Photo Credit: Courtesy of Saint Louis Ballet | Photos By Kelly Pratt
Christmas in St. Louis blends small town Main Street charm with big city sparkle, from a historic costumed festival in Saint Charles to a symphony hall lit up for the holidays. If you're looking for things to do in St. Louis for Christmas, the region delivers concerts, markets, festivals, and attractions from mid-November all the way through New Year's.
The Top 10 Christmas Events in St. Louis 2026
Here's our full lineup of Christmas in St. Louis events for 2026, ranked and ready to help you plan your season!
1. Saint Charles Christmas Traditions — Saint Charles
Saint Charles Christmas Traditions reimagines historic Main Street as an immersive holiday wonderland inspired by timeless Christmas stories and traditions. Guests wander through a living festival populated by costumed characters, festive performances, and interactive encounters that breathe the spirit of the season into every corner. Weaving together history, storytelling, and theatrical flair, it has grown into a nationally recognized celebration that captures the nostalgia and wonder of Christmas.
- Dates: November 27th, 2026 - December 24th, 2026 (Check website for details)
- Admission: Free
- Street Address: 230 S. Main Street, Saint Charles, MO 63301
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: Yes (On leashes along the historic outdoor thoroughfare)
- Parking: Free parking available across downtown surface lots and municipal structures
- Website: http://www.stcharleschristmas.com/
Insider Tip: The costumed festival characters carry free, custom trading cards to hand out to visitors. Tracking them down is a massive hit for families, but note that the highly coveted, exclusive Krampus card can only be found during those Friday night appearances.
2. Garden Glow — St. Louis
Missouri Botanical Garden's Garden Glow transforms the historic 79-acre grounds into a mile long path of immersive, luminous displays for the holidays. More than two million lights illuminate the Garden's most iconic spots, with interactive photo opportunities, a Holiday Flower and Train Show, and festive food and drinks along the way. It's a St. Louis holiday tradition that consistently ranks among the top Christmas light displays in the Midwest, and one of the most searched Christmas events in St. Louis every year.
- Dates: November 14th, 2026 – January 2nd, 2027 (select nights; closed November 16th–19th, 26th, and December 24th–25th)
- Admission: Ticketed; date and time specific
- Street Address: Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Free; two Garden lots at Shaw and Vandeventer Blvds. with shuttle service
- Website: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/events-classes/signature-events/garden-glow
Insider Tip: Tickets are date and time specific with no walk-up sales, and evenings from mid-December through New Year's sell out fast, so book online well in advance.
3. Winterfest at Kiener Plaza — St. Louis
Photo Credit: Miranda Munguia | mirandamunguia.com
Downtown St. Louis goes into overdrive for the holidays when the Gateway Arch Park Foundation's Winterfest takes over Kiener Plaza, right in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. Fan favorites include an outdoor ice rink, heated igloos, s'mores stations, and thousands of twinkling lights, plus character visits, a holiday market, and a family friendly New Year's Eve fireworks show to close out the season. It's a free, laid back alternative to the city's ticketed attractions, and one of the best places in St. Louis to combine ice skating with holiday lights in one stop.
- Dates: November 21st, 2026 – January 3rd, 2027
- Admission: Free; skate rentals, igloos, and s'mores stations ticketed separately
- Street Address: Kiener Plaza, 500 Chestnut St, St. Louis, MO 63101
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid; Kiener Plaza East and West garages
- Website: https://www.archpark.org/events/winterfest
Insider Tip: Kids skate free every Friday courtesy of the St. Louis Blues, and the rink runs extended daily hours from December 26th through January 3rd if you want to avoid the weekend only crowds earlier in the season.
4. Way of Lights — Belleville
Just across the river in Belleville, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows lights up for its 57th year of Way of Lights, a free 1.5 mile display telling the story of the journey to Bethlehem through millions of colorful lights. Beyond the drive through display, the Shrine offers indoor activities, nightly choir performances, a Christmas tree room, camel and pony rides, and a petting zoo. It's a longstanding regional tradition and a genuinely different kind of Christmas attraction near St. Louis.
- Dates: November 20th, 2026 – December 31st, 2026
- Admission: Free to drive through; donations accepted
- Street Address: 442 S. DeMazenod Drive, Belleville, IL 62223
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Free, on-site
- Website: https://snows.org/wayoflights/
Insider Tip: Visit on a Tuesday for Family Night, when discounts on camel rides, pony rides, and other activities help you avoid the larger weekend crowds.
5. Mannheim Steamroller Christmas — St. Louis
Photo Credit: Copyright Explore St. Louis / Mark Hermes
America's favorite holiday music act returns to the Fabulous Fox Theatre for Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis, a holiday tradition that's been packing concert halls for 40 years. Fifteen musicians play more than 20 instruments live against a backdrop of dazzling multimedia effects, performing the group's signature blend of classical and contemporary Christmas music. It remains one of the most searched Christmas concerts in St. Louis every holiday season, and tickets move fast.
- Dates: December 4th, 2026
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: The Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid; nearby garages and lots
- Website: https://www.fabulousfox.com/events/detail/mannheim-steamroller
Insider Tip: Doors typically open 90 minutes before the 7:30 PM show so arrive early to browse the Fox's historic lobby, which is part of the sensational experience.
6. Saint Louis Ballet's The Nutcracker — St. Louis
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Saint Louis Ballet | Photos By Kelly Pratt
Saint Louis Ballet's production of The Nutcracker has become a tradition for thousands of area families, with glorious dancing, costumes, sets, and lighting performed at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Under the direction and choreography of Gen Horiuchi, the production features a brand new Nutcracker tree in Act I that grows from 11.5 feet to an awe inspiring 23 feet on stage. Live music from the Saint Louis Ballet Orchestra rounds out one of the most beloved Christmas performances in St. Louis.
- Dates: November 28th–29th, 2026, and December 18th–23rd, 2026
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, MO 63121
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid, on-site
- Website: https://www.stlouisballet.org/thenutcracker
Insider Tip: MetroTix is the only official ticket seller for this show. Tickets bought on resale sites are often marked up and aren't guaranteed if a performance is rescheduled.
7. The Polar Express Train Ride — St. Louis
St. Louis Union Station turns into a scene straight out of this holiday classic for THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. Real trains depart from the historic Union Station Train Park for a round trip journey set to the movie's soundtrack, complete with a reading of the classic book, hot chocolate, and a visit from Santa and his elves, who hand out the first gift of Christmas: a silver bell. Families are encouraged to wear their holiday pajamas for the full experience.
- Dates: November 13th, 2026 – December 30th, 2026
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: St. Louis Union Station, 201 S. 18th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid; Union Station lot
- Website: https://www.stlpolarexpressride.com/
Insider Tip: Trains depart at 4:30, 6:00, and 7:15 PM nightly, and doors close 10 minutes before departure so arrive early since late guests won't be allowed to board.
8. Mercy Holiday Celebration — St. Louis
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's Mercy Holiday Celebration is the region's flagship holiday concert, filling the newly renovated Powell Hall with the SLSO and St. Louis Symphony Chorus for an evening of traditional and contemporary holiday music. This year's celebration features Broadway star Norm Lewis, plus a visit from Santa Claus. It's a St. Louis tradition that draws crowds every December and remains one of the top Christmas concerts in St. Louis for anyone who wants a full orchestral holiday experience.
- Dates: December 18th–20th, 2026
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: Powell Hall at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, 718 N. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid; nearby garages and lots
- Website: https://slso.org/event/mercy-holiday-celebration/
Insider Tip: A Thursday performance also runs the same week at the J. Scheidegger Center for Performing Arts in St. Charles, a good option if you'd rather skip the drive downtown.
9. Belleville Christkindlmarkt — Belleville
Now in its 13th year, the Belleville Christkindlmarkt brings an authentic, open-air German Christmas market to the Public Square in downtown Belleville. Modeled after the markets of Nuremberg, Germany, it features European and handcrafted vendors, authentic German food and drink, and live entertainment throughout the season. It's one of the most distinctive Christmas markets near St. Louis, and a favorite for holiday shopping with an old world feel.
- Dates: November 27th, 2026 – December 23rd, 2026 (Thursdays through Sundays; closed Mondays through Wednesdays)
- Admission: Free
- Street Address: Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: Varies by vendor
- Parking: Free; street and municipal lots downtown
- Website: https://www.bellevillechristkindlmarkt.com/
Insider Tip: Fridays and Saturdays run later (until 8 PM) than the rest of the week, so plan an evening visit on those two days to catch the market at its most festive time.
10. White Christmas — St. Louis
Irving Berlin's White Christmas comes to life on stage at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, bringing the classic holiday film's story and show stopping numbers to the Loretto-Hilton Center. The heartwarming musical follows two army buddies turned entertainers who team up with a singing sister act to save a snowless Vermont inn, featuring iconic songs like "Blue Skies," "Sisters," and the title song, "White Christmas." It's a nostalgic, feel good production and one of the most reliable Christmas concerts and performances in the St. Louis area.
- Dates: December 2nd–23rd, 2026
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road, St. Louis, MO 63119
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Parking: Free, on-site
- Website: https://www.repstl.org/events/detail/white-christmas
Insider Tip: Weekday evening performances tend to have more ticket availability than the weekend shows closer to Christmas.
Explore More Christmas Events Near You
Christmas in St. Louis is just one stop on the season's biggest map. If you're looking for more Christmas events near you or planning a holiday trip elsewhere in the country, check out our Christmas City Guides to find the best festivals, markets, concerts, and parades happening closest to you.
