Places to Go, Things to Do

Mighty Mud Mania and more in July

Mighty Mud Mania is coming Saturday, July 31. What could be more fun that playing in the mud with hundreds of other kids.

Mud Mania is just one of dozens of special events sponsored in July by the St. Louis County Parks.

There are also lots of other outdoor activities sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation and Trailnet, Inc. The International Institute also has a neat Festival of Nations, where you can see lows of St. Louisans who have come from other countries.

Here’s a rundown on some of the activities that will be right for kids and their families during July:

Mighty Mud Mania

The St. Louis County Parks go all out on Mud Mania. There’s an obstacle course built in a “pit of slippery, gooey mud.” In addition, there are 10 additional fun theme areas, such as inflatable rides and treasure sand pits.

The event at Jefferson Barracks Park in south St. Louis is often a sellout, so you need to register ahead of time. Call (314) 638-2100. You will be assigned starting times so you’ll avoid long lines.

The charge is $6 in advance and $7 at the gate.

As far as kids are concerned, the best endorsement for Mud Mania comes in the instructions of what to wear. Under “cleanup,” the instructions say: “Remember, the clothes worn in the mud pit should be old clothes of little value.”

In other words, wear stuff you are willing to throw away. There are even special barrels where too-dirty clothes can be thrown away. (You bring another set of clothes to be worn after you shower.)

For more information visit www.stlouisco.com/parks. Then click on Mud Mania on the left-hand index on the home page.

Festival of Nations

The Festival of Nations showcases performances, foods and crafts of over 100 local ethnic groups in St. Louis. It will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 24-25, in Tower Grove Park.

The Saturday program will start with a Parade of Nations at 10 a.m. Then, Saturday festival hours are 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Sunday, hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is free.

There will be two performance stages for non-stop entertainment. Also, there are food booths to introduce ethnic cuisine from across the world.

There are hands-on demonstrations of fine handicraft traditions. Also, gift booths will have handmade goods for sale.

A special children’s area will provide activities for kids’ participation.

For more, visit the International Institute’s website: www.iistl.org/events/festival.asp.

Columbia Bottom area

The newly-opened Columbia Bottom Conservation Area will have a neat Wetland Discovery Week in late July. This area located at the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers is ideally equipped to display wetlands.

The Wetland Discovery Week begins on Monday, July 26. Kids will study wetland soils that day. On Wednesday, July 28, there will be wetland plants. And on Friday, July 30, the show is on wetland animals.

Two other theme weeks at Columbia Bottom include Outdoor Skills Week and Birding Week. For a complete program, see www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/areas/bottom.

Other Missouri Department of Conservation areas include the Busch Memorial area in St. Charles County, Powder Valley Nature Center and the Rockwoods Reservation, both in St. Louis County.

In addition, there are two shooting ranges, The Busch Range and the Jay Henges Range.

Each of the other areas also have a variety of programs for kids and families. You can find information on each area by going to the main website at www.mdc.mo.gov/areas.

Outdoor Adventures

The St. Louis County Parks publishes a special Outdoor Adventures booklet. In “Gone Fishin’ 2004,” there are a variety fishing, hiking, camping, paddling and nature opportunities.

The Outer Limits Camps are special ones. There are three different camping periods in July: July 5-9; July 12-16, and July 19-23. All three of the July ones are for kids 10-12.

Campers get to experience canoeing, caving, team challenge course, map and compass, games and an overnight on Thursday night.

A total of 65 different activities and camps are available during July. Visit the County Parks website at www.stlouis.com/parks.

Trailnet’s Bike to the Fair

Trailnet’s Kids’ Fun Bike Ride for July will be on Sunday, July 4. The official name is the Fair Saint Louis Riverfront Bicycle Ride and Gateway Geyser Festival.

There are routes that go 14, 26, 39 or 48 miles. You start at the Illinois side of the Eads Bridge and go up the St. Louis Riverfront Trail to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Longer routes take you to Alton.

When the rides are over, riders are invited to join the Gateway Geyser Festival, which will be just south of the Casino Queen. You’ll be just a short ride away from Fair Saint Louis, where you can get free secure valet bike parking.

For information on all Trailnet activities, visit www.trailnet.org/events.html.