Listings by AREA:
St. Louis, MO~STL=St. Louis
St. Charles, MO ~ SCC= St. Charles County
Events in Illinois and rural Missouri are marked in burgundy
MORE METRO EVENTS HERE
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Recreation Council News…
Bingo Fundraiser, Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Doors open at 5:30pm; Bingo begins at 6:15pm. Join the Recreation Council for an evening of BINGO fun while raising money to offset the cost of youth and adults to attend camps and recreation programs of their choice. The evening includes 10 rounds of BINGO with creative games, a 50-50 raffle, and prizes for the winner of each game. Event is located on the second floor of the main building in the indoor rooftop room. Share our Bingo Flyer. ~ RESERVE YOUR SEAT HERE
PERFORMERS NEEDED: Recreation Council Evening of Entertainment: A Competitive Spotlight on Abilities, Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. This evening’s showcase includes music, dancing, poetry reading, magic, comedy, and more. Performers Apply HERE
Events for People with Disabilities…
Tips to help navigate the holidays: Winter break is a time for joy, celebration, and family gatherings, but for children with sensory processing disorder, the disruptions to routines and increased stimuli can pose unique challenges. Our friends at Miriam Learning Center shared these tips to make the season brighter: Read More Here
Sensory Friendly Performance: The Million Dollar Quartet Christmas (STL), Saturday, December 21 at 11 a.m. at The Repertory Theatre in the Loretto Hilton Center. STAGES St. Louis and The Rep have generously provided 250 complimentary tickets to this theater performance about a story of a special day of musical entertainment. Show Information Here ~ Reserve 2 Free Tickets HERE. Purchase additional tickets for $20 per ticket: Purchase Tickets Here a
Provider Spotlight…
St. Louis Arc SPORTS UNITED is looking for athletes without disabilities. Sports United Community Athletes are people without disabilities ages 18 and older who love sports to play alongside our participants with disabilities throughout the year. Teams include basketball, softball, soccer, bowling, pickleball, and video sports. Join one of our inclusive teams welcoming people with and without disabilities. Contact Paige Hawes at 314-817-2249 or [email protected] to join. Flyer
Arc’s Ageless Adventurers! Discover our exciting new active older adults classes for people over 45 years old. Enjoy instructional fitness classes, community events, and wellness workshops designed to keep you active, connected, and meeting new friends.For more information contact Ashley Price at [email protected]
Winter 2025 Leisure registration is now open! To view the Winter 2025 issue of the Leisure Times Brochure, CLICK HERE.
Events for Everyone…
Free EventBrite Events Around the Metro STL / SCC area: EventBrite Information
FREE Family Nights at The Magic House (STL), Friday, December 20 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm at The Magic House in Kirkwood. Come enjoy all the activities at The Magic House with FREE admission for families of 2 adults and up to four of their own children. Reservations are recommended due to space being limited. (This is not one of the specialized, sensory-friendly events). Information
Third Friday at Third Degree Glass (STL), Friday, December 20 from 6-10pm at Third Degree, 5200 Delmar Blvd, St Louis, MO, 63108. Come dressed to the nines in your best ugly holiday sweater and for our second glassblowing demo, we’ll choose our favorite from the crowd and replicate it IN GLASS. Information
Central West End Window Walk (STL), Last Opportunity – Saturday, December 21. Window Walk brings back the time-honored tradition of going downtown to see festive windows, while showcasing the CWE’s retail and dining establishments. Visitors also enjoy FREE holiday festivities, including ice carvings, trolley rides, carolers, live music, street performers, pictures with Santa, s’mores, kettle corn and more! Information
Gateway Ringers Handbell Concerts (STL), Sunday, December 22 from 4-5pm at Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church, 11155 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63105. Join us as we present “Stories of Christmas” featuring traditional carols and holiday favorites including Angels We Have Heard on High, Deck the Halls, Twelve Days of Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas and many more. Concerts are free and open to the public. Information
Christmas Traditions Santa Send-Off (SCC), Tuesday, December 24 at 1:30 PM on Main Street in Historic St. Charles. As the 50th season of Saint Charles Christmas Traditions® comes to an end, join the legends of Christmas one final time in a merry procession to Berthold Square where a time capsule will be buried near the city Christmas Tree where it will remain until November 23, 2074… the opening day of Saint Charles Christmas Traditions® 100th season. Information
Kwanzaa Celebration at the History Museum (STL), Thursday, December 26 from 5-8pm at the Missouri History Museum. Join us on the first day of this annual celebration honoring African American culture. St. Louis community activist, Nicole Adewale, will guide us in reflecting on the seven principles of Kwanzaa, accompanied by live performance by Ballet 314, the Blck Bird Strings, the Drum Warriors, and spoken word artist, InnerGy. Information
Kwanzaa Celebration at the Art Museum (STL), Saturday, December 28 from 10 am–2 pm at the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. Enjoy a day of culture, performance, and tradition during one of the region’s biggest Kwanzaa celebrations. FREE Information
Winterfest New Year’s Eve “Neon Nights” Celebration and Fireworks (STL), Tuesday, December 31 from 4-8pm at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis. Join our family-friendly way to ring in the new year. Enjoy a DJ, fire dancers, princesses and superheroes, party favors and a deluxe photo experience, topped off by a fireworks spectacular with monumental Arch views. DJ: 4-8 p.m. Princess & Superhero Visit: 4-6 p.m. Fire Dancers: 6-8 p.m. Fireworks: 8 p.m. Party decorations, 3-D glasses, and glow products handed out 4-8 p.m. while supplies last. Garage parking cost is $8 for up to 12 hours or metered street parking is available. Information
Mark your January calendars…
First Day: Hike through History (SCC), Wednesday, January 1, 2025 from 10am-12 noon at the Katy Trail in St. Charles. Visit the First State Capitol and hike down the Katy Trail. For information, call 636-940-3322 or visit Facebook page. Event is FREE but Registration is Required ~ Flyer
New Year’s Day Hike (SCC), Wednesday, January 1, 2025 from 1-3pm at Broemmelsiek Park. Bring in the new year and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors on a 2-mile hike with Park Rangers at Broemmelsiek Park! Afterward, enjoy complimentary coffee, hot chocolate and donuts while sitting by a warm fire. Rangers are available to answer questions about upcoming programs, park history and local wildlife. Event is FREE but Registration is Required
Christkindlmarkt (ILL), Final Days – Thursday-Monday, December 19-December 23 from 11am-8pm except Sunday and Monday on Main Street in Belleville, Illinois. Enjoy an authentic, outdoor German Christmas Market on the Public Square featuring unique European and handcrafted gift vendors, German food & beverages, music, dancing, a Santa parade, reindeer, a petting zoo, and FREE horse-drawn trolley rides. www.bellevillechristkindlmarkt.com
Festive Fridays at the Saint Louis Art Museum (STL), FREE, Fridays, December 20, & 27 at the Art Museum in Forest Park. Enjoy celebrating the holiday season with FREE concerts, tours, gallery activations, and art-making activities every Friday. SLAM will also have a pop-up bar in the Sculpture Hall for visitors to purchase seasonal drinks and snacks. The current ticketed exhibitions are FREE and the Museum has extended hours. Information
Pictures with Santa: A Holiday Experience at Westport Plaza (STL), Final Weekend – December 20 & 21, Friday from 6-8pm and Saturday from 10am-12 noon on the second floor of the Gold Building. Step into the magic of the season with photos with Santa on his sleigh, Hot Cocoa for purchase, Holiday Music, and special balloon art and face painters. Information
Winterfest, Meet the Princesses Days (STL), Sundays, December 22 & 29 at the Lodge at Winterfest from 12-1 PM and at strolling Winterfest from 1-1:30 PM. Join popular princesses and superheroes on the ice. Characters will also be available for photos. An additional meeting will be held on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31 from 4-6 p.m. Information
Christmas Traditions (SCC), Final Weekend: December 20-22 on Historic Main Street in St. Charles, MO, 63301. Welcome the season by meeting your favorite holiday characters including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Jack Frost, carolers, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and more. Wednesday features Ebenezer Scrooge, Marley, the Ghosts of Christmas, and the Cratchit family from the book “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Special events occur throughout the event. Sensory friendly Sunday happens on December 8. Program Brochure ~ Website
Winterfest (STL), Mostly FREE, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays now through December 31, in Kiener Plaza (STL). Enjoy 100,000 twinkling lights in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. This six-week winter celebration will also showcase exciting events like free visits from princesses and superheroes, and a family-friendly New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacular. Ice skating is free if you bring your own skates. Garage parking cost is $8 for up to 12 hours or metered street parking is available. Information
Lady of the Snows Christmas Way of Lights (ILL), Mostly FREE, now through December 31 from 5-9 pm at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, ILL. Along with driving through the holiday lights display, visitors can also enjoy a donkey, pony or camel ride, the petting zoo, kettle corn and other refreshments, the Christmas wreath auction and quilt raffle, the Christmas Lego display and more. Military Mondays and Family Night Tuesdays with special discounts for activities. Food and drink will be available in the Visitors Center, Tuesday-Sunday, 5-9pm. Admission to the display is FREE, but there is a fee for some activities. Information
Holiday Toy Train Display (SCC), FREE, Wednesdays-Sundays, now through-January 5, 2025 from 10am-5pm at St. Charles County Heritage Museum, 1630 Heritage Landing, St. Peters, MO, 63376 (map). Bring your family and friends to see this small but whimsical portrayal of St. Charles County’s landmark buildings in a snowy model train display. Information
Events that Repeat Weekly or Monthly…
- Grateful Mondays at Schlafly’s Maplewood Tap Room (STL): Every Monday: Information
- Thursday Nights at the History Museum (STL), Every Thursday: Information
- FREE Fridays at the Saint Louis Art Museum (STL): Every Friday: Information
- Broemmelsiek Park Stargazing (SCC), Every Friday weather permitting. Information
- Live Music at the STL City Foundry (STL), Every Friday and Saturday: Information
- Family Nights at The Magic House (STL), Every third Friday: Reservation Required
- Country Line Dancing at Frankie Martins Garden (SCC), Every Sunday: Information
- Family Sundays at the Saint Louis Art Museum (STL), Two Sundays per Month: Calendar
- Planetarium Star Party (STL), First Friday of every month: Information
- Solar Days at the Planetarium (STL), Third Sunday of every month: Information
- Fall History and Tree Walks at Bellefontaine Cemetery (STL), Several times per month on various days: Information
Find more FREE activities Here: www.stlouiscalendar.com/events/free
Reminders…
Recreation Council Evening of Entertainment: A Competitive Spotlight on Abilities, March 2025: Performers Apply HERE
Search for more Activities in your part of town…
Here are a few links to continue your search for fun in the metro area. Some places charge entry fees, so check on costs before you go.
- Events in the Metro Area (BEST OVERALL SITE): Information
- Metro St. Louis-St. Charles, MO attractions: www.explorestlouis.com
- Around Town for Teenagers: www.explorestlouis.com
- Festivals, Music, Art in the Metro: www.stlouisarts.org/music-festivals
- Discover St. Charles: www.discoverstcharles.com/events
- St. Charles County Parks: www.sccmo.org ~ Facebook ~ Calendar ~ Activity Guide
- St. Louis County Parks: Registration ~ Activity Guide
- St. Louis County Parks: www.stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks
- Explore St. Louis, MO: www.stltoday.com/events
- STL Magazine Family Fun: www.stlmag.com/family
- Kids Out and About: www.saintlouis.kidsoutandabout.com
- Fun 4 STL Kids: www.fun4stlkids.com/calendar
- Missouri Department of Conservation – www.mdc.mo.gov/events
- Michael’s Craft Store classes: www.michaels.com/classes
- Virtual Events: www.eventbrite.com
- Best Hiking Trails around St. Louis / St. Charles Metro area: www.hikingproject.com
- Free places to visit by STL Today: www.graphics.stltoday.com/maps/essential-st-louis
Resources…
Click HERE to see fee-based programs for people with disabilities
Click Here to see Community Resources for People with Disabilities
Click Here for the Recreation Council Regional Fall 2024 Newsletter
Like and Follow us at www.facebook.com/reccouncilstl
View this newsletter as a web page HERE
Need Funding for a Recreation Program? Click here for information about our voucher programs for people with developmental disabilities in St. Louis and St. Charles.
Event information is updated weekly. www.recreationcouncil.org/anytime-activities
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