Downtown St. Louis kicks off the holidays on Saturday, Nov 21, 2026: the 42nd Thanks-For-Giving Parade steps off at 2 p.m., Winterfest opens at Kiener Plaza (through Jan 3), and fireworks follow the 5:30 p.m. Festival of Lights. New Year’s Eve fireworks are Dec 31 at 8 p.m. Read on the organizers’ pages on 2026-10-27.
Dates at a Glance
| What | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Thanks-For-Giving Parade | Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 2 p.m. | Free to watch (not confirmed; the page lists no ticket) |
| Winterfest 5K and 1-mile fun run or walk | Sat, Nov 21 (time not posted) | See the 5K page |
| Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights | Sat, Nov 21, 5:30 p.m. ceremony, fireworks 7 p.m. | Free (Winterfest is free to attend) |
| Winterfest at Kiener Plaza | Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 | Free entry; rink, igloos and curling extra |
| Blues Try Hockey Free | Sun, Nov 22 and Sun, Jan 3 | Free, space limited |
| New Year’s Eve Neon Nights and fireworks | Thu, Dec 31, 4 to 8 p.m. | Free, RSVP offered |
Thanks-For-Giving Parade, Nov 21
- When and where: Saturday, Nov 21, 2026 at 2 p.m., downtown St. Louis. Celebrate St. Louis presents it in partnership with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.
- What you will see: marching bands, musical floats, dance groups, drumlines and displays from across the St. Louis region, and a visit from Santa Claus.
- Route: the organizer’s map shows the start at Tucker Boulevard and Market Street and the finish near Broadway, along Market Street, with the Winterfest block marked near the finish.
- Still to come: the 2026 marching bands and honorary grand marshals are listed as “coming soon”, and the charitable partner will be named once confirmed.
Winterfest at Kiener Plaza
- Dates: Nov 21, 2026 through Jan 3, 2027, the eleventh year. The Gateway Arch Park Foundation produces it and says tens of thousands of people come each year.
- What is there: an ice rink, heated igloos, s’mores, curling and the Winterfest Cafe, plus a rotating list of free activities. Skating times and curling bays can be reserved online in advance.
- Prices we saw: opening day, Nov 21, lists admission and skate rentals as included ($0). Igloos start at $100. Rink and curling prices for other days were not shown on the pages we read.
- Special dates: Blues Try Hockey Free (Nov 22 and Jan 3), Frizz Fest Winter Market (Nov 28), a fashion show (Dec 5), Chanukah at the Arch (Dec 10), Ice Carvings and Holiday Market (Dec 12) and an Art Gallery (Dec 19). Space is limited and a free ticket might be required, so register through the Foundation’s page.
- Adults only: the Holiday Spirits Tasting on Dec 26 is a paid, ticketed event. The page we read did not state an age limit, which is not confirmed.
Festival of Lights, Nov 21
Winterfest’s opening day ends with the Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights. The schedule is a ceremony at 5:30 p.m., the lighting of The Salvation Army tree of lights at 5:45 p.m., a drone show at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks at 7 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Neon Nights, Dec 31
The Foundation’s early countdown runs Thursday, Dec 31, 2026 from 4 to 8 p.m., with fireworks at 8 p.m. and views of the Arch. It is billed as family-friendly: a live concert by The Dirty Muggz, a DJ, fire dancers, characters and party favors. Because it ends at 8 p.m., it suits children who go to bed before midnight. Kansas City’s own New Year’s Eve list had no 2026 events posted yet on Visit KC.
Tips for Families
- Opening day packs a parade, a 5K, a tree lighting, a drone show and fireworks into one Saturday. If young children are along, pick the 2 p.m. parade or the evening lights, not both.
- Blues Try Hockey Free on Nov 22 and Jan 3 gives kids a free first time on skates, with limited space.
- Dress warm. Rink, igloos and the parade route are all outdoors.
Getting There and Parking
Winterfest is in Kiener Plaza in the heart of downtown, near the Gateway Arch. Parking, MetroLink directions and street closures for the parade were not posted on the pages we read. This is not confirmed; check the Foundation and Celebrate St. Louis pages before you go.
Still Unconfirmed
- Daily Winterfest hours and rink prices after opening day.
- Parade street closures, viewing areas and parking.
- The 2026 parade grand marshals and marching bands.
- Start time for the Winterfest 5K.
- Age rules for the Dec 26 Holiday Spirits Tasting.
Not yet announced here. We check the Gateway Arch Park Foundation and Celebrate St. Louis pages weekly and update this guide when anything changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the St. Louis Thanks-For-Giving Parade in 2026?
Saturday, Nov 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. in downtown St. Louis. It is the 42nd Thanks-For-Giving Parade, presented by Celebrate St. Louis with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.
Is there a Thanksgiving Day parade in St. Louis?
The organizer’s page we read lists the parade on Saturday, Nov 21, five days before Thanksgiving on Nov 26. We found no Thanksgiving Day parade on an organizer page, so we cannot confirm one.
Where does the parade route run?
The organizer’s route map shows a start at Tucker Boulevard and Market Street and a finish near Broadway, along Market Street, with Winterfest marked near the finish. Street closures and viewing areas were not posted when we checked.
When does Winterfest open and close?
Winterfest at Kiener Plaza runs Nov 21, 2026 through Jan 3, 2027, its eleventh year. Daily hours were not on the pages we read, so check the Foundation’s page before you go.
Is Winterfest free?
Getting in is free. Skating, heated igloos, curling and s’mores cost extra. On opening day, Nov 21, the ticketing page lists admission and skate rentals as included at $0, and igloos start at $100. Other prices were not shown in the pages we read.
What time are the tree lighting and fireworks on Nov 21?
The Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights is Saturday, Nov 21: ceremony at 5:30 p.m., lighting of The Salvation Army tree of lights at 5:45 p.m., a drone show at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks at 7 p.m.
What happens on New Year’s Eve at Winterfest?
Thursday, Dec 31, 2026 from 4 to 8 p.m. is the family-friendly Neon Nights celebration with a live concert by The Dirty Muggz, a DJ, fire dancers, characters and party favors. Fireworks with Arch views start at 8 p.m. The page offers an RSVP.
Sources
- Celebrate Saint Louis, Thanks-For-Giving Parade, checked 2026-10-27
- Gateway Arch Park Foundation, Winterfest, checked 2026-10-27
- Gateway Arch Park, Winterfest tickets, checked 2026-10-27
- Visit KC, New Year’s Eve in Kansas City, checked 2026-10-27 (no 2026 events listed)
More big Missouri dates: St. Louis area events, St. Louis holiday lights, Soulard Mardi Gras 2027 and all Missouri events.
Cite this page: It's Missouri, “St. Louis Winterfest, Thanks-For-Giving Parade and New Year’s Eve 2026”, itsmissouri.com/st-louis-winterfest-parade-new-years-eve/ (updated ). By the It's Missouri editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.