November

What: Branson Area Festival of Lights
When: through Dec 31
Where: Branson, 700 Expressway Lane
Information:  (417) 334-4084, www.explorebranson.com/christmas/bafol.php. Join the community-wide celebration as all of Branson is aglow for the holidays. Special holiday shows, drive through light displays and spectacular shopping and dining provide all the reasons to celebrate the holidays in Branson.

What: Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights
When: through Dec. 31
Where: Branson, The Shepherd of the Hills Homestead, West Highway 76 and Shepherd of the Hills Expressway
Information: (417) 334-4191, http://theshepherdofthehills.com. Display includes three-dimensional mechanical characters with themed music and story lines.

What: Santa's Magical Kingdom
When: through Jan. 4
Where: Eureka, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, 5300 Fox Creek Road
Information: (636) 938-5925, www.eurekachamber.us. Experience this holiday light display featuring more than 2 million shimmering lights.

What: Macy's Holiday Festival of Lights
When: Nov. 20
Where: St. Louis, Kiener Plaza, downtown
Information: (314) 436-6500, www.christmasinstlouis.org. Fun gets underway at 4:30 p.m. and includes clown, face painters and Santa. Christmas lights are simultaneously turned on at 6:30 p.m. in downtown St. Louis and downtown Clayton for the official start of the holiday season. A fireworks display will conclude the event. Following the fireworks there will be a walking procession led by Santa up Seventh Street to Macy's for the unveiling of the holiday windows.

What: Anheuser-Busch Brewery Christmas Lights Display
When: Nov. 20–Jan. 2
Where: St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Pestalozzi Street
Information: (314) 577-2000. The display features over 800,000 lights that adorn a magnificent tree, the Bevo Plant and Pestalozzi Street.

What: Holiday Fare Wine Trail
When: Nov. 21 and 22
Where:  Hermann, six area wineries
Information: (314) 795-9770, www.hermannwinetrail.com. Follow the Hermann wine trail to six local wineries and taste a delectable holiday dish paired with each winery's perfectly matched wines. Advance ticket sales ($30 per person) only. Purchase online at www.hermannmo.info.

What: 28th Annual Weston Christmas Homes Tour
When: Nov. 21 and 22, Historic Shopping and Dining District, 526 Main St.
Information: (816) 640-2909, www.westonmo.com. Tour through Weston's antebellum homes. Admission: $10

What: Holiday Wreath Exhibition
When: Nov. 21–Jan. 3
Where: St. Louis, Missouri Botanical Garden Ridgway Center
Information: (314) 577-9400 or (800) 642-8842, www.mobot.org. Cost: $8 adults 13 and up; 12 and under free. An exhibition of magnificent wreaths created by some of the area's finest floral designers.

What: Gardenland Express
When: Nov. 25–Jan. 3
Where: St. Louis, Missouri Botanical Garden
Information call: (314) 577-9400 or (800) 642-8842, www.mobot.org. Cost: $8 adults 13 and up; 12 and under free. Gardenland Express will bid farewell to the sesquicentennial year colorful holiday blooms surrounding G-scale model trains, traveling around mini-scenes of notable Garden structures surfaced with natural materials.

What: Christmas Parade In Lights
When: Nov. 21
Where: Excelsior Springs, Historic Hall of Waters, 201 E. Broadway
Information: http://exspgschamber.com/christmas.html. The lighted parade steps off at 6 p.m. as part of the Ring in the Season event. Admission is free. 

What: Country Club Plaza Lighting Ceremony
When: Nov. 26
Where: Kansas City, Country Club Plaza Area
Information: www.visitkc.com. With the flip of a switch at 6:45 p.m., over 80 miles of multi-colored bulbs illuminate the Country Club Plaza district as nearly 300,000 spectators applaud the start of the holiday season.

What: 25th AmerenUE Thanksgiving Day Parade
When: Nov. 26
Where: St. Louis, downtown
Information: www.christmasinstlouis.org. The Midwest’s best holiday parade features colorful floats, bands, storybook characters, carriages, equestrian units and Santa Claus as it winds through downtown St. Louis beginning at 8:30 a.m.

What: U.S. Bank Wild Lights
When: Nov. 27–Dec. 13
Where: St. Louis, the zoo in Forest Park
Information: (314) 781-0900, www.stlzoo.org. Stroll through the Zoo’s enchanting holiday wonderland and enjoy thousands of colorful lights and seasonal sounds.

What: Meet the Grinch
When: Nov. 28
Where: Kansas City, City Market, 20 E. Fifth St.
The Grinch will make a special appearance at the City Market the Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bring in three or more canned goods to benefit Harvesters and receive a free photo with the Grinch. 

December

What: St. Louis Holiday Magic
When: Dec. 4–6
Location: St. Louis, America’s Center, Washington Avenue at Seventh Street
Information call: (800) 247-9791, www.stlholidaymagic.com. Celebrate the holidays at St. Louis’ first Holiday Magic, a family-friendly event that will feature shopping, holiday lights and decorations, indoor carnival rides and live entertainment. Support St. Louis’ largest food drive and bring in three cans or boxes (no glass) of unexpired, unopened food and receive one child’s admission for $4 at the door only. Adult admission $10.

What: Christmas Candlelight Tours
When: Dec. 4–5
Where: Kansas City, John Wornall House Museum, 6115 Wornall Road
Information: www.wornallhouse.org. Admission: $6 adults, $3 children

What: Annual Candlelight Tour
When: Dec. 4–5, 11–12
Where: Defiance, Historic Daniel Boone Home and Boonesfield Village
Information: (636) 798-2005, www.lindenwood.edu/boone. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children (4–11). Stroll the grounds light by thousands of candles and hear period music as artisans, choirs and townspeople entertain and interact with guests. Hot drinks and cookies are available.

What: Lewis & Clark Christmas
When: Dec. 5
Where: Hermann
Information: (314) 275-8155, www.lewisandclark.net. Tickets, $28. Primitive life skills and demonstrations will be presented including live fire flintlocks, medicine and medical procedures of the 1800s, primitive fire starting, display and discussion of primitive firelocks, period clothing of Lewis & Clark, and primitive food and military encampment. Ladies will enjoy a display of clothing fashion of the day typically worn prior to 1865. And enjoy a lantern parade led by fife and drum through historic downtown Hermann. The day will conclude with a dinner and military ball.

What: Christmas on the Farm
When: Dec. 5
Where: Lawson, Watkins Woolen Mill State Park & Historic Site, 26600 Park Road North
Information: (816) 580-3387. Activities will include caroling, seasonal refreshments, a special Christmas room for the kids, visits from Father Christmas, and other period entertainment that will last into the evening hours, when the house will be lit by lamplight. Admission is free.

What: 25th Annual Country Christmas Walk
When: Dec. 5–6
Where: Ste. Genevieve
Information: (800) 373-700, www.saintegenevievetourism.org. Strolling carolers, Ste. Genevieve Art Guild Show & Sale, open house at Guibourd and Linden historic sites, entertainment, tree lighting and much more. Christmas Parade on Saturday. Free admission.

What: 26th Annual Cherokee Antique Row Cookie Spree
When: Dec. 5 and 6
Where: St. Louis, Cherokee Antique Row, Cherokee Street
Information: (314) 678-0161, www.cherokeeantiquerow.com. Cherokee Antique Row’s six tree-lined blocks of historic homes and antique, collectible and specialty shops is transformed into a wonderland of festival fun with cookies for everyone. Carolers will court shoppers with traditional holiday song while street vendors offer hot cider and kettle corn. Visit with Jolly Ole’ Saint Nick and take in live music in various shops.

What: Kristkindl Markt
When: Dec. 5 and 6
Where: Hermann, Stone Hill Winery
Information: (800) 909-9463, www.stonehillwinery.com. A traditional German Christmas market in the heated pavilion features crafts, Christmas goodies, carolers, hot soups & cider.

What: Chanukah: Festival of Lights Celebration
When: Dec. 6
Where: St. Louis, Missouri Botanical Garden Ridgway Visitor Center
Information call: (314) 577-5100, www.mobot.org. A traditional Jewish holiday celebration that includes festive music, dance and a menorah-lighting ceremony.

What: 61st Annual Adoration Parade & Lighting Ceremony
When: Dec. 6
Where: Branson, Branson Landing
Information: (800) 214-3661, www.explorebranson.com/christmas/adorationparade.php. Festive nighttime parade and nativity scene lighting ceremony.

What: Christmas at the White House
When: Dec. 12
Where: Independence, Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, 500 W. Highway 24
Information: (816) 268-8200, www.trumanlibrary.org. Archivist David Clark takes you inside America's most exclusive address for peek at the Truman family's celebration of Christmas at the White House. This intimate holiday portrait is painted with photographs, letters, Christmas cards, and sound recordings from the Truman Library's extensive collection. Each participant will leave with a Truman-family recipe just right for the holidays.

What: Black Tie Winemaker Dinner
When: Dec. 12
Where: Mount Pleasant Winery, Augusta
Toast the holiday season in style at Mount Pleasant’s Black Tie Winemaker Dinner. You’ll feast on a delicious multi-course meal, including smoked white cheddar bisque, baby spinach salad with Fuji apples and a double entrée of filet mignon with a sun-dried tomato choron sauce and baked tilapia with fennel and capers. Wine pairings will accompany each course. The evening ends with caroling in the cellars, where dessert will be served. Tickets are $84.99 per person.
Info: (800) 467-WINE (9463), or visit www.mountpleasant.com

What: Kristkindl Markt
When: Dec. 12-13
Where: Hermannhof Festhalle and Hofgarten, Hermann
Inspired by old-world European holiday markets in Germany, the seventh annual Kristkindl Markt in Hermann will showcase traditional German arts, crafts, food, literature, costumed carolers and music of the season. The Markt is a shopper's paradise with handcrafted products from dozens of artisans. Father Christmas will make an appearance, and a towering Christmas tree will be placed in the Festhalle, which is located at the corner of First and Gutenberg in downtown Hermann. Hours are 10 a.m.Ð5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Info: (573) 486-FARM (3276), or visit www.hermannfarm.org

What: Lafayette Square Parlour Tour
When: Dec. 13
Where: St. Louis, Lafayette Square
Information: (314) 772-5724, www.lafayettesquare.org. Tickets: $15 in advance, $18 day of tour. Carriage rides, roasted chestnuts, holiday treats, 10 decorated homes.

What: Christmas Country Church Tour
When: Dec. 18 and 19
Where: southeast Missouri counties of Perry, North Cape Girardeau and Bollinger
Information: (573) 833-6188

What: Kwanzaa: Festival of the First Fruits
When: Dec. 30
Where: St. Louis, Missouri Botanical Garden Ridgway Visitor Center
Information: (314) 577-5100, www.mobot.org. Kwanzaaa is a Swahili term that means "first fruits," and this contemporary African-American holiday centers around the feast table of the harvest. A Kwanzaa ceremony highlights a day of storytelling, craft and jewelry displays and authentic African drumming and musical performances.

What: First Night®–Saint Louis
When: Dec. 31
Where: St. Louis, Grand Center Arts & Entertainment District
Information: (314) 289-8121, www.firstnightstl.org. A winter celebration featuring visual and performing arts, musicians, storytellers, dancers, magicians, actors, puppeteers and visual and media artists. The theme this year is Wonderland. Festivities kick-off at 5:30 p.m. with a grand procession leading the way to the main stage, located at the intersection of Grand Boulevard and Lindell Avenue, for the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Children's fireworks at 9 p.m. and grand fireworks at midnight.