For parents looking to fill long summer mornings without draining the entertainment budget, the Missouri History Museum is bringing back a familiar favorite.
The museum’s free Summer Family Fun Series returns this summer, offering weekly themed programming built around history, culture, music, and hands-on play. Held on Fridays from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. in June and July, the series is geared toward children ages 2–12, though families of all ages are welcome.
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Each week centers on a different theme, with activities ranging from crafts and storytelling to scavenger hunts, artifact touch tables, and live performances. The goal is less “museum visit” and more interactive summer outing, giving kids a chance to move, create, and explore while learning along the way.
This year’s lineup includes a mix of local performers and community organizations:
- June 5: Storyteller Bobby Norfolk will present “Scott Joplin: The Ragtime King!” alongside jazz and blues performances from Heal Center for the Performing Arts.
- June 12: Ballet 314 performs Assemblé, in addition to a workshop exploring the intersection of art and engineering.
- June 19: In observation of Juneteenth, Mama Lisa and St. Louis poet laureate Pacia Elaine Anderson lead dance, storytelling, and poetry workshops.
- Later in the summer, families can explore themes tied to West African and Vietnamese cultures in St. Louis, as well as activities focused on the Mississippi River and America’s 250th birthday.
Unlike some summer programs that require registration fees or structured camp schedules, the series is intentionally flexible and accessible. Families can drop in for a single activity or spend the full morning rotating through programs. Summer camp groups can also participate free of charge with advance reservations.
For many St. Louis families, museum leaders say, the series has become part of the rhythm of summer break—a low-pressure way to keep kids curious, creative, and occupied during the stretch between school years.
