Holiday Family Fun!
My favorite thing about the Christmas season is the extra time that we get to spend with our loved ones. Yes, our hectic daily lives with work and errands remain. Not to mention the added stress with buying presents and cooking gourmet meals. But, the Holidays remind us to slow down and enjoy the little things, especially with those you hold dear. Gifts and presents are great and all, but it is the experiences we have and the memories we share that will truly last! Cheesy, I know…. but true! All my favorite Christmas memories are of fun things that my family and I did together, not the toys that I received.
So below are some great activity ideas for families to do together! These are geared towards those who live in St. Louis, but if you live elsewhere don’t worry! Most of these you can do anywhere! I separated them by cost (activities that cost money and those that don’t!), for those who are looking for fun on the cheap side or who prefer to stay at home! Check them out below!
FUN FOR FREE!
Main Street St Charles, MO! If you have ever been to Main Street around the holidays, then you know that this place loves Christmas! The whole street is decorated for the occasion and they are in no shortage of lights. On the weekends they hold a Santa Parade, show performances of A Christmas Carol, and even hold Dance Parties with characters from the Nutcracker Ballet. Those are just to name a few! Click here for the full list of fun things to do on Main Street with all the dates and times!
Drive through neighborhoods to see Lights! I used to love driving around neighborhoods looking at all the festive light displays. People go all out these days! Grab some hot chocolates to-go and jump in the car! Turn up the Christmas music and jam to all the great tunes as you cruise around. If you’re close to downtown head towards the 6500 block of Murdoch, also known as Candy Cane Lane! Nearly every house is lit up with colorful decorations. On the west side of town, head to Never Enough Lights (a display at 607 Calamar Court in Dardenne Prairie in St. Charles County). It’s a laser light show with 80,000 lights set to music! Tune your car radio to 107.1 FM to hear the jams! The annual show runs Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. in December. It’s free, but donations are accepted for the Hope Ministries Food Pantry.
Christmas Movie Night! Having fun does not always mean leaving the house. Have the kids pick out their favorite Christmas movie and make an event out of it! Pop popcorn and add in special things like chocolate drizzle and sprinkles! Start a fire in the fireplace and roast marshmallows for s’mores with peppermint bark! Bake Christmas cookies with all the extra icing and fixings. (If you’re not a baker, just purchased the pre-made dough, your kids will not care!) Have a Hot Chocolate Bar! It could include marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, sprinkles, chocolate shavings, and Baileys Irish Cream for the adults!
Go Sledding! Who doesn’t love sledding down a huge hill!? Although the climb back up is never the best (Ha!), it is always worth it once you get back up to the top! If you don’t have a fun sledding hill in your backyard, check your local park! Parks are the best place to find a nice cleared hill to provide a fun and safe experience. If all else fails, you can head to Art Hill in Forest Park which provides a huge area with room for everyone.
FUN THAT COSTS (But is worth the money!)
Zoo Lights! Not only is the St. Louis zoo one of the best in the country, but they also put up more than a million lights to help celebrate Christmas! Walk through the zoo enjoying the lights and maybe even see an animal too! Fire pits, carolers and holiday entertainment is scattered throughout! Tickets include the carousel and their 4D movie theatre showing The Polar Express! For times and prices click here!
Rudolph at the Fox Theatre! A classic TV movie come to life! This play is showing on December 22 & 23 and has a shorter running time than most plays ( 1 hrs and 30 min) making it more suitable for little ones! (cause we all know they can not sit still for much longer than that, and that is with snacks.) Rudolph, Hermey the Elf, Santa and all the classic characters are there along with the songs and dances! Click here for show times and ticket prices!
Ice skating in Forest Park! The perfect holiday treat! Open every day of the week and for all ages, the skating rink is great for those in a group or on a cute date. If you get hungry, there is the Snowflake Cafe with sandwiches and a large list of snack foods. To warm up you can sip hot chocolate by the bonfire. There are even skating lessons available if you would like to learn from a teacher. Bring cash with you (they do not accept cards, but there is an ATM on site). For hours and prices click here.
Brewery Lights! Anheuser Busch Brewery is a historical statement here in St. Louis and their Brewery Lights is quickly becoming just as traditional! Not only do they light up the facility with more than a million lights, but the list of extras is amazing! Train rides, horse shows with the Clydesdale Horses, and an ice rink is just to name a few. They have holiday food and beer for everyone to sip along with a soup bar. They have packages geared towards individuals and groups, including VIP packages. Click here for prices and times.
Whatever you choose, just make it your own! If you have smaller children, like me, then they are perfectly content with baking cookies and watching a movie at home. Just be sure to stay present, put down your phone, and engage with everyone!
Merry Christmas Everyone! XOXO,
Christine
