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Head to Forest Park for the Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race. Watch as nearly 60 hot air balloons inflate, glow and launch. Families can also enjoy food trucks, fireworks, children's activities and live music.
Festivities begin at 5 p.m. Friday, September 20 (live music with DJ Reggie on the Main Stage, food trucks and kids' activities), and the Balloon Glow lasts from dusk to 9 p.m. At 9 p.m. the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team takes flight, and fireworks are set for 9:15 p.m.
On Saturday, September 21, the Great Forest Park Balloon Race begins at 1 p.m. with live music on the main stage, a family picnic area, and the Purina Children's Entertainment area. Don't miss the Purina Pro Plan Performance Team at 1:15 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. There will also be food trucks, inflatables, games and kids' activities from St. Louis Children's Hospital.
The afternoon includes the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team at 3 p.m., and balloon launches beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Great Forest Park Balloon Glow and Race are held at the Emerson Central Fields in Forest Park are free to attend.
More information: greatforestparkballoonrace.com
Celebrating the history, culture, and people of Japan, the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States. Your family can enjoy guided walking tours, bonsai, cooking, martial arts and origami demonstrations, sumo wrestling, and special activities for kids.
Wagon rides, live entertainment, great festival foods, a petting zoo and much more make this an apple pickin' good time for the whole family. There will be pony rides, a children's carnival, opportunities to feed goats and other farm animals, caramel apples, funnel cakes and more.
Young visitors and their families are invited to the Energy Stage to enjoy interactive read-alouds of science-themed picture books. Story times are followed by a short demonstration or discussion connected to the book's main concepts.
The Wabash, Frisco & Pacific Railroad invites you and your kiddos to come ride the train! The Wabash, Frisco & Pacific is a historic, 12-inch gauge live steam train in Glencoe, Missouri, that is open most Sundays for public train rides. Reservations are required.
Adventures abound at Trike Town, the outdoor, child-size city at The Magic House. Kids can pick out their favorite little red tricycle and explore the entire town while learning about bicycle safety and the importance of wearing a helmet.