Step into the wonder and beauty of butterflies, insects, spiders and their many-legged friends at the Bug Ball.
Your little bugaboos will be able to play games, create spook-tacular crafts and take home lots of loot after they visit the many hand-painted Treat Houses. Families can spy on the amazing Owl Butterflies, which are only active during dusk and dawn.
Admission into the Butterfly House, activities, light refreshments, crafts, treats and goody bags are included in the event ticket price. Space is limited and reservations are required. Cost is $14 per person, $12 for members of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and free for infants 12 months and younger.
Saturday, October 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Faust Park, Chesterfield.
More information and to register: butterflyhouse.org
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.
The St. Louis African Arts Festival, held in Forest Park, celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of Africa and African people. Children's activities include storytelling, arts and crafts, mask-making and educational workshops. In conjunction with the festival, the Saint Louis Zoo will have special activities focused on a different African animal each day.
There are more than strawberries (but plenty of those too) at this festival! Kids can enjoy carnival rides, a petting farm, pony rides, the children's play area and lots more.
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.
Come face-to-face with mermaids at the St. Louis Aquarium during Mermaids on the Mississippi. Mermaids will swim the aquarium, and dive in shark canyon with the sharks, rays, sea turtles and other underwater creatures.