2013 St. Louis Summer Fun Guide

A - Z Guide for Summer Fun in St. Louis

**NOTE** 

Based on the popularity of this post, I've decided to created a Weekend Wish List post each week that will capture all the weekend activities.  I'll try to get it up on my blog by Thursday night.  Thanks for your interest!

It's finally starting to feel like summer in St. Louis.  Time to start loading up your calendar with all the fun stuff to do in St. Louis.  This was by far one of my most popular posts in 2012 so I've updated it for 2013!

ABC Chefs Cooking Academy – Lots of fun summer cooking camps for kids.
Amtrak Trip – Kids love trains!  Start at the Kirkwood station and take a day trip.  The train stops in Washington, MO, Jefferson City, MO, Lee's Summit, MO, Independence, MO and Kansas City, MO.
Arch – In addition to going to the top of the Arch, the website offers lots of other fun things to do around the Arch grounds.
Art Fairs – Let them Eat Art is scheduled for July 12th in Maplewood.  The St. Louis Art Fair and Art Outside will be held the first weekend in September.
Art Hill Outdoor Music & Film Series – Come and enjoy free music and movies Fridays in July on Art Hill.
Boathouse Boat Rental – Rent a 4-person paddle boat for $15 an hour.  Also, the boat house has live music most Friday and Saturday nights starting at 7pm throughout the summer.
Bob Kramer's Marionnettes - The Summer Follies puppet show runs from June 15 - September 8.
Budweiser Brewery Tour – Everyone is invited (even kids!) to a complimentary tour of the brewery.  Come on Clydesdale Camera Day to get a picture of your family with the Budweiser Clydesdales!
Butterfly House – Come to see the butterflies and check their calendar for special events.  The Butterfly House is located in Faust Park with the Carousel and a fun playground.
Cardinals at Busch Stadium – Come see a game with the whole family.  Check their website for the special promotions.
Carriage ride at Tower Grove Park – You can rent a 3 0r 4 person carriage and see the park.
Children’s Garden Club – This is a free club focused on getting kids interested in gardening.  Click on "Calendar of Events" to see what's going on.
Circus Flora – The circus is in town!  Hurry, it's only here in June!
City Garden – Come on a warm day with a change of clothes and plan to get wet.
City Museum – The best kids museum in town and it's fun for adults too.
COCA Family Theater Series – Sign up for a summer camp or just enjoy the shows.
Cooking Classes - Schnucks and Dierbergs both offer cooking classes for kids.
Crown Candy Kitchen – Opened in 1913, they are famous for their candy, but also serve lunch and dinner.  They also have the oldest soda fountain in St. Louis!
Dramatic License Productions – Now offering plays for kids as well as summer drama camps.
Drive-In Movies @ Skyview – This may be the only drive-in theater left near St. Louis.
Eckert’s Farm –  Visit one of their 3 locations to pick your own fruit this summer.
Fair St. Louis – Celebrate the Fourth of July in St. Louis!  Sign up for the one mile Family Fun Run to kick off the holiday.
Family Musical Theater – Come see a show with the whole family.
Family Theater Series – There are lots of great family shows starting in November.
Farmers Markets – Visit one of the many farmers markets around St. Louis for some fresh food straight from the farm.
Faust Park – Olden Days of Summer will be held on June 5th, June 16th and July 17th from 10am - 1pm.  There will be demonstrations of blacksmithing, candle dipping, rope making and other crafts, along with face painting and a petting zoo. $10 admission includes free carousel rides.  Click here for the 2013 Summer Brochure.
Faust Park’s St. Louis Carousel – This carousel was built in 1920 and nearly lost to a fire in 1963, but it still operates today for $2 a ride.  Also, check the website for special events and summer camps.
Festival of the Little Hills – This festival will be held August 16-18 along Historic Main Street in St. Charles.
Festival of Nations – The festival will be held August 24-25 at Tower Grove Park.
Fox Theater – The shows continue through the summer.  You can also take a 1.5 hour backstage tour on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30am.
Forest Park – Pack a picnic lunch and explore all the park has to offer.
Frisco Train Store - The kids can play with the trains in their free play area while you shop.
Gateway Grizzlies - Come watch a minor league ball game with your family in Illinois.
Grafton Zipline Adventures – 9 zip lines cover 1.75 miles!  Call to reserve your 2 hour tour.
Grant’s Farm – Admission is FREE!  Come see the Budweiser Clydesdale Stables, feed the goats and enjoy complimentary samples of Anheuser-Busch beer (21 and older of course!).
Hot Air Balloon Race at Forest Park – The 41st annual balloon race is September 21st.  And come to Balloon Glow on September 20th to see the inflated balloons up close.  
Innsbrook Institute Music Festival – Enjoy Innsbrook and a concert.  The musicians come from all over the US to perform at Innsbrook. 
Innsbrook Summer Camps – Summer camp opportunities are open to kids and grandkids of Innsbrook property owners aged 6-15.
Jewel Box – Located in Forest Park, the Jewel Box is open after a $3.5M renovation.
Katy Trail – Bike the Katy Trail and stop by a winery or two along the way.
Kirkwood Peach Festival – Enjoy peach samples from local farmers as well as peach related treats and menu items at Kirkwood Farmers' Market starting at 8am on July 13th.
Language Camp – French, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish language camps are offered for kids ages 5-10.
Laumeier Sculpture Park – Entrance to the park is free and open year round.
Learn to Swim at the YMCA, Little Fishes Swim School or ASP Kirkwood – Feel more safe with your kids in the pool all summer by enrolling in swim lessons.  I've heard good things about these programs.
Lone Elk Park & World Bird Sanctuary – The World Bird Sanctuary is located within Lone Elk Park where you can see bison, turkey, elk, deer and other wildlife.
Lydia Buder Park - Come watch model airplanes take flight.  The park is also located near the World Bird Sanctuary and Lone Elk Park if you have time to visit.
Magic House – The first interactive children's museum opened in 1979 and has grown substantially since.  Check their website for special events.  International Picnic Day is on June 18th from 11am - 1pm.  They also have free days!
Meramec Caverns – You can take a cave tour or relax on a riverboat among many other things.  They also have a zip line tour.
Missouri Botanical Garden – Visit their website for a list of summer events and classes for kids.  Don't forget to check out the Children's Garden while you're there.
Missouri History Museum – Check their website for the Summer Family Fun Series FREE events.
Missouri Wine Country – Most wineries have live music on the weekends starting around 1:00pm - the perfect time to enjoy a picnic lunch with some wine.
Muny Opera – Their summer shows include Shrek the Musical and Mary Poppins.
Museum of Transportation – Kids 5 and under will love visiting the Creation Station.  You can also explore trains and ride on the Miniature Train.  Check the website for train riding hours.
Myseum - This is like West County's smaller version of the Magic House.
Nascar Speedpark – Enjoy go-cart racing, mini-golf, laser tag, rock wall climbing, bumper boats, arcade games, and lots more activities.
Old Webster Community Days – Celebrate the Fourth of July in Old Webster.  Visit their website for a schedule of events.
Outdoor Concerts – Outdoor concerts are offered all over St. Louis.  And they are FREE!
Outdoor Summer Movie Series at the Chesterfield Amphitheater – This new amphitheater is showing a free movie each month of the summer.
Peabody Opera House - The Wiggles! are coming on September 18th.  Check their website for other family-friendly events throughout the year.
Piper Palm House Children's Concert Series - Free interactive concerts for kids on Wednesdays at 9:30am.
Purina Farms – Animal lovers can get up close and personal with barnyard animals and everyday pets.  They also have animal shows.
Playgrounds and Water Parks – This website has a great, comprehensive list of playgrounds and water parks throughout St. Louis with pictures.
Playhouse Productions – Check their website for their summer show schedule.
Pick Your Own Fruit – You can find all the local farms in your area that offer fruit picking.
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center – Explore the interactive exhibits in the Nature Center then hike along the many trails.
Queeny Park – There is a fun playground and lots of hiking trails that are paved and good for strollers.
Ringling Bros. Circus - The circus is coming to the Scottrade Center in October.
Riverboat Rides – Enjoy a guided tour on a replica 19th-century paddle-wheel boat.
River City Rascals - Come watch a fun minor league ball game with your family in O'Fallon. 
RockShow Academy Summer Camp – Check out the website for summer camps for musical kids.
Science Center – Fun for kids of all ages and admission is free.
Shaw Nature Reserve – The Nature Explore Classroom and the Whitmire Wildflower Garden are perfect for kids.  There are also lots of hiking trails to explore.
The Sheldon - The Sheldon has arts and crafts projects for kids in the galleries from June 27 - August 10 ($3/child donation).
Spraygrounds – Spraygrounds are a fun way to cool off and are great for little ones and big kids. 
St. Louis Art Museum – The new East Building is opening June 29th!
St. Louis Symphony Family Concerts – The Family Concert series starts in September.  Check the website for more info on purchasing tickets.  Click here for the 2013/2014 Family Concert Series brochure.
Stages – Purchase tickets to see  Cinderella June 19 - 30.
Story Time at PBK, the Library and Whole Foods – It's so nice that there are so many options for free story time for kids.
Suson Park and Animal Farm – Farm Fridays start in May from 10am-1pm.  Admission is $8 for kids under 12 (adults free).  Hayrides, pony rides, barn tours and games for kids!
Ted Drewes – Perfecting frozen custard since 1929.
The Hill – Enjoy the many bakeries and gelaterias as you tour this historic Italian village.  You can even play Bocce ball!
Union Station – Sample fudge from The Fudgery, play mini-golf, visit the Memories Museum or take a ride on a paddle boat.  There is also live music on select Thursday nights.
University City Loop – See the St. Louis Walk of Fame, listen to live music at Blueberry Hill, browse the shops and enjoy the food.
Variety St. Louis – Visit the website for information on camps and events for kids with physical and mental disabilities.
Vintage Baseball – See baseball as it was played in the 1880s as the Perfectos play the St. Louis Brown Stockings.
Wabash, Frisco and Pacific Railroad – Take a 30 minute ride on a live steam railroad on Sundays.
World Aquarium – Explore the wonders of water at the World Aquarium, located within City Museum.
Weherenberg Theater Family Summer Series – See 10 great films for free this summer on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10am.
XCEL Gymnastics – Lot of fun camps for kids are offered in the summer.
YMCA Book Fair – The 35th annual book fair will be held August 16-21 at the Kennedy Recreation Center.
YMCA Summer Camp – Visit the website for a list of summer camp options for kids.
Zoo – Summer activities include Camp KangaZoo, North Star Summer Zoo Weekends and Jungle Boogie.

Have a fun summer in St. Louis!