January is Packed with Adventures All Across St. Louis! Don't Miss our Top Picks for Family Fun

It may be one of the coldest months of the year, but January is packed with fun family events to get you and the kids out of the house and having fun. Here are a few we'd recommend, and a look ahead at can't-miss events you'll want to plan on in February.

The Snowy Day: A Glowy Snowy Experience

Join the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis for a new and expanded adventure of the beloved children's classic, The Snowy Day: A Glowy Snowy Experience! Take part in this outdoor, socially distanced, drive-through spectacle filled with giant illuminated puppets, glow-in-the-dark scenery and a podcast that tells the story of Peter, a young boy, playing outside with his friends during the season's first snow. This revolutionary family event is an adaptation of the beloved classic children's book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. This production will take place at the Missouri History Museum.

Dates of the production are January 6-9, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. Learn more and get free tickets at repstl.org

Family Night with Fredbird

Bring your family to Cardinals Nation Restaurant & Bar on select Wednesday nights this off season for Family Night with Fredbird! Meet Fredbird from 6:30-7:30 p.m., play games and win prizes! Kids eat FREE per adult meal purchased from 5 to 9 p.m. (Dine-in only, for kids 12 and under.) Meet Fredbird on January 4, 11 and 18, along with select dates in February and March.  For more information and reservations, go to: cardinalsnation.com

MLK Day Camp at the Saint Louis Zoo

From the grasslands to the trees, from the desert to the seas, animals have amazing adaptations to help them survive! At the Saint Louis Zoo's MLK Day Camp: Animal Adventure, campers will adventure around the Zoo, discovering how animals live in habitats all around the world. For kids in grades 1-5. Cost is $55 for Zoo members and $60 for the general public. Before- and after-care is available. January 16, 2023, from 8:30 to 4 p.m. More information and registration: stlzoo.org

Giraffes Can't Dance from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Join the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Education Team for a two-part series of fun-filled, live family activity sessions featuring music and movement. Tiny Tunes; Giraffes Can't Dance, is an online, live interactive event where no matter your background, your entire family will be singing, dancing, and playing instruments together! This free program, presented by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, is designed for children ages 3-6 and their families. Giraffes Can't Dance takes place on two consecutive Saturdays: Saturday, January 14 from 10:30 - 11 a.m., and Saturday, January 21 from 10:30 - 11 a.m.

By registering for this free event you are signing up to participate in both days. This event is for kids of all abilities and is led by music educators on the SLSO staff.  Advance registration is required and space is limited. Register at slso.org

Loop Ice Carnival 

The Loop Ice Carnival is a festival full of icy fun for all ages. Held on Delmar Blvd. in University City, the carnival features live ice carving demonstrations, 40+ ice sculptures, ice slides and ice games for kids, winter-themed characters, fire performers, stilt walkers, photo opportunities, ice ballerinas, jugglers, face painting, and lots more. The fun begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 21. More information: universitycityloop.com

WiLD Family Fun: Winter Wonderland in Babler State Park

Bring the whole family for a stroll through beautiful Babler State Park for a winter adventure you won't forget. Families will work together with a GPS unit to find locations around the Babler Outdoor Education Center. Instructors will be present so no previous experience with GPS is necessary. One GPS unit will be available for each family. Registration is required. Cost is $12 per person. January 21 - two sessions, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. More information: prcommunityed.com

Snow Spa Party at Play Street Museum

Your kids can enjoy lots of Frozen-themed activities at this exclusive Snow Spa Party at Play Street Museum! They can dress up as their favorite ice princess to make sugar scrub, paint their nails and enjoy playtime in the museum. Saturday, Jan. 28 or Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Play Street Museum. Cost is $25 per child. Reservations are required. Register at book/playstreetmuseum.com

Fete de Glace Ice Carving Festival

More than a dozen ice carvers will fill two blocks of North Main Street in St. Charles and create works of ice art at this outdoor ice-carving festival, Fete de Glace (Festival of Ice.) Watch as skilled carvers turn blocks of ice into unbelievable creations. Each carver starts with a single block of ice weighing 260 pounds. Visitors can watch the sculptures as they are created. Coffee, hot chocolate and fire pits keep the atmosphere cozy. Restaurants and shops will be open serving food and offering unique shopping experiences. Saturday, Jan. 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in historic downtown St. Charles (100 and 200 block of North Main Street). More information: discoverstcharles.com

Looking Ahead:

Here are some highlights to look forward to in early February:

Xavier Riddle at the Secret Museum: The Exhibit opening at The Magic House February 4

This nationally acclaimed exhibit brings beloved characters and cultural themes to life through hands-on interactive activities and immersive environments. Based on the PBS Kids series in which Xavier Riddle and his friends go back in time to meet historical figures and find new adventures. Learn more at magichouse.org

Spells of the Sea from Metro Theater Company

If the adventure and magic of Moana and Encanto delighted you, don’t wait to make plans to see Spells of the Sea, the newest production from Metro Theater Company! In this world-premiere musical for the whole family, you'll see why sometimes trusting in yourself is the greatest act of courage. 

Finley Frankfurter is a 15-year-old fisherwoman who is terrible at fishing. H.S. Crank is a grumpy old lighthouse keeper who has been sitting for 20 years in the dark. Together, this unlikely pair begins an adventure through the ocean to find the Elixir of Life, an elusive remedy that will save Finley’s father from a mysterious illness. On their journey, the pair encounter mermaids and pirates, whirlpools and their worst fears, and finally a new understanding of the meaning of family, friendship, and trust in yourself.

Live at the Grandel Theatre February 5 - March 5, 2023. Virtual streaming is available from February 16 - March 5. Follow this link to learn more

Summer Expo 2023

Plan your child's summer activities at this very popular Summer Camp Expo featuring 60+ local and regional summer camps offering day- and sleep-away camp experiences for toddlers through teens. Bring your kids and learn about a wide variety of summer learning and summer fun opportunities. The Summer Expo is presented by Parkway-Rockwood Community Ed, sponsored by STL Parent and STL Camps, and is open to all families from any school district across the St. Louis metro area. Admission is free. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 5, 2023, at Marquette High School in Chesterfield.  Stop by the STL Camps booth at the entrance for fun giveaways and a very special guest to entertain your kids! More information: rsdmo.org