Places to Go, Things to Do

Festivals, birthdays and outdoors

July is the heart of summer and there are plenty of things to do and places to go in metro St. Louis. Many of the best are outdoors and are either free or low cost.

Of course, the biggest event is Fair Saint Louis, the giant Fourth of July celebration on the Mississippi riverfront in downtown St. Louis. There will be plenty of pre-event publicity to give you the opportunity to plan a family outing.

Each month, Young Saint Louis.com gives our readers some advance warning about events and activities that would be interesting to attend. Watch this space each month to find Things to Do, Places to Go.

In this July edition, two of the main articles preview events coming up in July. The Hunter Education story includes information about similar workshops available in July for kids who want to qualify for their hunting licenses.

The Greek Dance article focuses on one group that will be performing at the Festival of Nations later in July at Tower Grove Park. This will be free and open to the public.

Here are some other July activities you'll want to check out:

 

St. Louis Cardinal Kids Clinics

The series of Cardinals kids baseball clinics, which started in late June, continue in July.

The clinics aren't inexpensive; they are priced at $99 per kid. But, the youngsters get lots more than baseball instruction. Each kid gets a Cardinals T-shirt, a Cardinals cap, two free Cardinals game tickets.

They also participate in prize drawings and autograph sessions with former players.

All the clinics are taught by former Cardinals players and coaches.

July clinics are at Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex, July 5 and 7; Longacre Park in Fairview Heights, Ill., July 12 and 13, and Woodlands Park in St. Peters, July 27 and 29.

Hours are from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

To register, call (314) 425-0600 or visit www.stlcardinals.com.

 

Botanical Garden has 205th Henry Shaw birthday

Admission is free all day at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Sunday, July 24. That's the 205th birthday of garden founder Henry Shaw.

There's going to be old-fashioned entertainment and refreshments from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

One feature of the event is a Petal Pedal bike ride which starts at 10 a.m. This is one of a series of free bike rides that are being sponsored by St. Louis cultural institutions. Each of the St. Louis Museum District institutions is having a ride during the summer.

 

Trailnet's 2005 Bicycle Fun Club

The Trailnet Bicycle Fun Club ride for July will be Sunday, July 3. That ride is in conjunction with the Fair St. Louis festivities. There are two start locations and ride routes of four different distances.

Registration for the rides will be from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Riders can start from either the Laclede Power Center in downtown St. Louis or from the Russell Commons Park in Alton.

Ride routes are 11, 22, 36 and 53 miles.

For information, visit the Trailnet website at www.trailnet.org.

 

Art Museum's July events for kids

The St. Louis Art Museum is sponsoring an Old-Time Music and Square Dance on Friday, July 8. Not only is the event free but it will be held at the Art Hill Plaza on the north front of the museum.

Featured performers are the Ill-Mo Boys. They'll play old-time rural music. There's even a square-dance caller, Emily Buckhannon.

The event begins at 7 p.m.

Another free feature of the museum's July programming is the Ford Family Sundays. This month, the subject is All-American Landscapes. The event will be held from 1-4 p.m. on each of the five Sundays in July.

 

Missouri Conservation Department events

The Missouri Conservation Department has a varied schedule of events for kids and families during July. The MDC runs four conservation areas in the metro area.

At Busch Memorial Conservation Area there will be a Painting the Birds program for kids 8 to 16 on Wednesday, July 13. Naturalist Carol Jean Price will help kids with tips on painting birds and their habitat. The event is from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Registrations are needed. Call (636) 441-4554.

The Columbia Bottom Conservation Area will have Birding Week programming for kids 7 to 12. The three programs are Bird Identification, Tuesday, July 26; Bring Birds to Your Backyard, Wednesday, July 27, and Bird Migration, Thursday, July 28.

Hours are 10 to 11:30 a.m. each day. Registration begins July 13. Call (314) 877-6014.

The Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center will have Family Photo Scavenger Hunts on Tuesday, July 19, and Thursday, July 21. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to noon. Naturalist David Bradford will lead.

Registration begins July 1. Call (314) 301-1500.

The Rockwoods Reservation will sponsor four Nature Nights in July.

There's Nature's Light Show: Fireflies on Thursday, July 7; Awesome Aquifer on Thursday, July 14; Wetland Wonders on Thursday, July 21, and Soil: It's Alive on Thursday, July 28.

Call for reservations and hours at (636) 458-2236.

 

St. Louis City Parks programs

Mighty Mud Mania is an ever-popular event because it promises to let kids get very, very dirty. The 2005 event will be Saturday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jefferson Barracks Park.

Tickets are $6 in advance or $7 at the gate. But, be sure to register in advance since attendance is limited so each kid who is admitted gets plenty of time to play. Register at (314) 638-2100.

Another popular event is Harlem Globetrotters Youth Basketball Camp. This year, the 4-day camp is from July 11-15. There are two sessions, one from 9 a.m. to noon and one from l-4 p.m. They are being held at the Affton Community Center.

The cost is $180. Call toll free 1-800-641-4667 to register. The camps are for kids 6-16.

There will be three separate Full Moon outdoor activities on Wednesday, July 22, at Creve Coeur Park. All are from 9 to 11 p.m.

The Full Moon Paddle and Hot Dog Roast will be on Creve Coeur Lake. Cost is $15.

The Full Moon Walk and Hot Dog Roast travels along the shore of the lake. Cost is $6.

The Full Moon Bike Ride and Hot Dog Roast. Riders will be on paved trails. Cost is $6.

To register for these events, call (636) 391-3474.