A guide to fall family fun in St. Louis

More than a dozen ways to enjoy the season indoors and outdoors

by

Now that school is in session, the official start of fall is right around the corner. This year promises to be the closest thing to a normal autumn since life before COVID-19. To help you enjoy all of the tastes, colors, and frights of the season, we’ve compiled a guide to some of the best events and attractions for families eager to enjoy all that fall has to offer.

Eckert’s Farm

  • Overview: Families visiting Eckert's Farm this fall will find two new attractions at the Belleville location, The Cider Shed and Mr. E’s Cider Donut and Custard Shop. Although both spaces opened in June, now is the time to take advantage of their respective offerings. The Cider Shed sells canned drinks, including crispy apple cider and peach cider. At Mr. E’s, satisfy your sweet tooth by building your own sundae. Keep an eye out for Eckert’s family-friendly concerts at the Cider Shed Pavilion, where shows will take place on weekend afternoons in September and October.
  • Dates: Throughout the fall
  • Ages: All ages
  • Contact Info: 618-310-2758. 951 S. Green Mt, Belleville, Illinois.

City Museum

  • Event: Misfit Halloween
  • Overview: City Museum is saluting the spookiest season of the year with this celebration featuring strolling performers, a craft vendor fair, flashlight tours, and more.
  • Dates: October 7–30
  • Ages: All ages
  • Contact Info: 314-231-2489, 750 N 16th.

The Magic House

Families only need to travel as far as The Magic House to celebrate cultures from around the world thanks to the museum’s Passport to the World: Cultural Program Series. On the second Saturday of each month through December, the Magic House will provide hands-on programs designed to introduce children to different traditions, languages, art forms, and more. Upcoming programs include a celebration of Native American contributions and culture, and a deep dive into the Diwali festival of light, among others. 314-822-8900. 516 S. Kirkwood.

Six Flags

Fright Fest promises family-friendly scares during the day, before turning up the fear factor after dark. Families with older kids might enjoy the scare zones, spooky games, and four haunted attractions. And don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to experience it all. For Fright Fest, which will take place on select dates in September and October, the park will stay open until 11 p.m. Check the website for details. 636-938-5300. 4900 Six Flags Road, Eureka.

Saint Louis Zoo

In October, check out all of the fall festivities at the Saint Louis Zoo, which kicks off the month with its family-friendly Zootoberfest. The seasonal event features fall crafts and games for kids, as well as German-inspired foods, root beer, and more traditional Oktoberfest brews for visitors 21 years and older. Midway through October, the zoo will bring back its nightly Boo at the Zoo attraction and kick off the annual Halloweekends celebration. 314-781-0900. 1 Government.

Saint Louis Science Center

Families can add some thrills to an outing at the Saint Louis Science Center by visiting during its annual Science Spooktacular. The event, which is scheduled for October 29-30, features Halloween-themed activities, including a “chilling science demonstration.” Kids are encouraged to wear costumes, but dressing up is not required to have fun and learn. 314-289-4400. 5050 Oakland.

Missouri History Museum

Visitors can make their mark on St. Louis history at Coloring STL, an interactive exhibit at the Missouri History Museum that invites attendees to get up close and add their own personal touch to the city’s architecture by coloring images of more than 50 local structures displayed on the museum’s walls. History buffs can also purchase the companion coloring book, “Coloring St. Louis: a Coloring Book for All Ages,” written by Andrew Wanko, a public historian at the Missouri Historical Society, and illustrated by Rori!, a St. Louis-based illustrator and cartoonist. 314-746-4599. 5700 Lindell.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Watch the seasons change at the Missouri Botanical Garden and visit its newly opened Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center. The $100 million facility features meeting and classroom space, and a Koi Cafe equipped with fish food dispensers, among other amenities for guests of all ages. Kids might also enjoy events like Great Green Adventures, a series of drop-in programs that encourage children to explore the garden through hands-on activities and games. 314-577-5100. 4344 Shaw.

Laumeier Sculpture Park

Kids and their caregivers can take in Forest Through the Trees, an exhibition at Laumeier Sculpture Park that explores the beauty of trees through art. The exhibition also features youth-friendly public programs, including a family workshop focused on creating wooden wall hangings, and an all-ages fall color hike though the park. 314-615-5278. 12580 Rott.

St. Louis Storytelling Festival

The 43rd annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival features a variety of events for readers of all skill levels at various St. Louis County Library branches and other venues from October 13-22. Attendees can also check off a task toward completing the library’s 75 Things to Do at SLCL, which encourages participants to attend events, earn prizes, and explore all that the library system has to offer. 314-994-3300.

Missouri Department of Conservation

Budding naturalists can learn the fundamentals of fishing, hiking, archery, and more through classes offered by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The MDC calendar also includes special programs like its Conservation Kids series and Peanut’s 38th birthday celebration, where visitors to Powder Valley Conservation Nature Area can enjoy cake and crafts while learning more about a red-eared slider turtle named Peanut. This event also includes a volunteer litter pickup, where participants can earn prizes by helping clean up and beautify the environment. 636-458-2236.

Ballpark Village

Ballpark Village caps its summer movie night series on September 22—the first official day of fall—with a screening of Luca. Festivities, including yard games, start at 6 p.m. A day later, Ballpark Village plays host to Taste of Saint Louis, which features food and fun for all ages, and runs through Sunday, September 25. 314-797-7530. 601 Clark.

Endangered Wolf Center

Shhhh! Do you know what that sound is? If you’re sitting around the fire at the Endangered Wolf Center's Campfire Wolf Howls, you might just hear the call of a wolf. This after-hours program starts with stories about wolf communications and includes an opportunity for participants to test their howling skills near one of the wolf habitats and coax the calls of the center’s wild residents. Check the Endangered Wolf Center’s events calendar for fall dates. 636-938-5900. 6750 Tyson Valley, Eureka.

Looking for more fall fun? We rounded up eight places to go apple picking in the St. Louis region.

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