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.
The festival will be held Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Last entry at 4:30 p.m.) Admission is $18 for adults and kids ages 13 and older; $9 for ages 3-adult, and free for children age 2 and under. Garden members ages 13 and up are $0. Festival-level members and their children get in free.
For more than 40 years, 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 visit: missouribotanicalgarden.org
Delight in brilliant, colorful light displays with spectacular photo opportunities throughout the Zoo during Wild Lights. Walk through two tunnels with dazzling lights, and enjoy themed displays featuring snowflakes, candy canes, gumdrops, penguins, polar bears, tigers, giraffes and much more at this St. Louis family-favorite holiday tradition. New this year: Visits with Santa!
Experience the holiday lights at Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park, where you'll find two million beautiful holiday lights and animated displays.
Come over to the dark side and meet the amazing birds that exist by moonlight. Owl Prowls are an opportunity for families to learn about owls from the naturalists at the World Bird Sanctuary.
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.
Let Miss Kelly's give you the night off while your child takes part in many different fun activities, including games, obstacles and challenges!