Tis the Season: 18 St. Louis Holiday Events!

Explore St. Louis is an incredible online resource for local happenings!  I absolutely love it.  They recently feautured this fabulous list of local holiday happenings and I HAD to share.  So many fantastic ideas...

Tis the Season: 18 St. Louis Holiday Events!
via Mark at Explore St. Louis

St. Louis events run the gamut this holiday season, from light displays to shows and parades, and they are sure to get you in the spirit.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes
Peabody Opera House
Nov. 8 – 18

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is America’s #1 live holiday production and has been a cherished part of holiday family traditions. Welcome these fabulous ladies home as The Rockettes return to their birthplace with a show unlike anything St. Louis has seen before.


Macy’s Festival of Lights, Downtown St. Louis
Nov. 16 from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.

The holiday season officially begins in St. Louis with the Macy’s Festival of Lights! Crowds gather in Kiener Plaza to watch the official lighting of the tree. The event includes live entertainment and a stunning fireworks display to cap off the evening.


43rd Annual Way of Lights Christmas Display- National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
Nov. 16 – Dec. 31
Nightly 5-9 p.m.

Drive through a winter wonderland of over one million lights that wind past electro-art sculptures, life-size figures and displays that depict the Christmas Story. There’s also a laser light show, camel rides, a tree display and an interactive play area for the kids.


Steinberg Skating Rink- Forest Park
Nov. 16, 2012 – Feb. 28, 2013
All Day Everyday

Take in the beautiful views of Forest Park as you ice skate in one of the most popular outdoor rinks in St. Louis. After a few spins around the ice you can warm up with hot chocolate or a meal at the Snowflake Café.


Santa’s Magical Kingdom
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park
Nov 16. 2012 – Jan. 6, 2013

Millions of lights and dozens of holiday scenes fill Jellystone Park in Eureka. You can see Santa’s flying reindeer, travel through the Candy Cane Village or visit the Waterfall of Lights. After seeing the lights, head over to Kringle’s General store for a little holiday shopping.


Kimmswick Christmas Open House
Kimmswick, Mo.
Nov. 17, 11-5 p.m.

Historic Kimmswick kicks off its holiday celebrations with its Christmas Open House. It features a Christmas parade, tree lighting ceremony hosted by Santa Claus and free horse drawn trolley rides. Oh, and don’t forget to stop by Mrs. Claus’s Workshop to wrap-up your holiday shopping early this year.


Winter Wonderland
Tilles County Park
Nov. 21, 2012 – Jan. 1, 2013

For 27 years Tilles Park has been turned into a Winter Wonderland every holiday season. The park is filled with more than one million sparkling lights and festive holiday scenes. You can drive through the display, but honestly the best way to see the display is by horse-drawn carriage.


Gardenland Express
Missouri Botanical Garden
Nov. 21, 2012 – Jan. 1, 2013

All aboard for some holiday fun at the Missouri Botanical Garden! The annual Gardenland Express holiday flower and train show delights visitors of all ages. G-Scale model trains travel through a miniature landscape of living plants surrounded by more than 400 colorful poinsettias and other flowers.


Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade
Downtown St. Louis
Nov. 22, 8:45 a.m.

Whether you’re a first timer or upholding the family tradition, the Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade is always an exciting show filled with floats, balloons, marching bands and more.


Deck the Halls Wreath Exhibit
Missouri Botanical Garden
Nov. 22, 2012 – Jan. 2, 2013

Local floral designers show off their best work at the annual holiday wreath exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Garden. You also have a chance to own one of the beautiful holiday wreaths by making a bid during the silent auction.

Holiday Magic
America’s Center
Nov. 23 – Nov. 25

The popular and family-friendly holiday show returns to the America’s Center convention complex. Enjoy MORE indoor carnival rides, MORE hands-on kids activities, MORE live entertainment and unique shopping opportunities at this indoor holiday extravaganza.


U.S. Bank Wild Lights
Saint Louis Zoo
Nov. 23 – Dec. 30 (Dates Vary)

If you have never walked through the zoo on a winter evening, don’t miss your chance. As you stroll through the zoo’s holiday wonderland watch as exhibits come to live with thousands of colorful lights, animated displays and seasonal sounds. Kids can hear fireside holiday stories and go nose-to-beak with Penguins as parents shop the gift shops.


Christmas in Kimmswick
Kimmswick, Mo.
Nov. 30 – Dec. 2

Enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas in Kimmswick. The shops will be decked out in their holiday splendor, carolers will stroll the decorative streets and horse drawn carriage rides will carry revelers back to a time gone by.


Central West End Window Walk
Central West End
Dec. 1, 1 p.m.

The Central West End neighborhood kicks off the holiday season with a window walk and street festival. The fun begins at 1pm with live entertainment, ice sculpting and chestnut roasting while you browse for your favorite Holiday window display.


University of Missouri-St. Louis Jazz for the holidays
Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL
Dec. 2

Enjoy the holiday classics such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” “Jingle Bells,” and selections from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” performed by UMSL’s Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Point and the University Orchestra.


30th Annual Augusta Christmas Candlelight Walk
Augusta, Mo.
Dec. 7

Get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the atmosphere of Holidays Yesteryear with Horse-drawn carriage rides, chestnuts roasting on the town square bonfire, caroling, town scavenger hunt, glass-blowers, wineries and wood-carvers.


Pet-acular Holiday Bazaar
Purina Farms
Dec. 8 – 9

Bring the whole family, including your four-legged best friend, out for some holiday fun at Purina Farms! This event includes free photos with Santa, shopping, live entertainment and delicious festive food.


Circus Flora: A Child’s Christmas in Wales
Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center
Dec. 14 – 16

Circus flora returns to Powell Hall in collaboration with the Saint Louis Symphony to present high-wire holiday fun for the whole family. It’s Christmas, with a circus twist!



The Nutcracker presented by Saint Louis Ballet

Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSEL
Dates and Times Vary: Dec. 14 – 23

This holiday classic is perfect for the entire family and a wonderful introduction to the world of ballet. Tchaikovsky’s magical score and Horiuchi’s popular staging is a beloved tradition for St. Louis’ audiences.


Christmas at the Cathedral
Cathedral Basilica in the Central West End
Dec. 15 – 16

Celebrate Christmas at the beautiful Cathedral Basilica in the Central West End. Christmas at the Cathedral concerts features the sounds of Christmas classics performed by Archdiocesan Adult Choir, Children’s Choir, Handbell Choir, and Orchestra


Trans-Siberian Orchestra
ScotttradeCenter
Dec 27

Experience the unique music of The Trans-Siberian Orchestra as they perform “The Last Christmas Eve” – A Rock Holiday Tradition for a New Generation.