# Free things to do with kids in St. Louis this week

> Yes, plenty is free with little kids in St. Louis this week: we found 18 free outings, including Toddler Thursday at Mastodon State Historic Site, Outdoor Storytime at Forest Park and Music and Movement Storytime (Buder), plus seven library programs. One free day or event is coming up, each with its date. And six places never charge admission, like Saint Louis Zoo and Grant's Farm.

- Last checked: 2026-10-19
- 18 free outings this week; 1 free days and events coming up; 6 always-free places
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/free/
- Indoor play (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/indoor-play/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/llms.txt

## Free days and free events coming up

- **Ameren Thanks-For-Giving Parade**, Downtown St. Louis. When: Sat Nov 21. Time: 2 p.m. Free to watch downtown: floats, drumlines, marching bands and Santa at the end. Official page: https://www.celebratesaintlouis.org/thanks-for-giving-parade (checked 2026-10-19)

## Free this week

- **Toddler Thursday at Mastodon State Historic Site** at Mastodon State Historic Site, 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive, Imperial, MO 63052. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10am–11am. Price: Free. Ages: 1–3. A free outdoor story and craft for toddlers at the mastodon site. Official page: https://mostateparks.com/event/toddler-thursday/10-22-26 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Outdoor Storytime at Forest Park** at Anne O'C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest Park, Anne O'C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 10–11am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–6. Storytime with sensory activities at the Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape; blankets and snacks provided. Ideal for 6 and under; may be cancelled for weather. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a301c0172ddb73600814ea4 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Music and Movement Storytime (Buder)** at St. Louis Public Library – Buder, 4401 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 10–10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Songs, dancing and stories for little ones who like to move. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a2992121e67cd9cb338e08f (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby Bookworms Storytime (Central)** at St. Louis Public Library – Central, 1301 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–2. Rhymes, songs and board books for babies and their grown-ups. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a2abde5c7d3cd58005f948c (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Pumpkin Party (Machacek)** at St. Louis Public Library – Machacek, 6424 Scanlan Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 5–7pm. Price: Free. Ages: 2–12. Decorate a pumpkin and enjoy fall festivities; ideal for families. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a2c34eb16554cd59fc85ffc (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Kids Crafts: Pumpkin Stress Balls and Toilet Paper Mummies (Carondelet)** at St. Louis Public Library – Carondelet, 6800 Michigan Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63111. When: Mon Oct 19. Time: 6–7pm. Price: Free. Ages: 4–12. Make two Halloween crafts to take home. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a2c6ef716554cd59fc87044 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Sensory Playtime (Julia Davis)** at St. Louis Public Library – Julia Davis, 4415 Natural Bridge Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63115. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 4:30–5:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Hands-on sensory play for young children. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a340ad28ea300e2631e9e9d (checked 2026-10-19)
- **STEM Lab: Pompom Catapults (Kingshighway)** at St. Louis Public Library – Kingshighway, 2260 South Vandeventer Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 4:30–5:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 5–12. Build a catapult and launch pompoms. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a39820b90cc4e3a790feca4 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Music and Movement Storytime (Walnut Park)** at St. Louis Public Library – Walnut Park, 5760 West Florissant Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63120. When: Tue Oct 20. Time: 3–3:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Songs, dancing and stories for little ones who like to move. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a2c37888d1b82ca9f7984d0 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Baby Bookworms Storytime (Schlafly)** at St. Louis Public Library – Schlafly, 225 North Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10–10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–2. Rhymes, songs and board books for babies and their grown-ups. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a3415dc8ea300e2631ea155 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime (Carpenter)** at St. Louis Public Library – Carpenter, 3309 South Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63118. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–5. Stories, songs and rhymes for young children and their grown-ups. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a32ce4e90cc4e3a790ed0a6 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **LEGO Club (Cabanne)** at St. Louis Public Library – Cabanne, 1106 Union Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63113. When: Wed Oct 21. Time: 4:30–5:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 5–12. Build with the library’s LEGO bricks. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a29c976c7d3cd58005f7163 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **LEGO Club (Barr)** at St. Louis Public Library – Barr, 1701 South Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 4:30–5:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 5–12. Build with the library’s LEGO bricks. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a2c537c16554cd59fc869b0 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime (Kingshighway)** at St. Louis Public Library – Kingshighway, 2260 South Vandeventer Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110. When: Thu Oct 22. Time: 10:30–11:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–6. Stories, songs and rhymes for young children and their grown-ups. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a39654390cc4e3a790fe391 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime (Barr)** at St. Louis Public Library – Barr, 1701 South Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104. When: Fri Oct 23. Time: 10:30–11am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–6. Stories, songs and rhymes for young children and their grown-ups. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a2c525016554cd59fc86931 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Storytime (Buder)** at St. Louis Public Library – Buder, 4401 Hampton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10–10:30am. Price: Free. Ages: 0–6. Stories, songs and rhymes for young children and their grown-ups. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a299479f56bd86e00b5d1df (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Trick or Treat at the Library (Central)** at St. Louis Public Library – Central, 1301 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 10am–4pm. Price: Free. Ages: 3–12. Come in costume and trick-or-treat around Central Library; bring a good joke and a bag for treats. Ideal for ages 3 to 17. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a2ac3181e67cd9cb3391a68 (checked 2026-10-19)
- **Kids Crafternoon (Divoll)** at St. Louis Public Library – Divoll, 4234 North Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63107. When: Sat Oct 24. Time: 3:30–4:30pm. Price: Free. Ages: 4–12. An afternoon craft for kids. Official page: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/events/6a2c2b787550c8bf9f5cdca9 (checked 2026-10-19)

## Always free

- **Saint Louis Zoo**, Forest Park. A free zoo in Forest Park. Official page: https://stlzoo.org (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Grant's Farm**, Grantwood Village. A family attraction with animals. Check the calendar for open days. Official page: https://grantsfarm.com/plan-your-visit/general-admission/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Saint Louis Science Center**, Forest Park. A science center in Forest Park with a planetarium. Official page: https://www.slsc.org (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Saint Louis Art Museum**, Forest Park. Free admission every day, right in Forest Park near the zoo. Official page: https://www.slam.org (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center**, 11715 Cragwold Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122. Free, with exhibits and short trails. Official page: https://mdc.mo.gov/ (checked 2026-10-18)
- **Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape, Forest Park**, Between the World’s Fair Pavilion and the Jewel Box, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63112. Free, with natural materials to climb and explore. Official page: https://www.forestparkforever.org/ (checked 2026-10-18)

## Free library storytimes

- **Saint Louis County Library and Saint Louis Public Library**: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Baby, toddler and family storytimes at branches across the region, plus storytimes in Forest Park. Calendar: https://www.forestparkforever.org/storytime
- **St. Charles City-County Library**: Weekly at 6 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Time (Mondays 10am, Spencer Road Branch) and Story Time with Lindenwood University (Mondays 10am, Kathryn Linnemann Branch), with more at Corporate Parkway Branch, Deer Run Branch, McClay Branch and Middendorf-Kredell Branch. Calendar: https://www.stchlibrary.org/events
- **St. Louis Public Library**: Weekly at 6 locations; Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, mostly mornings. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Bookworms Storytime (Mondays 10:30am, Central) and Music and Movement Storytime (Mondays 10am, Buder Library), with more at Barr Library, Carpenter Library, Kingshighway Library and Schlafly Library. Calendar: https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/events
- **Edwardsville Public Library**: Weekly at the Edwardsville Public Library; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Books for Babies Lapsit (Mondays 10am) and Tales for Twos Storytime (Tuesdays 10am). Calendar: https://edwardsville.librarycalendar.com/events/upcoming

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### What’s free to do with kids in St. Louis this weekend?
This week we found 18 free outings for ages 0–6, including Toddler Thursday at Mastodon State Historic Site, Outdoor Storytime at Forest Park, Music and Movement Storytime (Buder) and Pumpkin Party (Machacek). See [free this week](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/free/#this-week); the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

### Are there free museum or zoo days in St. Louis?
Ameren Thanks-For-Giving Parade: Sat Nov 21. Dates come from each venue’s own page; see [free days and free events](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/free/#free-days).

### Where can we go for free any day in St. Louis?
Saint Louis Zoo, Grant's Farm, Saint Louis Science Center, Saint Louis Art Museum and Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center and 1 more don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.

### Is there free indoor play in St. Louis?
Yes: Saint Louis Science Center. See all of them on [indoor play places in STL](https://littlesweekly.com/st-louis/indoor-play/#places).

### Are library storytimes free in St. Louis?
Yes. Saint Louis County Library and Saint Louis Public Library, St. Charles City-County Library, St. Louis Public Library and Edwardsville Public Library run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.

### How do you check these free listings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).