Last updated: November 11, 2024
Celebrate with the St. Louis community! Our guide will lead you to all the holiday events and activities. For those who call St. Louis home and those who wish they did, our guide is your holiday lifeline.
Popular events this season include the enchanting performance of *The Nutcracker* by the Saint Louis Ballet, which brings to life the classic tale through stunning choreography and beautiful music. Another highlight is *Mariah Carey's Christmas Time*, offering a lively celebration filled with holiday favorites. And the performance by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, *The Ghosts of Christmas Eve*, is something you definitely don’t want to miss. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Contact information and details below.
Holiday light display with Salvation Army tree lighting and Winterfest opening.
The Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights is a free family-friendly event at Kiener Plaza featuring holiday performances, vendor booths, and a magical fireworks finale.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights
Dazzling light display with interactive photo opportunities.
Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden features over two million dazzling lights, transforming the iconic garden into a richly lit setting with mesmerizing displays and unforgettable moments. Enjoy interactive photo opportunities, traditional holiday music, and festive food and beverages.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden
Drive-through holiday light display with over a million lights.
Tilles Park's Winter Wonderland features over a million lights in 100 displays, showcasing festive characters and winter scenes across seventy-five acres of park land.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: Tilles Park's Winter Wonderland
Interactive holiday light display with themed areas and activities.
Drive through a spectacular holiday light display filled with animated scenes and dazzling special effects at Jellystone Park Campground next to Six Flags in Eureka, MO. Explore Elfland, Toyland, Candyland, and the Tunnel of Dancing Lights. Enjoy Mrs. Claus’s secret recipe chocolate chip cookies and cocoa at Kringle’s General Store, and visit Santa’s Workshop for a visit with the Big Guy himself. Try the Train and Wagon rides with open-air tours that leave every half hour.
Where: Eureka | More Info: Jellystone Park's Christmas Lights
Synchronized LED light and music show.
World Wide Technology Raceway's Holiday Light Display features over one million LED lights synchronized to traditional and modern Christmas music, creating a dazzling two-mile car ride through larger-than-life Christmas trees, glowing snowflakes, and dancing candy canes.
Where: Madison | More Info: World Wide Technology Raceway's Holiday Light Display
Cultural performances and family art activities celebrating holiday traditions.
Winter Celebrations at the Saint Louis Art Museum features dynamic performances, cultural richness, and family-friendly art activities celebrating holiday traditions from around the world.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: Winter Celebrations
Celebrating 30 years of Mariah Carey's iconic holiday album.
Mariah Carey's Christmas Time is a spectacular concert celebrating the 30th anniversary of her iconic album "Merry Christmas." The event features chart-topping hits and Christmas classics, showcasing Mariah Carey's legendary voice and festive spirit.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: Mariah Carey's Christmas Time
Epic rock concert with a Christmas story.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings an all-new version of The Lost Christmas Eve, the final chapter of their Christmas trilogy, to the stage with a blend of rock and classical music, featuring iconic songs and a compelling narrative.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
The Nutcracker by Saint Louis Ballet is a classic ballet performance featuring Tchaikovsky's iconic score, elaborate costumes, and intricate choreography. The show tells the story of Clara and her adventures on Christmas Eve, including a battle between mice and tin soldiers and a visit to the enchanted Land of Sweets.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: The Nutcracker by Saint Louis Ballet
Heartwarming adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic with stunning sets and costumes.
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical is a record-setting Broadway holiday sensation featuring hit songs like "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas." Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos. Magnificent sets and costumes inspired by Dr. Seuss' original illustrations help transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville, reminding us of the true meaning of the holiday season.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
World-class circus performance with holiday music.
Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular is a spectacular holiday event featuring awe-inspiring acrobatics, gravity-defying aerial feats, and talented musicians. It blends the spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with a lively musical mix of everyone's favorite holiday carols, creating a heartwarming celebration for the whole family.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular
Interactive train ride with Polar Express characters and Santa Claus.
The St. Louis Polar Express Train Ride is a holiday event where families board beautifully decorated trains to journey to the North Pole. The experience includes a reading of "The Polar Express," hot chocolate and cookies, and interactions with Polar Express characters and Santa Claus.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: Santa's Polar Express
International holiday customs and festive atmosphere.
The St. Charles Christmas Traditions festival is a month-long celebration featuring a unique blend of storytelling, history, and fairy tale whimsy. Guests are welcomed into a world of yuletide nostalgia and fantasy where reindeer fly, sugarplums dance, and international ambassadors share unique holiday customs. The festival includes a holiday feast for all senses, with genuine hot-roasted chestnuts, pageantry, and timeless Christmas melodies sung by Victorian carolers. Historic Main Street is transformed into a festive district with well-worn character and centuries-old bricks underfoot.
Where: St. Charles | More Info: Christmas Traditions Festival in Historic St. Charles
Family-friendly winter celebration with ice skating and themed activities.
Winterfest at Kiener Plaza is a six-week winter celebration featuring ice skating, s'mores stations, heated igloos, and family-friendly events like try hockey free and visits from princesses and superheroes.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: Winterfest at Kiener Plaza
Pancakes tossed through the air by a master flipper.
Join us for a pancake breakfast where kids can catch pancakes tossed through the air by Chris Cakes, the master pancake flipper. The event includes a pancake breakfast, photos with Santa taken by a professional photographer, and private playtime.
Where: St. Louis | More Info: Breakfast With Santa at the Magic House
Town-wide holiday experience with chocolate collection, caroling, and horse-drawn trolley rides.
Participants in Santa's Chocolate Express will visit local businesses to collect a variety of chocolates, enjoy caroling on downtown streets, and take a horse-drawn trolley ride to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at Grove Memorial Park. The event offers scenic views of the Illinois River and majestic bluffs, with many businesses providing specials and discounts for riders.
Where: Grafton | More Info: Santa's Shuttle in Grafton
