Monarch butterflies are headed south for the winter, and the National Park Service and the city of St. Louis are celebrating the journey with the Great MonArch Migration event. Pollinator experts from the Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis Zoo, and the Missouri Department of Conservation will lead monarch-themed activities, like making milkweed seed balls and insect hotels, and will share monarch gardening tips.
Activities will take place in front of the new west entrance to the Gateway Arch as well as inside the Arch Visitors Center. Free refreshments, native plants and seed packets will be available while supplies last.
It's also the National Park Service Fee Free Day, in which the entrance fee to all NPS sites is waived. Visitors to the Gateway Arch can enjoy $3 off their adult tram ride ticket or documentary movie that day.
Saturday, September 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gateway Arch.
More information: gatewayarch.com
Experience the holiday lights at Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park, where you'll find two million beautiful holiday lights and animated displays.
More than a million lights will illuminate some of the Missouri Botanical Garden's most iconic locations, walkways will be transformed into sensory light tunnels providing an explosion of visual magic, and traditional candlelight village displays, festive drinks, s'mores and great photo opportunities will delight crowds of all ages.
Enjoy the iconic lights that adorn the Anheuser-Busch Brewery close up during walking tours. Brewery Lights features more than one million twinkling lights, a Kids Winter Wonderland, a nightly parade featuring the World-Famous Clydesdales, and lots of family-friendly activities.
Celebrate the magic of the holidays the entire month of December at the Holiday Magic experience at The Magic House! Holiday Magic features festive decorations throughout the museum, Winter Wonderscape, a Snowball Showdown, Story Time with Mrs. Claus & Santa, a special Toddler Time experience and more.
The magical sights of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation's Winterfest return to downtown St. Louis this holiday season. Winterfest includes family fun, beautiful holiday lights, s'mores stations, ice skating and festive activities and fireworks, plus special character visits and a New Year's Eve celebration.