Black Friday at the Economy Museum

Black Friday at the Economy Museum is happening on Friday, Nov. 27, from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Economy Museum, which is inside the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis building at Broadway and Locust, One Federal Reserve Bank Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63102. It's a self-guided day, so you can come and go as you like during those hours.

The whole day is built around the idea that understanding how money works is the real Black Friday win. The main event is the museum's self-guided classroom, which is full of hands-on experiences designed to sharpen your money and math skills. It's not a lecture or a guided tour; you move through the activities at your own pace, working through the exercises yourself. If you're bringing kids, it's a good way to get them thinking about numbers and finance without it feeling like school.

Beyond the classroom, you're encouraged to wander through the rest of the museum's exhibits and stop by the gift shop for stocking stuffers and holiday gifts. And there's a small, specific perk for everyone who shows up: a free shredded-money souvenir is handed out at the door. It's a literal piece of currency that's been through the Fed's shredder, which is a fitting little trophy for a day spent inside the bank.

If you're looking for something to do on the day after Thanksgiving that isn't fighting crowds at the mall, this is a low-pressure option. It runs from 9 AM to 2 PM on Friday, Nov. 27, at the Economy Museum classroom inside the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis building at Broadway and Locust.