Places to go, things to do...

Botanical Garden's holiday for kids, families

December is a fine time for kids at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. One of the special events is Christmas Carols in the Garden.

This year, that family favorite will be held Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5 and 6.

In addition to the caroling, there are kids' crafts and a hurdy-gurdy man along with Santa. Also, hot cocoa, apple cider and cookies are available for "good" kids.

While at the Garden, be sure to take in the Holiday Wreath Exhibit. You've probably never seen wreaths this fancy.

Also, you and your family can make reservations for a Candlelight Tour of the Tower Grove House. That's the former home of Garden founder Henry Shaw. The home will be all decorated for the holidays just like an old-world 19th century country home.

Be sure to call the Garden for times and information. The number is (314) 577-9500. You'll need advance reservations for the Shaw home tour.

 

Conservation art and essay contests

Kids are invited to enter state duck stamp and streams competitions sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Kids and adults are invited to enter an essay, poem or even a love letter telling how you like the state's rivers and streams. The writing competition is sponsored by the Little Brushy Stream Team.

First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded for best entries in the state's 20 watersheds. Young people under 18 need to include a parent or guardian signature giving permission to enter.

For information, contact the Little Brushy Stream Team, Rt. 1, Box 120T, Black Mo., 63625. Deadline for entry in this year's contest is Dec. 31, 2002.

Another neat conservation contest is the Missouri Junior Duck Stamp contest. This is the one that invites Missouri kids from kindergarten to high school to create an original duck painting.

The divisions are kindergarten-3rd grade, 4th-6th grade, 7th-9th grade and 10th-12th grade.

First-, 2nd- and 3rd-place winners are selected in each age group. Then, a "best of show" winner is selected from the first place winners in each age grouping. You might even win a trip to Washington for you, your art teacher and parents.

For entry packets or more information write Tim Haller, 4200 New Haven Rd., Columbia, Mo. 65201, or call him at 1-800-611-1826. Also, you can e-mail him at Tim_ haller@fws.gov.

 

Miniature circus at History Museum

The Missouri History Museum now has a miniature circus performance to go along with its Our World in Miniature exhibit. The circus will be held on Sunday, Dec. 8.

You and your family can make a whole afternoon of that Sunday. The circus performance is at 2 p.m. But, the total event starts at 1 p.m. with hands-on activities for kids.

The Fabulous Flying St. Louis Arches will be putting on the circus performance. These are kids from six to 24 years of age, who do acrobatics, juggling and more.

The American Flyer S Gaugers also will give demonstrations of their model train display.

There will be hands-on activities provides by two local organizations. They are the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis and the Gateway Division of National Model Railroaders Assn.

If you haven't seen the Our World in Miniature exhibit, there's still time. The exhibit in the Museum will run through January 21, 2003. It includes miniature models of trains, doll houses, transformers, gum ball charms, videos and more.

There are special free exhibit programs on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. through December.

Admission for these events are free.