
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, special activities for kids.
The festival will be held Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, Sept. 4 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (grounds will remain open until 10 p.m. for candlelit walks), and Monday, Sept. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults and kids ages 13 and older; $5 for ages 3-12; $8 for adult Garden members, and free for children of Garden members ages 3-12. Free for ages 2 and under. Festival level members and their children get in free.
Since 1977, the Missouri Botanical Garden has produced the annual Japanese Festival in conjunction with the Japanese Activities Committee, a coalition of several Japanese-American organizations that provide art, dance, food and entertainment for thousands of visitors each year.
For more information and to see the daily schedule: mobot.org
Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym. Reservations are not necessary.
Catch a movie or two at the Saint Louis Science Center's OMNIMAX Theater, where films are shown featuring the IMAX with Laser. This state-of-the-art theater provides the sharpest images, unmatched sound quality and 40% greater color range than traditional theaters. The five-story, 80-foot-diameter dome will fill your entire field of vision providing a truly immersive experience.
Stop in and have some fun in the indoor pool at the Lodge of Des Peres with your little one at this drop-in swim time for kids up to age 6. No pre-registration is needed; Water Waddlers is open to residents and non-residents of Des Peres.
See the amazing sea lions at the Saint Louis Zoo perform for the crowd and cheer them on from the bleachers as the popular Sea Lion Spring Training Shows return. You'll see these beautiful animals perform flipper walks, ball balancing, Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, lots of splashing and even more surprises!
Bring your little ones to Toddler Tinker Time at The Magic House for special experiences designed for preschoolers. Families will enjoy hands-on activities and private playtime in select exhibit areas like Wonder Works, the STEAM Center, and Xavier Riddle. Recommended for ages 1 to 5.