9 Awesome Things to Do for Free in St. Louis

It’s incredible that the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) offers free entry when you consider what’s inside; with about 33,000 works that span time and cultures, visitors get a dose of history, sociology, anthropology—the list goes on. Permanent collections include works from Africa, Europe, Islamic art, art of the Pacific Islands, Native American art, and much more. In the sculpture garden, patrons can walk the paths and observe how landscape design and master sculpture harmoniously combine. Select exhibitions and events might have a cost associated, but for the most part, your experience here is free.

The iconic mechanical dinosaurs that greet you upon entering the Science Center are just an introduction to the amazement that awaits beyond. Select exhibits are ticketed, as is the OMNIMAX Theatre, but with more than 700 hands-on displays, where you can test the laws of physics, explore space, learn about weather and pollution, and more, grown-ups and kids alike are sure to be fascinated—for free—by what’s in store.

This 105-acre park was established in 1976. It was among the first sculpture parks in the country and remains one of the largest. The park aims to marry nature and art with approximately 60 large-scale outdoor sculptures, some of which are deemed “interactive” (in other words, feel free to touch, sit, climb, etc.). There are about two miles of trails (about three kilometers) that wind around the sculptures, along the creek, and through a wooded area. Feel free to bring your pup, and set up a picnic any time. Be sure to check out the events on offer throughout the year—many are either free or less than $10.

General admission to this enchanting museum is usually $11, but the fee is waived from 5:30–9 p.m. on the third Friday of every month for families with up to two adults and four children. Additionally, active duty U.S. military members and their immediate family always get in for free, as do foster families. Although officially a children’s museum, everyone’s eyes light up upon entering, no matter their age. Some favorites include the three-story slide, bubbles that are so big you can stand inside them, and an electrically-charged ball that makes your hair stand on end when you touch it. As you can likely tell, photo opportunities abound here.

As it’s consistently ranked among the top zoos in the country, the Saint Louis Zoo is a point of pride for locals, many of whom make regular visits themselves. From the interactive exhibits, to the many shows and demonstrations, it’s hard to believe that admission has always been, and likely will always be, completely free. Some of the shows and attractions are ticketed, but prices are often kept to $5 or less; if you get there right when the zoo opens, many of these are also free for the first hour. The zoo also offers many free after-hour events, including the Jungle Boogie concert series.

This is one of the top spots for pet lovers of all ages, with a baby-animal petting area, twice daily cow-milking demonstrations, an animal barnyard and play loft area (with chicks, piglets, and baby rabbits that visitors can pet), canine agility shows—and we haven’t even gotten to the part where you can pet puppies and kittens to your heart’s content. And, yes, it’s all free. There are also wagon rides, interactive exhibits, and, to top it off, visitors are welcome to bring their dogs.

Usually, garden admission is only free for those younger than 12. For everyone else, it costs $12. However, the garden extends their hours to host the Whitaker Music Festival, a series of free outdoor concerts held every Wednesday in the summer. On these nights, admission to the gardens is free after 5 p.m. The concert doesn’t start until 7 p.m., so if you don’t mind not being close to the stage, you’ll have plenty of time to roam the grounds and take in the acclaimed Japanese Garden, the English Garden, the Victoria District, and other horticultural displays. Additionally, St. Louis city and county residents get free admission every Saturday between 9 a.m. and noon.