Five fall events in St. Louis

Starting Sept. 20, Forest Park is hosting its annual Balloon Glow. Friday at 5:00 P.M., the doors open and the park will be filled with food trucks, games, inflatable attractions, and other sponsored activities. Hot air balloons will be lit up at 6:45 P.M. while guests walk around the area viewing the various balloons and the night will end with fireworks at 9:15 P.M.. The following day the balloons will be launched into the air. Admission into the event is free of charge, but the price of food and activities will vary.

Get a taste of German culture with St. Charles Oktoberfest Sept. 27-29. With a full weekend of events, food, shops, entertainment, and other activities, Oktoberfest is a diverse event for all ages. Feast Magazine has rated it the best food and drink event in St. Louis. The weekend will feature a multitude of German themed entertainers and performances. You can get involved in the event by participating in various competitive events including a brat eating contest, a wiener dog race, a Sunday morning 5k, the antique car show, and a “Raise the Stein” beer holding contest. Other than that, there will be German themed food stands that offer pretzels, brats, hotdogs, and more.

 Grant’s Farm hosts a Fall Fest Oct. 7-Nov. 4 and a Halloween Fest Oct. 6-29. Fall Fest is included with general admission and takes place on the weekends during the day time. In the Clydesdale stables there will be fall themed food specials, local vendor pop up booths, and a kids zone. The farm opens their Halloween Fest starting at five Thursdays through Sundays. The festival will have a haunted tram ride, mad science shows, a monster themed dance party, a scare zone, and a display of Halloween decorations. Ticket prices are $12 per night.

Visit the St. Louis Botanical Garden for their annual Spirits in the Garden. Guests are invited to wear their Halloween costumes while enjoying live music, meeting “Frankenstein’s monster” and local paranormal specialists, listening to a fortune teller, or watching a fire performer. Admission is $35 per adult and $30 for Botanical garden members. The event will take place Oct. 25 from 6:00-8:30 P.M..

Spend the last full weekend of October at the Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival. The festival starts at 10 A.M. and ends at 5 P.M. on Oct. 26 and 27. The night before the festival, the Kimmswick historical society hand makes the apple butter using a wood burning fire and a kettle. The streets of Kimmswick are filled with over 500 food and craft vendors while live music is played by various country and bluegrass performers.