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 Here’s a real fall event–take a history hayride around Faust County Park Oct. 14-15.
The 40-minute ride passes both Thornhill and Faust Estate before ending at the Historic Village where spooky surprises and tales from the past await. Riders can visit the candlelit historic homes in the park where refreshments will be available. Also featured: a bonfire and live Bluegrass music.
Tickets are $10 per person and must be purchased in advance. Wagons leave at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Call 314-615-8328 for ticket information.
 The sixth annual Grove Fest takes place from 4 p.m. to midnight, Oct. 1, 2011 along Manchester Road between Tower Grove and Boyle avenues.
This yearly street festival includes live music,street performances and food for purchase from several restaurants.
Entertainment includes DJ Needles, Palace, DJ Alejan, The Holler, The Stone Sugar Shakedown, the Force, Gateway Men’s Chorus, 1BandCounting, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops.
There will also be No Coast Skateboard demos and live art by Art Dimensions.
APA’s 21st Annual Canine Carnival will be be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 in Tilles County Park.
The event includes vendor booths, dog games and contests, activities for the kids, adoptable pets and a pooch parade.
Admission is free but a donation to APA is appreciated.
 The 20th Annual Best of Missouri Market kicks off at the Missouri Botanical Garden with something new this year –”First Look Friday.” Today, you can see what the Market has to offer from 6-9 p.m. The same admission fee applies to each of the three days of the Market.
The Market features a dazzling array of items, including food, produced in the Show-Me state.
While this is not exactly a “cheap” event, it’s worth mentioning as it’s a very exciting event with truly unique items and an opportunity do some good for the local economy. Plus, if you’re thinking ahead to the holidays, this is the place for you.
Tickets are $12 for ages 13-64; $10 for those 65 and older; $5 for children 2-12. Admission is $5 for Garden members and free for members’ children 3-12.
More than 130 Missouri food producers and craftsmen will be selling produce, baked goods, fresh and dried flowers, herbs, handcrafted items, baskets, wooden toys, custom jewelry and more.
A Kids Corner has cow milking, pumpkin decorating and barnyard animals.
Live music will be provided by Colonel Ford, Ladue Mountain Boys and Boney Goat Band.
See the complete schedule.
Hours on Saturday and Sunday are 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Best of Missouri Market is part of the American Arts Experience–St. Louis, an annual festival each October celebrating all mediums of American arts.
 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Weber Road branch of the St. Louis County Library will present the children’s movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.
The film is about five children, including Charlie, who draw golden tickets from Wonka chocolate bars and win a guided tour of the legendary candy-making facility that no outsider has seen in 15 years.
The branch is on the south side of Weber Road between Union Road and Gravois Road in south St. Louis County.
 The 19th annual Historic Shaw Art Fair gets underway at 9 a.m. Saturday and runs through Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011. Admission is $5; free for children under 14 with parent.
The show is is the Shaw neighborhood, between Kingshighway Boulevard and Grand Avenue. Quality artists from around the country working in a wide array of media and styles will be displayed on the grassy parkway in the 4100 and 4200 blocks of Flora Place.
The Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association, which also produces the Shaw Performing Arts & Crafts Festival in the spring, produces the art fair.
 The animals at the Saint Louis Zoo are getting in on the fun of the Octoberfest season with Ottertoberfest Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 and continuing weekends through Oct. 16. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.
It’s an otterly fun fall celebration with special menus, traditional German biergartens, live music and kids’ activities to celebrate North American river otters. At the biergartens, visitors can purchase beer, root beer, bratwurst, potato salad and other German specialties.
Otter-related kids’ activities include a follow-the-leader game, otter tracks and crafts, designed for ages 2-10.
The opening day parade through the zoo begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 only. The parades will conclude with a ceremonial tapping of the root beer keg by Deutschmeister Brass Band.
Keeper talks on American river otters happen at 1o a.m. each day at Emerson Children’s Zoo and 1:30 p.m. at Historic Hill
10 a.m. — Keeper chat at North American river otters, Emerson Children’s Zoo
1:30 p.m. — Keeper chat and enrichment at North American river otters, Historic Hill
Biergarten Entertainment takes place from noon to 3 p.m.
Entertainers include Deutschmeister Brass Band; Joe Tucci; The Herb Eberle Band; Bug Tussel Bluegrass Band*; Die Spitzbaum,; Charles Block; Waterloo German Band, Josef Polach and St. Louis Express.
*Bug Tussel Bluegrass Band is performing American folk music in participation of the American Arts Festival-St. Louis, an annual festival each October celebrating all mediums of American arts.
See the entire schedule.
 Meet in front of the Museum Shop at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2 for a free, one-hour guided tour of Laumeier’s outdoor collection. Laumeier County Park is at 12580 Rott Road in Sunset Hills.
While you’re at the park, check out “Dog Days of Summer,” an exhibition that explores the relationship between man and his “best friend.” The work of 10 artists spanning nearly three centuries is featured. Highlight of the exhibit is a dog trail by Finnish artist Tea Mäkipää. It’s a multisensory experience for both canine and human visitors along Laumeier’s Nature Trail. The exhibit ends Sunday.
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Here’s a real fall event–take a history hayride around Faust County Park Oct. 14-15.
