An important St. Louis holiday tradition is bringing joy to families this year.
This year the beautifully decorated trains take you on a journey to the North Pole as you interact with the Polar Express characters, Santa Claus and his elves. THE POLAR EXPRESS™ is the magical story of a boy’s search for the real meaning of Christmas, based on the beloved children’s book.
Begin your journey at St. Louis Union Station Train Park, where you will meet the Conductor inviting you to board THE POLAR EXPRESS™ train ride.
Families are encouraged to wear their holiday pajamas for the experience. Once aboard the train, it leaves Union Station and you will enjoy a reading of the classic book, then receive some freshly brewed hot chocolate from our chefs and a tasty cookie. Soon you will arrive at the North Pole where Santa Claus boards your train and visits every good little boy and girl to give them the magical gift of Christmas.
Saint Louis Zoo – U.S. Bank Wild Lights
Winter is WONDER-ful at Wild Lights.
Our dazzling holiday event features brand-new displays and themed areas. Warm up with winter-themed treats and say hello to the animals at Penguin & Puffin Coast and the Insectarium.
Admission Includes
- Entrance to Wild Lights, Penguin & Puffin Coast, Insectarium, 4D Theater and the Conservation Carousel
- Free craft for kids
- Free parking (as available)
Garden GLOW at the Missouri Botanical Garden
Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden dazzles visitors with its exquisite light displays year after year.
Come to celebrate the season with more than one million twinkling lights, beautiful projections and fun, new experiences.
The lights adorn some of the Garden’s most iconic locations, including the Climatron, and while you’re here, you can enjoy s’mores and festive drinks. Add a delicious meal (your choice of entrée and fountain drink) to the experience for $18 or reserve a private fire pit for $250.
Holiday Lights at Grant’s Farm
This year, there are four ways to experience Holiday Lights at Grant’s Farm: by car, on foot, over a meal or around the fire.
The popular drive-through experience routes you around the Busch family home and through the Bauernhof courtyard, both of which will be decked out in holiday décor. You’ll get the chance to see some of your favorite animals, Santa and Mrs. Claus and the 50-foot, LED-lit Christmas tree, which will be synchronized to holiday music that you can hear on your car radio.
If you would rather walk, you can take the tram to the German-inspired Bauernhof and then stroll around the grounds, enjoying the festive atmosphere and uplifting light displays at your leisure. In addition to meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus, you can also take a photo with the Clydesdales and savor seasonal food and drink offerings.
Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Louis
The Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Louis consists of elaborate, red-brick buildings in the Germanic-Romanesque style, with rounded arches, embellished cornices and castellated rooflines. This time of year, the stunning architecture is amplified by more than a million twinkling lights.
At the 38th annual Brewery Lights, guests can enjoy the remarkable holiday experience in a number of ways: Stroll down Pestalozzi Street arm in arm with your sweetheart, gather around a private fire pit with friends or explore the new ice maze with your kids.
Every night, there will also be a complimentary 16-ounce beer for those 21 and older, a 10-minute light show and a festive parade, including a vintage truck, rollicking floats, street performers and, of course, Budweiser Clydesdales. Tickets tend to sell out, so get yours today.
Gateway Arch Park Foundation’s Winterfest is back for its eighth year from Nov. 18 through Dec. 31.
Held in Kiener Plaza, Winterfest features fan favorites such as ice skating, s’more stations and igloos positioned under 100,000 twinkling lights. The festivities kick off with the annual Winterfest 5K and Kids Fun Run, which are the only routes through Gateway Arch National Park that support the park.
On certain weekends throughout Winterfest, the St. Louis Blues will sponsor hockey lessons, and every Friday, the sounds of holiday-themed karaoke will serenade onlookers. There will also be visits from princesses and superheroes and a family-friendly New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
Energy for all activities will come from the fantastic lineup of food trucks – plus, those 21 and older can stop by Pour Decisions for a signature cocktail.
Disney’s Aladdin: The Hit Broadway Musical at the Fabulous Fox Theatre
Disney’s Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical, comes to The Fabulous Fox from Dec. 12 to 17.
Discover a whole new world at Aladdin, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and spectacle. In the extraordinary theatrical event, one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.
Hailed by USA Today as “pure genie-us,” the musical features the best songs from the film alongside new music by Tony Award-winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tony Award-winner Tim Rice and a book by Chad Beguelin.