where to see Santa in St. Louis 2021

Free Family Night with Black Santa STL at The Magic House

The Magic House MADE for Kids will host a special Free Family Night featuring Black Santa STL! Visitors are invited to celebrate the holiday season and have their photos taken with Santa (using their own devices), then have lots of hands-on fun in the MADE for Kids makerspace.

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Santa at the Caboose

Santa is on his way to visit the Frisco Park Caboose in Valley Park and sit for pictures with kids!

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Holiday Extravaganza at St. Louis Artworks

St. Louis Artworks hosts its Holiday Extravaganza featuring art exhibits, live art creation, music, food trucks, a pre-Kwanzaa presentation, live music and more.

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Go for the Glow: Eight Must-See Holiday Light Displays in St. Louis

Santa’s helpers throughout St. Louis have been working their magic for months – testing bulbs, hanging lights and building displays – to spark joy for families this holiday season. As soon as November rolls around, the entire region flips the switch to light up dazzling displays that will wow even the grinchiest of visitors. Add in some holiday tunes, kids’ activities and tasty treats, and these light displays become enchanting experiences you and your little ones will never forget.

Meet the Snow Sisters and Snowman at West County Center

Your kids can meet some of their favorite winter characters, like the Snow Sisters (think Frozen), the Ice Queen, and the Snowman at West County Center.

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Edwardsville Children's Museum Arctic Express Event

Join Edwardsville Children's Museum on December 5th to celebrate the holidays! Families will have lots of fun and lots to do at its Arctic Express event!

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A Sweet Time with Santa at Play Street Museum

Enjoy a special visit with Santa at Play Street Museum! Kids are welcome to wear their favorite holiday attire to enjoy cookies and milk while Santa reads The Night Before Christmas.

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Things to Do

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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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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Free Family Saturday at the St. Louis Artists Guild

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Young artists and their families are invited to complete a fun craft activity in the galleries at the St. Louis Artists Guild. This program is designed for Pre-K to elementary-age children and their families.

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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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Free Family Saturdays at Craft Alliance

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Join Craft Alliance every Third Saturday of the month for a free, hands-on craft workshop designed for kids ages 5 and up, along with their parents or caregivers. Led by professional teaching artists, families create together in the Craft Alliance studios — exploring clay, fiber, textiles, metals, and more.
No registration required—just drop in and get creative!

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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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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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