Family events in University City, MO

The entry fee is five dollars. Registration includes a pack, and additional prizes are awarded based on your record.

As night falls, the garden is transformed by LightForm into a glowing landscape where HYBYCOZO’s large-scale geometric artworks cast intricate patterns of light and shadow that highlight nature’s underlying shapes. Stroll at your own pace, pause to take it in, and enjoy live music along with special food and drink available for purchase. Tickets are $20 to $22 for general admission and $12 for children. Members receive $15 to $17 pricing and $10 for children, with complimentary entry for those at the Festival level and above. Buying tickets in advance is encouraged. This experience takes place rain or shine, and if an evening is canceled, the same tickets can be used on another LightForm night. Presented with support from the Crawford Taylor Foundation.

Round up up to five teammates for a friendly race to complete a 500 piece jigsaw. The first group to place the final piece earns a Puzzle Warehouse prize, and every team keeps the puzzle they finish. Light snacks are provided, and participants may bring their own beverages. Bring a puzzle to exchange at the swap. This event welcomes all ages, and children under 14 must attend with an adult. Spots typically go quickly.

Night Two of the Maryland Heights Summer Concert Series brings live music to Vago Park in a relaxed summer setting. Pack lawn chairs, invite friends, and settle in for an outdoor concert that lets you enjoy the music and the evening together.

The first 200 children to enter the Aquarium will receive a free stuffed Eugene the Pufferfish. Arrive early, as only the first arrivals will get one.

Festival of Nations returns to Tower Grove Park for a weekend filled with global culture and community. Guests can explore traditions from around the world through international cuisine, live music, cultural performances, and traditional dance. A bustling marketplace showcases artisans and makers, while cultural exhibits and local organizations offer opportunities to learn and connect. Activities are planned for all ages, with a mix of new features alongside popular favorites. Produced by the International Institute of St. Louis, this is billed as the region’s largest multicultural celebration, welcoming more than 100,000 people each year to honor the diversity and communities that help define St. Louis. Admission is free.

Daniel Tiger returns to town for a community building celebration at Nine PBS. Families can get an up-close look at trucks and equipment from Tarlton Construction and the St. Louis City Fire Department. Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat will be available for photos, high fives, and friendly meet-and-greets. The Nine PBS education team will host games and crafts and share free learning resources. St. Louis Public Library will present a story, and more than a dozen community partners will offer additional activities.

Enjoy live music from the Holy Friars, a Beatles and George Harrison cover band, at Benton Park. Neighbors and friends can gather along the park’s historic lake side, relax in the shade by the water, and share a picnic while the band plays. Admission is free for everyone. This event is sponsored by Scott R. Holdridge of State Farm.

After nightfall, LightForm transforms the garden into a glowing landscape where large-scale geometric sculptures by HYBYCOZO reveal the hidden patterns of nature. Light and shadow ripple across the grounds, creating an immersive walk that feels both serene and surprising. The atmosphere is complemented by live music, with special food and beverages available for purchase. Admission is 15 to 17 dollars for members and 10 dollars for a member child, with complimentary entry for members at the Festival level and above. Nonmembers pay 20 to 22 dollars for general admission and 12 dollars for a child ticket. Purchasing tickets in advance is encouraged. The experience takes place regardless of weather, and if an evening is canceled, tickets can be used on another LightForm night. Support is provided by the Crawford Taylor Foundation.

Best friends Valentine and Proteus pledge unwavering loyalty to each other, until both fall for the same woman and everything unravels. This classic Shakespearean romantic comedy brims with clever disguises, mixed-up messages, and a canine performer who tends to steal the spotlight, all while tracing a path toward friendship and forgiveness amid the comic trials of growing up. Staged without an intermission and offered at no cost in parks throughout the region.

Celebrating its 62nd year, the Moonlight Ramble brings cyclists together in St. Louis for a relaxed nighttime ride set around the August full moon. Participants pedal through city streets at an easy pace, then wind down at a post-ride gathering with snacks and beverages. The experience also features a space for vendors, live entertainment, and a commemorative event shirt. Recognized as the original nighttime bike ride, it draws thousands of riders each year.

Creve Coeur Park hosts a family-friendly run offering 5K, 10K, and 15K distances, plus a 1 mile option and a Kids Dash for ages 10 and under. Packet pickup takes place before the start. Kids in the dash gather at the main start line and are guided to their own starting area. After the national anthem, races begin, and live results with awards are available at the registration tent soon after participants finish. Every registration comes with a designer shirt, a custom bib, and a finisher medal. Timed distances include chip timing with live results, and participants also receive free race photos and a complimentary Kona Ice at the finish. The 1 mile is untimed and still includes the shirt, bib, and medal. The Kids Dash is untimed, includes a mini bib, youth-sized shirt, and a medal created for the dash, and children may run the dash at no cost if they choose to skip the swag. Youth pricing is offered for the 5K and 10K, with ages 12 and under priced at $17. The event welcomes every pace and fitness level and focuses on affordable, supportive fun for individuals, families, and friends.

The 5th Annual Back to School Bash will take place on the playground at Mesnier Primary School. Restrooms will be available. The event features a pay what you can concession stand sponsored by MBHealth Insurance Agency. Affton Fire Department Community Outreach will cook hot dogs and plans to be onsite with a fire truck as emergencies permit. Fusion Fix will return with a dessert truck, and Raising Canes has committed to participate. Clubs and organizations throughout the district are being organized to offer free game and activity booths for attendees.

At the Missouri Botanical Garden, HYBYCOZO presents an array of 21 interactive artworks that connect art, science, and the natural world across the landscape. Conceived by artists Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk, these large geometric sculptures feature intricate patterns that play with light and shadow, revealing subtle structures found in nature and encouraging thoughtful exploration and reflection. Described as the first exhibition of its kind in Missouri, this daytime experience is included with Garden admission. Members receive free daily entry according to membership level, and securing daytime tickets in advance is recommended, especially on weekends.

This city-wide quest draws inspiration from the world of Oz, challenging participants to solve puzzles, track down clues, and outwit a wicked witch. Tickets are required.

Enjoy a laid-back yet lively early evening farmers market featuring local produce, meat, prepared and hot foods, drinks, and artisan-made goods. Families can relax in the park at sunset, pick up dinner and drinks with friends, and support local vendors. More than 40 vendors take part each week. On the last Tuesday market of the month, a Vintage Bazaar is also featured.