Midnight is just too late for the littlest partiers to stay up! At this special celebration for preschoolers, there will be story time, snacks, a countdown to the hour (noon), and each child will make their own party kit.

Skate in the new year at the Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park, the oldest and largest outdoor ice skating rink in the Midwest.

Who says New Year's Eve parties are just for adults? Under adult supervision kids ages 8-13 can spend the holiday swimming, ice skating and participating in other specially planned activities at the St. Peter's Rec Plex.

Waddle into fun with Penguin Tales, a night at the library your whole family can enjoy. You'll hear stories about penguins from around the world, play games and make colorful penguin crafts.

Award-winning naturalist Mark Glenshaw has been studying great horned owls in Forest Park since 2005. At this free presentation for all ages, Glenshaw will discuss the amazing hunting and feeding behaviors of these owls with pictures and videos to illustrate these behaviors. 

Free. 7 p.m. at the St. Louis County Library, Daniel Boone Branch. Registration requested.

This free, three-day event during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend will feature scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals showing off cutting-edge research and awesome new inventions, many of which originated right here in St. Louis. 

Exhibits feature tabletop activities and prizes, and amazing performances and demonstrations will take place throughout the day. 11 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16 and Monday, Jan. 18, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17.

Did your child’s school miss out on a Maple Sugar School Field Trip? No problem. Learn the history of maple sugaring, visit the sugar bush to collect sap, and learn to boil it down into syrup. Dress for the weather as the entire program is outdoors and part of the trail is not stroller accessible.

Free. 4-5:30 p.m. at Rockwoods Reservation in Wildwood. 

More information and reservations: www.mdc.mo.gov