Saint Charles Christmas Traditions Festival – Missouri

Christmas traditions take us back to a time when it was elegant and magical. The people in Saint Charles, MO invite you to a place where Christmas past and present becomes one.  A place where storybook characters come to life before your very eyes.  A place where the typical hustle and bustle of the holiday season melts away and allows you to enjoy the yuletide sights, sounds, and magic of yesteryear.

From the boisterous cheer of their legendary Saint Charles Christmas figures and joyful singing of their harmonious carolers to the unique shopping and dining opportunities found along the festively decorated brick-lined streets, Saint Charles Christmas Traditions offers something special for everyone.

Whether this is your first visit to their magical festival, or this is a longstanding family tradition, they look forward to celebrating with you and creating memories that will last a lifetime.  Christmas Traditions offers something special for everyone.

I have never been to this fun holiday event, but I got a link from my cousin’s wife Kael, and decided to check it out. I have to say it looks like a blast. I wish I was going to be in Missouri this year but will have to remember this for another year. However, if you are in the Saint Charles area, or going to be in the area, it sounds like a must-do item to add to your to-do list.   It is only 25 mins away from St. Louis, so you could do the Budweiser Brewery of Lights one night and the Saint Charles  Christmas Traditions another night.

The Saint Charles Christmas Traditions 2022 begins at 12:00 on November 25th with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus by horse-drawn carriage. They are escorted by the Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps which is cool as I am related to John Colter of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Anyway, you can watch as they hang the ceremonial last piece of greenery, marking the official start to the holiday season.

Then at 5:00 join their Mayor Dan Borgmeyer along with the Cobblestone Wassailiers for the annual lighting of the Saint Charles Official Christmas Tree.  While you’re there, take the chill off the evening air with a complimentary cup of piping hot wassail. I wasn’t sure what this what, so I looked it up and it sounds interesting.

For those who didn’t know what it was, like me, I will share a bit of info here. Wassail is a beverage of hot mulled cider, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, a Medieval Christmastide English drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year. ^]I will have to make sure to make it to the tree lightening ceremony when we go.

The info below is still from the 2021 event and I am slowly updating it. However, you can get a good idea of the events and activities available. 

“Twas the Night Before Christmas” was always one of my favorite holiday stories and on Wednesdays nights you can enjoy a special reading of this story by author Clement Clarke Moore with musical accompaniment in the historic Peck Brothers residence at the First Missouri State Capitol on South Main Street. Reading will happen every 15 minutes from 7:00-8:00.

Another treat the kids might enjoy is Storytime with Christmas Friends.   Join Mrs. Claus and Mother Goose at the First Missouri State Capitol Historic Site as these merry matriarchs share a treasury of their favorite festival holiday tales. It runs Saturdays at 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM, & 4:00 PM and Sundays at 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM, & 4:00 PM. This happens at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site – 200 South Main Street.

It’s not Christmas without Christmas music, and the Saint Charles Christmas Traditions Festival will have plenty. There will be many guest choirs from across the region presenting a program of special music and joy. Below is their schedule if you want to plan to see a specific event.

November 30	Webster University Chordloks
December 1	Incarnate Word Academy
December 7	Meade County High School (Kentucky) Rising Generations
December 8	Holt High School River Blenders Chorus
December 14	Liberty High School Winfield High School Chamber Singers Timberland High School Bells of Joy (Kister Park Gazebo)
December 15	Discover Elementary Christian High School
December 21	The Ambassadors of Harmony

Make the kid’s day by taking them to see Santa and having their picture taken.   You can find them at the  Historic KATY Train Depot in Frontier Park.

Time: Opening Day November 25 (12pm-8:30pm)
Fridays (6pm-8:30 pm)
Saturdays (12pm-8:30pm)
Sundays (12pm-5:00pm)
Christmas Eve (11am-2pm)

Of course, there are also opportunities to have the kid’s pictures taken with Santa. Meet him in his parlor where you can share a Christmas wish list, take a photo, and maybe even sneak a peek of the famous naughty and nice lists. Per their site: High quality professional photos with Santa are available to help remember your visit. A variety of photo packages are available and can be purchased with either cash or credit card.

Check their website for times. This event sounds like so much fun and again I am sad that we won’t be able to experience it this year. However, it is definitely on our list for another year. Thanks again to my cousin’s wife Kael for sharing this event with me. I hope we get to go and enjoy it one year soon. Pictures on this site are from previous year’s events.

Below is their contact info if you want more information.

Address:

230 S. Main Street Saint Charles, MO 63301

Phone:

1-800-366-2427.

Schedule:

This year the Saint Charles Christmas Traditions Festival is happy to introduce a new inclusion initiative program. This initiative aims to allow those who may not be able to come to the festival due to a disability to be able to experience the festival in a way that is beneficial to them.

They will be having tours geared toward those with mobility issues, autism, down-syndrome, large group anxiety, and auditory sensitivity issues. These tours will be given two times a day by a sensory specialist.  I have shared some information below, but here is a link to their page on the website with a sign up form.

What to expect:

• The tour will be 90 minutes long
• Tour groups will be limited to 15 people in total
• The tour will begin at the Tourism Center (230 S. Main St.)
• The tour will then work its way south towards the Katy Depot in Frontier Park
• Along the way, the group will be introduced to several of our Christmas Legends for a more inclusive interaction
• The tour will end at the Katy Depot where families or groups can meet to go take photos with Santa Claus
• At the Katy Depot, tour participants will be given a full deck of 2019 Saint Charles Christmas Traditions® trading cards

Tours will be given on Saturdays & Sundays during the Festival

Tour Times:

• 11 AM to 1:30 PM
• 3:30 PM to 5 PM