Where to celebrate Halloween as a family in St. Louis

20-plus all-ages events to help you get in the spooky spirit

by ,

Halloween is not until the 31st, but in the run-up to the big day, there are plenty of themed events for families who want to celebrate the creepy all October long. Here are 20-plus family-friendly celebrations, ordered by date.

The Magic House’s Halloween Magic | October 4–30

All month long, littles can decorate mini pumpkins and trick-or-treat around “town." On select weekends, The Magic House will put on the Not-So-Haunted House, during which storybook characters visit kids around the museum. Halloween Magic is included with regular museum admission, which starts at $12.50 for adults and children ages 1 and up. 516 S. Kirkwood.

Grant’s Farm Halloween Nights | October 7–30

Hop aboard a haunted tram ride as you traverse miles of Halloween lights and spooky scenery. (Note: There are live actors involved, so this event might be more age appropriate for older kiddos and less-jumpy adults). When you disembark, you’ll enjoy a magic show, a brand-new scare zone, a monster mash dance party, and more. $10 per person. Children ages 3 and under are free. 7385 Grant. 

Renaud Center’s Pumpkin Plunge | October 7 

The Pumpkin Plunge is a perfect combination of Halloween and the last bit of swim time as the warm season closes out. Bring your child to the Renaud Center in O’Fallon, Missouri, where they’ll dive for pumpkins in the swimming pool and decorate their prizes. There are two registration time slots for different age groups. Kids ages 3–12 can swim from 5:30–6:30 p.m. or 7–8 p.m. Kids ages 1–5 are welcome to join the Jr. Pumpkin Plunge in the kiddie pool from 11 a.m.–noon. Registration is required and tickets are $12 for the Jr. Pumpkin Plunge and $17 for the Pumpkin Plunge. 2650 Tri Sports Circle. 

The City of Chesterfield’s Trucks and Treats | October 8

If you have a truck-obsessed tot, head over to the parking lot of Central Park in Chesterfield for a day of exploring maintenance trucks, emergency vehicles, and machines while enjoying treats. Free to attend. 16365 Lydia Hill.

Frights at Height at Go Ape! | Saturdays through October 29

Even though this activity is open to everyone with parental supervision or a parent-signed waiver, it is recommended for kids ages 10 and over. Climb up into the Treetop Journey zip line and ropes course, where zombies and ghosts lurk, waiting to scare you. "Lite-fright" twilight sessions are available. See Go Ape's website for more. $32.95 each.13219 Streetcar. 

Misfit Halloween at City Museum | October 8–30

City Museum offers a host of all-ages Halloween activities, starting with a makers market with special live performances (October 8 & 9), a visit from naturalists who will show you the animals who inspired myths and legends (October 16), trick-or-treating for candy at the museum’s best slides (October 29 & 30), and more. All activities are included with City Museum general admission. 750 N. 16th.

Des Peres Park Pumpkin Glow | October 14

Carve a pumpkin at home and then bring it to Des Peres Park’s pond to launch it on a special floatation device. The result will be a magical scene of flickering jack-o'-lanterns bobbing in the water. Families are welcome to bring a picnic and s’mores supplies; sticks and campfires will be available on site for roasting the 'mallows. Free to attend, but registering a pumpkin is $10 for residents and $12 for nonresidents. Pumpkins must be registered by October 7. See website for pumpkin guidelines. 12352 Manchester. 

The Saint Louis Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo | October 14–30

Families can enjoy Halloween-themed decorations around the zoo, such as the skeleton soiree and giant cauldron; visit the Dinoroarus exhibit; ride the Conservation Carousel; and check on animals at Caribbean Cove, the Herpetarium, and Insectarium. Also included with admission is entertainment from jugglers, magicians, stilt-walkers, and more. Tickets start at $11 for non-members and $9 for members. 1 Government. 

The Gateway Arch’s Frights & Heights | October 15

You’ve seen the Gateway Arch, but have you seen it decked out for a family-friendly Halloween party? Kids can dress up in their favorite costume and take a spooky tram ride to the top of the monument. They’ll also receive gift bags to collect candy throughout the evening, enjoy face painting, crafts, puppet shows, and live music for monster mashing. Tickets include a free one-hour riverfront cruise from Riverboats at the Gateway Arch. Tickets start at $21 for adults and children over 2 years old. 11 North 4th.

Play Street Museum’s Spooky Slime Time and Trick or Treating | October 15 

Concoct some spooky slime at this playroom in St. Charles, in addition to enjoying candy, Halloween-themed activities, and playtime in the museum. $20 per child. Registration is required. 1650 Beale, #138. 

St. Charles Legends & Lanterns | October 15–30

Legends & Lanterns on Main Street in St. Charles combines history and Halloween. Guests are invited to go on a journey to the 1910–1930s while learning the story of Halloween. The event includes spooky American ghost stories and Brothers Grimm fairy tales, is held every weekend beginning October 15, and is appropriate for all ages. Free admission. Main Street St. Charles.

Purina Farms’ Howl-o-ween Fest | October 21–23

Purina invites dog-lovers and their pups for a fest full of canine performances, bounce houses, pony rides, wagon rides, live petting animal areas, and more. Everyone is encouraged to dress up and participate in Purina Farms’ Costume Paw-ty. Parking is $20, and some activities come with additional charges. Registration is required. 500 William Danforth Way.   

National Museum of Transportation’s Trick-or-Track | October 22

Train fanatics will love wandering around the grounds of this locomotive museum, hunting for treat stations and pointing out their favorite steam engines. Costumes are welcome. Museum admission is required. 2933 Barrett Station. 

The Pointe’s Pumpkin Plunge | October 22

Dive into an underwater pumpkin patch at the Pointe in Ballwin, retrieve a gourd, and then dry off and decorate it with paint and stickers. Afterward, enjoy an extra swim sans pumpkins. $15–$20. Registration is required for this event. 1 Ballwin Commons. 

The Great GO! St. Louis Halloween Race | October 23

If you have an active kiddo—or maybe just one who needs to burn off some energy—consider either the 5K (which comes with a trick-or-treating station during the race) or the 1-mile fun run, taking place in Eureka. Children must be 6 years or older to participate in the 5K, but the 1-miler is open to all ages. Each comes with a long-sleeve hoodie and medal for participants. Don’t skip on the costume contest, with prizes from local businesses awarded to the winners. 5K registration is $45, and fun run registration is $25. See GO! St. Louis’ website for more information about packet pickup and race site.

Editor's note: Ghouls in the Garden is now sold out. Mark your calendar for 2023: 

Missouri Botanical Garden’s Ghouls in the Garden | October 23

Members of the Missouri Botanical Garden can enjoy a special trick-or-treating event throughout the gardens, costumed characters, a circus, music, dancing, and more. Admission is free with Missouri Botanical Garden membership. 4344 Shaw.

Kirkwood Spooktacular & Halloween Walk | October 26 & 27

There’s a pair of don’t-miss Halloween events in Kirkwood this year: First, a brand-new candy stroll in the parking lot of the recently opened Kirkwood Performing Arts Center on October 26. Next up, the annual Halloween Walk downtown, where local businesses will be handing out candy, on October 27. Both events are free to attend. The KPAC is located at 210 E. Monroe. Find a list of participating businesses for the Halloween Walk here. 

Missouri History Museum’s Healthy History-Lovin’ Halloween Party | October 27

Parents will love that this party at the History Museum is candy-free (bye-bye sugar crash). Kids will love donning their costumes, doing some stretches with partner HealthWorks, making spooky crafts, and visiting the fam-friendly Haunted History Clubhouse. Free to attend. 5700 Lindell.  

The Legendary CWE Halloween | October 29

While the evening activities are definitely adults-only, the morning events are kid-friendly. Start with a children’s costume parade at 11 a.m., trick-or-treating at noon, and a pup parade at 1 p.m. Free to attend. The costume parade begins at Walton & McPherson. 

Saint Louis Science Center’s Science Spooktacular | October 29 & 30

Budding scientists will enjoy this candy-free Halloween celebration with a special demonstration on the Energy Stage. Also included are Graveyard Golf, a Raising Frankenstein Escape Room, a costume parade, and more. And on October 7, for First Friday, catch a special screening of The Addams Family.  Free to attend. 5050 Oakland.

Six Flags St. Louis’ Boo Fest | Through October 30 

Love Fright Fest at Six Flags, but afraid your little ones will get scared too easily? Boo Fest is perfect for more family-friendly Halloween fun. Families can enjoy their favorite roller coasters, as well as experience Halloween-themed activities like Cornelius’ Straw Maze, the Trick-or-Treat Trail, an interactive magical experience, and more. Be aware that the park transforms into Fright Fest at night, an event suggested for guests ages 13 and up. Day tickets for Six Flags start at $44.99. 4900 Six Flags.

Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House’s BOOTerfly House | Through October 30

This month, the Butterfly House transforms into the BOOterfly House. Let Professor von Flytrapp school you in spiders and take a stroll through the Creepy Crawly Cave. Access is included with regular Butterfly House admission. 15050 Faust Park.

St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station’s Pirate Quest for the Sunken Treasure | Through October 31

A pirate named Gideon Gar has hidden his treasure in the aquarium, and it’s up to you to follow the pages of his journal—which tell the story of his lost ship—into the grotto to find it. If you stop by Shark Canyon at 1:15 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from October 8–30, you can watch pirate-costumed divers carve pumpkins underwater. On the last two Fridays and Saturdays of October, kids can participate in trick-or-treating at the attraction’s pirate scenes. (These activities are free with aquarium admission.) On your way out, be sure to stop by Union Station’s Soda Fountain to enjoy a new Halloween-themed freak shake. 201 S. 18th. 

Receive the latest happenings and news for local parents in your inbox with our Family newsletter.
Or, check out all of our newsletters.