Holiday Giving

Kiener Plaza Tree lit for the Salvation Army

The big tree in Kiener Plaza Park is up to kick-off The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. To donate to the Salvation Army CLICK HERE.

Many people like to make “end-of-the-year” donations to local charities. This website, STL Sports Page supports Rainbows for Kids as our official charity. Rainbows for Kids helps families of children with cancer in the Greater ST. Louis Area. There are no paid employees, so any donations go directly to the charity. CLICK HERE.

Holiday Events in St. Louis- 2024

What’s going on at Union Station for the holidays?

Pancakes With Santa, Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen, Sleigh Shed Cocktail Pop Up, a New Christmas, Freak Shake and More

The holidays start this week at St. Louis Union Station. It’s the delicious center of the festive season in St. Louis and this year the food and beverage options at St. Louis Union Station have been expanded and enhanced.

As home to the popular Polar Express Train Ride, St. Louis Union Station is a magical destination with activities and attractions for all ages. More information and tickets for the holiday events at Union Station are available at www.stlpolarexpressride.com or www.stlouisunionstation.com.  (For more info on the happenings at Union Station, scroll to end of article.)

“Jingle” in O’Fallon at Car Shield Field Nov. 29-Dec. 31

Glide around the twisting ice skating trail, feel the rush of snow tubing on real snow and enjoy wandering with your friends and family through a festive holiday light path. 

Indulge in festive tunes at Bah Humbug’s Sing-A-Long Piano Bar or enjoy a cup of cheer at the Tipsy Tree Lodge. Find the perfect gift for that special someone amongst our local artists and handmade crafts.

And no holiday celebration would be complete without a visit to Santa Claus.

For info CLICK HERE

Saturday Dec. 7 Annual Christmas Candlelight Tour in Overland

The Rep Holiday Fundraiser- Tues. Dec. 10

The Rep is back with another evening of holiday magic. The Rep’s Holiday Benefit will be held on Tuesday, December 10th, 2024. Join us for a night filled with entertainment, surprise guests, and mingling with St. Louis’s finest – all while celebrating the true spirit of the season. Guests are invited to engage in our robust silent and live auctions and participate in a high energy Rally For The Rep paddle raise – all to support The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ educational programs and season long productions. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of something truly magical. Join us for a night of giving, joy, and holiday cheer.

Faust Park Candlelight- Dec. 6, 7 from 6 p.m.-9

Wed • Dec 18, 2024 • 7:00 PM.  Enterprise Center, SAINT LOUIS, MO

CLICK HERE.

Sappington House in Crestwood- Dec. 20, 21, 22

Dickens and Gingerbread at The Historic Thomas Sappington House

Sappington house is presenting an abridged production of A Christmas Carol and a Gingerbread House display.  Sappington’s Christmas Carol will allow visitors will walk through the five-room decorated house to experience scenes from Christmas classic. Highlights include the Fezziwig party, Cratchit family caroling, and readings from the Dickens novel by Anne Williams.  Six one-hour performances will be presented over three days:  Friday, December 20 at 6 and 7 pm; Saturday, December 21 at 5 and 6 pm; and Sunday, December 22 at 5 and 6 pm. The $25 ticket price includes tea and a scone in The Barn Restaurant. The Gingerbread House display is at Sappington’s  Library of Americana and Decorative Art is free to view and features  gingerbread house model of Sappington House, its outbuildings. historicsappingtonhouses.org

Maplewood Chrstmas Tree Walk Dec. 6-

From carolers to horse drawn carriage rides, the Maplewood Christmas Tree Walk radiates holiday spirit that is reminiscent of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol!”

Candlelight Christmas

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in St. Louis. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Christmas Carols on Strings at E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Tentative Program

• 12 Days of Christmas
• Angels from the Realms of Glory
• Angels We Have Heard On High
• Away in a Manger
• Carol of the Bells
• Deck the Halls
• Ding Dong! Merrily on High… and more!

For more information: CLICK HERE.

Details on the Union Station Holiday Events:

NEW: MRS. CLAUS’S KITCHEN

New to Union Station in 2024 is Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen, a cookie decorating adventure that includes interaction and story times with Mrs. Claus herself. Kids can make their own cookie creations and meet everyone’s favorite holiday grandma. Days and hours at www.stlouisunionstation.com..

PANCAKES WITH SANTA

Not to be outdone by his better half, Santa Claus is hosting Pancakes With Santa weekends in the beautiful Grand Hall at St. Louis Union Station. Everyone will meet the Jolly Old Elf as they enjoy Santa-face pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries. The holiday light show will run on the Grand Hall ceiling during the event. Pancakes WIth Santa is held on select dates during the holiday season, beginning November 16 & 17. Tickets are available at www.stlouisunionstation.com.

SLEIGH SHED HOLIDAY POP UP

The Train Shed restaurant at Union Station transforms into Sleigh Shed for the holiday season, now through December 31. With a menu of special holiday cocktails, mocktails and seasonal desserts, the pop up is St. Louis’ favorite seasonal food and drink experience for friends and family gatherings, office parties, dates and all holiday getaways. Sleigh Shed is open daily at 11 a.m. and accepts no reservations, so all the holiday fun happens on a first-come, first-served basis. More information is available at www.trainshed-stl.com. (See new menus below.)

NEW: ELF BAR AT UNION STATION

The popular Selfie Express photo illusion attraction at Union Station has been invaded by mischievous elves for the Christmas season. And the new Elf Bar is open outside of the renamed “Elfie Express” inside Union Station. Elf Bar serves a festive grown-up drink called Elf’s Citrus Snow Melt made with Vodka, Dolin Blanc, Vanille de Madagascar, Angostura and Orange, Lime & Coconut. A popcorn snack complements the refreshing drink.

NEW: SODA FOUNTAIN’S 2024 HOLIDAY FREAK SHAKE

The ice cream creators at Soda Fountain, the retro-style diner at Union Station, have done it again. The over-the-top holiday Freak Shake for 2024 is “Breakfast at Buddy’s,” a nod to the beloved film, Elf. The treat is a Maple Syrup-flavored shake, with Chocolate and Maple Syrup Swirl, rimmed with Marshmallows, Mini M&M’s, Snow Caps and Vanilla Icing, topped with Candy-Cooked Spaghetti Noodles, a Fudge Pop-Tart, a Candy Cane, Maple and Chocolate Syrup Drizzle, and even more candy with whipped cream and a cherry. Breakfast at Buddy’s will be available until December 31. www.sodafountain-stl.com

O TANNENBAR — THE CHRISTMAS TREE BAR

It’s a Christmas Tree. It’s a bar. It’s both a Christmas Tree and a bar. This 45-foot-tall German-style tree is hollowed out to contain a cozy bar serving both spiked and non-alcoholic hot chocolate all season long. O TannenBar is located in the outdoor plaza at Union Station just steps away from the Polar Express trains and the St. Louis Wheel.

ABOUT THE POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN RIDE AT UNION STATION – NOVEMBER 15 – DECEMBER 30

The real train rides — a Midwest holiday tradition — travel to the North Pole again this year to tell the magical story of a boy’s search for the real meaning of Christmas. The train rides begin at St. Louis Union Station on November 15 and continue through December 30, 2024. Riders are encouraged to wear their holiday pajamas on the train. Weekday riders in November also will get bonus free tickets to the St. Louis Wheel at Union Station.

Trains will depart St. Louis Union Station at 4:30, 6:00 and 7:15 p.m. every night during the season except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Trains also run at 8:30 p.m. on selected dates. Prices vary by date and ticket class. More information is available at www.stlpolarexpressride.com. This year celebrates the Polar Express story’s 20th Anniversary and each First Class and Premium Class rider will receive a commemorative 20th Anniversary mug.

The beloved story of The Polar Express comes to life when the real train departs for a round-trip journey to the North Pole led by a cast of talented characters familiar to everyone who loves the classic movie and book, including the Boy, the Hobo, the Conductor, dancing and singing chefs and, of course, Santa and his elves. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy time in a pre-ride venue filled with Christmas-themed selfie stations.

Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away for a one-hour trip to meet Santa. The Jolly Old Elf will meet every child on the train and will give them the first gift of Christmas, a silver bell. It’s an immersive, family-oriented experience that will create lasting holiday memories.

www.stlouisunionsttion.com.

St. Louis Union Station is located at 201 S. 18th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. Follow on social media @unionstationstl. Phone inquiries: (314) 942-6942.

For those coming in from out of town, there are several hotels you can stay at, including the Drury Hotel Union Station. If you stay there, be sure you use the promocode “SPORTS.”