A guide to summer family fun in St. Louis

More than a dozen ways enjoy the season indoors and out.

by

Summer is the season to make the most of days that are less defined by school and extracurricular activities, and more about enjoying time together with family and friends. This year, explore all that the St. Louis region has to offer, especially the many family-friendly attractions now open or reopened.

1. Luau in the Lou returns to Union Station on select dates through August 21. This free, Hawaiian-themed event features a monthly concert series, fire breathers, hula dancers, and more. Luaus start at 4 p.m. on scheduled Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 314-923-3900. 1820 Market.

2. There’s still time to join Reading with a Ranger on your next visit to Gateway Arch National Park. The program, with Saturday and Sunday sessions through June, provides families a copy of a themed children’s book along with the opportunity to read it together with a park ranger, engage in a group discussion, and complete an activity connecting the book to the national park. The event is free, but registration is required. 314-881-2015. Gateway Arch.

3. Circus Flora performers face ghosts and ghouls in The Quest for the Innkeeper’s Cask, the troupe’s newest show. The exciting performance features acrobats, comedians, and plenty of surprises. Families can catch The Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask at the Big Top in Grand Center through July 3. 314-827-3830. 3401 Washington.

4. The Missouri History Museum hosts its Summer Family Fun Series on Wednesdays and Fridays in June and July. Wednesday shows feature performances, crafts, scavenger hunts, and more, while Friday events involve the Storytelling in the Museum and Cuentos en el Museo programs at 10:30 a.m., followed by a two-hour drop-in craft workshop. This free series is designed for kids ages 2-12. 314-746-4599. 5700 Lindell.

5. A visit to Eckert’s is always a recipe for fruit-filled family fun. In June, visitors to the Belleville location can also take in a performance of Metro Theater Company’s production of In My Granny’s Garden, a play that celebrates the wonder of growing your own food. Shows run through June 26. Visit the Metro Theater website for showtimes and ticket pricing. 618-310-2758. 951 S. Green Mt., Belleville, Illinois.

6. Both the Magic House and MADE for Kids, its satellite location on Delmar Boulevard, feature fresh offerings for families visiting this summer. At the Magic House in Kirkwood, kids and their caregivers can explore Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure. The exhibit, developed through a PBS partnership, is based on the popular television series that showcases aspects of Alaska Native life. At MADE, kids can crawl, climb, and slide through TapeScape, a play space made almost entirely of packing tape. Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure, will be at the Magic House through January 2023 and TapeScape will be at MADE through September 5. Both attractions are included with regular museum admission. The Magic House, 314-822-8900. 516 S. Kirkwood. The Magic House, MADE for Kids, 314-328-0561. 5127 Delmar.

7. Dinoroarus, an exhibit showcasing animatronic and stationary dinosaurs and interactive activities for all ages, returns to the Saint Louis Zoo for a second year this summer. The dino-inspired attraction features a life-size triceratops, a 12-foot-tall T-Rex, and many other dinosaurs eager to meet your family. New this year is a massive digging area, a magnetic Dino Wall where kids can build their own dinosaurs, and more. Zoo visitors can also swing by the Primate Canopy Trails, a 35,000 square-foot outdoor habitat expansion that opened in July of last year. Admission to the Primate Canopy Trails is free and Dinoroarus admission is $5.95 for visitors ages 2 and up. 314-781-0900. 1 Government.

8. Visitors to Six Flags can take a spin on its newest ride in more ways than one. The CATWOMAN Whip takes riders 16 stories into the sky, as it spins in a vertical circle—all while open-air pods rotate guests 360 degrees in their seats. For smaller guests eager to splash, Six Flags’ Hurricane Harbor offers Adventure Cove, a new multi-level, interactive area for kids. Adventure Cove, which replaces Hooks Lagoon, features four water slides, a pirate ship, and other amenities. 636-938-5300. 4900 Six Flags.

9. The indoor activities at the Saint Louis Science Center might seem even cooler this summer with the addition of Hockey: Faster Than Ever, an interactive exhibit that highlights the science that helps make hockey the fastest game on Earth. Families who like their sports virtual can also check out the Science Center’s regularly scheduled Esports XP Sessions. Admission to Esports XP Sessions is free, while tickets to Hockey: Faster than Ever start at $14.95. 314-289-4400. 5050 Oakland.

10. The Saint Louis Science Center also offers stargazing sessions at the McDonnell Planetarium. Families seeking stars farther afield can check out the monthly Aim for the Stars sessions at Jefferson College Observatory on the Jefferson College Hillsboro campus. It's one of many events supported by the St. Louis Astronomical Society.

11. From Grant’s Farm to the World Bird Sanctuary to the Endangered Wolf Center, the are several attractions for animal lovers of all ages. This summer, families may want to check out the recently-expanded entomology lab at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, where kids can get an up-close look at insects and learn all about the development of butterflies. There is also no shortage of special events at Purina Farms geared toward families and their four-legged friends. At Dog Day Out, which takes place at Purina Farms during the weekend of June 25, families can enjoy a variety of canine sports, games, and activities designed to challenge dogs mentally and physically.

12. With the unveiling of the recently reimagined Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, a 17-acre experiential play space that encourages visitors to connect with nature through active exploration, there is now even more to see and do in Forest Park. And don't forget about visiting the Oakland Avenue Playground, which features a unique turtle structure made from materials sourced from declining or dead trees removed from Forest Park and other city parks.

13. Golf in the Galleries returns for its fifth season this summer with a family-friendly, nine-hole miniature golf course that showcases the work of artists, architects, and other creators from the region. The course will be open in the Sheldon Art Galleries space through August 28. For pricing, visit the Sheldon site. 314-533-9900. 3648 Washington.

14. Read a recent book written or illustrated by a local artist and count it toward your progress in one of many summer reading programs offered by area libraries. Start by checking out Goodnight Racism, a new children's book written by the National Book Award-winning author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and illustrated by the St. Louis-based artist Cbabi Bayoc. “I would say that [Goodnight Racism] is presenting to children that, no matter your cultural background, or how you worship, we all deserve to not just go to sleep, but also to wake up and live in a world that's peaceful and accepting of who we are,” Bayoc says.

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