When the heat is on and the pools are crowded, a parent's go-to strategy for finding the perfect summer activity that keeps kids happy and cool is to find the nearest splash pad. St. Louis is full of them, ranging from small neighborhood parks with pop jets, to sprawling water features with fountains and wading pools.
Here are some to explore across the St. Louis area, and most are free:
Tower Grove Park. The Muckerman Children's Fountain & Pop Jets at Tower Grove Park are open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting June 14. The park also has two playgrounds. Visit on Friday mornings when you can also see free performances by some of St. Louis' best-known children's entertainers. All activities are free.
Forest Park. Visiting the 17-acre Anne O'C. Albrecht Nature Playscape is a cool adventure just by itself, with its sand play areas, willow tunnels, stump steppers, boulders, rocks and lots more. In the warm months, play is taken to the next level with the water features

The Children's Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The Splash Area in the Children's Garden turns on when temps reach 70 degrees and are included in Children's Garden admission. Hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 am. to 4 p.m. It's free on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon for St. Louis City & County residents.
Kiener Plaza. Cool off in the city's Kiener Plaza, where you'll find a fountain garden with a splash pad, and a fantastic playground as well.
Citygarden.
Photo credits: Forest Park Forever,
The Saint Louis Art Fair is a free, three-day celebration of the visual and performing arts that includes a Creative Castle for kids on Saturday and Sunday.
The annual Kirkwood Greentree Festival will be held September 18 - 20 in Kirkwood Park. This free, family festival features a parade that steps off on Saturday at 10 a.m. beginning at Kirkwood High School, entertainment and food vendor booths, and kids activities.
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.
Enjoy a family-friendly celebration of autumn at the Saint Louis Zoo's Zootoberfest! Kids can participate in all the regular Zoo fun and explore new adventures at Zootoberfest activity stations. Families will enjoy an Oktoberfest-style event with beer and root beer, German-themed cuisine, and live music.
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.