Celebration of Lights, Ft. Zumwalt Park, O'Fallon

Location: 1000 Jessup Dr. W., O'Fallon, MO 63366

Website: https://www.ofallon.mo.us/celebration-of-lights

Celebration of Lights is a holiday light display held at Fort Zumwalt Park. Each scene is designed and funded by local organizations, churches and businesses. Started in 1991, the event attracts more than 10,000 vehicles each year and more than 10,000 individuals during the Old-Fashioned Holiday Stroll.

We did the holiday stroll, which is only $5 per person and it was wonderful! I can honestly say this light display is amazing. Each scene is really cute, the lights were beautiful, and the extra touches that you get for the stroll vs. driving through were great for the kids. The loop is a mile long and we got to see live reindeer, fireworks, a model train display, and a free photo with Santa.

To drive though, it's $15 a car and you can drive through on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday the hours are 6-10 p.m. Mondays are closed to vehicular traffic and they only do train rides by advanced reservation. Rides last about 20 mins.

Kids can write on this chalk board anything they like

A man hailed us as we were walking to let us know that model trains were in this building. When my son was younger he was a huge train fanatic, so this was a wonderful unexpected surprise. The building was warm and we enjoyed watching the trains for a few mins. 

 

 

Live reindeer from Show Me Reindeer. You can check their website to see where they will be during the holiday season. They are all over town making appearances.

Santa!

This polar express display had great sound effects!

Center of Clayton Indoor Pool, Clayton

Location: 50 Gay Ave., Clayton, MO 63105                    314-290-8500

Website: https://www.claytonmo.gov/government/parks-recreation/center-of-clayton

Amenities:  Recreational swim with water slide, lazy river, and vortex, plus two 25-yard lap lanes

The Center of Clayton offers the ultimate experience in sports, fitness, swimming, recreational, educational and lifestyle enhancing programs. The Center's 136,000 square feet includes four gymnasiums, two pools, a suspended jogging track, weight lifting, aerobic/dance areas, a 30-foot climbing wall, classrooms, lounge, Subway and meeting rooms. The Center does allow non members to use their facilities- daily admission allows access to the pools, gyms and fitness areas. Programs including open climb are not included. Non resident rates are on their website, it costs $10 for kids 3-17, and $15 for adults.

Below are photos of the leisure pool taken from their website.

Great Skate, St. Peters

Location: 130 Boone Hills Dr., St. Peters, MO 63376             636-441-2530

Website: http://greatskaterocks.com/

Great Skate is a great roller rink. They have roller derby, the offer lessons, they host parties, fundraisers, and they have open skate. It costs $6 per child and $3 skate rental. Non skating adults don't have to pay and they have free wifi and a cafe. The place is pretty small and it's easy to see everyone. They have a small arcade and prizes for tickets. My son likes the trainers they have that help him skate. They have different sizes and they're $3 to rent. They have a DJ and kids can request songs to be played on a sheet of paper. My kids loved requesting songs and hearing them get played!

Great Skate has been around for 30 years but the place doesn't feel as old and run down as Ron's Roller World (Rollercade).  Roller Skating was difficult for my preschooler so I suggest grade school kids and up for this activity.