21 Festive Things to Do This Fall in St. Louis

Schlafly Full Moon Festival
Schlafly Bottleworks
7260 Southwest Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63143

Live music, six bonfires, a pig roast and fall-themed activities are on the agenda for the Schlafly Full Moon Festival at Schlafly Bottleworks on November 4. And, of course, there will be plenty of beer, including seasonal flavors like Pumpkin Ale, White Lager, Pilsner, Coffee Stout, Hard Apple Cider and more. Get more details here. Photo courtesy of Instagram / schlaflybeer.

St. Louis Renaissance Festival
Rotary Park
2577 West Meyer Road
Wentzville, MO

There's still time to take a step back in history at the Renaissance Faire in Wentzville October 14 - 15. Here you can shop, enjoy food, see jousting knights, applaud comedy and music acts and meet Renaissance villagers, nobles and peasants. Get details here. Photo by Jon Gitchoff.

Owl Prowls
World Bird Sanctuary
125 Bald Eagle Ridge Road
Valley Park, MO 63088

World Bird Sanctuary offers a unique thrill each year with Owl Prowls. These events feature a WBS naturalist who introduces participants to live owls and their calls. You'll also have the opportunity to take a night hike on the World Bird Sanctuary grounds, where you can try your hand at calling a wild owl. Owl Prowls take place on select dates starting in November and continue through March. They sell out, so don't wait. Info and booking can be found here.

Terror at Tower Grove Park
Tower Grove Park
4256 Magnolia Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110

Get a dose of Halloween festivities on October 20 at one of your favorite parks. Now in its second year, Terror at Tower Grove Park will include live music, food trucks, a costume contest, arts and crafts, a parade and more. The celebration is free, though donations are welcome. You can get a sneak peek of the participating food trucks and beer vendors here. Photo courtesy of Tower Grove Park.

Hermann Oktoberfest

When it comes to Missouri's wine country, Oktoberfest might as well be a second Christmas. Every weekend of October is a party in Hermann, the quaint German town/wine haven located just a short drive from St. Louis. Beer, wine, food, live music, hayrides and more are abundant throughout the town and across the local wineries. Click here for a full schedule of events. Photo by Elizabeth Semko.

Benton Park Free the Spirit Festival
S. Jefferson & Arsenal
St Louis, MO 63118

Food trucks, live performances interactive art, kids activities -- there's all this and more at this fall festival, which aims to inspire creative expression and bring the community together. The Benton Park Free the Spirit Festival, which take place October 21 and 22, includes artists and workshops for attendees of all ages. Get more details at freethespiritfestival.com. Photo of Benton Park courtesy of Flickr / Dave Herholz.

Fright Fest
Six Flags St. Louis
4900 Six Flags Rd.
Eureka, MO 63025

It's not quite October without Fright Fest at Six Flags. Halloween comes to the theme park full force on select nights through October 31, with haunted houses, scare zones and the characters of your nightmares dwelling the park. Get details and tickets here. Photo courtesy Elizabeth Gotway / Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.

Boo at the Zoo
Government Drive
St. Louis, MO 63110

Give the kids a Halloween experience without all the gore at Saint Louis Zoo's Boo at the Zoo event, which takes place nightly from October 17 to 30. Expect Halloween decorations, animal encounters, Halloween-themed photo ops, pumpkin painting and more. And of course, kids are welcome to wear costumes. Check out prices here. Photo by Roger Brandt, Saint Louis Zoo.

St. Louis Small Press Expo
Central Library
1301 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO, 63103

If roaming bookstores and libraries sounds like your idea of a good time, clear your schedule for the fourth annual St. Louis Small Press Expo on October 14. Loose yourself among the 80-plus indie publishing projects, including books, comics, art and literary magazines, zines and more. Bonus: admission is free. Photo courtesy of Instagram / stlspexpo.

Halloween Nights
Grant's Farm
10501 Gravois Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63123

This historic, family-friendly destination gets into the spirit of the Halloween season with Halloween Nights on select dates in October. Visitors can anticipate DJ, a Halloween-themed show, "Dark Deer Park Rides" for seeking out the park's wildlife and plenty of decorations and lights. These events draw crowds, so Grant's Farm encourages arriving as close to 5:30 p.m. as possible. Get details here. Grant's Farm photo courtesy of Flickr / Thomas Hawk.

Arch Bark
Gateway Arch grounds
100 Washington Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63102

We haven't forgotten your furry friends. Take Fido to the Arch grounds on October 14 for Arch Bark, an event full of fun for pets and owners alike. The day includes Paws on the Pavement, a one-mile walk to see the park's new features; an agility course, photo ops, talks with dog history and health experts and more. Photo courtesy of Flickr / Morgan Gaw.

Great Godfrey Maze
Robert E. Glazebrook Park
1401 Stampler Lane
Godfrey, IL 62035

If you don't get lost in a corn maze, is it really fall? Take a trip to Godfrey, Illinois, where you'll find one of the best in the area. Besides the maze, there is a number of attractions for kids including a "cow train," a hay wagon and a "jumping pillow." General admission for adults is $6, kids six to eleven years old are $4, and children five and under are free. Photo courtesy of Instagram / carlyeunice.

City Wide Block Party
4 Hands Brewing Co.
1220 S. 8th St.
St. Louis, MO 63104

Join your friends and neighbors at 4 Hands Brewing Co. for the City Wide block party on October 22, which will include live music, kids activities and food courtesy of Kevin Nashan (Peacemaker, Sidney Street Cafe), Chris Bolyard (Bolyard's Meat and Provisions) and Ices Plain & Fancy. 4 Hands started the City Wide brand as a way to give back to St. Louis neighborhoods and organizations, so the block party will serve as an opportunity to celebrate City Wide's quarterly recipients, too. Get ticket information here. Photo by Jon Gitchoff.

The Lantern Fest
8004 Twin River Rd.
Eureka, MO 63025

The Lantern Fest is back at Brookdale Farms this year. It's a festive, family-friendly party, with s'mores, live music and kids activities -- but the main attraction is when the thousands of attendees send floating lanterns up into the night sky. The 2017 Lantern Fest is in St. Louis November 4 and 5. Visit thelanternfest.com for more information and tickets. Photo courtesy of The Lantern Fest.

CWE Halloween

The Central West End does Halloween in a big way with its famous all-day street party on October 28. During the day there are family-friendly events, including a kids’ costume contest and parade, a dog parade and costume contest, live music, and street entertainers. Then in the evening comes the big event: The CWE’s adults-only costume contest with its $2,500 top prize. The evening also includes a party with hula hoop dancers, fire dancers, a DJ and more. Check out the schedule here. Photo by Jon Gitchoff.

Barktoberfest
Urban Chestnut
3229 Washington Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63103

There's no need to wait until the Mardi Gras pet parade for some costumed fun with your pooch. Head over to Urban Chestnut for Barktoberfest on October 17, a yearly Humane Society of Missouri fundraiser that includes a doggie costume contest, raffles, dog-focused vendors and games for both pups and their humans. All proceeds go to the Human Society of Missouri's Rescued Pet Trauma Fund. Photos by Caroline Yoo.

Spirits in the Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110

Learn about the haunted history of the garden and indulge in spirits from local distilleries, wineries and breweries. There will be a costume contest, a scavenger hunt for “wicked plants," dancing, a haunted tram tour, a fortune teller and more. It's all happening October 27. Get tickets here. Photo credit: Sonya Lalla. Courtesy the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Reel Late at the Tivoli: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Tivoli Theatre
6350 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63130

If you haven't watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show, have you really celebrated Halloween? Experience the movie on a whole new level at the Tivoli October 27 to 29 with a shadow performance by Samurai Electricians, prop bags for purchase and plenty of audience interaction. For more info, click here. Photo by Steve Truesdell.

Slashed
Mad Art Gallery
2727 S. 12th St.
St. Louis, MO 63118

Head to Mad Art Gallery on October 28 for a Halloween party hosted by 3 Girls in the Dark, a St. Louis-based paranormal investigation team. Now in its third year, the celebration will include dancing, a costume contest, tarot card readings, drink specials, appetizers and more. For admission and more details, click here. RFT photo.

Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival
Various locations

OK, so movies don't necessarily involve pumpkins or leaves. But the St. Louis International Film Festival is still an annual fall event not to be missed. The Tivoli Theatre, .ZACK, Plaza Frontenac and several other venues are presenting must-see films as part of the festival. Check out the festival's film list here. Photo from Bad Grandmas, the festival's opening night film, courtesy of Cinema St. Louis.