ONGOING
Garden Glow
- When: Various times, through Jan. 4
- Where: Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard
- How much: $5-$24, depending on date and circumstances
- More info: missouribotanicalgarden.org
Garden Glow is one of St. Louis’ favorite holiday traditions. It’s got lights everywhere — more than 2 million of ‘em — hot chocolate, s’mores, tours through the Tower Grove house decked out for Christmas, carols (sometimes), a lighted maze (it’s best in the snow), lighted projections and memories galore.
By Daniel Neman
Lasers, fog, music and an orb representing the sun alter the landscape in the “Into The Sunset” display at Light Cycles at Brookdale Farms in Eureka on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.
Light Cycles
- When: 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. (last entry at 8 p.m.) Thursdays-Sundays through March 15
- Where: Brookfield Farms, 8004 Twin River Road, Eureka
- How much: $35, $32 seniors, students, military, $28 children 4-12
- More info: lightcycles-experience.com
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Although it’s an immersive light show and sound experience, this event is not specifically holiday related. Rather, it is an effort to bring people closer to nature through specialized lighting and tone-poem music that highlights the glories of nature.
By Daniel Neman
Winterfest
- When: Daily 12-8 p.m. through Dec. 31
- Where: Kiener Plaza, 500 Chestnut Street
- How much: Free
- More info: archpark.org/events/winterfest
Winterfest at Kiener Plaza offers a little of everything (ice skating, s’mores, hockey, princesses, superheroes, rentable igloos, Christmas carol karaoke on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve fireworks) and a whole lot of one thing (lights). New this year is a pop-up indoor spot at 701 Market Street, the Lodge at Winterfest, with food, games and a complimentary drink for $25. The trees and some of the sculptures at Citygarden will also be festively illuminated through Feb. 17.
By Daniel Neman
FRIDAY
A Latino Celebration of Navidad
- When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 27
- Where: Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Boulevard
- How much: Free
- More info: mohistory.org/events/latino-celebration-of-navidad
In Latin America, the Christmas season is celebrated from las Posadas (starting Dec. 16, commemorating the trip Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem) to Día los Tres Reyes Magos (Epiphany, Jan. 6). The History Museum celebrates the season with stories, dance, music, crafts and food.
By Daniel Neman
Mark Thomas Quinn of El Monstero
El Monstero
- When: 8 p.m. Dec. 27-28
- Where: The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Boulevard
- How much: $32.50-$57.50
- More info: ticketmaster.com
The Pageant is doing the holiday season right way with eight shows from El Monstero. The St. Louis-based Pink Floyd tribute band has been rocking the stage for more than two decades. This isn’t the first time El Monstero has rocked the Pageant during Christmas time. The band, composed of various members from St. Louis bands, paints the town pink every December in St. Louis with many of its holiday shows selling out. Now in its 26th year as a tribute act, El Monstero is back again for rock ‘n’ roll and holiday glee. Expect to hear Pink Floyd fan favorites like “Young Lust,” “The Great Gig in the Sky” and “Dogs.”
By Jasmine Osby
‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’
- When: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday Dec. 27-29
- Where: Fox Theater, 527 North Grand Boulevard
- How much: $45-$120
- More info:
Christmas’ green anti-hero is back. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is based on the Dr. Seuss picture book of the same name. In it, a Grinch, who lives above the town of Whoville decides to wreck Christmas with his dog Max. The book became a cartoon and now a stage show featuring the songs “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas.”
By Rosalind Early
About 200 people gathered for a candle lighting ceremony on a 30-foot-tall menorah during the Hanukkah at The Arch celebration at Kiener Plaza in St. Louis on the first night of Hanukkah in 2023.
Hanukkah @ the Arch
- When: 3:30 p.m. Friday, 7:45 p.m. Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Sunday–Wednesday through Jan. 1
- Where: Kiener Plaza
- How much: Free
- More info: showmechabad.com/arch
Chabad of Greater St. Louis will be lighting the Staenberg Menorah in Kiener Plaza for each night of Hanukkah. The menorah is the biggest west of the Mississippi. The event, which starts Dec. 25 and goes for eight nights, doesn’t include any other activites, but Winterfest will be going on through Dec. 31, so if you stop by for the lighting, you can enjoy Winterfest activities like ice skating and roasting s’mores.
By Rosalind Early
Hanukkah on Main Street
- When: 5 p.m. Dec. 29
- Where: Bertholdt Square Park, 221 South Main Street, St. Charles
- How much: Free
- More info: jewishstcharles.org
It’s the fifth night of Hanukkah, so they will light the appropriate candles on a huge menorah in Bertholdt Square Park in St. Charles. There will be music, a drop of Hanukkah gelt (these days, it’s usually chocolate candy wrapped up to resemble coins) from a tall height, hot latkes to eat and Dreidel Man, who is sort of like a sports mascot but more embarrassing.
By Daniel Neman
Juvenile and the 400 Degreez Band
- When: 8 p.m. Dec. 27
- Where: The Factory, 17105 North Outer 40 Road, Chesterfield
- How much: $49.50-$79.50
- More info: ticketmaster.com
Twenty-five years after releasing the international twerk anthem “Back That Thang Up,” rapper Juvenile is celebrating by hitting the road for an anniversary tour. The fast-talking New Orleans lyricist has always had motion in the hip hop scene. He got his start working with Cash Money Records in the 1990s, the same label that would birth rap stars like Lil Wayne and Drake. More than three decades later, Juvenile stands as a Southern rap legend. His 1998 album “400 Degreez” received a quadruple platinum certification and his 2023 NPR “Tiny Desk” performance showcased his classic records in a new light. Expect a night of dirty south hip-hop featuring Juvenile and his 400 Degreez Band.
By Jasmine Osby
SATURDAY
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
- When: 7 p.m. Dec. 28, 2 p.m. Dec. 29
- Where: Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market Street
- How much: $35-$83
- More info: slso.org
Guest conductor Scott Terrell leads the SLSO in a live-to-film accompaniment of “How to Train Your Dragon.” Composer John Powell, who also scored “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda,” employed Scandinavian composers such as Sibelius as models, and enlisted Icelandic pop-singer Jónsi for the feature song, “Sticks and Stones.”
By Benjamin Torbert
View life in St. Louis through the Post-Dispatch photographers' lenses. Edited by Jenna Jones.
