Discover the best things to do this winter in St. Charles, Missouri. From festive outdoor adventures to cozy indoor attractions, St. Charles has plenty of activities and seasonal events to help you beat cabin fever. See for yourself why St. Charles is considered the best Christmas town in Missouri as we celebrate the 51st season of Saint Charles Christmas Traditions®. Don’t stop with the holidays, explore why winter in St. Charles is worth a visit all season long. Subscribe to our e-newsletter for updates on upcoming events and activities, and request a free visitor's magazine for more details on planning your winter getaway to St. Charles.
What are the best Christmas and Winter Events in St. Charles?
St. Charles has the best winter festivals around, and better yet, they’re free! Have yourself a merry little Christmas (all season long) at Saint Charles Christmas Traditions® on Historic Main Street. Taste roasted chestnuts fresh off an open fire, meet a host of international gift givers and other classic holiday characters, and listen to Christmas melodies sung by carolers in this world of yuletide nostalgia and fantasy. This Christmas festival runs on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. While you’re here, don’t forget to shop for Christmas gifts at local shops with help from our 2025 Gift Guide. If you’re looking for more gifts by regional makers, designers, and artists, stop by the Merry Makers Market at the Foundry Art Centre on the first Friday & Saturday in December.
Carry a candle and join the re-enactment of the Spanish tradition, Las Posadas, on Main Street to help light the way for ‘Mary and Joseph’ as they seek shelter at local businesses. The procession concludes at a live nativity scene on the riverfront, where people come together to sing Christmas carols around a bonfire on the first Saturday in December.
Step into a Norman Rockwell Christmas painting on the first two Fridays of December at the Augusta Candlelight Christmas Walk in Historic Missouri Wine Country. Over 1,000 luminaries light up the town as people shop, visit wineries, and get photos with Santa.
The fun doesn’t stop in the New Year. On the last Saturday of January, visit Main Street and watch ice sculptors use chainsaws, chisels, and grinders to turn blocks of ice into shiny masterpieces at Fête de Glacé.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day in a non-traditional way at Once Upon a Valentine®: Stories for the Loved & Loveless on the weekend before Valentine’s Day. This micro festival blends history, fun, and spirited entertainment that embraces the adoration and the playful disdain for Valentine’s Day traditions.
Where can you find winter comfort food in St. Charles?
St. Charles is home to several cozy cafes and restaurants that serve up warm comfort food to help you survive winter. Get a seasonal special like a peppermint mocha or your go-to favorite at a St. Charles coffee shop. Pair your cup o’ joe with a freshly baked cookie from Grandma’s Cookies, a Main Street staple. Warm up with a soup flight at Bike Stop Café where you choose three of their homemade soups to pair with slices of fresh-baked sourdough for one of the coziest meals on Main Street. Plenty of other restaurants have soup, too, like La Belle Vie’s French onion soup and Magpie’s potato soup. It’s the perfect pick-me-up for the dreaded winter blues. For a seasonal beverage, visit Cardinal Sin Distillery and participate in a tasting of their award-winning spirits. Don’t forget to try their seasonal cocktail!
What are the best winter activities in St. Charles?
Just because it’s cold outside, doesn’t mean that there aren’t things to do. Explore your creative side and take an art class at the Foundry Art Centre. From painting workshops to jewelry making classes, and clay classes, it’s the perfect place to work on your skills. Learn all about soda history at The Soda Museum on Main Street and see nostalgic soda memorabilia from as far back as the 1880s in this impressive collection. As a bonus, visit Main Street Arcade downstairs to play vintage arcade games (which would also make for a fun date night in St. Charles). If you’re out late, stop by Main Street Honky Tonk for dancing and live country music.
If you're looking for indoor things to do for your kids, they’ll enjoy indoor playtime at Wild Sprouts. The best part is, you don’t have to clean up their mess! If they really need to burn off some energy, get them a day pass at Climb so iLL where they can climb to their heart’s content.
Plan your winter in St. Charles
Beat cabin fever this winter and enjoy all of the things to do in St. Charles. Get out and see the best St. Charles has to offer in the winter.