‘It’s Christmas Time in the City’

Holiday festivities are back; here are some top things to do near STL

Photo+courtesy+of+Silver+Dollar+City

Photo courtesy of Silver Dollar City

Matthew Bird, Staff Reporter

U.S. Bank Wild Lights

The U.S. Bank Wild Lights is an annual light show that takes over the Zoo during this time of the year. It runs Nov. 26 – Dec. 30, excluding the 24 and 25, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The price of this event ranges from $11-$13 depending on the day, and having a Zoo membership can save you a dollar.  This is a great opportunity for animal lovers to see their favorite animals after dark.

Holiday in the Park

The holidays take over Six Flags in Eureka, Mo.  The event has exclusive food, drinks and entertainment.  You can see the park completely transformed on select days from Nov. 20 to Jan. 2. A daytime ticket ranges from $45-$49.99 depending on the day and season pass status.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

On Dec. 30, the Trans-Sieberian Orchestra will play two concerts at the Enterprise Center in Downtown St. Louis. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a popular rock band. The tickets start at $25.  At the concert, you will hear an array of festive holiday music with a hard edge.

Silver Dollar City

If you are ready for a little drive, Silver Dollar City is just under four hours away.  This is the perfect place to celebrate the holiday season. Recently nominated to the top ten favorite holiday theme parks, you can enjoy festive entertainment, comfort food and over 50 shops to find unique holiday gifts. With over 6.5 million lights, the town square is a great spot to get some pictures for your holiday cards.  And later in the night, be sure to catch Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade.  Currently, masks are not required for vaccinated individuals indoors, and they are not required for anyone outdoors.  Tickets start around $75 depending on the day. Additionally, they have a meal package for $35 that includes one eligible entree and one exclusive Christmas mug with one free refill.

Chicago

Another great option if you are okay with a bit of a trek is Chicago.  Just four hours and 30 minutes away by car gets you to one of the premier tourist decisions in the U.S. There, you can visit the Magnificent Mile’s world class window displays and do some great shopping for everyone on your holiday list.  The top thing to do is Christkindlmarket. It is a German-themed market with food, drinks and homemade gifts.  Another great thing to do is ice skating in Millennium Park.  If you don’t want to drive, a great way for you and your family to travel is by train via Amtrak.  A ticket starts at $25 each way depending on the weekend, but it is 100 times more fun than a car ride.  It includes a snack and an exclusive Christmas mug with one free refill.