Fall is the time for festivals, fairs and family fun across St. Louis

St. Louis does two things exceptionally well: win baseball games and hold festivals. And this hasn’t been a great year for baseball.

But fall is more than just a time for festivals. It’s a time for Pride, for parades, for Pride parades. It’s a time for art shows and Oktoberfests and a few more festivals. And then, the entire month of October is given over to frights and chills and things that go “trick or treat!” in the night.

Cowboys in the Corn

When 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8-9 • Where Brookdale Farms, 8004 Twin River Road, Eureka • How much $10, $5 for children 4-10 • More info brookdalefarms.com

It’s a by-gum rodeo, right there in Eureka, with bull riding, mutton bustin’ (that’s children trying to ride sheep), barrel racing and, we are promised, a whole lot more.

St. Louis Art Fair

When 5-10 p.m. Sept. 8, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 10 • Where Downtown Clayton • How much Free • More info saintlouisartfair.com

This marks the 30th anniversary of the biggest art fair in town, with more art available to see (and buy) than you can comfortably absorb in one day. That’s why the St. Louis Art Fair is three days long. Live music — and dance and yoga — will be presented on two stages, but the focus is on the art created by more than 200 local, national and international artists working in every medium you can think of and some you haven’t yet considered.

Schlafly Art Outside Festival

When 5-9 p.m. Sept. 8, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 9, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 10 • Where Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood • How much Free • More info schlafly.com

The art that is featured outside the Schlafly Bottleworks brewpub comes from more than 60 artists who live no more than 125 miles from St. Louis. Naturally, all the art is for sale, and also naturally, there will be live music and food and drinks. The event is presented by Schlafly, which will provide the food (you’ve had the sticky toffee pudding, right?) and the beers.

The Taste of Black St. Louis

When Noon-9 p.m. Sept. 8-10 • Where Soldiers Memorial • How much Free • More info tasteofblackstl.com

This is a St. Louis food festival with a bit of soul. The food comes from Black-owned restaurants and caterers, and the vendors are similarly owned — the festival’s purpose is to spotlight Black chefs and businesses. Expect plenty of music, shopping and, of course, food. And note this year’s new location downtown.

Armies for Empire

When 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 9 • Where Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 2900 Sheridan Road • How much Free • More info eventbrite.com

They are wars for conquest that are too often forgotten: the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War and the Boxer Rebellion — all fought between 1898 and 1902. Once a year, historical reenactors give these conflicts their due and show what combat was like at the turn of the 20th century.

Arnold Days

When 5-11 p.m. Sept. 15, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 16, noon-6 p.m. Sept. 17 • Where Arnold City Park, Arnold • How much Free • More info greatriverroad.com

Arnold Days is an old-fashioned carnival, albeit one with a laser show. Expect carnival rides (tickets are required), craft booths, balloon painting, a farmers market, a car show, a comic magician, a cupcake-eating contest for children, a lawn-game tournament, plus bands and fireworks Sept. 15-16.

The Great Forest Park Balloon Race

When 5 p.m. Sept. 15 (balloon glow), 1 p.m. Sept. 16 (race begins at 4:30 p.m.) • Where Emerson Central Fields, Forest Park • How much Free • More info greatforestparkballoonrace.com

Perhaps the most visually spectacular event of the year brings more than 60 hot-air balloons to the St. Louis skies. The race itself involves balloons trying to come closest to dropping a beanbag onto a target. That’s fun to see, but aficionados will tell you the best part is the balloon glow as the sun sets Sept. 15, when the pilots light their balloons with propane, causing them to glow from inside. Bring a camera.

Augusta Harvest Festival

When 6 p.m. Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 16 • Where Augusta Town Square, 5577 Walnut Street, Augusta • How much Free ($125 for gourmet picnic for two on Sept. 15) • More info augusta-chamber.org

This year’s Augusta Harvest Festival kicks off Sept. 15 with a fancy picnic (including a bottle of local wine), a port tasting, a pumpkin-wagon ride and dancing under the stars to a live band. Activities on Sept. 16 are more family friendly, including a fun run ($20 donation suggested), a parade, a pie contest, children’s activities and live music.

Belleville Oktoberfest

When 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 15, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 16 • Where Main Street, Belleville • How much Free • More info bellevilleoktoberfest.com

Three days of German food, German dancing and, of course, German beer, will be featured at the Belleville Oktoberfest. Music will be played on three stages, with activities for the kids, a cornhole tournament, a classic car show, a beer stein holding contest — it’s much harder than it looks — and a wiener dog race.

Italian Fest

When 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 15-16 • Where Uptown Collinsville • How much Free • More info italianfest.net

“Traditions run deep” is the Italian Fest motto, and it’s not wrong; this is the 40th anniversary of the largest Italian festival in the bi-state region. We’re talking more than 30 food vendors, live music, a grape-stomping contest, a bocce ball tournament, a 5K run, fun for the kids, a Little Miss and Mr. pageant, and a parade.

Greentree Festival

When 5-10 p.m. Sept. 15, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 17 • Where Kirkwood Park, 111 South Geyer Road, Kirkwood • How much Free • More info kirkwoodmo.org

They must be doing something right: This is the 62nd annual Greentree Festival, which exists “to enhance community spirit and to showcase the volunteer spirit of residents and their nonprofit organizations.” The festival includes a parade, live music, a bounce house, pony rides, food, a wine garden, arts, crafts and a dog Frisbee contest.

Affton-Lemay Community Parade

When 10 a.m. Sept. 16 • Where From Affton High School to Bayless Elementary School, Affton • How much Free • More info afftonchamber.com

All of Affton, it seems, loves a parade, and so does all of Lemay. This annual parade unites the two communities with a display of civic pride — and a lot of purple. This year’s theme is “Holidays on Parade.”

Street Art Fest

When 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 16 • Where Town Square, Highland • How much Free • More info highlandillinois.com

The Street Art Fest in downtown Highland takes sidewalk chalk drawings to a whole other level. Chalk artists compete to create the best work, while everyone else enjoys the music, dancing, food, games and hand-crafted items for sale.

Fall Farm Festival

When 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 16 • Where Magic House, 516 South Kirkwood, Kirkwood • How much Free with museum admission • More info magichouse.org/fallfarmfestival

City kids sometimes don’t know where their food comes from. The Fall Farm Festival at the Magic House introduces children to farm animals and lets them interact with farmers, sit in a tractor and learn a little about agriculture.

South Grand Fall and Music Fest

When 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 16 • Where Ritz Park, 3147 South Grand Boulevard • How much Free • More info southgrand.org

The South Grand Business District is one of those thriving neighborhoods that have popped up across the area, giving sky-high walkability scores to the surrounding area with an appealing assortment of restaurants, bars and funky shops. Its Fall and Music Fest is the St. Louis standard, with 70 retail vendors (open until 6 p.m.) and live music and DJs throughout the day.

St. Louis Renaissance Festival

When 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 16-Oct. 22; weekends only, plus Oct. 9 • Where Rotary Park, 2577 West Meyer Road, Wentzville • How much $11.95-$20.95 • More info stlrenfest.com

Huzzah! Relive the time of the greatest cultural advancements in world history, with jousting and meat-heavy feasts and everyone trying to sound Shakespearean. Zounds! Try your hand at archery or knife-throwing. Spend time with… a live unicorn? Also, there’s a mermaid cove. Plus a maze, stage acts, music, pirates, falconry, etc. Renaissance costumes are encouraged — and there will be contests — but not necessary. Gadzooks!

Fright Fest

When Sept. 16-Oct. 29; 6-11 p.m. Fridays, noon-11 p.m. Saturdays, noon-9 p.m. Sundays • Where Six Flags St. Louis, 4900 Six Flags Road, Eureka • How much $15-$60 • More info sixflags.com/stlouis

Fright Fest, Six Flags’ most popular seasonal event, provides moderate scares during the daytime but spine-chilling terrors at night. There will be haunted houses and costumed characters jumping out of nowhere, but think about this: nighttime roller-coaster rides with the lights out. Shudder.

St. Charles Oktoberfest

When 4-11 p.m. Sept. 22, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 24 • Where Frontier Park, 500 South Riverside Drive, St. Charles • How much Free • More info saintcharlesoktoberfest.com

So much more than a mere drunken bacchanal, the annual Bavarian-style beer festival in St. Charles offers such wholesome events as a dachshund derby (called Wiener Take All), an antique car show, 5K and 10K races, a bratwurst-eating contest, games for kids, a chance to see Budweiser Clydesdales, and music and dancing. All of that, plus beer. Lots and lots of beer.

Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival

When 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 22-23, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 24 • Where Soulard Park • How much Free • More info hispanicfestivalstl.com

The live music will have a salsa beat, and the food will just have salsa. The Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival is the largest such celebration in town, complete with music, arts, crafts, folk dancing and more.

Tower Grove Pride

When 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 23, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 24 • Where Tower Grove Park • How much Free • More info towergrovepride.com

Tower Grove Pride is a little more flamboyant than most St. Louis festivals. You don’t have to dress up — or down — to attend, but you may have a better time if you do. The event in Tower Grove Park includes plenty of booths, vendors, food, music, drag performers and other entertainment — plus a walking parade through the festival grounds at 1 p.m. Sept. 24. It’s the 10th year for the fest.

Oktoberfest Cruise

When 5 p.m. Sept. 23, 6 p.m. Sept. 30 • Where Riverboats at the Gateway Arch, 50 South Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard • How much $45, $22 for ages 3-12, free for children under 3 (ticket required) • More info gatewayarch.com

St. Louis is, or at least used to be, a highly German town. And there is nothing more St. Louis than a Mississippi River paddlewheeler. Put the two together and you have an Oktoberfest Cruise, with a buffet of German food, German beer (from a cash bar), and music by Big Joe and the Bavarians.

Art in the Park St. Louis Hills

When 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 24 • Where Francis Park • How much Free • More info artintheparkstl.com

Nearly 90 artists will gather around the peaceful, reflecting lily pond in the middle of Francis Park to exhibit — and, they fervently hope, sell — their wares. Will there be music and food, too? Of course there will. Most of the artists have donated one piece, each of which will be raffled for a $1 ticket.

Oktoberfest St. Louis

When Noon-11:30 p.m. Sept. 29-30 • Where Urban Chestnut Grove Brewery & Bierhall, 4465 Manchester Avenue • How much Free • More info urbanchestnut.com

This year’s number is 2: two days, two music stages, two food stations and two 1-liter steins of beer is all you can drink before falling down. Much of the food is typical St. Louis festival fare (pizza, burgers, Billy Goat chips), but some is Oktoberfest-specific (brats, Bavarian pretzels and a footlong Polish sausage). The food and beer are by Urban Chestnut.

Metro East Pride Fest

When Noon-10 p.m. Sept. 30 • Where East Main Street, Belleville • How much Free • More info metroeastpride.org

A street party and drag show highlight the Metro East Pride Fest, now in its 15th year. All the usual booths will be selling all the usual things, with music on two stages — a main stage and a teen Pride stage. Among the activities will be a dance party, a foam party and a high-heel drag race.

When 1-6 p.m. Oct. 1 • Where 206 East Legion Street, Columbia, Illinois • How much Free • More info columbiaillinois.com

The three major food groups — beer, wine and German potato pancakes — are featured at the annual FestiFall, along with vendor booths and what we are promised is a “HUGE” kids zone. Music will provided by the Z Band.

St. Louis VegFest

When 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 1 • Where World’s Fair Pavilion, 1904 Concourse Drive, Forest Park • How much Free • More info stlouisvegfest.org

St. Louis VegFest honors and celebrates all things that are not made from any part of an animal. That means plenty of food, of course, but also clothing and crafts that are entirely made from plants and minerals. Organizations that rescue animals and promote kindness toward pets will be well represented.

Eureka Scarecrow Festival

When Oct. 1-31 • Where Locations throughout Eureka, Missouri, but especially along Central Avenue and Dreyer Avenue • How much Free • More info eurekascarecrowfestival.com

One of the charming town of Eureka’s most charming traditions is its monthlong Scarecrow Festival. Businesses create elaborate scarecrows and place them outside their establishments. Vote for your favorites, take pictures with the scarecrows (they won’t mind), or just enjoy the spooky, silly fun.

Haunted Garage Horror Festival

When 4 p.m. Oct. 5, 6 p.m. Oct. 6-7 • Where Hi-Pointe Theatre, 1005 McCausland Avenue • How much $10-$15 • More info hauntedgaragehorrorfest.com

The Haunted Garage Horror Festival will screen five frightening feature films and seven scary shorts, made by filmmakers local and national. The festival, in its third year, carries an intellectual sheen, courtesy of talks given by experts in their unsettling fields.

St. Louis Bourbon Festival

When 6-9 p.m. Oct. 6 • Where From Lemp’s Grand Hall (1817 Cherokee Street) to the Lemp Mansion (3322 Demenil Place) • How much $90 • More info stlouisbourbonfestival.com

Yeah, it costs 90 bucks, but there will be more than 500 types of bourbon, rye, Scotch and other varieties of whiskey to sample. There also will be music, food trucks and street performers. Plus cigars. Of all the St. Louis festivals, this may be the only one with cigars.

Best of Missouri Market

When Noon-8 p.m. Oct. 6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 7-8 • Where Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard • How much $16, $8 for members and children, free for member children under 13 and all children under $16 • More info mobot.org

Tent after tent after tent will be filled with vendors selling Missouri-made items — more than 130 vendors in all — at the Best of Missouri Market. There’s also live music, a 2-acre children’s area and the opportunity to enjoy the garden.

Halloween Nights

When Oct. 6-29; 5-10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays • Where Grant’s Farm, 10501 Gravois Avenue • How much $12; $16 for parking • More info grantsfarm.com

Halloween Nights return this fall at Grant’s Farm. Look for spooks and frights and ghost stories, plus a haunted tram ride, a spooky zone, a light show and a Monster Mash dance party.

Fall Harvest Festival

When 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 7 • Where Broemmelsiek Park, 1615 Schwede Road, Wentzville • How much Free • More info harvestfeststl.com

It’s a harvest festival, so you can take home produce from the agricultural garden and do other harvesty things such as find yourself in a corn maze, build a wreath and buy pumpkins. Also, artists will demonstrate woodworking and other crafts.

When 3-11 p.m. Oct. 7 • Where Manchester Avenue between Kingshighway and Vandeventer Avenue • How much Free • More info thegrovestl.com/grovefest

The Grove gets into the neighborhood festival fun for the 17th year with Grovefest. This emphatically diverse event includes food and drinks from the area restaurants, street performers, live music, a car show and karaoke.

Big Truck Day

When 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 7-8 • Where Magic House, 516 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood • How much $22, $15 for members; reservations required • More info magichouse.org

Kids love trucks, the bigger the better. At Big Truck Day, children and adults can get up close with a firetruck, a crane, a sleeper cab, a bucket truck and more. Admission includes a hot-dog meal.

Historic Shaw Art Fair

When 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 8 • Where 4100 and 4200 blocks of Flora Place • How much Free • More info shawartfair.org

Here is your chance to peruse some great local (and nonlocal) art, while saying to yourself, “I wish I were cool enough to live in one of these houses on Flora Place.” Along with more than 120 artists showing their stuff, there will be food trucks and music.

Florissant Fall Festival

When 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 8 • Where Florissant Old Town Marketplace, Florissant • How much Free • More info florissantoldtown.com

The longstanding Florissant Fall Festival will have a dog show and pony rides — it’s a dog-and-pony show! — plus pumpkin decorating, a car show, and all the live music, food and vendors you could want.

Italian Heritage Parade and Festa

When 12:30-5 p.m. Oct. 8 • Where Berra Park, Mackland Avenue between Shaw and Daggett avenues • How much Free • More info hillstl.org

This is the Hill’s Italian festival, so you know it’s vero. The festivities begin with a parade starting at Shaw School and then head to Berra Park for a lot of genuine Italian food, some St. Louis-Italian food (toasted ravioli), music, Italian vendors and maybe a game of bocce or two.

Harvest Festival

When 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 8 • Where Tower Grove Park • How much Free • More info harvestfeststl.com

The Harvest Festival in Tower Grove Park is kind of like a farmers market writ large, with artisanal foods from about a dozen local producers, a large assortment of cool vendors, some food-truck action and a surprisingly strong lineup of bands (the Silver Creek Bluegrass Band, Acoustik Element, the Jeremiah Johnson Band and our vote for the best-named local twangy band, ClusterPluck).

Soulard Oktoberfest

When 4-11 p.m. Oct. 13, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 14 • Where Soulard Market Park, 1700 South Eighth Street • How much Free • More info soulard-oktoberfest.com

Beer will literally be poured by the liter, at least if you have the commemorative stein. Soulard Oktoberfest promises “the best in authentic German music and dancers.” Music will be provided by the Dueschmeister Brass Band, Über Cool, the Good Times Band and Terry Thompson’s Bavarian Stompers. Upgrade your experience with a ticket ($30) to the Budweiser Bier Hall tent. Supported by the St. Louis German Cultural Society.

Boo at the Zoo

When 5-8:30 p.m. Oct. 13-29 • Where St. Louis Zoo, 1 Government Drive, Forest Park • How much $10-$15 • More info stlzoo.org

The St. Louis Zoo opens its doors on October evenings for spooky (not scary!) pre-Halloween fun. There will be decorations, a limited number of animals on view, a chance to ride the Conservation Carousel and (for an additional charge) a nighttime trip on the train. Actors dressed in spooky (not scary!) costumes will provide additional frights. Costumes are welcome, but there will be no trick-or-treating. A sensory-friendly night is planned for Oct. 16.

St. Louis Independent Comics Expo

When 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 14 • Where Sheldon Concert Hall & Art Galleries, 3648 Washington Boulevard • How much Free • More info slicexpo.org

An event to support the small press community, the new St. Louis Independent Comics Expo is actually a reimagining of the former St. Louis Small Press Expo, last held in 2019. Check slicexpo.org for details about workshops, discussions and the free kick-off event, a panel discussion 6-8 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Hi-Pointe Theatre.

Brew in the Lou

When 1-5 p.m. Oct. 14 • Where Francis Park, 5399 Donovan Avenue • How much $50-$60 • More info lesastl.org

When else are you going to get the chance to support Christian elementary schools by drinking beer, wine and liquor? Now in its 11th year, the popular Brew in the Lou is sponsored by the Lutheran Elementary School Association. Food and other goodies will also be available from an impressive array of nearly 100 vendors.

Legends & Lanterns

When 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 14, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, noon-5 p.m. Oct. 15, Oct. 22 and Oct. 29, 5-8 p.m. Oct. 27 • Where 230 South Main Street, St. Charles • How much Free • More info discoverstcharles.com

St. Charles’ annual Halloween bash looks to the past, from the legends of Druids and ancient Greeks to the Hollywood visions of the 1910s through the 1930s. Activities will be scattered throughout the Historic Main Street area, including scarecrows, gargoyles and actors portraying Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and the Brothers Grimm skewering classic horror stories.

St. Louis Beer Fest

When 8-11 p.m. Oct. 21 • Where St. Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland Avenue • How much $50; VIP available • More info stlouisbeerfest.com

Yes, the St. Louis Science Center is generally for children, but the St. Louis Beer Fest is 21-and-older only. It features samples of more than 120 beers from 41 craft breweries, local and national. If you drink enough, you might start seeing dinosaurs. Food will also be available.

Chesterfield Fall Festival

When 1-6 p.m. Oct. 21 • Where Chesterfield Amphitheater, 631 Veterans Place Drive, Chesterfield • How much Free • More info chesterfieldamphitheater.com

The Chesterfield Fall Festival boasts a mechanical bull, plus miniature pony rides, a petting zoo, carnival rides, vendors and live music, including a couple of tribute bands.

The Healthy, History-Lovin’ Halloween Party

When 4:30-7 p.m. Oct. 26 • Where Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Boulevard, Forest Park • How much Free • More info mohistory.org

For children who hate candy and love history, this is the party of the year. The Missouri History Museum presents its annual sugar-free, Halloween-inspired bash for kids. There will be crafts, ghost stories, a haunted-history clubhouse, a concert and — we can’t emphasize this enough — candy-free trick-or-treating. Costumes are encouraged.

Halloween Costume Cruise

When 8:30 p.m. Oct. 28 • Where Riverboats at the Gateway Arch, 50 South Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard • How much $29 • More info gatewayarch.com

This Halloween cruise is strictly an adult affair, for ages 21 and up only. The party will include a DJ, dancing and a costume party, plus food and drinks available from a cash bar.

Apple Butter Festival

When 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 28-29 • Where Kimmswick • How much Free • More info gokimmswick.com

This is huge: The town of Kimmswick reports that more than 100,000 people attend the two-day festival each year, shopping at more than 500 vendor booths. The event includes bluegrass, country rock and dulcimer music, but the big draw is the apple butter that is made — and sold — throughout the event. If you ask nicely, you may get to help stir the simmering apples.

Schlafly Full Moon Festival

When Nov. 4 (time TBD) • Where Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood • How much Free • More info schlafly.com

Schlafly goes whole hog with its Full Moon Festival, roasting whole pigs from local farmers. There will also be a chili cookoff among a limited number of local chefs, with participants voting for their favorites. All of this will be washed down with Schafly beers and hard cider, to the accompaniment of live music.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party

When 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, 2:30 p.m. Nov. 5 • Where Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles • How much $25-$50 • More info hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com

The “Glow Party” in this Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party means the arena lights will be off, and the trucks and freestyle motocross motorcycles will be edged with their own glowing lights. And because the show is presented by Hot Wheels, kids will be able to see and play with the latest toys.

St. Louis Jewish Book Festival

When Nov. 5-19; various event times • Where Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive • How much $30-$50 • More info jccstl.com

Now in its 45th year, the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival brings in a wide variety of authors to talk about their books in all genres. Headliners this year are Mitch Albom (“The Little Liar”), Andrew Rae (“Basics With Babish” — it’s a cookbook), Rebecca Minkoff (“Fearless”) and Martin Fletcher (“Teachers: The One I Can’t Forget”), plus 16 other authors.

STL Mystic Fair

When 3-8 p.m. Nov. 17, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 18, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 19 • Where Machinists Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton • How much $8 • More info eventbrite.com

Interested in the metaphysical world? At the STL Mystic Fair, you can have your tarot cards read, learn about your past lives, chat with psychics, hear messages from the angels, have your aura or spirit painted or photographed, and have your astrological chart read.

St. Louis Turkey Trot

When 8 a.m. Nov. 23 (race packets must be picked up in advance or 7-8 a.m. the day of the race) • Where Upper Muny Parking Lot, Forest Park • How much $0-$80 • More info missouriruns.com/stlouisturkeytrot

Work off some of those Thanksgiving calories before the meal with a 5K or 8K race through scenic Forest Park. Kids 8 and under can try out their speed in a free 100-yard dash. Serious racers can participate in timed events, but hobbyists can have fun in an untimed 5K race, too.