Family guides for Missouri
Hand-checked family events and always-open places in Missouri, city by city, with dates, costs and official links. All times are local Central Time.
Coming up: holiday & seasonal highlights
- GloWild: Hidden Treasure at the Kansas City ZooKansas City · Nov 1 – Dec 27 · Separate ticket from zoo admission
- Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor WorldSpringfield · Nov 7 – Dec 24 · No charge for Santa photos, kids’ crafts or holiday giveaways
- Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical GardenSt. Louis · Nov 14 – Dec 29 · Nonmember adults $22–$25 and kids 3–12 $6–$12 depending on the night
- Holiday Reflections at Union StationKansas City · Nov 20 – Dec 30 · $10 Mon–Thu, $12 Fri–Sun and Dec 21 – Jan 4 (plus a 10% preservation fee)
- Mayor's Tree Lighting in Downtown Lee's SummitLee's Summit · Fri, Nov 20 · No fee listed
- Merry Moments with Santa & Mrs. ClausColumbia · Fri, Nov 20 · Free
Seasonal guides
- Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around St. Louis (2026)4 listings
- Holiday lights near St. Louis for families (2026)3 listings
- Where to see Santa near St. Louis (2026)4 listings
- Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around Kansas City (2026)5 listings
- Holiday lights near Kansas City for families (2026)4 listings
- Where to see Santa near Kansas City (2026)3 listings
- Thanksgiving weekend activities for families around Springfield (2026)3 listings
- Holiday lights near Springfield for families (2026)3 listings
St. Louis area
- Things to do with kids in St. Louis, MO12 listings
Kansas City area
- Things to do with kids in Kansas City, MO13 listings
Springfield area
- Things to do with kids in Springfield, MO11 listings
Columbia area
- Things to do with kids in Columbia, MO7 listings
Frequently asked questions
Which Missouri cities have Little Outings family guides?
Our 4 city guides in Missouri cover Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia. All times are local Central Time.
Where can I take my kids to see Christmas lights in Missouri?
We list 8 holiday light events across 3 cities in Missouri, 2 free, including Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis) and Mayor's Tree Lighting Holiday Show (Springfield). See our St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield holiday lights guides.
Where can kids see Santa in Missouri?
We list 6 events with Santa across 4 cities in Missouri, including Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World (Springfield), Merry Moments with Santa & Mrs. Claus (Columbia) and Thanks-For-Giving Parade (St. Louis). See our St. Louis and Kansas City Santa guides.
What Thanksgiving events can families go to in Missouri?
We list 1 Thanksgiving event across 1 city in Missouri, including Thanks-For-Giving Parade (St. Louis). See our St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield Thanksgiving guides.
What are the big kids' attractions in Missouri?
Zoos, aquariums and children's museums on our Missouri guides include Dickerson Park Zoo (Springfield), Saint Louis Zoo (St. Louis), Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium (Kansas City) and SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium (Kansas City). See all 8 in the city guides.
What is free for families in Missouri?
5 places on our Missouri guides have free admission according to the official site, including Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City), Saint Louis Zoo (St. Louis), Saint Louis Science Center (St. Louis), Forest Park (St. Louis) and Saint Louis Art Museum (St. Louis).
Our weekend search covers Phoenix Metro & Arizona for now, and more areas are coming soon. In the meantime, these family guides are hand-checked the same way.
How we verify listings · All guides · Arizona weekend search
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