St. Louis area Missouri state parks and historic sites host winter events

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 5, 2024 – Don’t let the cold weather keep you from getting out and having some fun! Check out these fun-filled activities planned at Missouri state parks and historic sites in the St. Louis area.

• Thursdays through Sundays, Dec. 1-22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – December Ornament Craft at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site. 
  Felix Vallé House State Historic Site is offering a free Christmas craft program throughout the month of December. The public is invited to join the park team at the Shaw House Dec. 5-8, 12-15 and 19- 22 to create 3-D paper ornaments. Join them anytime from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the dates at 200 Merchant St. in Ste. Genevieve.
   
• Friday, Dec. 6 from 1:30 – 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7, 1:30-9 p.m. – A Very Peck Christmas: An Old-Time Shopping Experience at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site. 
  Take a break from the wrapping, baking and decorating! Come enjoy a simpler time on the Missouri frontier as you step back in time and experience the ambiance of shopping by candlelight at the historic site’s 1820s Peck Bros. Dry Goods and Hardware Store. Products for sale will include, but not be limited to, old-fashioned toys and games, candy, lye soap, handmade items and Christmas ornaments. Enjoy a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season with your family to discover these charming items that are perfect as stocking stuffers or small gifts. Friendly staff dressed in period attire will be available to provide assistance. Visit the site at 200 S. Main St. in downtown St. Charles. The Peck Bros. store is located on the first floor of the Capitol complex on Main Street.
   
• Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. – Nature’s Decor at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park. 
  Deck the halls with boughs of holly … The holidays are just around the corner and we’re in the mood to decorate! We’ll use nature’s resources to create wonderful winter wreaths. You provide the grapevine wreath – you choose the size and shape you prefer – and pliers, and we’ll provide everything else needed for decorating. Meet in the basement of the visitor center at 800 Guy Park Drive in Wildwood. This event is for ages 13 and older. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. There are two sessions: one from 10 a.m. to noon and one from 2 to 4 p.m. Registration is required and can be done by visiting icampmo1.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/Activities/Search.aspx and selecting “Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park” as the location.
   
• Saturday, Dec. 7, 1-7 p.m. – Le Réveillon at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site. 
  Revel in the spirit of an early Missouri French Christmas during Le Réveillon at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site. All activities are free and open to the public. The site is located at the corner of Second and Merchant streets in Ste. Genevieve. The schedule of events is as follows:
  • 1-3 p.m. – Paper filigree with Lisa Palmer of Never Bored Creations LLC.
  • 1-4 p.m. – Free tours of the Felix Vallé House.
  • 2-4 p.m. – Traditional dances performed by Dance Discovery, a St. Louis-based dance troupe that performs historically faithful social dances from the 1600s to the present.
  • 5-7 p.m. – Le Réveillon. Enjoy candlelit tours of the Felix Vallé House, and experience Le Réveillon, a traditional feast held after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Interact with interpreters in period dress and enjoy special desserts, including Buche de Noel.
     
• Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. at Mastodon State Historic Site. 
  Come learn and create at Mastodon State Historic Site! This Story Time program features stories and activities related to various park topics. Each program takes place in the museum auditorium located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial. These activities are designed for families with children 10 and under, but all are welcome. Registration is not required.
   
• Saturdays, Dec. 14 and 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – Snowman Decoration and Holiday Angel Craft at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site. 
  Are your holiday decorations looking a little bare? Do you need a break from the cold and the crowds? Then visit the interpretive center at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site for a quick and easy holiday craft or two, while supplies last! On Saturday, Dec. 14, we’ll have twine, ribbon and wood beads for you to make a cute snowman decoration. On Dec. 21, there will be paper, twine and a wooden bead to make a beautiful holiday angel, where you can decorate the angel’s wings or skirt. These walk-up-style activities are free and open to the public. We’ll see you at 200 S. Main St. in St. Charles.
   
• Monday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. – Homeschool Hour: Animal Adaptations at Mastodon State Historic Site. 
  Calling all homeschoolers! Mastodon State Historic Site is hosting Homeschool Hours where homeschoolers of all ages can join for fun, educational activities that focus on park topics, which this month is Animal Adaptations. Each Homeschool Hour has two time slots: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The 10 a.m. time slot is for all ages, while the 1 p.m. session is strictly for homeschoolers ages 10 and up and includes more advanced activities. Register by visiting icampmo.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/Activities/Details for the 1 p.m. slot or by calling 636-464-2976. Mastodon State Historic Site is located at 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive in Imperial.
   
• Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7 a.m. – Sunrise Solstice Hike at Mastodon State Historic Site. 
  Celebrate the return of the sun! The winter solstice may be the shortest day of the year, but we still have plenty of time to get outside. We will meet at the Spring Branch Trail trailhead before sunrise and talk about the solstice while hiking the trail. This is a great way to start your day and get excited about the longer days to come! The trailhead is located in the historic site’s picnic area at 1800 Seckman Road in Imperial. The trail is a flat 0.8-mile loop on a packed gravel surface. All ages are welcome, but registration is required and can be done by visiting icampmo.usedirect.com/MSPWeb/Activities/Details.aspx?session_id=136130&back_url=fi9BY3.

For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.