Hay! Ride!

Ah, the sweet smell of hay, the rumble of tractor tires, the taste of marshmallows roasted over a bonfire and the nighttime sounds of nearby animals like panthers and elephants and hippos -- it must be hayride season in Forest Park! Fortunately, city-dwellers don’t need to forfeit one of autumn’s rustic joys or even drive half an hour to find it: Through Saturday, December 8, the city of St. Louis’ Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry bales hay and loads up flatbeds to host Urban Hayrides through the beautiful park landscape. For $100 parties of up to twenty can reserve their own private hay wagon and enjoy a 45-minute ride before warming up at a bonfire (bring your own hot dogs, marshmallows and such for roasting). Hayrides are on Friday and Saturday nights only, and they leave between 7 and 8:20 p.m. from Faulkner and Clayton drives. For reservations call the parks department at 314-289-5330, and for more information visit stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/parks; note that hayrides are not offered on November 23 and 24. Now, who’s up for a roll in the hay?
Fridays, Saturdays; Fridays, Saturdays. Starts: Nov. 2. Continues through Dec. 8, 2007