The Saint Louis Zoo will will host the Big Eyes, Big Minds International Children's Film Festival of St. Louis, showcasing the best films from around the world to educate, enrich and inspire kids ages 1 to 16. All programs feature age-appropriate live-action and animated short films which are universally relevant to kids. The mission of the film festival is to expose children to diverse and imaginative works to broaden their view of the world, foster critical thinking and inspire creative expression.
Each program includes a series of 6 to 11 short films from various countries, ranging from award-winning animated films to child-produced films. Each film is between 1 and 30 minutes long.
Films will be shown on Saturdays: Feb. 9, 16 and 23. Tickets are available online and at the door. Showtimes are 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.
Tickets are $9 per person for ages 2 and up. Children under 2 are free. Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by at least one adult. Films are shown in the Anheuser-Busch Theater in the Living World /North Entrance at the Saint Louis Zoo.
After each screening, members of the Zoo education Department will offer a short filmmaking opportunity and other film-related activities for kids. The Wild Wonder Outpost discovery room for young children, located in the Living World, will be free of charge after the 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. film screenings.
More information, a full schedule of times and dates of each movie, and tickets: stlzoo.org
There are more than strawberries (but plenty of those too) at this festival! Kids can enjoy carnival rides, a petting farm, wagon rides, the children's playground and lots more.
Don't be late for this very important date! the Fancy Tea Party at the Butterfly House will have you feeling fancy and acting silly while celebrating mommies, grammies and aunties. Bring your kiddos to enjoy tasty treats, delightful drinks, fun crafts and more.
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.
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.
Explore the Saint Louis Zoo in the evenings at the new Animals Aglow exhibit. Bring your family to experience the luminous glow of 50 towering lanterns depicting animals, plants and traditional Chinese elements. Don't miss this celebration of culture and art!