Earth Day Festival in Forest Park--April 25

Don't miss this year's Earth Day festival in Forest Park! There is something for everyone--lots to do and and even more to see! Activities will take place from 11am to 6pm on Saturday, April 25, on the Muny grounds in Forest Park.

Check out the educational exhibits and hands-on activities, three stages of music and entertainment, an Earth Day Cafe with local and earth-friendly foods (available for purchase) and an All-Species Parade (dress as your favorite species and join in the fun!).

For more information, see the St Louis Earth Day website or call 314-961-5838.

Dogtown St. Patrick's Day Parade--March 17

If you're looking for a slightly more unique way to celebrate St Patrick's Day, show up at Tamm and Oakland Avenue this Wednesday, March 17! Dogtown celebrates their very own St Patrick's Day with a parade sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The parade starts at 11:30am and will travel south to Lloyd Avenue. Participating groups include marching bands, family clans, floats, and more!

For more information visit the parade website or call 314-645-5809.

St. Patrick's Day Parade--March 13

The 41st annual St Patrick's Day parade will take place in downtown St Louis this Saturday, March 13! The parade starts at noon at 18th and Market Streets and will head east to Broadway and Market Streets. The parade will include over 120 units including marching bands, balloons, floats, and clowns. This is one parade you will not want to miss!

For more information on the parade route or other aspects of the St Patrick's Day celebration, visit the parade website.

US Cellular Family Winter Carnival--Jan 23

This Saturday features a family-friendly Mardi Gras carnival in Soulard! If you're looking for a great excuse to get outside a bit, head on over to 8th and Lafayette (in front of the Soulard Farmer's Market) for the US Cellular Family Winter Carnival!

There will be lots of activities all day including arts and crafts (in a heated tent), family-friendly performances, karaoke for the kids, St Louis Science Center activities, football skills challenges, and a huge graffiti wall that kids can decorate. The carnival starts at 11am and ends at 4pm with an interactive parade where the kids can show off their new creations!

All events are free but food will be available for purchase. For more information, check out the US Cellular Family Winter Carnival website.

AmerenUE Thanksgiving Day Parade--Nov 26

Head downtown for the Midwest’s best holiday parade featuring colorful floats, bands, storybook characters, carriages, equestrian units and Santa Claus!

The AmerenUE Thanksgiving Day Parade will wind through downtown St. Louis to kick off the holiday season starting at 8:45am. The two millionth Eagle Scout, Anthony Thomas will serve as the Honorary Grand Marshal. The parade begins at North 4th Street and Washington Avenue, proceeds South on North 4th Street to Market Street, continues West on Market Street and concludes at 14th Street.

Macy's Holiday Festival of Lights--Nov 20

It's the start of the Christmas decorating season with Macy's Holiday Festival of Lights!

On November 20 at 6:30pm, Christmas lights are simultaneously turned on in downtown St. Louis and downtown Clayton for the official start of the holiday season. Special holiday activities starting at 4:30pm and a fireworks display after the lighting will be held at each location (Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis and Memorial Park in the St. Louis County Government Center in Clayton). Concluding the event in Kiener Plaza after the fireworks display will be a walking procession led by Santa up 7th Street to Macy's for the unveiling of the holiday windows.

Boo at the Zoo Spooky Saturday--Oct 24

St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital invites you to Boo at the Zoo Spooky Saturday!

Mummies and daddies are invited to bring their little ghouls and goblins to the St Louis Zoo for safe and free trick-or-treating (9am-1pm), entertainment (9am-3pm), and games and crafts (noon-4pm). You'll be able to sing and dance and enjoy special Halloween-themed goodies while you make crafts, play games, and meet costumed characters. Children are encouraged to wear costumes and participate in the costume parade at 4pm!

Note: Boo at the Zoo nights have a charge associated with them; Boo at the Zoo Spooky Saturday is FREE!

25th Annual Italian Fest--Sept 18-19

Another festival!

This weekend is the 25th annual Italian Fest in Collinsville, IL. In addition to the usual festival activities, there will be a grape stomping at noon on Friday! Friday and Saturday will also feature various bands, wine judging, and Saturday will be the big parade at 4pm. If you're a fan of bocce ball, don't miss the bocce tournament at 10am at Glidden Park on Saturday.

And of course, you don't want to miss the Children's Area, complete will climbing wall, bounce house, and ponies! (Some of the children's activities may not be free.)

How to get there: Collinsville is just 15 miles east of downtown St Louis and free parking is available. In addition, in you don't want to fight the crowds, you can park at Collinsville Intermediate School and take a free shuttle to the festival.

Kirkwood's Greentree Festival--Sept 18-20

As I mentioned a while back, this month is truly the month of festivals!

There will be lots of activities for the whole family at this weekend's Greentree Festival in Kirkwood. This annual community festival boasts a parade, booths, dance and music (including a whole tent devoted to Missouri fiddlers!), arts and crafts, a classic car show, a sailboat regatta, a folklife area devoted to life in the 1700-1800's, and a kids' area on Saturday and Sunday.

The parade will be held on Saturday at 10am and covers a parade route stretching 1.7 miles. The route begins at Kirkwood High School, travels east on Essex to Kirkwood Road, then south on Kirkwood Road to Argonne, and then west on Argonne, finishing at the Kirkwood Community Center.

The festival will be held in Kirkwood Park at the intersection of Adams Ave. and Geyer Rd. The festival will be open from 5-10pm on Friday, 8:30am-7pm on Saturday, and 10am-5pm on Sunday.

For more information check the website or call 314-822-5855.

26th Annual Great Fire Engine Rally--Sept 12

Calling all kids and kids-at-heart! You won't want to miss the 26th Annual Great Fire Engine Rally this Saturday!

The event features a kids town, firefighters challenge, food, music, pump area for fire trucks, a flea market and more starting at 8:30am and lasting until 5pm. A Fire Engine Parade with over 150 fire trucks and emergency vehicles will take place at 10:00 a.m. heading north on Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard, right next to the Gateway Arch.

For more information call 314-487-9154 or visit the website.

Labor Day Parade--Sept 7

Don't miss the annual Labor Day Parade held downtown on Monday, starting at 9am! The parade starts at Olive and 15th and will follow Olive east to Tucker, south on Tucker to Market, and west on Market to 15th.

For more information call 314-647-6336 or visit the St Louis Labor Council.

St Louis Earth Day Festival--Apr 26

Every year, St. Louis Earth Day stages what has become the oldest and largest Earth Day celebration in the Midwest on the forth Sunday of April in historic Forest Park. This premier event draws more than 25,000 attendees and 250 vendors through common interests in environmental education, celebration, and stewardship.

Educational Exhibitors present demonstrations and hands-on activities; Vendors showcase everything from cutting-edge technological innovations to ideas that focus on conventional wisdom and simplicity; Non-profit organizations advocate for and educate about their issues; Non-stop entertainment is provided by performances on two stages as well as those strolling through the crowds; Healthy and delicious foods are served by local restaurants: Everywhere, the spirit of celebration is in the air!

I can't even begin to list all of the many activities that will be going on here (including activities for the kids), so be sure you check out the website. I guarantee there is something for everyone here!

Delta Dental Mardi Gras--Feb 22

Come on out for the last weekend of the free Delta Dental Winter Zoo at the St Louis Zoo! This weekend is the Delta Dental Mardi Gras celebration with fun for the whole family with live entertainment, games, and more. All of the excitement takes place in The Living World and around the Zoo. Plus, you can watch the penguins parade around the Zoo at 1:30pm!

The Zoo-style party is complete with mask-making, beads, face painting and grand finale parade:
--The Delta Dental Stage Show will be held at 12:30 in The Living World's Anheuser-Busch Theater, and children will be given a free gift bag to take home with a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, a coloring sheet and a mirror decal to remind them to brush every day.
--Dance to live music by Bob Case and His Wild Accusations
--Create your own unique mask of sequins, glitter and feathers in the Mardi Gras tradition.
--Mardi Gras beads for everyone!
--At 3:00, join in the parade around the Zoo led by the Zoo's costumed penguin and Delta Dental costumed characters "Tooth Wizard" and "P.A.N.D.A."

In addition, you can enter the parade float contest and turn your child's wagon or stroller into a Mardi Gras parade float! Prizes will be awarded in three categories:
--Best penguin float
--Best float made from recycled materials
--Best in Mardi Gras style
Register your float on Sunday before the parade at 3 p.m. Registration is free. Check out the parade float rules here.

Veterans' Day Parade--Nov 8

The annual Veterans' Day Parade will start at 14th and Olive at noon, but the pre-parade ceremonies start at 11am. The parade will go south on 14th, east on Chestnut, south on Tucker, and west on Market to Union Station. For more information, call 314-589-6613.

Come on out and support the men and women who have worked so hard to support and defend your freedom!

Columbus Day Festival--Oct 12

Residents on "The Hill," St. Louis' famous Italian neighborhood, celebrate their rich history on October 12 with the annual Columbus Day Parade and Festival. The parade starts at Southwest Bank (at Southwest and Kingshighway) and everyone is invited to line the route and watch the floats, cars and bands go by. Then head over to Berra Park for an afternoon of food, music and fun. I can't find any times for this festival, but my best guess is that everything will be starting around noon or 1pm. In true Italian style, it may just start when it gets started. :)

Tour of Missouri bike race this weekend

The final stage of the Tour of Missouri lands in St Louis on September 14, but there are plenty of activities happening Saturday AND Sunday.

There's too much to list everything, but check out the links and you are sure to find something that you like!

25th Annual Great Fire Engine Rally--Sept 6

If you've got kids, this is the place to be this Saturday. Starting at 8am and going until 5pm, the FREE Great Fire Engine Rally brings more fire trucks to downtown St. Louis than you've ever seen in one place before! More than 150 modern and vintage fire trucks and apparatus will be on display.

The parade starts at 10am at the corner of Lenore K. Sullivan and Poplar Streets. After the parade, check out the firefighter challenge, visit the kids' area, watch the fire department burn a house (mock house, of course!), watch a river rescue, and watch an auto extrication using the Jaws of Life and more.

Come on out and support your local (and not-so-local) fire departments!