What's New in The Lou: December 4th

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:
🌟 LAST CHANCE TO CAST YOUR VOTE: 2025 “Best in The Lou” Awards! 🌟 

This is the last week to cast your vote!

We will be announcing winners of the 2025 “Best in The Lou” Awards this month!

Make your voice heard and pick this year’s official list of local legends 🏆

How it works: 
Click the link, fill out the survey, and tell us your favorites across The Lou.

👉 Cast your vote here: 2025 Best in The Lou Awards

We can’t wait to see who you crown this year!

🌟 The Holiday Buzz

Holiday Markets are popping up all over town this weekend! Get going on your holiday shopping at some of these great events.

• Christmas Night Market on The Hill (4927 Daggett Ave.)- A festive market on The Hill, the Christmas Night Market fills Daggett Avenue with holiday shopping, music, food, drinks, photo ops, and warming stations. It’s free to attend, with optional VIP perks for an elevated experience. Sunday Dec. 7, 3-7 pm.

• Lights at the Lily Pond: An Enchanted Market (Francis Park)- Francis Park returns with its second year of Lights at the Lily Pond, a holiday market featuring STL makers, festive lights, fire pits, carolers, live music, food trucks, drinks, and a Home Alone movie screening all set around the lily pond of Francis Park. Saturday Dec. 6, 1-8 pm.

• FRIZZMAS Holiday Extravaganza (Cortex Innovation District)- Shop the Blooming Business Market, enjoy free professional photos with Cocoa Santa and Mrs. Claus (arrive by 1:30 pm), sip hot drinks, make crafts with the kids and groove to live saxophone music by Kelvin Evans. Guests are encouraged to bring new black haircare products for a donation drive for The Little Bit Foundation. Saturday Dec. 6, 11 am-3 pm.

• Winter Markt in Midtown (Urban Chestnut Biergarten)- Urban Chestnut’s Midtown Brewery & Biergarten hosts three festive Sunday markets in December with local vendors, UCBC beers, great food, new Zwickel Light 12oz bottles, merch deals, gift card promos—and a mischievous Krampus making surprise appearances. Sunday Dec. 7, 14, 21, 12-5 pm.

• Holiday Bazaar 2025 (4 Hands Brewing Co.)- Shop a variety of vendors from 12-5 pm while enjoying one of your favorite brews at 4 Hands Brewing Co. Sunday Dec. 7, 12-5 pm.

• Grinchmas and Night Market on Grand (Rooster South Grand)- Rooster South Grand is hosting the Grinch (9 am- 1pm) where you can get a picture with him for a monetary or toy donation to Shriners Hospital . All along South Grand, businesses are also hiding mini Grinches for a selfie scavenger hunt and offering fun “green” specials. At the end of the day, Rooster hosts a Holiday Night Market (4-8 pm) featuring local makers, sweets, soaps, plants, art, pet treats, and more. 9 am-8 pm.

What’s Happenin’ in St. Louis 👀

Friday, December 5th

• ⛸️ Kids Skate Free at Winterfest (Kiener Plaza)- Every Friday of Winterfest, start the weekend with free skating for kids aged 3-15 (courtesy of the St. Louis Blues)and a family‑friendly Carol‑oke session where visitors can belt out holiday hits. 4 - 8 pm.

• 🎨 First Friday: Winter Wonderland (Contemporary Art Museum)- A cozy, creative holiday night at CAM featuring retro tunes from DJ Spicy Party Mix, free hot cocoa and treats, DIY gift-wrap and card-making stations. Free, but registration encouraged. 5-9 pm.

• 🎄 Maplewood Christmas Tree Walk (Downtown Maplewood)- Enjoy a classic holiday evening in Maplewood with a 6 pm tree lighting, Santa’s arrival, caroling, merchant open houses, hot chocolate, and horse-drawn carriage rides, and more. 6-9 pm.

• 🏍️ Gateway Dirt Nationals (The Dome at America’s Center)- The Gateway Dirt Nationals is a high-energy indoor racing showdown at The Dome at America’s Center, featuring late models, modifieds, and thrilling dirt-track action packed into a multi-day, fan-favorite winter motorsports event. Runs Dec 4-6.

• 🎭 Emma (Repertory Theater)- A beloved Jane Austen classic comes to the stage this month. This week Emma opens and runs until Dec. 21.

Saturday, December 6th

• 🍪 42nd Annual Cherokee Antique Row Cookie Spree- A tradition of over 40 years now, the Annual Cookie Spree invites families to stroll Cherokee Antique Row for homemade cookies, hot cider, holiday shopping, live music, Santa visits, and a kids petting zoo. This free event is great for the whole family! 11 am-5 pm.

• 🖼️ 18th Annual Print Bazaar on Cherokee- A massive celebration of printmaking, the 18th Annual Print Bazaar brings 200+ artists to Cherokee Street for a one-day showcase of woodcuts, letterpress, screen printing, lithography, and more across four market hubs. 11 am-6 pm.

• 🎅 PJs & Pancakes with Santa (Riverfront)- Roll out of bed in your favorite pajamas and join Santa for a leisurely breakfast cruise. The two‑hour outing includes a breakfast buffet, fun games and crafts, and plenty of photo opportunities with the man in red. Cruise departs at 9:30 am.

• 🎶 Caroling with Santa Cruise (Riverfront)- Looking for a different cruise option? Join Santa aboard a riverboat for a merry sing‑along down the Mississippi. Warm up with hot chocolate and treats, snap professional photos, and watch your kids’ faces light up as they lead their favorite carols. Cruise departs at 1:30 pm.

• 🎄 Loop Cookie Crawl (Delmar Loop)- Participating locations along the Loop will offer cookie treats and special offers during this family-friendly event from 12-5 pm. Pics with Pups (and Santa!) will also be happening at the Moonrise Hotel 12-4 pm. End the day with the Fitz’s Tree Lighting and the Dancing Santa’s from 5:30-6:30 pm.

• 🛍️ Muny Holiday Pop Up Shop (The Muny)- The Muny’s Holiday Pop-Up Shop returns with limited-edition merch, a new Bissinger’s chocolate collaboration, and exclusive items inspired by next summer’s shows—plus season tickets and gift cards available at the box office for easy holiday gifting. 9 am-2pm.

Sunday, December 7th

• 🏃 SKECHERS Hot Chocolate Run (Downtown)- Lace up for the “sweetest run in America.” Runners can choose 5K or 15K distances and are rewarded with a custom hoodie, a finisher’s medal shaped like a chocolate bar, and a mug of hot chocolate and fondue at the finish. VIP upgrades include premium swag and access to exclusive gear tents. Race starts at 7:30 am.

• 🎵 Christmas at the Cathedral (The Cathedral Basilica)- This beloved concert fills the Basilica with music from the St. Louis Archdiocesan Youth Choir and Vox Una Youth Chorale. Performances take place on Sat. Dec 6 at 10:30 am and Sun. Dec 7 at 2:30 pm with ticket tiers ranging from $30–$55.

• 🐂 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (Enterprise Center)- The Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour brings elite riders and bulls to St. Louis for two adrenaline‑pumping nights. With shows on Saturday and Sunday, riders battle for points toward a spot at the PBR World Final. 7 pm Saturday, 2 pm Sunday.

• ⛸️ Winterfest – Character Visits & Movie “Lilo & Stitch” (Kiener Plaza)- Meet Moana and Spiderman on the ice (12–1:30 pm), then warm up in the lodge for pictures and a free screening of “Lilo & Stitch” from 2–4 pm. These events are free but space is limited, so reserve your spot early.

• 🎅 Breakfast with Santa at Dave & Buster’s (Maryland Heights)- Enjoy a holiday breakfast buffet at D&B before the arcade opens to the public. Tickets include breakfast, an arcade power card, letters to Santa and make‑and‑take crafts. Little ones can meet Santa and snap photos. 9 am.

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ST. LOUIS NEWS + UPDATES 📰 

Crunden‑Martin warehouse fire threatens major redevelopment project - On Nov. 28, a five-alarm blaze erupted at the historic Crunden‑Martin Manufacturing Company complex along the St. Louis riverfront near Second and Gratiot streets. Firefighters fought flames at four abandoned buildings scheduled to be redeveloped as part of a $1.2 billion project that is seen as a catalyst for downtown renewal. So far, developers have vowed to move forward with the project. A search is still ongoing for one missing person.

WEATHER FORECAST 🌡️ 

Friday
41° ☀️ | 7% precipitation | 🌬 7 mph

Saturday
39° 🌤 | 8% precipitation | 🌬 5 mph

Sunday
39° ☁️ | 24% precipitation | 🌬 9 mph

Monday
34° 🌤 | 6% precipitation | 🌬 5 mph