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Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers

Places to go: May 7 and 8

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It’s Mother’s Day weekend! Okay, so I had to make my own Mother’s Day lunch reservation and send my husband a link to a gift I had my eye on… but I will take whatever bit of relaxation I can get over the weekend, even if it was self-initiated. Here are some family friendly places and events to experience May 7 and 8:

1. Art Fair at Laumeier is a fun family event where you can view a wide variety of art for sale and talk with the artists. While you are at  the fair, enjoy the live music, children’s activities, concessions (lines can be long), and of course the sculptures throughout Laumeier Sculpture Park. Head into the Eastern Woodland area for a quiet break from the Art Fair mania. Parking can be tough and far away from the entrance, so consider being dropped off with the kids (and have your loving husband go park) or bring your stroller/baby sling. $8 for adults, $5 children ages 6-11, and children under age of 6 are free. May 6, 7, and 8. Read more about enjoying the Laumeier Sculpture Park with kids in my St. Louis Sprout & About article.

2. St. Louis Storytelling Festival. On Saturday, May 7, the annual festival presents many free, family storytelling events throughout the day. No reservations required. By the St. Louis Arch.

3. Cinco de Mayo Celebration on Cherokee Street. Saturday, May 7, 11 am to 9:30 pm. Floats, minstrels, puppets, Elvis impersonators, drag queens, Mexican wrestlers, robot makers, live music, art demonstrations, mask making, and more, are sure to generate some wide eyed kids. Go celebrate the vibrancy of Cherokee Street and the neighborhood’s Mexican heritage.

4. Citygarden. Free and open daily from sunrise to 10 pm, Citygarden is a beautiful spot to interact with outdoor art (touching is okay), play with water on a warm day, climb stairs, skip, hop, and run. Bring snacks or lunch (the cafe food is just okay and kind of overpriced for what you get).

5. Grant’s Farm is open for the season! The park is open this Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Enjoy a fun tram ride while viewing the animals, see giant turtles, watch the elephants, ride the carousel, feed the crazy baby goats, and sample a beer. Also don’t miss the famous Clydesdales on your way out near the parking lot. $11 for parking and free admission. Fees for feeding the ravenous goats, riding the carousel, and concessions.

Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Date Night

Things to Do | July 9-11

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Looking for something FREE to do this weekend? Here are a few of my favorites.

Ann Hamilton’s Stylus piece at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts |  Opening reception Friday, July 9 at 5 pm OR Saturday, July 10, 10 am to 5 pm*

I have yet to read anything that makes much cohesive sense as to what this work is really about so just go and experience it in person. Ann Hamilton is an internationally known artist whose multi-media installations have addressed ideas of process, time, place, and voice among other themes. There is always something startlingly evocative, beautiful, and memorable about all of her work. The opening reception is the evening of July 16 but the exhibition runs through January 22, 2011. Read more about Stylus at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts blog (shared with the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis).

The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts hours and location information

*The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts is only open Wednesdays and Saturdays to the public.

Citygarden Fabulous Flamingo Festival | Saturday, July 10, 2 to 4 pm (not good for those with afternoon nappers unfortunately!)

If you want somewhere to cool off, St. Louis’s Citygarden is the perfect place. Clean designs, beautiful and playful fountains, sculptures, and fun people watching, this park area/sculpture garden is great for kids and adults. In celebration of its first birthday, Citygarden presents its very own “Flamingo Festival,” filled with a costume parade and contest (come dressed as a flamingo), prizes, refreshments, story tellers, live music, and a stilt walker. Note: the nearby cafe, The Terrace View, is super convenient, has great service, and is reasonably priced. Too bad the food is so blah.

Read about Tom Otterness’s sculpture and other works in the garden.

Citygarden hours and location information

Tilles Park Children’s Playground |  10 am to 8 pm daily

Tilles Park has a wonderful children’s playground and a water spray park. There are two separate age appropriate playground structures, a swing set, lots of objects to climb on, pretty clean bathrooms, outdoor musical instruments, a sand box, and some seating areas. The water spray park area is excellent for hot days. Just don’t forget towels and lots of sunscreen. There are limited shady areas in the children’s park. Ample parking is a plus.