The Missouri History Museum Winter Getaway: Four Days of Free Fun and Learning for Your Family

The time between Christmas and back-to-school starts out as a fun, relaxing time for families, but can quickly derail into frustration when cold weather keeps active kids indoors for days on end. It doesn’t take long for our little ones to lose interest in all those brand-new toys and turn to mom or dad for entertainment.

Thankfully, every December for the past eight years, the Missouri History Museum has given families four days of escape from winter break boredom. This year’s annual Winter Getaway event is packed with free kid-friendly activities, performances, arts and crafts, and workshops that tie in with the Museum’s current collections and celebrate our city’s rich culture and holiday heritage.

“The Winter Getaway is a chance for kids to connect with St. Louis history, which is really diverse,” said Courtney Baxter-Annis, Early Childhood and Family Programs Manager. “We’re truly a melting pot in the middle of America, so there are many facets to the city’s story that most kids don’t know about.”

Held on December 27-28 and 30-31 from 10 am to 1 pm, the Winter Getaway offers a new theme each day, so families can attend just one event or all four celebrations. Best of all, there’s no cost, which is a relief after a month of nonstop holiday shopping.

This year’s lineup of programs includes:

Wild Winter, Saturday, December 27

Animals are the star of the show during this journey into the great outdoors (from the comfort of a warm museum). Wild Winter explores St. Louis’ fur trade history, including its roots in the Osage Nation. Kids can also drop in to make a wolf craft inspired by Anna the Wolf in the Museum’s Collected exhibit and learn how she helped save the Mexican gray wolf species.

One exciting highlight for 2025 is the Museum’s new Step into the Story program. Explained Baxter-Annis, “Step into the Story is a large-scale, interactive story time. We’re not just holding up a book – our program includes sound effects and props, audience sing-alongs between books, and even games to really bring kids into the story.”

All Dressed Up, Sunday, December 28

Inspired by its rotating exhibit, The Life of Kids’ Clothes, the Museum explores all things clothing, fashion, and design. Families can enjoy a fashion show and story time that spotlights children’s clothes throughout history. Before or after the show, kids can become fashion designers themselves in the Museum’s open playroom where they can clothe and drape mannequins, draw sneaker designs, or become mini Calvin Kleins and Vera Wangs by creating colorful designs on retro fashion plates.

Carols and Customs: Christmas Across Europe, Tuesday, December 30

“Immigrant communities are important to St. Louis and have influenced some of the ways we celebrate the holiday season,” Baxter-Annis said. “With Carols and Customs, we’ll explore how many of our Christmas traditions started in Europe and were brought to America by immigrants from France, Spain, Germany, and several other countries.”

During the event, your family can learn about the origins of the Christmas tree from local German cultural groups, learn to sing Christmas carols and winter songs in different languages, and make and take your own handmade ornaments. The Museum’s pretend winter market will also feature real European holiday treats to enjoy.

Noon Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31

Each year, more than 2,000 visitors celebrate the biggest party of the year at the Museum – they just do it 12 hours earlier than the rest of the city. Throughout the morning, you can rock out to live music in the Grand Hall, take part in arts and crafts activities, and join Museum storytellers as they explore holiday food traditions like Hoppin’ John, the 12 grapes, and more.

At noon, the Museum will welcome in the New Year with not one, but two giant balloon drops that will have your family dancing, jumping, and cheering as you say goodbye to 2025.

For Baxter-Annis, the Winter Getaway is not just a way to celebrate the holidays in St. Louis, but to introduce kids to all the wonder waiting for them at the Museum throughout the year.

“We want families to think of the Museum as a place to come and learn and be part of an incredible community. There are always new collections, programs, and events for kids to experience, and we want them to feel like this is a place of comfort where they feel welcome to play and explore.”

For more details on this year’s Winter Getaway, please visit mohistory.org.

_{Photos courtesy of the Missouri History Museum}