What's New in The Lou: November 27th

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT:
🌟 2025 “Best in The Lou” Awards! 🌟 

It’s that time of year!

The 2025 “Best in The Lou” Awards: your vote will determine the official list of local legends 🏆

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 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

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

• 🎄 Winter Wonderland (Tilles Park)- Tilles Parks transforms into a true winter wonderland for the holiday season. A long, winding light display lines the roads of the park with large scenes filling the fields. Runs on select nights through Jan. 3 from 5-9 pm. $20 per standard car.

• 🦁 Wild Lights (St. Louis Zoo)– Wander through shimmering animal‑themed displays, roast marshmallows at a fire pit, and ride the Conservation Carousel. A new holiday market will be available to shop this year.  Penguin and Puffin Coast, the Insectarium, and the Sea Lion Sound are all open during this event as well. Runs select evenings Nov. 28-Dec 28 from 5–8:30 pm. Tickets range from $12-$18.

• 🚗 Celebration of Lights (Fort Zumwalt Park)- This unique light display features scenes set up by local O’Fallon groups such as churches, businesses, and organizations. A tradition for over 30 years, Celebration of Lights brings in thousands of visitors each year. Runs select evenings Nov. 28-Dec. 30 from 6-9 pm. $16 per standard car.

• 🍬 Candy Cane Lane (6500 block of Murdoch)- A true South City tradition, Candy Cane lane brings joy to the St. Louis Hills neighborhood. Homeowners transform their block of Murdoch into a light display all of its own. Nearby streets such as “Snowflake Street” and “Angel Avenue” spread the joy even further. Begins Nov. 28. Free, but donations are accepted for various charities.

What’s Happenin’ in St. Louis 👀

Friday, November 28th

• 💡 Weirdly Wonderful Holidays (City Museum)- Enjoy special holiday programming, decorations, bars, and food at the City Museum starting on Friday. Enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus and watch Santa prepare for Christmas. Try to catch Jack Frost roaming the 3rd floor as you make your way to a holiday Circus Harmony show. Top the day off with one of many holiday themed drinks! Enjoy through January 4.

• 🥨 Christkindlmarkt (Belleville)- Belleville’s German‑style market kicks off at 9 am with bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, glühwein and handcrafted ornaments. Kids can visit Santa and live reindeer and the market stays open until 8 pm. Open on weekends through Dec. 23.

• 🎄 🎉 Christmas Traditions Festival (Historic St. Charles)- Historic St. Charles transforms into a village out of a Charles Dickens’ novel with costumed characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and the Sugar Plum Fairy, strolling carolers and roasted chestnuts. Opening day hours are 12–8:30 pm. The free festival runs Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec 24.

• 🎅 Holiday Happiness (The National Museum of Transportation)- Families can meet Santa and his reindeer, explore enormous model‑train displays and ride the miniature train or historic trolley.  Santa visits are available from 11 am-2 pm. The live reindeer can be seen 10 am-1 pm. Don’t forget to checkout the holiday train displays in the museum when you are done!

Saturday, November 29th

• 🚆 Great Train Show (Gateway Convention Center)– Train enthusiasts of all ages flock to Gateway Center in Collinsville for 300+ vendor tables, huge train village layouts, and a ride‑on train for kids. Tickets purchased Saturday are good for the whole weekend, and children under 11 get in free. 10 am-4 pm.

• 🛍️ Shop Small in the Central West End– Dozens of locally owned boutiques and restaurants offer one‑day specials: free air plants with purchases at Drips Botanical Elements, 30 % off at Esther & Mila, BOGO crab rangoon at West End Wok, and more. Carolers, live music, and street performers add holiday cheer while you fill your shopping bags.

• 💡 Dutchtown Holiday Night Market & Light Show (3200 block of Meramec)- Shop among local vendors while enjoying hot cider, Dad’s cookies, activities for the family, and more. Stop by St. Anthony of Padua to see a light display.

• 🎅 Breakfast with Santa (Grant’s Farm)- Grant’s Farm kicks of their very first Breakfast with Santa of the year on Saturday. They host three seatings (8:30 am, 10:30 am and 12:30 pm), complete with a holiday buffet and photo ops. 

• 🏒 St. Louis Blues vs. Utah Mammoth (Enterprise Center)- Cap off the day by cheering on the Blues at the Enterprise Center. The puck drops at 7 pm.

Sunday, November 30th

• 🎭 The Wiz (Fabulous Fox Theater)- The Tony Award–winning hit The Wiz is a fun reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. 70’s music brings a high-energy twist to the story in a production you shouldn’t miss! The show runs in St. Louis though December 7th.

• 🐱 Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! (The Factory)- The beloved TV show comes to the stage in a colorful, musical adventure where Gabby and her cat friends must restore a broken rainbow after CatRat causes a “color cat-astrophe.” With cute puppets and catchy songs, kids will love this show. Show at 4 pm.

• 🩰 St. Louis Ballet: The Nutcracker (Touhill Performing Arts Center)- The St. Louis Ballet kicks off their classic holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, this weekend. See ballerinas grace the stage in this production throughout the next month. On Monday Dec. 1, a special shorter version that is perfect for young kids takes place at 11 am.

• 🚂 Holiday Train Display (St. Charles County Heritage Museum)- This weekend, the St. Charles County Heritage Museum debuts its intricate model trains set amid miniature versions of St. Charles landmarks. Admission is free from 10 am–5 pm, and guests are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.

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ST. LOUIS NEWS + UPDATES 📰 

• Little Diggers opening announced- A company based in Ohio is opening a new location of Little Diggers in Des Peres in early 2026. Located at 13347 Manchester Rd, the space will offer a room sized sandbox full of construction trucks and diggers for kids to let their imaginations run wild! In addition to open play times, birthday party and private event packages will be offered as well.

WEATHER FORECAST 🌡️ 

Friday
40° 🌤️ | 3% precipitation | 🌬 6 mph

Saturday
36° ❄️🌧️ | 98% precipitation | 🌬 13 mph

Sunday
29° ☁️ | 5% precipitation | 🌬 14 mph

Monday
30° ☁️ | 22% precipitation | 🌬 4 mph