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Fun, Free Events Newsletter

Listings by AREA:
St. Louis, MO ~ STL=St. Louis
St. Charles, MO ~ SCC= St. Charles County
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Of Interest For People with Disabilities…

Harbor Unlimited Adventure Day (SCC), Saturday, August 15 from 9 AM–Noon at Veritas Christian Academy, 1145 Tom Ginnever Ave, O’Fallon, MO 63366. Summer may be winding down, but we’re squeezing in one more BIG adventure! Come spend one of those last sweet days of summer with Harbor Unlimited at our Mad Scientist Adventure Day. Get hands-on with some wacky science experiments, learn all about rocket propulsion, and even participate in a rocket launch. Snack provided. FREE for people of all ages with different abilities and their families. Register HERE ~ Flyer

Freddie Ford Family Foundation August Events (STL): Back to School IEP & 504 Workshop, Thursday, August 20th from 4-8 PM. We are partnering with the Missouri Disability Empowerment Foundation to include an advocacy clinic where parents can get support with IEPs and 504s. The workshop will feature speakers on creating an “About Me” for teachers, managing emotions and negative self talk, executive functioning for students, relationships and setting boundaries, and creating an IEP Binder. Refreshments will be available, and workshop attendees will receive school supplies. Limited childcare will also be provided. Please note that space is limited to 26 parents and caregivers, so an RSVP is required to attend. RSVP is REQUIRED ~  Back to School Resource and Giveaway Event, Sunday, August 23 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Venable Park, 10630 Country View Drive, Creve Coeur, MO 63141. This event will feature vendors with resources, activities, and school supplies distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is REQUIRED

Black Cat Coffee Cafe Project (SCC), Saturday, August 29 from 9:00 AM-12:00 noon. LOCATION CHANGE: Harvester Christian Church, 2950 Kings Crossing, St. Peters, Missouri, 63303 (map).  Join us in August for complimentary coffee and sweet treats, all served by our amazing Coffee Crew of young adults with disabilities gaining real-world job skills and confidence. There is no charge to attend; cash-only tips are encouraged and go 100% to our amazing Coffee Crew. Learn more at: Information ~ Flyer

AbleLight Thrift Shop – St. Peters (SCC), Friday, August 28 with ribbon cutting at 8:30am and store opening at 9am at AbleLight Thrift Shop, 4122 Mexico Road St. Peters, MO, 63376. We’re excited to share the grand opening of our new AbleLight Thrift Shop location in St Peters, MO. Community members are invited to attend and check out the new location! The event will include a variety of special promotions, raffles, giveaways, and refreshments. Donations of gently used clothing, home goods, and home decor are gladly accepted. More information on the AbleLight Facebook Page

Registration is open now for the Brain Injury Association One-Day Regional Outdoor Camp 2026: Sunday, September 13, 2026 from 12:00 pm –  3:00 pm at Vago Park, 2700 Fee Fee Road, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. There will be Camp activities of arts and crafts, games, music as well as enjoying nature and spending time with others. Participation is FREE and open for survivors of brain injury, family members, professionals and the community. Registration is required to ensure an accurate count for refreshments.

Fun, Free Events for Everyone…

Maryland Heights Fun in the Park (STL), Wednesday, August 12 from 5:30-6:30pm at Eise Park, 12103 Bourbon Street, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 (map). This month we are having a FOAM party. Come out to meet your neighbors and have some wacky fun. August Event Information

Family Movie Night at 9 Mile Garden: Monsters Inc (STL), Wednesday, August 12 from 7-9 pm at 9 Mile Garden, Bring your family and friends, along with lawn chairs or blankets, to enjoy a FREE outdoor family-friendly movie. Cold drinks and food trucks will be available for purchase.  Information

St. Louis Kids Book Club (STL), Thursday, August 13 from 6-8pm at various St. Louis County Library Branches. Each month, families are welcomed into different library branches to explore stories, play, and connect. Each event features a thoughtfully selected book, a brief librarian-led read aloud, and a simple hands-on activity. After the program, families are encouraged to explore the library, discover branch offerings, and build lasting habits focused reading and learning together. St. Louis Kids Book Club is recommended for ages 3–8. Attendance is free, and advanced registration is required for all children. Information

 Sunsets and Snow Cones on the Great Rivers Greenway (STL), final date of the season: Thursday, August 13 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Mississippi Greenway: Chain of Rocks Bridge. Celebrate your regional network of greenways by grabbing a free snow cone on your favorite greenway at sunset. No registration required, just show up and beat the heat with an icy treat. Information ~ Great Rivers Greenway Facebook Page

Artisan Day at The Historic Daniel Boone Home (SCC), Thursday, August 13 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm at The Historic Daniel Boone Home, 1868 Highway F, Defiance, MO, 63341. On the second Thursday of the month through November, tour the historic Daniel Boone Home for FREE. Docents will be available to answer questions, and all levels of the Home will be open to explore. Stay and tour the Historic Village. Event repeats on Sept 10, Oct 8, Nov 12. Information

Touch a Truck (STL), Friday, August 14 from 10 am-1 pm at Jefferson Barracks Park, Veterans Memorial Amphitheater, 410 Bagby St, St Louis, MO 63125. Touch-A-Truck is a family-friendly, hands-on event that offers opportunities for children to explore, climb and touch trucks of all kinds, including emergency response vehicles, heavy machinery, and other equipment. Kids will also have the opportunity to meet the personnel who protect, serve and build our community. FREE for all ages to attend. Facebook Posting

Dog Days of Summer (STL), Friday, August 14 from 4–8 pm at the Art Museum in Forest Park, One Fine Arts Drive, 63110. Bring your dog to SLAM’s Grace Taylor Broughton Sculpture Garden for the ulti-MUTT evening of fun. Check out the website to see the full range of activities fit for human and dog alike. Website

Blues at the Arch (STL), August 14–16 beginning at 4:30 pm on August 14, and 1:30 pm on August 15 & 16 at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO. The festival pays homage to the rich blues history of St. Louis. Blues at the Arch. The free festival will feature a variety of blues artists in St. Louis. Information

Rumble in Manchester Car Show & Concert (STL), Friday, August 14 from 5-9pm at Schroeder Park, 359 Old Meramec Station Road, Manchester, MO, 63011. Free to attend and spectate! Come see a wide variety of show cars and enjoy live music from Rockin’ Chair playing Beatles tunes. Food trucks available for food purchases. Information

Family Nights in Brentwood Park (STL), Friday, August 14, 2026 from 5:30-9:00 pm at 2924 Brazeau Avenue, Brentwood, MO 63144. Join us for even more fun in the park, featuring local food trucks, refreshing drinks, live music, and free entertainment for all ages. Food trucks and activities begin at 5:30 PM, with featured music acts taking the stage at 7:00 PM. Explore the park, visit our newest playground, and grab your lawn chairs for a night of free summer fun and music. Information

Movie Nights at Westport Plaza (STL), Friday, August 14 & 22 from 6-9 PM at Rawlings Green Space at Westport, 111 Westport Plaza Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146 (map). On August 14, enjoy an outdoor showing of SING, a fun new movie about a city of animals trying to keep a struggling theater open. On August 22, enjoy a baseball themed movie, “Angels in the Outfield.”  Activities begin at 5:30pm and the movie begins at 7pm.Bring your own lawn chair or blanket. Admission is FREE. Movies scheduled for Sept 11 & Sept 25. Information

Theme Night at the Saint Louis Zoo: End-of-Summer Celebration (STL), Saturday, August 15 from 5-8 pm at the Saint Louis Zoo in Forest Park. Get the wiggles out before the school year begins. Guests can buzz to the beat of a DJ in Schnuck Family Plaza, and kids can visit several education stations around the Zoo. These family friendly nights will give visitors a chance to enjoy the Zoo after hours, plus enjoy fun themed activities throughout the Zoo. These events are FREE and do not require a reservation. Information

Back-to-School Bash (SCC), Sunday, August 16 from 11am-2pm at Frankie Martin’s Garden, Celebrate the new school year with a petting zoo, bounce house, face-painting, lawn games, live music, and food trucks. School-supply donations benefit local students. Free. Information

Classic Bike Night at Schlafly (STL), Monday August 17 from 5-8pm at Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood, MO 63143 (map). This FREE family-friendly event features lots of vintage motorcycles, Schlafy beer and food, music by a DJ and outdoor fun. FREE admission. People of all ages are welcome, but remember you must be 21+ to drink, this is an outdoor event, and there are louder areas with music and drinking. Well-behaved dogs on leashes allowed, but not inside tents nor the restaurant. Information

Open Caption Movie Nights at 9 Mile Garden (SCC), Wednesday August 19 from 7-9:30pm. Join 9 Mile Garden and SignBridge for two special Open Caption Movie Nights featuring full sound and captions displayed directly on the screen. Sketch Movie starts at 7:00 PM. It’s free to attend, and donations are encouraged. Grab dinner or a snack, enjoy a drink, and settle in for the movie. Bring a chair or blanket for comfortable seating. Sponsored by SignBridge and Stl Deaf Sport and Social Club. Mark your calendar for Friday, October 2 for the open caption movie “The Fall Guy”  Information

Family Nights at The Magic House (STL), Friday, August 21 from 5-8pm at The Magic House, 516 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122. These special nights enable a family (up to two adults and four children) to visit the Museum at no cost. Space is limited. Information

Gallery Laughs (STL), Friday, August 21 from 5-8pm with comedy show beginning at 6:30pm at the Art Museum in Forest Park, 63110. Enjoy live music and stand-up comedy former Daily Show correspondent and guest host Dulcé Sloan at SLAM’s Gallery Laughs. Free tickets will be available in person at the Museum starting at 10 am on the day of the performance at the welcome desk in Taylor Hall. Information

Festival of the Little Hills in Historic St Charles (SCC), August 21-23, repeating daily along Main Street in Historic St. Charles and in Frontier Park. Activities include demonstrations by craftspeople and artisans with more than 300 craft booths with items for sale. Live music and entertainment can be found on the Main Stage in Frontier Park and on Main Street. Families will enjoy Kids Corner. There will also be a wide variety of food and beverages for purchase. Admission to the Festival is FREE. Information

One World Fest at Mid Rivers Mall (SCC), Aug 22 & 23 from 12:00 noon – 10:00 pm at Mid Rivers Mall, 1600 Mid Rivers Mall Circle, St. Peters, MO 63376. This two day end of summer festival celebrates cultural diversity and unity. It features a Global Food Village, Live Entertainment, World Market Vendors, Kids Zone, Cultural Celebrations, games, face painting, and more. Admission and parking are FREE. Information

National Junior Ranger Day (STL), Saturday, August 22 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at Grant Historic Site, 7400 Grant Road, St. Louis, MO 63123. No matter what age you are, you are invited to explore, learn, and protect on National Junior Ranger Day. Join this one-day celebration that is part of the annual National Park Week. Included in the day are 19th-century farming demonstrations, a rain garden activity, outdoor games, and bird watching. Also enjoy musical performances by Wild Heart at 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM. The program is free, and no reservations are required. Information

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival: Two Gentlemen of Verona (SCC & STL), Various evenings NOW to September 6 at parks around the metro region. Join us for this rollicking Shakespearian comedy in which best friends Valentine and Proteus swear loyalty to each other…until they both fall for the same woman! Suddenly loyalty, love, and good judgment all go out the window. Complete with disguises, misunderstandings, and one very scene-stealing dog, this is Shakespeare’s original rom-com about friendship, forgiveness, and the hilarious messiness of growing up. Productions are FREE to attend and, no reservations or tickets required. Find a location near you at this link: St. Louis Shakespeare Festival

FREE fun at the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank’s Economy Museum (STL): The museum is housed inside the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis at One Federal Reserve Plaza, 63102 and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (excluding bank holidays). From designing travel journals and folding money-inspired origami to testing budgeting skills through games, the St. Louis Fed’s free Economy Museum is giving families a few more reasons to stop by one last time before summer break ends. Information

Outdoor Concerts….

St Charles Area…

St. Charles Municipal Band Concert (SCC), Thursdays, August 13, 20, 27 from 7:30-8:30 pm at Frontier Park, 500 S. Riverside Drive, St Charles, MO 63301. Pack a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy a free outdoor performance by the St. Charles Municipal Band. Final concert of the season is August 27, 2026. Information

The Meadows at Lake St. Louis Summerfest Music Series (SCC), Fridays, August 14, 21, & 28 from 6:30-8:30pm at The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis, 20 Meadows Circle Drive, Lake Saint Louis, MO, 63367. On August 14, enjoy music by The Machines playing rock and roll. On August 21, enjoy music by “Smokey and the Bandit.” On August 28, enjoy music by “Decades Apart.” FREE admission for humans, and well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and your dancing shoes. More concerts weekly through November 1, 2026. Information

St. Charles Music on Main (SCC), Wednesday, August 19 from 5-7:30pm on 100-200 blocks of Main Street in Historic St. Charles, MO, 63301. Join us for  Music by “Drawl.”  Bring your lawn chairs to enjoy this free outdoor concert. Food & Drink available to purchase. Last concert of the season is scheduled for September 16. Information

Dardenne Prairie Summer Concert (SCC), Friday August 21 from 6:30 – 9:30 PM at City Hall Park, at 2032 Hanley Road, Dardenne Prairie, 63368. These free outdoor concerts provide a great way to enjoy the summer with family and friends. Music this month by” Trixie Delight.” Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Concessions will be available for purchase. Last concert of the season is scheduled for September 26. Information

St. Peters Sunset Concerts (SCC), Friday, August 21 & 28 from 6:30-9 PM at 370 Lakeside Park. On Aug 21 enjoy music by Joe Metzka Band. On August 21, enjoy music by “Joe Metzka Band” and On August 28, enjoy music by “Zero to Ninety.” Enjoy free outdoor concerts around beautiful lake 370 with food trucks. Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. More concerts in September. Information

New Town Concerts (SCC), Saturday, August 22 from 7-10pm at the New Town Amphitheater, 3312 Rue Royale, Saint Charles, MO 63301. (Aug 15 concert cancelled). On August 22, enjoy “The Openers” with the biggest hits from 80’s hair bands followed by “The Pyromaniacs” delivering an electrifying performance as the ultimate Def Leppard tribute band. Bring your lawn chair and picnic dinner. More free concerts on Sept 5, 19, 26. Information ~  New Town Events Listing

Cottleville Twilight Tuesdays (SCC), Tuesday, August 25, from 6-8:30pm at Legacy Park, CWS Rotary Amphitheatre, 5490 Fifth Street, Cottleville, MO 63304 (map). Join us for “Butchwax & the Hollywoods” for a rocking concert. Mark your calendar for Sept 1 for music by “CLU-less” playing . Information

St. Louis Area…

Des Peres Summer Concert (STL), Friday, August 14 from 7-9:30 pm at Des Peres Park, 12325 Manchester Road, 63131. Join the City of Des Peres for the music of “Pink Houses USA” along with food trucks where you can purchase food. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and coolers (alcohol is allowed but NO GLASS). Information

Maryland Heights Summer Concerts (STL), Friday, August 14 fropm 7-9pm at Parkwood Park, 3145 Parkwood Lane, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 (map). Enjoy music by “Russo & Co” playing country favorites. Mark your calendar for August 28 to enjoy music by “Vince Martin” playing Soul/Blues/Jazz from 7-9pm at Vago Park, 24 Monima Dr, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. Information ~ Flyer

Chesterfield Amphitheater Tribute Band Concerts (STL), Friday, August 14 & Saturday, August 22 from 6-10pm at the Chesterfield Amphitheater, 631 Veterans Place Drive, Chesterfield, MO, 63017.  On August 14, enjoy music by “The American Ride” a Toby Keith Tribute followed by a drone show. On August 22, enjoy music by “Tyler Lewis” and “Mississippi Moon” at BACKSTOPPALOOZ with all proceeds from food and beverage sales supporting Backstoppers. Entry to concerts are is free. Information

Florissant: Music Under the Stars at St Ferdinand Park (STL), Saturday, August 15 & 22 from 6-9 pm at St. Ferdinand Park, 25 St Ferdinand Park Dr, Florissant, MO 63031 (map) Enjoy an evening listening to live music under the stars. On August 15, enjoy music by “Polly & the Pocket.” On August 22, enjoy music by “Fat Pocket.”A variety of food trucks will be available, but bring your own beverages. Event starts at 6 pm, music begins at 7pm. Bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Admission to concerts is FREE. Final concert of the season is Aug 22. Information ~ Flyer

Benton Park Summer Concert Series (STL), Sunday, August 16 from 2-8 pm at Benton Park, Pestalozzi Street, 63118 (map). Enjoy free Sunday afternoon outdoor performances at Benton Park (Arsenal St. & Jefferson Ave.) in St. Louis. Hosted by the Benton Park Neighborhood Association (BPNA), with food, drinks, and local merchandise available for purchase. Mark your calendar for our Back-to-School Picnic in the Park, August 29 with the Holy Friars from 4 pm to 8 pm. Information

Downtown St. Louis Lunchtime Live Concert (STL), Wednesdays, August 19 & 26 from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm at the Old Post Office Plaza in Downtown St. Louis, 801 Locust Street, 63101. Take a break from work and join us for lunch outdoors on the Post Office Plaza. This event features live music and food trucks, PLUS, it is FREE to attend. Purchase food from the food trucks or brown bag it. Dates for September are not posted yet. Information

Grant Historic Site Concert at the Park (STL), Thursday, August 20 from 7-8pm at Grant Historic Site, 7400 Grant Road, St. Louis, MO 63123. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy this free concert by Erin Bode singing jazz and pop-based pieces that showcase her love of poetry with songs that are rich in harmonic and timbral texture. Bring your lawn chair and a picnic dinner. Information

Tower Grove Park, Sauce Magazine’s Food Truck & Live Music Fridays (STL), Friday, August 21 from 4-8 PM at Tower Grove Park, 4257 Northeast Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63110 (map).  Bring a picnic dinner or buy an entrée from one of our food truck vendors and enjoy an evening at the park with friends, fun, live music and over 20 food truck options. Repeats Sept 11 & Oct 2. Information

Maplewood Summer Concert Series (STL), Wednesday, August 26 from 6-8 pm at Ryan Hummert Park, 2400 Sutton, 63143 (map). Come listen to the sounds of “The Perfect Strangers” with neighbors and friends. FREE to attend. One more concert Sept 23. Information

Recreation Council & Partner Reminders…

Missouri Department of Conservation FREE nature classes:  Visit these links to find all the class listings: MDC’s Free Classes & Programs Sign up for email or text alerts to stay informed of MDC’s latest programs and events here: Sign Up for MDC News.

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.

Footnotes…