Gasoline is up. Groceries are up. Expenses are up for families everywhere. This doesn't mean an end to summer fun!
Do you know how they make Harleys? When did you last enjoy the sounds of Zydeco music? Have you ever seen the Wizard of Oz on a Big Screen? This summer, your family can have a blast in Kansas City without spending a dime! Here are 10 fantastic ideas for FREE Summer Fun in KC:
1) Outdoor Summer Theater: Pack a picnic and chairs and enjoy a night of live theater under the stars. The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival is performing The Merry Wives of Windsor. In Kearney and Gladstone, they’re performing several musicals that are fun for the whole family. Click here for our Complete Guide to Summer Theater in KC.
2) Outdoor Summer Concerts: Whether you love jazz or country, classic rock or hard rock, Gospel or Jamaican, there is a concert for you. You’ll find free summer concerts on main streets in every Kansas City suburb, in farmers’ markets and town squares. Kansas City’s Kid Rockers (Mr. Stinky Feet, Dino O’Dell, Funky Mama, and the DooDads) are also performing for free all summer long. Click here for our Complete Guide to FREE Summer Concerts in KC.
3) Forget Playgrounds, try out the Spraygrounds. Spraygrounds are outdoor water playgrounds with sprinklers and special equipment for a quick cool-off on a hot day. There are free spraygrounds across Kansas City. Our list:
• McCoy Park Spraygrounds: 800 N. Bess Truman Pkwy., Independence, MO
• Rotary Park Sprayground: 10615 E. 24th St. S., Independence, MO
• Douglas Park Sprayground: 2632 Jarboe, Kansas City, MO
• Parade Park Sprayground: Paseo & Truman, Kansas City, MO
• Loose Park Sprayground: Wornall Rd. & 51st St., Kansas City, MO
• Sunnyside Park Sprayground: 8255 Summit, Kansas City, MO
• Harmony Park Sprayground: 10th St. & Agnes, Kansas City, MO
• Longview Park Sprayground: 7101 Longview Rd., Kansas City, MO
4) Visit a New Park. Kansas City is home to more than 300 parks and each one offers unique amenities. Here are 3 parks you don’t want to miss:
• Penguin Park (North Vivion & North Norton Ave., Kansas City, MO). Penguin Park is one of Kansas City’s most beloved parks for families. Penguin Park features gigantic animal statues and toys kids love. Slide down a penguin slide, climb through an elephant, or peek from a kangaroo pocket.
• Antioch Park (6501 Antioch Rd., Merriam, KS). Old Dodge Town at Antioch Park is a favorite for many families. The old western village is great for pretend play. Kids love the mock buildings and western atmosphere.
• Lee McKeighan Park (120 NE Chipman Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO). This park features a beautiful butterfly garden, walking trails, swings and picnic facilities.
5) Attend a Festival. Summer in Kansas City is festival season and many of our festivals are FREE. Some of our favorites include: The Duck Derby (a rubber duck race along Brush Creek), the Dragon Boat Races (a Chinese festival and boat races on the Plaza), the Slavic Fest (a cultural festival in Sugar Creek), Old Shawnee Days (celebrating local history with a carnival, crafts and shows) and of course Santa-Cali-Gon (Independence’s largest festival with carnival rides, crafts, shows and something for the entire family). Search our Calendar for Festival Fun all Summer long!
6) Free Summer Movies Under the Stars. In Kansas City, free movies are offered all across the metro all summer long. Movies range from vintage classics and family fare to the off-beat and unusual. Wherever you live, there are movies near you. Click here for the Complete Guide to Summer Movies Under the Stars.
7) Stop and Smell the Roses… visit Gardens. Kansas Citians love their green space and we have three beautiful gardens you can visit for FREE.
• Loose Park (Wornall & 51st St., Kansas City, MO). Loose Park is home to Kansas City’s most beautiful rose garden with dozens of varieties of roses. A large duck bond and lush walking trails add to the beauty of the park. Kids love the playground.
• Kauffman Gardens (4801 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, MO). The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden showcases bronze sculptures of girls dancing with joy among lush and colorful annual and perennial plantings, pruned foliage framed by stone walls, and playful fountains.
• Overland Park Arboretum (8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, KS). The Arboretum is an outdoor oasis in the middle of the city. Miles of walking trails, gardens and ponds make this a wonderful spot for family time in the great outdoors.
8) Beat the Heat with fun in the AC! Enjoy art indoors! Children LOVE Kaleidoscope (2450 Grand, Kansas City, MO) where they can create masterpieces in an imaginative hands-on art environment specially designed for young artists. The entire family will enjoy a trip to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak, Kansas City, MO) to explore works ranging from ancient to modern. For added fun, download and print our Nelson-Atkins Scavenger Hunt.
9) Visit the Animals. Visit a local nature center or go to one of our favorite destinations and visit the animals at the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (138th & Switzer, Overland Park, KS). Deanna Rose a free petting zoo and park with farm animals, rides, nature trails, gardens and playgrounds. Children enjoy fishing, riding toy tractors, riding horses or wagons, visiting the Dairy Barn or mining for treasures. Click here for a Complete Guide to KC Nature Centers.
10) Take a Tour. Have you ever wondered how they build a Harley? Guests ages 12 and up can take a free tour of the Harley-Davidson Factory (11401 N. Congress, KCMO, 816.270.8488) to see an assembly line in action. Or learn about money when you visit the Money Museum (1 Memorial Dr., KCMO, 816.881.2000). There are a dozen Federal Reserve Banks in the United States and Kansas City is home to one of them.
Kristina Light is the webmaster of KCParent.com and a guru on what to do and where to do it in KC.