Those of us who can't stay awake until midnight can join the Missouri History Museum for a New Year's Eve countdown with two balloon drops! Visitors will enjoy making celebratory crafts, a super-sized story time where you'll learn about food traditions like Hoppin' John, the 12 grapes and more, followed by two giant balloon drops at 11 a.m. and noon.
The Noon Year's Eve Celebration at the Missouri History Museum is free and part of the Winter Getaway at the museum. Reservations are not required.
December 31, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
More information: mohistory.org
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.
Families are invited to the Saint Louis Art Museum on Sunday afternoon to participate in free hands-on art activities with fun themes and to explore the galleries. Each Family Sunday focuses on a different family-friendly theme.
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.
Sensory Friendly Science Time features reduced noise, modified lighting and sensory-friendly demonstrations at the Saint Louis Science Center.