2010 Sprout Seven Recipients

Air shows and balloon glows, puppies and ducklings, ballet-dancing horses, an indoor ski lodge, Irish toe-tappers and half-pint rockers... St. Louis Sprout readers have spoken. The Sprout Seven: The 7 Best Family Events of 2010 include:

2010 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show Sept. 11-12, 2010 The sky over the Metro East was full of patriotism and pride during the 2010 Airpower Over the Midwest Air Show. Plane lovers and patriots of all ages congregated at Scott Air Force Base to walk through airplanes and watch the nation's finest aviators fly directly overhead. Families were entertained by the parachuting Army Golden Knights, a flyover by the B-2 Spirit "stealth" bomber, and demonstrations by the F-16 Viper and other military planes. With unmatched precision, the Navy's Blue Angels provided the grand finale each day.
Balloon Glow, Great Forest Park Balloon Race Sept. 17, 2010 It's not just an event. It's a local institution. The annual Great Forest Park Balloon Race has been delighting St. Louisans for 38 years, and the event just keeps getting bigger and better. For many local families, the real fun takes place the night before during the annual Balloon Glow. After the sun sets, the throngs of park visitors wait in breathless anticipation for the foghorn to sound. Seconds later, the operators of dozens of hot air balloons fire their burners simultaneously, illuminating Forest Park's Central Field. The annual event also features fireworks, food and a host of kids' activities. (Photo courtesy of Great Forest Park Balloon Race.)
Easter Village, Purina Farms March 17 - April 3, 2010 Spring is a season synonymous with birth and renewal, and those qualities were on full display at Purina Farms' Easter Village held in late March and early April. For more than two weeks, visitors to the farm were treated to a barn teeming with new life: Bunnies, puppies, chicks, ducklings, kittens, piglets and lambs. The Easter Village also featured a giant walk-through Easter egg and a busy Peter Cottontail who hopped around offering up paw shakes and posing for photos. Visitors also availed themselves of Purina Farms' staples, including wagon rides and cow milking.
Festival of Nations Aug. 28-29, 2010 Families experienced the best foods, entertainment, crafts and traditions from across the globe during one multicultural weekend in Tower Grove Park. Festival of Nations, which attracted 140,000 visitors in 2010, has become the multicultural event in St. Louis. Families enjoyed everything from Argentinean empanadas to Zimbabwean stonework, and could participate in dance lessons, children's activities and educational displays. This free annual event is organized by the International Institute to celebrate the diversity of St. Louis.
"Ingenioso," Circus Flora June 3-27, 2010 The one-ring, European-style Circus Flora never fails to entertain and wow St. Louis families. With sizzling Spanish flair and classic circus acts, including galloping conquistadors, hilarious farmyard animals, classic equestrian ballet, breathtaking aerial acts and an awe-inspiring low-wire walker, the Circus Flora ensemble brought the memorable tale of Don Quixote to life in "Ingenioso." Audiences were dazzled by Quixote's misadventures as he mistook ordinary objects and people for the fantastic. The ensemble creates a perfect blend of humor, fun and amazing tricks in an intimate and accessible atmosphere. (Photo by Steve Truesdell and courtesy of Circus Flora.)
LouFest Aug. 28-29, 2010 During the waning days of summer, a new music event aimed to prove to St. Louisans that you're never too young to rock. The two-day LouFest featured a range of rock, pop, folk and blues performers specially selected to please discriminating music fans of all ages. Artists ranged from big name acts like Built to Spill and Jeff Tweedy to local stalwarts like Magnolia Summer and Kim Massie. But if that wasn't enough to tickle the fancy of young concert-goers, the festival also featured a Kids Village with its own stage, performers, food, magic acts and even a climbing wall.
St. Louis Holiday Magic Dec. 4-6, 2009 It took a venue as large as America's Center to contain all of the holiday splendor on display at the St. Louis Holiday Magic expo. Held in early December, the three-day extravaganza featured more than 100 vendors and exhibitors, with highlights ranging from carnival rides to a full-sized ice skating rink. The event also featured loads of shopping opportunities, craft activities, live music, dance performances and photo opportunities with Santa, Snowflake and local celebrities. The Schlafly Ski Lodge Beer Garden offered refuge for adults in need of a break from the kiddie madness. (Photo courtesy of Laketra DeeDee Bailey-Caradine.)

The Sprout Seven were selected through open nominations and voting. Earlier this month, readers were encouraged to nominate their favorite events that occurred between Dec. 1, 2009 through Nov. 30, 2010. Voting for the best events concluded on Dec. 19.

- Jeff Konkel and Jessica Pupillo contributed to this article.

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