Fall Events for Seniors in St. Louis

The long, hot summer is mercifully coming to an end, and that can mean only one thing: It’s time to get outdoors and enjoy fall events in St. Louis perfect for seniors and their families.

Spending time outdoors benefits seniors in many ways, ranging from getting fresh air in their lungs and working their muscles as they move about to stimulating their concentration and language skills by keeping them busy and social. And since family gatherings give our senior loved ones a break from boredom and something to look forward to. Take advantage of the opportunity to spend some quality time outdoors with your Mom or Dad.

Some River City fall favorite activities include:

St. Louis Zoo

Always free for general admission, the Louis Zoo opens daily at 9a.m. and is open until 5 p.m. through October 7, and 4p.m. through the remainder of 2024. You can find out more about the schedule and other details on the zoo website. Park management takes pride in the Zoo being accessible for all, and it offers a variety of mobility options for seniors who may require them. They include wheelchair and electric scooter rentals and most restrooms on the property are wheelchair accessible.

Missouri Botanical Gardens

Take in the beauty of nature at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Open daily, the Botanical Garden offers  reduced price admission to those with proof of St. Louis city residency as well as free garden admission on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m.-noon. The site has a limited number of wheelchairs and electric scooters available to rent for those with mobility concerns. For more information, visit the Botanical Gardens website.

Historic Shaw Art Show

If you’re in the neighborhood of the Botanical Garden, you might want to also check out the Historic Shaw Art Show. Held at the intersection of Flora Place and Tower Grove Avenue, the fine art fair will exhibit the work of a wide variety of talented artists, including creators of ceramics, paintings, pastels, photography, sculptures, woodwork and more. While you’re taking in the beauty on display, you can also enjoy some live music and a variety of food offerings.

Grant’s Farm

A great place to take in a little bit of nature, some old-world charm and get in touch with history is Grant’s Farm, with its associated Ulysses Grant Historical Site. Visits to the property that was once tilled by the 18^th president of the United States and the Whitehaven residence of the president and his wife, Julia, are free; parking, however, is $16 per car. Check the attraction’s website for information about hours and tour availability. The farm is wheelchair accessible and its extra-cost tours offer a limited number of accessible slots. Most of the tour features at the historical site are accessible, too. And be sure to add the upcoming Fall Fest and Halloween Nights at Grant’s Farm to your list of fall events in St. Louis!

St. Louis Renaissance Festival

If you want to travel back even further in time, you can experience the pageantry of the St. Louis Renaissance Festival on weekends through Oct. 27. The festival features period music and wares, fine foods and even live jousting. Held at Rotary Park on West Meyer Road in Wentzville, check out the event’s website for information about tickets and scheduling.

Soulard Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a popular fall staple not only in St. Louis but around the world. There are a number of communities and neighborhoods putting on their lederhosen and passing around the beer steins. Soulard Oktoberfest, organized by the St. Louis German Cultural Society, is held in Soulard Market Park on October 11-12. You can get your fill of “oompahs” there with a slate of the area’s best traditional German bands set to take to the bandstand. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Its hours are 4-11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. The family-friendly event has been an annual tradition since 2016 and has drawn as many as 10,000 people.

Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival

If you’re craving a short road trip, a great way to spend a weekend day is taking the 25-mile drive down Interstate 55 to Kimmswick, MO for the Apple Butter Festival on Oct. 26-27. Organizers boast the event attracts 100,000 visitors every year who enjoy the rustic, small-town atmosphere almost as much as they love the indulgent apple butter that gives the event its name. The smell of the apples simmering over a fire is bound to make you hungry. Fortunately, there are dozens of food vendors to choose from – as well as craft booths to browse and live entertainment to enjoy.

These examples only include a small portion of the senior-friendly fall events in the St. Louis area this time of year. Whether you choose one of these options or discover an autumn adventure of your own, this is the perfect time of year to do something extra special outdoors with your senior loved one. After all, it’s not where you are but who you are with that is most important!

Explore more fun events in the St. Louis community each season on Bethesda’s blog.