Costume Capers: 26 St. Louis Events Where Kids Can Show Off Their Halloween Finery

You’ve put a lot of work into crafting the perfect Halloween costume for your children, so why only put it to use for just one night? Get some serious mileage – and spooky fun – out of your Halloween finery at these Halloween parades, costume contests and trick-or-treating events across the St. Louis area.

Please note, some of these events ask that anyone over age 12 leave their masks at home, and some require registration. Click on the links below for more information about any of these events.

Haunted Hayloft at Purina Farms

October 21-23 and 28-30. 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays. RSVP required. Free admission, parking is $5 per car.

The annual Purina Farms Haunted Hayloft is a St. Louis favorite and offers down-on-the-farm fun complete with animals, a costume contest, puppet shows, storytelling, trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, canine performances, adoptable dogs, magic shows and more.

Kids up to age 12 are invited to participate in the costume contest at the Incredible Dog Arena for a chance to win a $25 Purina Farms gift card!

Call 314-982-3232 to make reservations.  

And get your dog in on the Halloween fun at Purina Farms' Trunk or Treat for Kids and Dogs on Oct. 22. Reservations are required.

More information: purinafarms.com

Science Spooktacular

October 27 at the Saint Louis Science Center. 5 to 8 p.m. Free admission; some fees apply for additional spooky programming.

Calling all Mad Scientists! The Saint Louis Science Center’s annual Science Spooktacular combines Halloween fun with hands on science experiments. Make oobleck, watch pumpkins go splat from the highest floor of the Science Center, make Halloween crafts, experience Amazing Science demonstrations and conduct Halloween-themed experiments and disections. Don't miss Halloween Skies at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, featuring the story of why the moon sometimes looks like an orange pumpkin, and other tales of scary deep sky objects. Learn Halloween-themed folk tales, Greek mythology and how to create you own spooky constellations in the night sky.

For more information about the Science Spooktacular visit slsc.org

Monsters on the Meadows

October 22 at the Meadows of Lake Saint Louis. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.

Trick or treat through the Meadows of Lake Saint Louis while sipping hot chocolate. There will be pumpkin painting, face painting, live bluegrass music, balloon art, hayrides, and lots more.

More information: themeadowsatlsl.com

Not-So-Haunted House at The Magic House

October 21-23 and 28-30 at the Magic House. Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free with regular admission.

Dress up and trick or treat at everyone’s favorite house, The Magic House. Kids can collect autographs from 15 of their favorite storybook characters, from Alice in Wonderland to Harry Potter, Cinderella, Peter Pan and more as they trick or treat through four levels of Halloween fun. Kids will receive a trick-or-treat bag and an autograph book and can explore all the fun of The Magic House in their costumes.

More information: magichouse.org

BOOterflies Ball

October 22 & 23 at the Butterfly House. 5 to 7 p.m. RSVP required. $14 per person, $12 for members of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and free for infants 12 months and younger.

Your little bugaboos will be able to play games, create spook-tacular crafts and take home lots of loot after they visit the many hand-painted Treat Houses. Families can dance to Monster Jams at the Ugly Bug Ball or spy on the amazing Owl Butterfly, which are only active during dusk and dawn.

Admission into the Butterfly House, activities, light refreshments, crafts, treats and goody bags are included in the event ticket price. Visit the Butterfly House all October long (Tuesdays through Sundays) for The BOOterfly House: Bewitching Bugs and Botanicals, which celebrates all things creepy and crawly! Kids and spy on spiders, enjoy daily story times with Miss Muffet and see Live Carnivorous plant feedings.

More information and to register: butterflyhouse.org

Little Goblins Trick or Treat

October 13 at The Point in Ballwin. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Cost is $5-$7 per child.

Bring your little one for some indoor trick or treating, a spooky scavenger hunt, pumpkin decorating, games and more.

Kids will also be treated to a healthy snack. For ages 1 to 5, parent participation is required.

More information and online registration: ballwinmo.us

Party in the Patch at Shaw Park

October 14 at Shaw Park. 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 on the day of the event. For kids under 14.

Celebrate fall with a candy hunt, hay rides, a bounce house, carnival games and more at this Halloween party sponsored by the city of Clayton. A hot dog dinner is included. Please RSVP by calling 314-290-8500.

More information at claytonmo.gov

Terror at Tower Grove Park

October 21 at Tower Grove Park 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Free.

Have fun at the first annual, not-so-scary Terror in Tower Grove Park Halloween festival for all ages.  Enjoy live music, food trucks, candy for the kids, art projects by ArtScope, a costume contest, a Halloween movie, s'mores and lots more.

The event is free but donations are accepted to support the park.

More information is available on the Tower Grove Park Facebook page.

Boo at the Zoo Nights

October 18–30 at the Saint Louis Zoo. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. $6 for Zoo members, $7 for non-members. Free for children under 2. $1 discount for children 2 to 12 in costume with on-site ticket purchase.

This classic kiddie Halloween spectacular gets better every year! Visit the Zoo after dark to enjoy festive lights and mildly spooky scenes. Explore a straw maze, listen to fire side stories, make a craft and ride the “Scare-ou-sel.” Wander the Herpetarium at night to see the zoo’s resident creepy crawlies and check out the Children’s Zoo for live animal shows. And for some daytime Halloween fun at the Zoo, check out Boo at the Zoo Spooky Saturday.

More information: stlzoo.org

Children's Costume Parade and Party in the CWE

October 29 in the Central West End. 11 a.m. Free.

Parade through the Central West End with Cinderella and her carriage, Moolah Shriners in their YOMO cars, and plenty of clowns. The parade begins at 11 a.m. at Walton & McPherson. After the parade kids can trick or treat at participating businesses until 1 p.m., then enjoy a dog parade and party.

Registration is required for the dog parade only. The party shifts gears at 6 p.m. and becomes an adult only event.

More information: cwescene.com

St. Peters Halloween Carnival

October 22 at the St. Peters HES Operations Building. 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person in advance and $8 at the door.

Spend the evening enjoying a safe, indoor Halloween celebration for the whole family, including dinner, games, trick-or-treating and a hayride (weather permitting).

The Health and Environmental Services Operations Building is located at 135 Ecology Drive. Sponsored by the city of St. Peters.

For more information and to register online: stpetersmo.net

Halloween Camp-In

From 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 29 at the Saint Louis Science Center. 

Scare up some fun at this spooky Halloween overnight bash full of fun science that glows, bubbles and oozes!

The Halloween Camp-In will be full of haunted fun: Experiment with dry ice to make your own bubbling caldron of witch's brew, scare up some fun as you learn how to add ghoulish decor to your home and eerie accessories to your costume, and break off a piece of your own DNA as you learn just how haunting science can be. The Halloween Camp-In is for ages 6 and up. One adult chaperon is required for each camper under 18. Cost is $50 per camper ($45 for members), and includes dinner, snacks and a continental breakfast. Registration is required. 

More information: slsc.org

The Healthy History-Lovin' Halloween Party

October 25 at the Missouri History Museum. 4:30 to 7 p.m. Free.

Bring your kids to the Missouri History Museum for this movin' and groovin' Halloween party! Kids can go trick-or-treating in the galleries and learn fun facts along the way. There will be kiddie calisthenics at each stop (where kids can earn prizes), and kids can shake, spin, swirl and twirl along to some great Halloween tunes in the disco dance party room. 

A spooktacular 30-minute yoga class will be offered three times throughout the evening. 4:30-5 p.m., 5:15-5:45 p.m. and 6-6:30 p.m. Yoga adventures are led by Sara Clem of Salveo Yoga. You'll explore the history of St. Louis and have some Halloween fun exploring movement through yoga poses, partner poses, music and yoga games. Open to all ages and abilities. 

More information: mohistory.org

Manchester Halloween Festival

October 21 at Schroeder Park. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $4 for residents and $5 for non-residents. Children under 2 are free. RSVP required.

Dress up your kids and your dog in Halloween costumes and take them to Manchester's non-scary, family friendly Halloween Festival in Schroeder Park. You'll enjoy games, pumpkins, face painting, hayrides and lots more. Concessions will be available for purchase.

More information: manchester.mo.gov

Halloween at Grant's Farm

October 7-8, 13-16, 20-23, and 27–30 at Grant’s Farm. 5:45 to 10 p.m. Gate closes at 9 p.m. $20 per car, or $5 for walk ups.

Explore the (mildly) Haunted Deer park by flashlight and dance the night away with a kid-friendly DJ at this nocturnal event. Grant’s Farm will be decked out for Halloween with spooky lights and tons of pumpkins! Enjoy food and beverages in the Bauernhof and Halloween themed animal shows.  

More information: grantsfarm.com

Happy Halloween Party

October 28 at The Magic House. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Included with regular admission.

The Magic House and St. Louis Children's Hospital will host Happy Halloween Party, a daytime, candy-free celebration that includes a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt where children collect active-play treats, a cardio dance party and a variety of fitness activities. Kids will also make a health snack with the St. Louis Children's Hospital resident chef.

More information: magichouse.org

Halloween Party and Parade

October 31 at in Lafayette Park. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free

Kids should come dressed in their costumes for this Halloween Parade and Party in Lafayette Park. The event will start at the Lafayette Park Playground with trick or treating, carriage rides, carnival games, snacks and more.

Everyone is welcome to participate or to hand out goodies to the kids.

More information: lafayettesquare.org

Halloween Walk in Kirkwood

October 27 in downtown Kirkwood. 3 to 8 p.m. Free.

Children can trick or treat in costume at participating locations in downtown Kirkwood.  Kirkwood City Hall is giving out candy from 3 to 5 p.m., while shops will be handing out candy from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Kirkwood Greentree Church is also hosting its annual Harvest Party from 5-8 p.m. at 100 Kirkwood Place and will be giving out free hot dogs and candy.

More information: downtownkirkwood.com

Halloween Frenzy

October 15 at Faust Park. 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Tickets are $10 per child. RSVP Required.

Enjoy carousel rides, treats, games and pumpkin fun at the Halloween Frenzy. Kids should come in costume and bring a decorated pumpkin to enter into the best pumpkin contest. For ages 4-10. Please register in advance by calling 314-615-8345.

More information: stlouisco.com

Family Ghoulish Party and Movie Spooktacular

October 28. at Fireman's Park in Wentzville. 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 for residents and $7 for non-residents. 

Put on your costumes and head over to Fireman's Park for the all new Family Ghoulish Party and Movie Spooktacular sponsored by the Wentzville Firefighters Community Outreach and Wentzville Park and Recreation. Enjoy games, Halloween activities, a costume contest, a hay maze and giveaways.

Every pre-registered child age 14 and under will receive their own pumpkin. All who pre-register will also receive a hot dog, chips and drink. The movie Hocus Pocus will be shown on the big screen. Bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating.

More information and registration: wentzvillemo.org

Halloween Boo-nanza

October 31 at the North County Recreation Complex. 6 to 8 p.m. Free.

This fun family event includes hayrides, a marshmallow roast around the bonfire, and a scavenger hunt where the first 10 kids to finish will receive a prize. There will also be fun with crafts and pumpkins, and a costume contest. Don't miss the Haunted Caverns at the end of the program. 

More information: stlouisco.com

Treat Street

October 15 at Town and Country Crossing. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free.

Children 12 and under can participate in a costume contest, trick or treating, pumpkin decorating, face painting, a Halloween photo op, fun music and more.  

More information: townandcountrycrossing.com

Halloween Family Movie Night and Costume Parade

October 14 at the West County Family YMCA. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Free, but registration is required.

It's scary how much fun you'll have at this free Halloween Family Movie Night that kicks off with a costume parade! The whole family is encouraged to dress up and showcase their costumes, then enjoy a free showing of Casper. Special popcorn treats and water will be available for $1.

Reserve your seats via email to: [email protected]

More information: gwrymca.org

Halloween Parade at Westport Plaza

October 27 at Westport Plaza. 6 to 8 p.m. Free.

Costumed kids ages 10 and under are invited to the annual "All Hallows Eve" costume parade! The parade kicks off at the back entrance of Westport Plaza by Hickey College. In case of inclement weather, the parade will be held inside the mall. 

More information can be found here

Halloween Hoopla

October 31 in Frontier Park, St. Charles. 3 to 6 p.m. Free.

This free event is designed to kick off your Halloween trick or treating and is for all ages. There will be games, lots of kids activities and fun for all. Bring your little pumpkins to Frontier Park in St. Charles, where the fun will be set up between the Jaycee Stage and Katy Depot.

More information: stcharlesparks.com

The Great Candy Exchange 

Nov. 6 at the Heathworks Kids Museum. Noon to 4 p.m. Free admission.

Halloween isn't over in St. Louis until you take your kids to The Great Candy Exchange. Sponsored by the Healthworks Kids Museum (formerly the Delta Dental Health Theatre), The Great Candy Exchange is a chance for kids to wear their costumes one more time, win prizes, have their face painted, enjoy balloon artists and live shows, and have their photo taken in the photo booth for a take-home souvenir.

Kids can turn in unopened Halloween candy in exchange for chances to win a variety of great prizes that encourage healthy habits and active play. Find more information here

Like this list? Don't miss any Halloween fun for kids happening all across the St. Louis area! Bookmark our Things To Do calendar where you can save events directly to your Google or iCal calendar. And sign up for our free daily Things To Do email newsletter, a quick list of fun activities happening each day for you and your kids.