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Fun, Free Events

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
Email us to receive this e-newsletter weekly: stchascounty@recreationcouncil.org

Recreation Council News…

Community Resource Fair (SCC), Saturday, December 14 from 10am-1pm at Francis Howell North High School Cafeteria, 2549 Hackmann Rd. Saint Charles, MO 63303. Benefits anyone who wants to learn about available supports and resources for individuals with disabilities. Attending agencies provide services in assistive technology, recreation, mental health, behavior support, transition planning, and more. Come and visit the Recreation Council table. Flyer

Events for People with Disabilities…

 Center for Human Services Open House (STL), Friday, December 13 from 4-7pm at 502 Earth City Expressway, Suite 124, St. Louis, MO 63045. The newest Case Management team for St. Louis County invites you to our open house celebrating the opening of our Earth City location. Enjoy appetizers, drinks, and a tour of our facility. FLYER ~ Website

L’Arche St. Louis Christmas Sing-Along (STL), Tuesday December 10th at 6:30pm at the McKnight Crossings Church, 2515 S McKnight Rd, St. Louis, MO 63124. It’s our Christmas Sing-Along! Wear your Santa hats and Christmas sweaters and bring Christmas cookies, tambourines, and maracas. Community Night is an evening of free, in-person social activities for adults with disabilities and caregivers to experience our vision of belonging and receive updates on L’Arche goings-on. There is an elevator for those needing it. Information

 Autism Support Now (ASN), Winter Wonderland Event (STL), Registration is open now: Event is Friday, December 20 from at ASN office, 3533 Dunn Rd, Florissant, MO, 63033. Join the ASN for sensory-friendly activities, Santa photos, cookies, cocoa, and holiday music. RSVP Here for a chance to win a Christmas Present. Information about ASN at www.autismsupportnow.com or email Lexi at mailto:lbryant@autismsupportnow.com

Freddie Ford Family Foundation Events (STL): The Freddie Ford Family Foundation is dedicated to supporting under-served families impacted by autism and raising awareness and acceptance of autism. Holiday Party: December 15 at the Maryland Heights Community Center, Holiday Party Registration and Winter Break Camp Ausome (STL): Jan 2-3, 2025 for children with autism ages 6-11 at the Affton Community Center. Contact Felicia Ford, Founder & Executive Director, at (314) 282-5003 or felicia@freddiefordfamilyfoundation.org

Fun, Free Community Events for Everyone…

Free EventBrite Events Around the Metro STL / SCC area: EventBrite Information

Cottleville: Storytime with Mrs. Claus (SCC), Tuesday, December 10 from 4-7pm at Legacy Park Log Cabin, 5490 5th Street, Cottleville, MO 63304. Come meet Mrs. Claus and hear a story about the holiday season. Information

Central West End Window Walk (STL),  Saturday, December 14 and 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

Skate with Santa (SCC), Saturday, December 14 from 11am-2pm at St. Charles County Kinetic Park, 7801 Town Square Avenue in Dardenne Prairie. Come get into the holiday spirit by spending the evening skating with Santa! Feel free to bring up your Christmas list and decorate your bike or scooter to show off your skills. There will be free hot chocolate and candy canes. Kinetic Park features 33,000-square foot skate course, an asphalt pump track, a bike skills course, rock climbing wall and more. Admission to the park is free. Information

“Weihnachtsmarkt” German Christmas Market (SCC), Saturday, December 14 from 8am-1pm at 200 North 2nd Street, St Charles, MO 63301. In partnership with the St. Charles-Ludwigsburg Sister Cities program, please join us for our monthly Flea and Artisan Market, along with German themed Christmas vendors and activities.  Information

 Candlelight Holiday Concert and Open House (STL), Sunday, December 15 from 5:30–8pm at Grant’s Historic Site, 7400 Grant Rd, St. Louis, MO, United States, 63123.Experience White Haven with Christmas carolers, a candlelight walk through the historic home, period holiday guitar music, and 19th century treats served in the historic kitchen. End the evening with a festive concert of traditional Irish holiday music by Celtica in the park’s theater at 7:00 pm. No reservations are required. All activities are free. Information

Gateway Ringers Handbell Concerts (STL & SCC), Sundays, December 15 and 22 from 4-5pm, locations below. 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

  • December 15, Holiday Concert at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 8945 Veterans Memorial Parkway, O’Fallon, MO 63366
  • December 22, Holiday Concert at Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church, 11155 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63105

Movie Night at The Hub: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (STL), Thursday, December 19, activities begin at 5:30pm, movie begins: 6:30pm. Enjoy a family-friendly movie viewed on the outdoor large LED screen of The Hub. Admission is FREE, but no outside food and drink is allowed. Information

Season-Long Holiday Events…

Christkindlmarkt (ILL), Thursdays-Sundays, December 12-December 23 in Belleville, Illinois at IL Route 159 and Main Street. ​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 13, 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

Brewery Lights Drive Thru Nights at Anheuser Busch Brewery (STL), FREE, Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, December 16, 17, & 18 from 5-10pm. On these select nights only, enjoy driving through the Brewery with its historic buildings all dressed up for Christmas in half a million twinkling lights. Admission is FREE on these nights only. No Brewery Lights activities are held during Drive Thru Nights. Enter and exit Pestalozzi Street at the main gate located at Busch Place and Arsenal.  Information

Pictures with Santa: A Holiday Experience at Westport Plaza (STL), December 13, 14, 20, & 21, Fridays from 6-8pm and Saturdays 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 ballon art and face painters. Information

Winterfest, Meet the Princesses Days (STL), Sundays, December 15, 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), Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 24 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.

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

If you want to receive this newsletter weekly to your inbox, send your email address to stchascounty@recreationcouncil.org