In the Gateway City, we know how to holiday. From festive light displays to jolly train rides, rooftop curling to ice skating and merry performances to pop-up bars, there’s a magical – and memorable – activity for all 25 days of Christmas in St. Louis.
December 1: Climb Aboard The Polar Express Train Ride
It’s important to hold onto childlike wonder even as an adult, which is why the Polar Express Train Ride has become a holiday tradition for those young and old in St. Louis. From Union Station to the North Pole, let your imagination run wild as you hang out with the train conductor, The Polar Express characters, Santa Claus and his elves.
December 2: Drive Through WonderLight’s Christmas
Pile friends and family into your car for one of the region’s largest drive-through light shows. Taking over World Wide Technology Raceway, you’ll see shooting stars, falling snowflakes and dancing candy canes – all synchronized to Christmas songs!
December 3: Go Crazy at City Museum
City Museum’s weirdly wonderful holidays boast bright lights, heartwarming encounters and seasonal cocktails. While you can still enjoy classic thrills – from the enchanted caves to the rooftop rides – visits throughout the month will also include story time with Mrs. Claus and karaoke with friends among larger-than-life themed displays.
December 4: Partake in a Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Christmas at Art Bar
“I don’t know what to say except it’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.” The Griswolds have taken over Art Bar at Angad Arts Hotel! Renamed Moose Mug Lounge for the holiday season, the rooftop popup dazzles and delights guests with National Lampoon-themed décor such as an inflatable RV, a lotta sap Christmas tree, a namesake family fireplace, an immersive light display and movie-inspired cutouts for comical photos. Open to those 21 and older, Moose Mug Lounge has also gone all out with its seasonal cocktail menu, with drinks such as Uncle Lewis’ Old Fashioned and Clark’s All-Nighter House-Lighter sure to give you a buzz.
December 5: Shop Local at the Maplewood Christmas Tree Walk
From costumed carolers to horse-drawn carriages, the Maplewood Christmas Tree Walk radiates holiday spirit. After the grand lighting of the tree and the arrival of Santa, visitors can sip hot chocolate while wandering through the local small businesses that define the Maplewood neighborhood of St. Louis. Storefronts will be decked out for the holidays, and many businesses will offer live entertainment, complimentary refreshments and special discounts throughout the evening.
December 6: Have a Spot of Tea at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis hosts the cuddliest tradition of the year – and it’s unbearably cute! On select dates from Nov. 29 to Dec. 23, families can enjoy Teddy Bear Tea in the hotel’s reimagined Lobby Lounge. Arm in arm with their furry friends, kids can enjoy gourmet tea, hot chocolate and finger foods – plus, cookie decorating, storytelling, caroling and face painting. For an additional cost, youngsters can take home a new teddy bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop – they’ll even have the opportunity to decorate a T-shirt for him or her on-site.
December 7: Chow Down on Pancakes with Santa
You better watch out; you better not cry – because Santa is cruising into town! Start a new family tradition with a cozy adventure aboard the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch. Dressed in your best holiday pajamas, enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast and capture Instaworthy moments with Santa during a two-hour cruise.
December 8: Take a Wagon Ride Through Santa’s Magical Kingdom
Santa’s Magical Kingdom is unlike any other place on earth. Here, reindeer soar overhead, elves frolic in the trees and ice cream sundaes are as big as boats. You can drive through the 35 acres of holiday magic at Jellystone Park, but we recommend booking an old-fashioned, open-air wagon ride for unobstructed 360-degree views. And if you have letters for Santa, you can drop them in his mailbox at the North Pole along the way!
December 9: Indulge in a Holiday Cocktail at The Sleigh Shed
With wall-to-wall bling, The Sleigh Shed puts the excess of the holidays on full display. Snag a table at the glittering holiday retreat and savor creative cocktails such as Freeze Navidad (tequila blanco, falernum, sweet vermouth, melon liqueur, pomegranate syrup and lime juice) and Not the Gumdrop Buttons (gingerbread-infused brandy, spiced chai, soft-serve vanilla ice cream and gingerbread whipped cream), alongside appetizers and desserts.
December 10: Immerse Yourself in Garden Glow
Celebrate the season with more than two million twinkling lights, beautiful projections and immersive experiences at the Missouri Botanical Garden. During Garden Glow, lights adorn some of the attraction’s most iconic locations, including the rose garden where Pentatonix serenades passersby.
December 11: Enjoy a Very Merry Christmas at The Fabulous Fox
So this is Christmas… Embark on a nostalgic evening of love, joy and timeless tunes when Rain, a Beatles Christmas tribute, comes to The Fabulous Fox. Perfect for families, friends and Beatles fans of all ages, the festive celebration blends the magic of the holidays with the music of the soul.
December 12: Saddle Up for a Cowboy Christmas at Brookdale Farms
During The Great Christmas Round-Up at Brookdale Farms, you and your family can join Deputy Dusty and his merry crew on an interactive wagon ride. As they chase down playful bandits and save Christmas on the farm, your kids can be part of the action! Disembarking in Snowy Gulch, enjoy Santa sightings, cookie decorating and raging campfires.
December 13: Meet Scuba Claus at the St. Louis Aquarium
Keep your eyes peeled – Santa’s swimming with the sharks! This holiday season, adventurers of all ages can spot Scuba Claus and his trusty elf making a splash in Shark Canyon at the St. Louis Aquarium. After chatting in the tank, dive deeper into the interactive attraction. Retrofitted in a 19th-century train station, it holds approximately 250,000 gallons of water and more than 13,000 animals – more magic than a single visit can uncover.
December 14: Tour the Painted Ladies in Lafayette Square
Lining Lafayette Square, the “Painted Ladies” are meticulously restored 150-year-old Victorian mansions doused in vibrant hues of yellow, salmon, green, blue and purple. Want to go inside? The neighborhood will host a parlor tour on Dec. 14. During the self-guided walking tour, you can venture into 11 festively decorated homes and then enjoy carriage rides in the park and trolley stops around the area.
December 15: Go Wild at the Saint Louis Zoo
Wild wonders await at the Saint Louis Zoo. Along Gingerbread Lane, down Artic Alley, through Toy Town and into the Frosted Forest, you’ll find festive family fun any night of Wild Lights.
December 16: Win a Snowball Fight at The Magic House
Crafted for kids who dream big, The Magic House has designed a pop-up experience that will change their entire perception of winter. In the seasonal wonderscape, youngsters can climb through a dazzling ice castle, weave through a glistening snow maze and tinker in the elves’ workshop. In Santa’s sleigh, snap a family photo, and then head to the snowball showdown, which happens Tuesdays through Fridays at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
December 17: Drive Through Holiday Lights at Grant’s Farm
Oh, deer! Grant’s Farm offers the royal tree-tment this season. The attraction’s popular drive-through experience routes guests 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.
December 18: Fall Under the Spell of the Saint Louis Ballet
Saint Louis Ballet’s magical annual production of The Nutcracker dazzles audiences with glorious dancing, resplendent costumes and Tchaikovsky’s beloved score! This year, the enchantment grows with the unveiling of a brand-new Nutcracker tree. Watch it grow from 11 feet 6 inches in the festive party scene to 23 feet during the dramatic battle scene, adding a breathtaking new dimension to this beloved holiday classic. Under the direction and choreography of Gen Horiuchi, The Nutcracker comes to life with elegance, energy and wonder.
December 19: Shop for Artsy Gifts at the Delmar Maker District
The holiday window displays throughout the Delmar Maker District are reason enough to visit, and while you’re here, you can shop for an array of locally made art at Craft Alliance and Third Degree Glass Factory. Traveling with kids? They can get crafty at MADE for Kids, created by The Magic House, giving you time for a much-needed break.
December 20: Try Curling at The Chalet
Perched on the sky-high deck of Le Méridien St. Louis Clayton, The Chalet offers cozy luxury – and curling! Whether you want to figure out the strategy of the sport or you simply want to have a good laugh with friends, you’ll enjoy your ice time at this holiday pop-up bar.
December 21: Spend the Day at Winterfest
Ice skating, Christmas karaoke, s’more stations – in downtown St. Louis, Kiener Plaza goes into overdrive for the holidays. Need to warm up? Pop into a postcard-perfect igloo positioned under 100,000 twinkling lights.
December 22: Watch It’s A Wonderful Life at Alamo Drafthouse
“You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.” A must-see Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life inspires deep contemplation about life while entertaining with light-hearted moments. See it at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema City Foundry at 6:15 p.m.
December 23: Feel the Power of Music with Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Live Show
Multi-platinum rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns to Enterprise Center on Dec. 23. This year’s tour features a brand-new production of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, alongside a special second set of hits, including a 25th anniversary salute to Beethoven’s Last Night. Both performances promise to captivate audiences with an unparalleled blend of rock and classical music, dazzling pyrotechnics, stunning lasers and incredible storytelling.
December 24: Embark on a Last-Minute Shopping Excursion in the Central West End
Want to make last-minute shopping more fun? Provisions St. Louis sells happiness – think whimsical décor, festive barware and brilliant accessories. If you’re looking for a good read, you’ll find it at Left Bank Books, and in between the two, you can grab a scoop at Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery.
