Passport To The World: Cultural Program Series | Kids Out and About St. Louis <

Passport To The World: Cultural Program Series

From the Argentinian Tango Festival to Diwali Festival of Lights to a Chinese New Year Celebration join us in celebrating cultures from around the world in our year-long Passport To The World: Cultural Program Series! Each program will provide engaging, interactive and hands-on opportunities that will help to promote global literacy and foster tolerance and inclusion of different traditions, religions, appearances, languages and art forms. Passport To The World: Cultural Programs are free with Museum Admission.

Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.

Argentina’s Tango Festival

Date: Saturday, August 12

Tango originated in Argentina and is very important to the Argentine people as it expresses and celebrates national heritage and identity. Today, Tango performers from around the world return to Argentina every August to compete in the annual Tango Festival in Buenos Aires. This month, be a part of the Argentine Tango tradition with special Tango performances and workshops for dancers of all ages.  

The Convergence Dance & Body Center encourages healthy and happy living through dance, movement and mind-body wellness. They first brought Tango to St. Louis in 1996 by providing workshops with Tango Maestros from around the world. They have led annual dance intensives in Buenos Aires since 2000 and love sharing the beauty and artistry that is fundamental to the Tango.


Italian Storytelling

Date: Saturday, September 9

In anticipation for the opening of our newest cultural exhibit on September 23, Ciao Bambini, we invite you to explore Italian culture through the art of storytelling. Stories are traditions that bring people together and share cultural values. Through animated and engaging stories, families and children will watch Italian culture come to life. 

Giovanna Leopardi and Concetta Gabriele are both language professors with the St. Louis Italian Community’s Language Program. Giovanna, a native of Salerno, serves as the President of the Italian Language Program and has been teaching Italian for over 20 years. Concetta, born in Palermo, Sicily, serves as Vice-President of the Italian Language Program and is an English-Italian interpreter as well as a language teacher.


Indigenous Peoples’ Month

Date: Saturday, October 14

This month we celebrate and honor Native Americans in our region and the traditions they have kept throughout history. Join us in recognizing and celebrating the different tribes and traditions in our area as well as how they have been adapted and celebrated over time.  

Maria Hussman is an Anishinaabe crafter, seamstress and a proud member of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. Maria is a direct descendant of residential school survivors with ancestors inhabiting Beaver Island. Maria grew up sewing, beading regalia and making clothing for friends and family. She is also a passionate storyteller and guest speaker. Mike Hill is a Cherokee and Comanche dancer specializing in the Men’s Traditional style dance. 


Indigenous Peoples’ Month

Date: Saturday, October 14

This month we celebrate and honor Native Americans in our region and the traditions they have kept throughout history. Join us in recognizing and celebrating the different tribes and traditions in our area as well as how they have been adapted and celebrated over time.  

Maria Hussman is an Anishinaabe crafter, seamstress and a proud member of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. Maria is a direct descendant of residential school survivors with ancestors inhabiting Beaver Island. Maria grew up sewing, beading regalia and making clothing for friends and family. She is also a passionate storyteller and guest speaker. Mike Hill is a Cherokee and Comanche dancer specializing in the Men’s Traditional style dance. 


India’s Diwali Festival of Light

Date: Saturday, November 11

Join us this month as we celebrate Diwali, India’s Festival of Light! Diwali is one of India’s most widely celebrated festivals, observed by billions of people across India and around the world. Join the festivities as we create Rangoli art, a traditional Indian artform that uses colored sand to create beautiful and elaborate patterns believed to bring good luck and prosperity all year long.  

Bal Vihar Center for Indian Cultural Education works to promote, instill, and foster Indian culture in children through yogasana, Indian literature, service programs and other cultural education. Gayathri Seetharaman, Pratima Murali, and Shilpa Rao are all teaching artists with a passion for Indian art and culture. 


Japanese Eisa Performances

Date: Saturday, November 11

Japan is made up of five main islands with Okinawa as the smallest. Due to the low-stress lifestyle, healthy diet, and value of community, Okinawa is home to one of the longest living populations in the world. Join us in celebrating the health and wealth of this unique culture with Eisa dance and drum performances that honor the past while celebrating the future.  

St. Louis Okinawa Kenjinkai was formed in 1996 to build friendship among the many Okinawans living in the St. Louis region. The group is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Okinawan cultural heritage, traditional music, language, and art. 


Chinese New Year

Date: Saturday, January 13, 2024

This month we celebrate the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year. This year we welcome the year of the Dragon, symbolizing good luck, strength and health. Join us in celebrating the new year with art, drums, and lion dances to invite good luck into your new year.  

The St. Louis Modern Chinese School is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing children of all ages and cultural backgrounds with avenues for learning Chinese culture through programs that teach calligraphy, crafts, song, dance and more. 


Italy’s Carnevale

Date: Saturday, February 10

Carnevale is a colorful and vibrant event celebrated around the world during the winter weeks leading up to Lent. In Italy, Carnevale is elegant and extravagant and famous for its traditional masks and Venetian-style costumes. Join us this month to indulge in a true Italian Carnevale with costumes and spectacles for all to enjoy.  

Venice in the Lou is a local group dedicated to bringing Italy’s Carnevale to St. Louis. Formed during the pandemic when international travel was prohibited, the group has become so popular that they continue to celebrate this age-old tradition. 


India’s Holi Festival of Color

Date: Saturday, March 9

This month we celebrate Holi, India’s Festival of Color. Holi observes the coming of spring and welcomes the joy of new beginnings by bringing people of diverse backgrounds together to celebrate as one community. Join us as we celebrate the Festival of Colors with our very own color throw and other fun activities.  

Registration is required and sold separately.  

Bal Vihar Center for Indian Cultural Education works to promote, instill, and foster Indian culture in children through yogasana, Indian literature, service programs and other cultural education programs. Gayathri Seetharaman, Pratima Murali, and Shilpa Rao are all teaching artists with a passion for Indian art and culture. 


Germany’s Easter Celebration

Date: Saturday, April 13

Frohe Ostern! This month we are celebrating Easter with a German twist! Germans have been dying and decorating eggs for centuries. Today, the tradition has become a staple for Easter celebrations where children and families decorate eggs before hanging them on an ostereierbaum, or Easter egg tree. Join us in exploring this timeless tradition accompanied by German Kindertanzgruppe dance performances throughout the day.  

The German Cultural Society of St. Louis began in 1945 to support German refugees fleeing Europe because of World War II. Today they strive to preserve their cultural heritage by fostering fellowship and sharing traditions including those related to language, music, and dance.  

The St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities was founded in 1960 to promote understanding and collaboration between St. Louis, Missouri and Stuttgart, Germany. Today, the group builds awareness of German Culture, promotes friendships and fosters peace.  


Celebrate Kenya

Date: Saturday, May 11

This month we celebrate Kenya, one of Africa’s 54 unique and diverse countries. Join us in the celebration of the rich culture and traditions of this East African country with live dance, drum performances and African storytelling as we explore Kenya’s vibrant culture and inspiring history.   

Vitendo4Africa is a not-for-profit organization in St. Louis that works towards empowering immigrant individuals and families through advocacy, provision of services, building relationships and educational programs. Catherine Ndegwa is a children’s book writer and storyteller. Born and raised in Kenya, Catherine teaches children about the rich culture, art, and history of her native country through storytelling.  


Celebrate Puerto Rico

Date: Saturday, June 8

As we prepare for the opening of our newest traveling exhibit in partnership with PBS Kids, Alma’s Way, this month we will celebrate Alma’s Puerto Rican heritage and colorful culture. Join us as we explore Puerto Rican culture through music, storytelling and art.  

The Puerto Rican Society of St. Louis is a not-for-profit organization working to uphold Puerto Rican values and culture while supporting education and charitable services.  


*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.

Organization:

The Magic House

Location:

516 S. Kirkwood Rd.
St. Louis, MO, 63122
United States

Phone:

314.822.8900
Contact name: 
Carrie Hutchcraft
Email address: 
Dates: 
04/13/2024
05/11/2024
06/08/2024
Time: 
see website
Price: 
Passport To The World: Cultural Programs are free with Museum Admission.

Ages

All Ages