The Taste of St. Louis has become one of the top-rated festivals not only in St. Louis but the Midwest. And this year, the addition of a huge "city" dedicated to kid-friendly fun promises to kick it up even one more notch.
That "city" is the annual festival Kid City, a kid-focused event that in previous years has been held in St. Charles and, before that, at the Saint Louis Science Center.
Calling the festival a city isn't much of a stretch either. Kid City will consist of an entire block of free, active, hands-on fun for kids of all ages.
From meeting their favorite storybook characters, to getting their geek on in the Technology Zone, to milking a cow or trying their hand at their favorite sport, there's a huge variety of activities for kids of all ages to experience.
"It makes so much sense for us to partner with Taste of St. Louis," said Tammy Wildman, Kid City organizer. "We appeal to the same people and offer the same high-quality experience.
"We have an entire city block at the intersection of Chestnut and 14th Street, and it will be filled with free family fun, adventure and the best family-focused resources the St. Louis region has to offer."
Wildman, a mother of 2, added that bringing the two festivals together helps parents maximize their time with their children as they enjoy Kid City and the Taste of St. Louis together.
Some of the activities scheduled at Kid City include:
The Big Top: A fun venue where kids and parents can enjoy performances by St. Louis favorites The Everyday Circus Youth, Reptile Experience and Tekno Bubbles.
The Prairie Farms Experience: Kids can see what life is like on a dairy farm. They can milk a cow, play games and enjoy some of their favorite Prairie Farms products, like chocolate milk.
The Road Wise Program: This interactive, life-size cityscape helps kids learn how to safely navigate city streets. The first 50 children who participate each day (and who are age 10 and under) will receive a free bike helmet and fitting.
Sports Fun: This includes the Rawlings T-ball cage, Kid City soccer park and Hammer's giant carousel bounce.
Charcter Visits: Kids can meet their favorite characters, like Dora the Explorer and Elmo. Bring your cameras for a souvenir photo!
The American Eagle Kids Credit Union: Kids can play games that teach them to count and manage money.
Sonic Drive-In Book Fair: Even the book worms aren't left out!
Kid City hours differ from those of Taste of St. Louis. Visit Kid City on Saturday, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Taste of St. Louis hours are Friday, Sept. 28 from 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Both are taking place at Soldiers' Memorial (12th and Market) in downtown St. Louis. Click for map and directions
For more information about Kid City, go to www.stlkidcity.com
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!