In the spirit of Christmas, this weekend’s featured events will be all about the holidays. Merry Christmas!

DOWNTOWN

Holidays at Union Station: This holiday attraction features the North Pole Village with Santa’s workshop, a hands-on experience for children and parents, complete with a certificate of completion in Elf Academy and hot chocolate and Christmas cookie. Glacier Park features a light and fountain show synchronized to Christmas songs. The North Pole Lodge features a state-of-the-art 3D light show in the Grand Hall, and Santa’s Express, a fun holiday train ride.

Date: Nov 18-Dec 30 (excluding Christmas)
Time: Times vary per attraction
Place: Union Station – 1820 Market St

Christmas Candlelight Concert: The glory of Christmas is celebrated with Magnificat by John Rutter, the undisputed master of the Christmas carol, featuring soprano Emily Birsan. After the traditional candlelight procession the audience is treated to favorite carols and special guests The St. Louis Children’s Choirs under the direction of Barbara Berner, all combining to create the perfect holiday experience. Tickets start at $30.

Date: Thursday, December 22
Time: 7:30pm
Place: Powell Hall – 718 North Grand Blvd

The Schwag Holiday Show: Don’t miss the free indoor concert of your favorite Grateful Dead Tribute Band. All ages welcome, kick-off the holiday weekend with an unforgettable fun holiday show! The Schwagis a band of musicians dedicated to carrying on the vibe and music of the legendary Grateful Dead. Founded in 1991, band leader Jimmy Tebeau also toured the country as the bass player for Jerry Garcia Band. The band averages 150 shows a year and has a working songlist of over 200 songs from the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band catalog.

Date: Friday, December 23
Time: 8pm
Place: Ballpark Village-601 Clark

CENTRAL

A Christmas Carol: Charles Dickens’ heartwarming tale comes to life on The Rep stage for the first time in 35 years. On Christmas Eve, the miser Ebenezer Scrooge is given a chance at redemption as he’s visited by four ghosts — his old partner Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future — who teach him it’s never too late to change. Tickets start at $18.

Date: November 30-December 24
Time: Thurs: 8pm, Fri: 2 & 8pm, Sat: 2pm
Place: Repertory Theatre-130 Edgar Rd

The Nutcracker: Artistic Director Gen Horiuchi brings the classic holiday tale The Nutcracker to life with the talents of the professional ballet dancers of Saint Louis Ballet. First performed in St. Petersburg, Russia more than 100 years ago, it is based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s 1816 tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Horiuchi’s version, on the vast Touhill stage, incorporates spectacular effects such as glitter, smoke and pyrotechnics and welcomes the holidays in grand style. The Nutcracker is a magical adventure for the whole family. Young Clara’s mischievous uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer, concocts a fantasy world for Clara, replete with growing Christmas tree and a Nutcracker doll that comes to life and battles a Mouse King. The defeat of the Mouse King brings a fantastic sleigh ride through falling snow and dancing snowflakes. Clara’s visit to the Land of Sweets is a showcase of dancing treats presented by the Sugar Plum Fairy herself.

Date: December 18-23
Time: ThursL 7pm, Fri & Sat: 2:30 & 7pm, Sun: 12:30 & 4:30pm
Place: Touhill Performing Arts Center

Holiday Ornaments Show & Sale: Every year, the Craft Alliance Center of Art + Design arranges a dazzling display of gorgeous glass ornaments in the window to celebrate the winter season! Ornaments are hand crafted by local and national artists. Create your own display with a selection of ornaments on a Christmas tree, in your window, from your chandelier, or in your kitchen!

Date: Nov 1 – Dec 24
Time: Tues-Thurs: 10am-5pm, Fri & Sat: 10am-6pm
Place: Craft Alliance Center of Art+Design-6640 Delmar Blvd

The Night the Toys Came to Life: Located in the heart of Saint Louis’s Central West End, Kramer’s Marionette Theatre shows you what happens when the Toymaker goes to sleep and the toys come to life. One of the longest running on-site puppetry theatres in the U.S., Bob Kramer’s Marionnettes has been enchanting audiences of all ages for more than 45 years. The productions are humorous and entertaining at every age level. They will appeal to everyone’s imagination, and provide a fascinating few hours of illusion and enlightenment. Tickets are: Adult $14.00, Child/Senior $12.00

Date: Nov 25-Dec 31
Time: Monday-Saturday: 10am and 1pm
Place: Kramer Marionette Theatre-4143 Laclede Ave

WILDWOOD

Polar Plunge Snow Tubing: Head out to Hidden Valley Ski Resort on December 24 & 25th for fun tubing, skiing, or snow boarding. They will be open Saturday, from 9am-4pm for skiing and 10am-4pm for tubing and Sunday from 4-9pm for skiing and tubing.

Date: December 24 & 25
Time: Sat: 9am-4pm, Sun: 4pm-9pm
Place: Hidden Valley Ski Resort-17409 Hidden Valley Drive

ST. CHARLES

Christmas Traditions & Closing Ceremony: A month long event featuring parades, carolers, performances from the Cobblestone Wassailers, an interactive presentation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, a Land of Sweets Dance party, candlelight processions, marshmallow roasts, and more. Saturday, December 24th is the final day of this celebration. At 1:30pm, meet in Frontier Park for a cheerful Closing Ceremony, which will culminate in the annual Santa Send-Off, where you can cheer on Santa and Mrs. Claus as they board a horse-drawn carriage to head back to the North Pole in preparation for the big night.

Date: November 25-December 24
Time: different times for different events
Place: St. Charles

ILLINOIS

CHRISKINDLMARKT and Ginger Bread Walk: An open-air Christmas festival based on cherished Bavarian traditions. Belleville bases its version on its strong German heritage and will feature European vendors and traditional German food and refreshments. Vendors will operate in individual wooden chalets and offer German lace, hand-blown glass ornaments, amber jewelry, nesting dolls, and much more. The festival will also include cultural activities, arts, crafts, music and dancing. Walk around downtown on a self-guided tour to view award-winning gingerbread creations. These gingerbread creations are displayed in downtown merchant windows starting at the Square on East and West Main Streets.

Date: Through Dec 23
Time: Sun-Thurs: 10am-7pm, Fri & Sat: 10am-9pm
Place: Downtown Belleville

To check out which holiday light displays will be open this weekend (some are not open on Christmas Day), go to our Holiday Lights in St. Louis.

To find out what’s open on Christmas, check out our Open On Christmas post.

Mills Apartments