Courtesy Grant's Farm
Grant's Farm Holiday Lights233
St. Louis is a beautiful city all year long, but it cleans up especially nice for the winter holidays. And for the rest of the year, she’s dressed up in twinkly lights, pizazz, and tidings of comfort and joy. Take in all the glitz with your family and friends. Here are a few of our favorites:
Holiday Lights at Grant's Farm
Dates: November 19-January 2
Times: 5-9 p.m.
Cost: $39-$49 per vehicle
Courtesy Grant's Farm
Grant's Farm Holiday Lights
Well, this doesn't happen often. For merely the second time in its 67-year history, Grant's Farm is welcoming the public to drive through the Busch family's ancestral estate for a holiday lights display. The holiday event will feature a 50-foot illuminated tree, a brilliant light tunnel, and views of the Busch Family Estate House all aglow in festive lights and decorations, among other attractions. A dedicated radio station will play curated holiday tunes so visitors can get the full experience in their own vehicles. Holiday Lights runs on select nights from November 19 through January 2. Tickets start at $39 per vehicle. (10501 Gravois)
Dates: November 26-December 30 (Thursday-Sunday)
Times: 5-10 p.m.
Cost: $5-$10
It’s magical when our iconic Anheuser-Busch Brewery transforms for the holidays. From November 26 through December 30, stroll through the spectacle Thursday through Sunday evenings beginning at 5 p.m. The entire event is kid-friendly, and you can customize your experience with all sorts of bundled packages, like a fire pit, a Clydesdale experience, and a private igloo. Although there's no ice skating this year, kids can hop on the free and redesigned train and travel through a 40-foot snowman. Reservations are required. (1200 Lynch)
U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo
Dates: November 26-December 30
Times: 5-8:30 p.m.
Cost: $10-$13
Courtesy Saint Louis Zoo
Wild Lights Zoo
Even the animals in St. Louis know how to get into the holiday spirit. Lights take over the zoo, with animal-themed displays illuminating the night. Your admission gets you a ride on the Conservation Carousel and a seat in the 4D Theater for a high-tech update on The Polar Express. Roast a s’more, visit Toy Town, Glowing Garden, Woodland Workshop, and other festive displays, and take adorable pictures of your kids to show their prom dates in a decade or so. Monday, December 13 is a sensory-friendly night with quiet areas and specially trained staff on hand to make sure all kids can enjoy the spectacle. (1 Government)
Dates: November 20-Jan. 2 (Friday-Sunday)
Cost: Free
The local tradition is back this year, kicking off the winter season with the inaugural Opening Day 5K on November 20. Families can choose between the 5K run/walk, which will start at Kiener Plaza and wind through the Arch grounds, or the Kids Fun Run. Open for business on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through January 2, Winterfest will offer ice skating, holiday lights, music, igloos, and a winter market, among other attractions. The attraction is free to visit, though activities like skating are priced. (500 Chestnut)
Dates: November 13-January 8
Times: 5-10 p.m.
Cost: Members, $3-$16; General admission, $3-$20
Courtesy of the Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden is aglow with its annual holiday extravaganza in full force. A million lights turn the already-breathtaking garden into something like fairyland. Get your fill of s’mores and meet the Jolly Old Elf himself before he gets too busy—he’ll be there on select nights through December 14. This year's Glow features a new Springtime installation featuring lilies dancing to music. In the Victorian District, check out the hundreds of glowing lanterns paying homage to Christmases past. Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 lights have been added near the giant snow globe. (4344 Shaw)
Dates: November 24-January 1
Times: 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Cost: $8 to walk; $15 per vehicle
Courtesy St. Louis County Parks
Tilles Park goes all out for the holidays, and this year is no exception. The magic gets started November 24 and runs through January 1, closing Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Book a horse-drawn carriage ride, take your own carriage (your trusty automobile), or simply walk through the scenes awaiting you in the park. Peek behind the scenes in a toy factory and get surrounded by a tunnel of lights. Mondays and Saturdays are reserved for The Winter Wonderland Walk and carriage rides, respectively. Buy your ticket ahead of time. (9551 Litzsinger)
Dates: November 5-December 31
Times: 5-10:30 p.m.
Cost: $30-$35 per vehicle
AISHA KHAN
Dashers Light show
Put the kids in the car and drive through this immersive Christmas display set up at the POWERplex sports complex. The holiday experience, which runs from November 5 through December 31, takes approximately a half hour to navigate. Families can connect their vehicle radio to a dedicated station and sync the music as they watch the hundreds of thousands of lights blink and twinkle. (555 St. Louis Mills)
Dates: November 19-January 9
Times: 5:30-10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5:30-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Cost: $25-$40
Located in Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, this expansive attraction is illuminated by more than four million lights across 35 acres of holiday fun. Drive through the Tunnel of Dancing Lights, look for hard-working elves aglow in the trees, and admire a twinkling version of the Gateway Arch. As you make your way through the glowing exhibition, make sure to have your children drop off their letters to Santa in his very own North Pole mailbox. (5300 S Old Fox Creek)
Dates: November 12-January 9
Times: 5-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Cost: $7 per person; $30 per car (up to 7 passengers)
Embark on a two-mile holiday journey at World Wide Technology Raceway's road course, where a synchronized light show will play more than 50 minutes of music set to the twinkling lights of this popular attraction. Over a dozen new lighted elements have been added to this year's display. Due to popularity, guests are required to purchase tickets online. No tickets will be sold on site. (700 Raceway, Madison, Ill.)
Dates: November 19-December 31
Times: 5-9 p.m.
Cost: Free; donations accepted.
Take in the nightly lights at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, where the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate have been staging this annual family tradition since 1970. When you're done viewing the lights, check out the live animals and admire the elegantly-decorated Christmas trees. (442 S. DeMazenod Dr., Belleville, Ill.)
