Hunt-and-Sketch Adventure | August 3–31
Explore Queeny Park with a Hunt-and-Sketch Passport, solving clues, discovering hidden landmarks, and sketching what you find along the way. Return your completed passport to claim a prize. $5 per person, includes supplies. All ages. Greensfelder Recreation Complex, Queeny Park, 550 Weidman.
Help fill City Museum’s rooftop school bus with new supplies for KidSmart, which supports students at more than 160 area schools. Donate five items, such as notebooks, pencils, markers, crayons, or glue sticks, to save $5 on general admission. Teachers, school custodians, and administrators receive free admission with a school ID throughout August. City Museum, 750 N. 16th St.
Brickline Greenway Art Party | August 5
Celebrate the public art coming to the northern section of the Brickline Greenway with live music, free food, a take-home screen-printing activity, and a new spoken-word performance from St. Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Elaine Anderson. Bring a shirt to print on or use one of the provided postcards. Free. 5–7 p.m.; remarks at 6 p.m. Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington.
Discover fun things to do with the family
Subscribe to the St. Louis Family newsletter for family-friendly things to do and news for local parents, sent every Monday and Thursday.
Little astronauts can embark on an intergalactic adventure complete with mission briefings, cosmic exploration, and imaginative play designed for big dreamers with their eyes on the stars. Little Diggers Des Peres, 13347 Manchester.
Meet Me in St. Louis | August 6–13
The Muny favorite returns with the story of the Smith family as they prepare for the 1904 World’s Fair and face a possible move away from St. Louis. The musical features beloved songs including “The Trolley Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” 8:15 p.m. nightly. The Muny, 1 Theatre.
Planetarium Star Party | August 7
Peer through telescopes on the grounds of the McDonnell Planetarium and get help spotting planets, stars, and other nighttime sights from knowledgeable telescope operators. Viewing begins at dusk and is weather permitting. Free. 5:30–8:30 p.m. Saint Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland.
All Around the Barn Tour | August 7
Meet the animals of Suson Park Farm and learn how staff members groom, handle, and feed them during this interactive barn tour. Registration required; $10. 10–11 a.m. Suson Park, 6073 Wells.
After Hours Family Campout | August 7
Pitch your imagination—not your tent—at this free evening celebrating the great outdoors. Families can meet Smokey Bear, visit a mobile petting zoo, cool off in the Bubble Bus, explore emergency vehicles, enjoy crafts and sensory activities, learn from local nature organizations, and wrap up the night with Celia’s Sing Along Dance Party. Free. 6–8:30 p.m. Eureka Hills Branch, St. Louis County Library, 500 Workman.
Missouri Sales Tax Holiday | August 7–9
Save on qualifying back-to-school purchases during Missouri’s annual Sales Tax Holiday, when eligible clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items are exempt from state and local sales tax. It’s also a great time to support local small businesses while checking off your school shopping list.
Spider-Man Day | August 7–9
Celebrate Spider-Man’s birthday with superhero mask-making, photo opportunities, and appearances from Spider-Man, Gwen, and Miles. Spider-Man will meet guests from 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m., while Gwen and Miles will appear throughout public hours. Included with museum admission. MADE for Kids, 5127 Delmar.
The Addams Family Musical: Young@Part | August 7–9
Wednesday Addams has fallen for a perfectly respectable young man, setting the stage for a delightfully spooky family dinner filled with music, mischief, and mayhem. The inclusive production brings together young performers with and without disabilities. Recommended for ages 6 and older. $15. Performances at 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. COCA, 6880 Washington.
Cuentos en el Museo: Sea Creatures | August 8
Young visitors can splash into an under-the-sea adventure during this free Spanish-language storytime featuring traditional and contemporary picture books. Recommended for ages 2–6 and their families. Free. 10:30 a.m. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell.
Spins, Beats & Summer Treats | August 8
Enjoy live, family-friendly music, seasonal treats, and skyline views at the St. Louis Wheel Park. Families can also purchase a Summer Spins pass for unlimited rides on the Wheel Park attractions, mini golf, and a snack or drink. 4:30–7:30 p.m. St. Louis Wheel Park at Union Station, 1820 Market.
St. Charles Jewish Festival | August 9
Celebrate Jewish culture and community with live music, kosher food, inflatables, games, crafts, and hands-on activities for all ages. Families can also browse The Shuk Marketplace for Judaica, jewelry, baked goods, spices, Israeli-inspired products, and other artisan finds. Free; advance registration encouraged. 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Lewis & Clark Boat House parking lot, 1050 S. Riverside.
Ready, Set, Kindergarten! | August 9, 15 & 16
Celebrate the future Class of 2039 before the first day of school with an afternoon of crafts, play, photo opportunities, and new friendships. Designed for incoming kindergarteners, this special event helps little ones ease into their next big adventure. $25 per child; pizza available for purchase. August 9, 4:30 p.m.; August 15, 5 p.m.; August 16, 2 p.m. Little’s Loft Play Café, 117 Argonne.
Kids Movie Magic | Through Aug. 13
Marcus Theatres’ summer movie series offers family-friendly films for just $3 per ticket, plus discounted concessions and a season passport option. Participating Marcus Theatres locations.
A ’90s Summer at The Magic House | Through the summer
Friendship bracelets, fortune tellers, potholder weaving, chalk art, mud pies, parachute games, and old-school sprinkler fun take center stage during The Magic House’s nostalgic summer celebration. Families can also explore the returning Sandcastle Beach, featuring a giant sandcastle sculpted by world champion Dan Belcher, a shell dig, beach play, and other screen-free activities inspired by summers of the ’90s. Included with museum admission. The Magic House, 516 S. Kirkwood.
Free Summer Fun at the Economy Museum | Through summer
Need a break from the heat? The St. Louis Fed’s Economy Museum is offering free, self-guided summer activities where kids can make travel journals, fold money-themed origami, test their budgeting skills, and create keepsakes using shredded U.S. currency. Families can also explore more than 100 interactive exhibits about money and the economy. Free. Weekdays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | St. Louis Fed Economy Museum, One Federal Reserve.
Summer Nights at Grant’s Farm | Through Labor Day
Grant’s Farm’s popular Summer Nights series returns with live music, animal encounters, food and drinks, and the all-new Grant’s Farm in the Sky: A Drone Spectacular. Admission also includes evening tram rides through Deer Park and access to favorite attractions throughout the farm. 5–10 p.m. Grant’s Farm, 7375 Grant.
CHOO CHOO CHOOse Reading | Through Labor Day
The National Museum of Transportation’s summer reading challenge encourages children through eighth grade to read 10 transportation-themed books for prizes, including a train whistle and tickets to the museum’s holiday events. The free program runs through Labor Day. National Museum of Transportation, 2933 Barrett Station.
Forest Park 150 Banner Exhibition | Through Sept. 9
Celebrate 150 years of Forest Park with a traveling banner exhibition from the Missouri Historical Society. The outdoor-style display highlights the park’s history, evolution, and lasting impact on generations of St. Louisans while encouraging visitors to explore some of Forest Park’s most beloved institutions. The exhibition will rotate throughout the summer, appearing at the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, The Muny, and Forest Park Forever.
Schedule:
- Aug. 6–20: The Muny
- Aug. 24–Sept. 9: Forest Park Forever
The Blue Whale Story | Through Jan. 11
Explore a life-size blue whale skeleton, giant whale heart model, interactive exhibits, and hands-on activities that tell the story of the world’s largest animal. Saint Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland.
The Saint Louis Zoo’s seasonal dinosaur attraction returns with 20 animatronic dinosaurs, including a towering Tyrannosaurus rex and water-spitting Dilophosaurus. Kids can dig for fossils, explore interactive exhibits, and learn about prehistoric life through hands-on activities. Saint Louis Zoo, Historic Hill, 1 Government.
