What's New in The Lou: November 20th

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:
🌟 2025 Best in The Lou Awards: Reader’s Choice! 🌟 

St. Louis, it’s your moment!

Every week we celebrate the food, festivals, makers, music, and magic of this city — but you know better than anyone what truly deserves the crown.

It’s that time of year! The 2025 Best in The Lou Awards (Reader’s Choice) — your vote will shape the official list of local legends 🏆

From the coziest coffee nooks and standout brunch spots to the live music venues, boutiques, parks, kid-friendly gems, and late-night eats you swear by — we want your picks.

Whether you’re a lifelong St. Louisan or a newly converted resident, your insider knowledge is what makes this community guide shine.

How it works: 
Click below, fill out the quick survey, and shout out your favorites across The Lou.

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

We can’t wait to see who The Lou crowns this year!

🎉 The Holiday Buzz

As St. Louis lights up with holiday cheer, we’ve got you covered on all the experiences opening this weekend!

• Holiday Lights (Grant’s Farm)- Grant’s Farm turns into a winter wonderland with millions of twinkling lights, festive music, and plenty fun for the whole family. Guests can meet animals, ride the carousel, snap photos at holiday displays, visit Santa, and listen to carolers outside the Busch Family Estate. With optional VIP perks like private fire pits or a carriage ride through Deer Park, it’s one of the most enchanting holiday traditions in St. Louis. Runs select nights Nov. 22-Dec. 30. Drive through option available on Dec. 10, 11, 16, 17. Price and time varies by night.

• Brewery Lights (Anheuser Busch Brewery)- Brewery Lights returns for its 40th year. Guests can grab a complimentary beer, stroll Pestalozzi Street, enjoy a light show stretching the length of the brewery, explore historic exhibits, join guided tours, and catch the nightly parade featuring floats and Clydesdales. With kids’ rides, a free train, and Munchkin DJ radio playing the beats for a dance floor, it’s fun for your little ones as well.Runs Thursday-Sunday Nov. 22-Dec. 30 (excluding holidays). 5-9:30 pm. Adults $12, Minors $7, Free 5 and under.

• Way of Lights (Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville)- A tradition for over 50 years, the Way of Lights offers a peaceful drive-through journey featuring millions of lights depicting the story of Christmas. Families can enjoy camel rides and a petting zoo in the parking lot. Head indoors for a massive LEGO display (ticketed), festive community performances, kids’ crafts, and beautifully decorated trees. Runs Nov. 21-Dec. 31. 5-9pm nightly. Free but donations are appreciated.

🦃 Thanksgiving Race Roundup

If there’s one way St. Louis likes to celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s running! Get a jog in with family and friends before sitting down for turkey at one of the many races in the area. Sign up today!

• St. Louis Turkey Trot (Forest Park)- Join a festive Thanksgiving morning run through Forest Park featuring a 5K and 8K (8 am), plus a kids dash (7:45 am). Runners enjoy a scenic course starting at The Muny. Strange Donuts is waiting as a reward at the finish line! Discounted Registration ends Nov. 23. Registration available through race day.

• Turkey Trot STL (St. Charles)- Held along the St. Charles riverfront, this trot offers a fast, flat route perfect for serious runners and families alike. A 5K starts at 8 am and a ½ mile kids run starts at 9:15 am. Donuts from Donut King are handed out at the finish line, and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee is on site for coffee and hot chocolate purchase. Discounted Registration ends Nov. 21. Registration available through race day.

• Kirkwood Webster Turkey Day Run (Kirkwood)- This race draws huge local crowds for its 3-mile (7:30 am) and 6-mile (8:10 am) options. Starting and ending in downtown Kirkwood, the race weaves through the neighborhoods of Kirkwood and Webster Groves. Celebrate the run’s 43rd year! Discounted Registration ends Nov. 23. Registration available through race day.

• Olivette Turkey Trot (Olivette)- The Olivette Turkey Trot offers a 5K (8 am) and a free Kids Fun Run (9 am). Beginning at Stacy Park, participants make their way through a scenic residential loop. Afterwards, enjoy live music and refreshments. Best of all, 100% of proceeds support the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, helping feed families across the St. Louis region. Registration available through race day.

What’s Happenin’ in St. Louis 👀

Friday, November 21st

• 🍷 Jingle and Mingle at Garden Glow (Missouri Botanical Garden)-Garden Glow hosts an adults-only night, offering a kid free atmosphere to sip a complimentary drink while enjoying the lights. Guests can warm up by fire pits, dance to holiday tunes, and grab a fun selfie with The Grinch. 7-9:30 pm.

• 🏀 SLU Men’s Basketball vs. Purdue (Chaifetz Arena)- The Billikens host the Boilermakers in a non‑conference matchup. Grab your blue and cheer on the home team. 7 pm.

• 💎 St. Louis Gem and Mineral Society Show (Affton Community Center)- This three-day Rock & Gem Show features 15 dealers selling crystals, fossils, jewelry, and unique earth-inspired gifts. Kids 13 and under get in free and receive a Rockhound Starter Kit, while adults enjoy low-cost admission. Open Nov 21-23. Hours vary.

• 👠 Third Friday (Third Degree Glass Factory)- November’s Third Friday event brings a special collaboration with luxury shoe brand Cynthia Richard, complete with a runway show, glass-made shoe accessories, and more. With live music, tastings, local food vendors, raffles, and interactive ornament-making, it’s a fun and unique night out. 6 pm-10 pm.

Saturday, November 22nd

• 🦃 Ameren Thanks-For-Giving Parade (Downtown)- The 41st Ameren Thanks‑For‑Giving Parade starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Tucker and Market. More than 120 parade units, including musical floats, drumlines, dance troupes and marching bands, will travel down Market Street. Catch Santa Claus waving at the end! The parade doubles as a fundraiser for the St. Louis Area Foodbank, and donations are encouraged via the Thanks‑For‑Giving website.

• 🎆 Festival of Lights & Winterfest Opening (Kiener Plaza)- St. Louis ushers in the holiday season with the Festival of Lights at Kiener Plaza. From 12- 8:30 pm the plaza will fill with live holiday performances, vendor booths, photo ops with St. Louis mascots, live reindeer, and a fireworks finale. The Salvation Army will officially light the Tree of Lights, and Winterfest’s ice rink and igloo village will open for skating and s’mores stations. Ice skating is FREE all day for opening day! Winterfest runs through Jan. 11.

• 🎭️ Les Miserables (The Fabulous Fox)- Catch this epic Tony-award winning musical before it leaves town! Running from Nov 18-23, Saturday offers a 2 pm and 7:30 pm show. Last chance is 1 pm on Sunday!

• 🎉 World Anteater Day Celebration (St. Louis Aquarium)- Join Annie the Tamandua to celebrate her and her fellow anteaters. The day involves crafts and educational experiences. Kids can create a papier-mache termite mound for Annie and have a special meet and greet with her at 2:30 PM. 10 am-3 pm.

Sunday, November 23rd

• 🎵 Pentatonix: Christmas in the City Tour (Enterprise Center)- Pentatonix brings their “Christmas in the City” tour to town with stunning harmonies and festive hits in an impressive show for the whole family. Show at 7 pm.

• 🎻 St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra Season Opener (Powell Hall)- Accomplished young musicians aged 12-22 bring 3 beautiful pieces of music to life in their first concert of the season. Show at 3 pm.

• 🐍 North American Reptile Breeders Conference (St. Charles Convention Center)- Meet top breeders and view captive‑born reptiles, amphibians and other exotic pets. Open Saturday and Sunday. Time varies by day.

• 🍻 Sundaze Artisan Market (Schlafly Bottleworks)- Shop for handmade crafts, jewelry, vintage goods and art while enjoying live music, food trucks, and Schlafly beer. 11 am-4 pm.

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ST. LOUIS NEWS + UPDATES 📰 

New emergency management chief appointed – Mayor Cara Spencer announced that former St. Louis Area Regional Response System director Gregg Favre will take over as the city’s Emergency Management Agency commissioner on Dec. 22. Favre, a veteran of the St. Louis Fire Department and Missouri Department of Public Safety, replaces Sarah Russell, who was removed after an investigation into why tornado sirens failed during the May 16 tornado. Spencer said Favre’s mission is to rebuild trust by investing in professional staff, technology, and partnership.

WEATHER FORECAST 🌡️ 

Friday
59° 🌧️| 89% rain | 🌬 7 mph

Saturday
55° 🌤 | 9% rain | 🌬 6 mph

Sunday
59° 🌤 | 7% rain | 🌬 5 mph

Monday
56° 🌧️ | 75% rain | 🌬 9 mph