Best of September in Kansas City: 2014

Celebrate autumn with apples, pumpkins, the American Royal and Fall Festivals for the entire Family. Discover our Top Picks for Family Fun in September as Kansas City welcomes apples, train rides, Sprint Family Fun Days and more!

Apple Picking

• The Facts: Kansas City is home to many great apple orchards, and Labor Day Weekend is the season opening for many of them! Read our guide to Apple Picking in Kansas City for a complete list of Missouri and Kansas orchards.
• Why We LOVE It: It's apple picking season! Kids love taking a trip to local farms. Each of the u-pick Apple Farms on our list is a locally owned family operation designed to provide the best in healthy produce and a great family outing. So, grab the camera and the cooler and take the kids on a trip they won’t forget! Read our Apple Picking Tips before you go to experience the most fun-filled day... AND be sure to call the orchard ahead to verify availability! Our #1 Favorite orchard? Schweizer Orchards in St. Joseph, Missouri! Read our Tips for a St. Joseph Apple Picking Day Trip before you go!

Grandparents Day Train Rides

• When, Where, What: Sept. 7, one grandparent rides free with paid child's admission on Belton, Grandview, and Kansas City Railroad. 816.331.0630
• Why We LOVE It: Trains bring out the child in everyone and the Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad's Ice Cream Social rides are truly fun for all ages.  Take an excursion south from Belton on a 5 mile, 45 minute round trip, and enjoy a dish of ice cream with your favorite topping. Visit the Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad website for more information.

Blue Man Group

• When, Where, What: Sept. 9-14, at Starlight Theatre.
• Why We LOVE It: Experience the phenomenon. Blue Man Group is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine comedy, music, and technology to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. Although it is impossible to describe, people of all ages agree that Blue Man Group is an intensely exciting and wildly outrageous show that leaves the entire audience in a blissful, euphoric state. With no spoken language, Blue Man Group is perfect for people of all ages, languages, and cultures. This unique experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else; guaranteed to be an outing you will never forget.

Sprint Family Fun Days

• When, Where, What: The monthly Sprint Family Fun Series is back on September 13 The entire event is FREE and open to the public! It begins at 11 AM in the KC Live Block of the Power & Light District and ends at 3 PM!
• Why We LOVE It: The Sprint Family Fun Series is one of the BEST Family-Friendly events in the metro and it's FREE! September's theme is Under the Big Top. The circus is at the Sprint Center, but the animal fun is in the Power & Light District! Bring the kids down to pet a zebra, kangaroo and other interesting animals at the Exotic Animal Petting Zoomobile, Lakeside Nature Center and more! Kids can get their cheeks painted with animals faces or make an animal mask!

Super Safety Saturdays

• When, Where, What: On Saturday, September 13 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Wonderscope Children's Museum will be hosting their annual Super Safety Saturday FREE event.
• Why We LOVE It: What to expect: Google Fiber: Internet safety, Toddler Trike Safety Course, Johnson County Health and Environment: Car seat safety, life vest/water safety, Johnson County Med-Act Bike Team: Bike helmet fittings and ambulance on site, Shawnee Fire Department: Fire truck on site, Shawnee Police Department: Police car on site, Family Bicycles of Kansas City: Strider Bikes, Time Warner Cable: Bucket truck on site, Charlie's House: Home safety (childproofing), Musical performance by Heidi Swedburg and the Sukey Jump Band inside the museum. This will be free with museum admission, Polar Ice Snow Cone Truck: available for you to purchase a yummy snow cone at this event, Pegah's Restaurant: available for you to purchase Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, Hot Dogs, Chips, and drinks.

Plains Indians Opening Celebration

• When, Where, What: Sept 21. FREE from 12-4pm, at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. 
• Why We LOVE It: The opening celebration including performances by Haskell Indian Nations University Dancers, hands-on activities and demonstrations by artists. Don’t miss The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky, on view through January, 11, 2015! All programs are FREE and don't require tickets. Additional parking and shuttle service will be available at MRI Global, 425 Volker Boulevard starting at 11:45 a.m.

American Royal 

• When, Where, What: Events all season long, including the Parade, Bar-B-Q, Rodeo and Horse Shows. www.americanroyal.com
• Why We LOVE It: A true Kansas City tradition, the American Royal Parade, Rodeo, and Bar-B-Q are favorite ways to kick off autumn. 
• Arabian Horse Show: Sept. 18 - 20 Known for their stamina, spirit and exotic beauty, the Arabian Horse is truly one of the most exciting and versatile breeds of horse. The American Royal Arabian Horse Show features horses and riders from all over the country competing in classes designed to showcase the versatility of this proud breed. Classes offered include: Halter (conformation) Classes, Youth Showmanship at Halter, Western Pleasure and Equitation, English and Country Pleasure, and also Hunter Pleasure and Dressage Suitability. Divisions include classes for youth and amateur riders as well as an open division for trainers to compete in.
• American Royal Parade:  Sept. 27 Bring your friends, family and neighbors as we grow our tradition of paying tribute to America's Military at the American Royal's 89th Annual Parade on Saturday, September 27. Beginning at 9:45 a.m., the Parade will again travel north up Grand Boulevard from Pershing to Truman Road. Close to 4,000 people are expected to march in the parade, including active duty military, veterans from every conflict, 2,000 Boy Scouts, 4-H and FFA youngsters and some of Kansas City's best marching bands and drill teams. The Parade will also feature saddle clubs, vintage cars, civic groups and decked-out parade floats celebrating the American Royal's commitment to fostering the development of young Americans in agriculture.
• American Royal ProRodeo: Sept. 26 & 27 Grab your boots and join us for the 65th annual American Royal ProRodeo! This event will be the last PRCA rodeo of the 2014 season, making Kansas City a must-stop for ProRodeo's best! Come early for live music, shopping, dinner, and lots of family-friendly activities. Stay late to hear your favorite country music entertainers.
• COMING IN OCTOBER! World Series of Bar-B-Q: Oct. 2 - 5 With over 500 teams competing in four meat categories, The Joe's Kansas City Open Contest is the largest barbecue contest in the world! Combine this with a barbecue-related trade expo, live music, fireworks, and a Kids' Korral of family-fun, this four-day food festival is truly the "World Series of Barbecue®". The American Royal Invitational contest presented by KC Masterpiece is a true national championship with more than 100 teams competing annually! Teams from the United States, Canada and abroad, who have won a Grand Championship.

Country Club Plaza Art Fair

• When, Where, What: September 19-21, Country Club Plaza. http://www.countryclubplaza.com/Events/Plaza-Art-Fair
• Why We LOVE It: The Plaza Art Fair has been a celebrated Kansas City tradition for 80+ years, as the streets of the Country Club Plaza are transformed into a beautiful outdoor art gallery. Children especially love the kids art workshops and interactive activities provided by local art galleries and children's museums. Artists from across the country will come together to display their fabulous artwork and attract countless art enthusiasts. A nationally-recognized event, the Plaza Art Fair features 240 Artists, 30 Plaza Restaurants, three Live Music Stages, Kids Art Workshop and the Kemper Street Museum. 

Wild West Show: Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farmstead

• When, Where, What: Sept. 27-28, (10am-4pm Sat, 11am-4pm Sun) Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. 913.971.5111 www.mahaffie.org Cost is $5/ages 5 & up or a special family rate of 5 tickets for $20! (Please park at Olathe North High School where a free shuttle will bring you to the Heritage Center)
• Why We LOVE It: Enjoy the annual fall event featuring live entertainment from the Whip Guy, Wicked Liars, Gunsmoke & Petticoats, Professor Farquar and more! Lots of hands on children's activities for the whole family. 

Smithsonian FREE Museum Admission Day

• When, Where, What: Visit the Smithsonian Magazine website to receive your free admission pass to Local Museums, good for Saturday, September 27 only. You must print the coupon and bring it to enjoy this offer. Smithsonian FREE Museum Day

• Why We LOVE It: Kansas City is home to many wonderful museums... what could be better than exploring them for FREE? Free admission with printed coupon only. Participating Museums in Missouri and Kansas include:
  • Kansas City Area Participating Museums on the Missouri Side: 1859 Jail and Marshall's Home Museum:  Independence
    Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art:  Saint Joseph
    American Jazz Museum:  Kansas City
    Bingham-Waggoner Estate: Independence
    Excelsior Springs Museum & Archives:  Excelsior Springs
    Glore Psychiatric Museum & the St. Joseph Museum: St. Joseph
    Harry S. Truman Library and Museum:  Independence
    Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art: Kansas City
    National Frontier Trails Museum:  Independence
    Pony Express National Museum: St. Joseph
    Puppetry Arts Institute: Independence
    Vaile Mansion: Independence
  • Kansas City Area Participating Museums on the Kansas Side:
    Johnson County Museum: Shawnee
    Kansas Children's Discovery Center: Topeka
    Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center: Hutchinson
    Kansas Museum of History:  Topeka
    Old Castle Museum: Baldwin City
    Quayle Bible Collection: Baldwin City
    Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics: Lawrence

KC Rep Block Party

• When, Where, What: Sept. 28, KC Repertory Theatre (4949 Cherry Kansas City, MO)
• Why We LOVE It: Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the KC Rep. This party will be held in conjunction with UMKC’s Block Party and we will share some kids games like a bounce house/slides, etc. Both events will be family-friendly, and, will be free to the general public. Kids events and more!

Final Chance to see The Discovery of King Tut

• When, Where, What: Science City at Union Station is the place to be this summer! The exhibit is at Union Station through Sept. 14.
• Why We LOVE It: Science City is Kansas City’s largest, most interactive science museum with something for visitors of all ages. Favorite exhibits include the Challenger Exhibit where you gear up as an astronaut for space flight, DinoLab where children dig for bones and watch as fossils are preserved, Echo Cave where children learn about nature firsthand, and exhibits about health, engineering, water, optical illusions and more. Top off your visit with a planetarium show for an unforgettable experience. This summer enjoy the Discovery of King Tut Exhibit.
• About The Discovery of King Tut: This never before assembled complete recreation of King Tut’s Tomb and Treasure is making its North American debut in Kansas City. In this breathtaking exhibition, you will learn about and walk in the footsteps of the 1922 discovery of the most significant ancient Egyptian archeological site imaginable. Explore the tomb’s treasures as they were at the moment of discovery. Marvel at more than 1,000 brilliant objects, filling nearly 20,000 square feet. Listen as Howard Carter tells his story of mystery and adventure (audio tour included with every ticket purchase). Additional admission charged.

Final Chance to see Gardens Gone Wild

• When, Where, What: Powell Gardens (816.697.2600. 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50 Kingsville, MO.) exhibit Gardens Gone Wild  thru Oct. 5.
• Why We LOVE It: This exhibit features a collection of exquisite sculptures beautifully displayed in the acres of gardens at Powell Gardens. Adding to the fun, the staff at Powell Gardens prepared an Amazing Animal Quest for kids to enjoy their exploration of the sculptures and learn more about their favorite animals. My girls adored the animals (especially the bears) and they had fun learning more about them and mimicking their behaviors with the Animal Quest prompts. The exhibition is included with regular Garden admission. 
• Bonus: Powell Gardens is hosting an array of fun extra events in conjunction with the exhibit! Follow their calendar for information.

Still looking for more great family fun ideas in Kansas City? Check out our Kansas City Calendar of Events and Going Places in Kansas City on KCParent.com.