income, status, religion and political views, just to name a few. It is such a hot topic I can clearly imagine the girls from The View tossing it around: Elisabeth vehemently (OK, preachily) defending her choice to send her children to a private, elite school. Joy chipping in about her children’s progressive, newer-age (crunchy) school, and Sherri singing the praises of some uber-religious institution. And Whoopi, well, she would definitely support the public school choice, accredited or not. That’s just how she rolls.

Things to Do

Ballwin Days Festival

Thursday, August 13, 2026

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.

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Water Waddlers Outdoor Drop-In Swim

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

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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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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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Sunsets and Snowcones on the Greenways

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Enjoy free snow cones and watch as the sun sets on greenways across the St. Louis metro area at Sunsets and Snowcones sponsored by Great Rivers Greenway. This free summer series is designed to connect people to nature and community while highlighting the 135 miles of greenways maintained by the agency.

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See All Things to Do

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Dinoroarus Comes Roaring Back at the Saint Louis Zoo

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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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