Winter Wonderland: St. Louis, Missouri

When there’s a chill in the air, St. Louis heats up. This city is always buzzing with activities and events, and the winter season is no exception.

During the holidays, channel your inner Clark Griswold at any of the region’s over-the-top light displays. At Grant’s Farm, the historic home of the Busch family, the scene is transformed into the North Pole and visitors are treated to a twinkling drive-through display. At the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow, visitors stroll paths adorned with hundreds of thousands of lights, from an Instagram-favorite rainbow tunnel to colorful orbs floating on the iconic lily pond. Even Anheuser-Busch gets into the glitter game with its annual Brewery Lights display. After strolling Pestalozzi and gazing up at the lights, guests can gather ‘round the warmth of a fire pit and toast with a fresh-brewed Budweiser.

And the end of the holiday season is just the beginning of wintery fun in St. Louis.

If you want to enjoy the outdoors, strap on your skates and glide around the Steinberg Staking Rink, the largest outdoor skating rink in the Midwest. Grab a sled and zip down Art Hill when it snows. And even if it hasn’t snowed, you can take to the slopes at Hidden Valley Resort, a hidden gem in the rolling hills of Wildwood that has fresh powder throughout the winter months.

A diverse array of events abound in the winter season. The Blues will be in the thick of their season on the ice at Enterprise Center, the XFL will kick off its season at The Dome and the St. Louis CITY SC will begin its debut season at the brand-new Centene Stadium. In January, the Monster Jam roars into The Dome at America’s Center with wheel-to-wheel battles and gravity-defying stunts. In February, music lovers will want to snag a ticket for one of the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s intimate performances at Jazz St. Louis. The iconic group will be in town for a week-long residency featuring bassist Endea Owens, trumpeter Alphonso Horne and pianist Isaiah Thompson. And winter will begin to bid farewell as Mardi Gras parties and parades electrify Soulard, where the country’s second-largest Mardi Gras is an annual ode to revelry.