Celebrate Grandparents’ Day

Visit Pumpkin Patch Guide !

Grandparents’ Day falls on Sunday, Sept. 10, this year. We are excited to honor grandparents with memory-making outings, homemade gifts and treasured time celebrating them!

Conduct an interview                                       

Whether grandparents live nearby or far away, you can capture and preserve the special relationship they hold in your family. Help the kids create a journal or blog and interview their grandparents, recording the answers. Make two copies—one to keep and one to share—or create a blog to share online. Add to it each year.

Interview grandparents:

• When you were my age, what did you enjoy?
• Did you watch TV? Favorite shows?
• What did you enjoy in school?
• What did your bedroom look like?
• Did you have a favorite pet?
• What did you want to be when you grew up, and did you do it?
• Tell about the first time you met Grandma/Grandpa.
• What was my parent like as a child?
• What did you think when you first met me?

Interview children:

• What do you enjoy most about your grandparents?
• What is your first memory of your grandparents?
• What do you look forward to doing together?
• What would you like to know about them?
• What do you share in common?

Go Sight-Seeing with Grandparents

FREE Admission for Grandparents’ Day at Mahaffie

One of our favorite local attractions, the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm, is celebrating grandparents a day early this year, on Sept. 9. Living history activities may include stagecoach rides, seasonal farming activities, visiting the Mahaffie house, blacksmith and cookstove demonstrations, yard games, self-guided tours and the Heritage Center. One grandparent (real or honorary) admitted free with one paying grandchild’s admission.

Ride the Rails

Riding the rails evokes nostalgia and captivates the imagination. Tucked away in the Northland, Kansas City’s bargain treasure awaits families every weekend May through October, offering rides for just 75 cents. Families ride the loop twice for the price of one ticket, including the traditional tunnel, and search for the beloved railroad puppy, Buddy, en route. After riding the rails, kids enjoy testing out the train whistle and bell. The park is also home to a walking trail and picnic tables, perfect for a nice day out with family.

Spend a Day at the Zoo

Everyone loves a beautiful day at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarum. This September, the zoo is celebrating the grand opening of the Sobela Ocean Aquarium, and GloWild: Around the World opens evenings beginning Sept. 29. Spend time enjoying the Polar Bear Passage, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, Tiger Trail, Australia and Elephant Expedition. Then, head over to Africa and enjoy a ride on the Sky Safari. Remember to ride on the carousel, boat or tram for even more fun. Upgrade your FOTZ membership to enjoy free rides! KansasCityZoo.org

Paint a Pottery Keepsake

There is something special about the handprints of a child, and the best place to make a handprint, footprint or thumbprint keepsake is Ceramic Café. This paint-your-own pottery shop offers a wide selection of projects. Invite grandparents to paint with you or make gifts in advance for the holiday. For the gifts to be ready in time, plan your painting for a week or more in advance. CeramicCafeKC.com

• Ceramic Café

  Pottery painting and glass fusing. Walk-ins welcome. Great for birthdays and group events too.

• KC Northern Railroad

  Three 16-inch gauge trains restored and operated by volunteers run on a half-mile track through tunnels that are sure to make your children smile.

• Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium

  Explore the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, with nearly 10,000 animals on 202 acres, it's the most affordable family fun for kids of all ages! Travel all over the world without ever leaving Kansas City.

• Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm

  Visit the only working stagecoach stop open to the public on the Santa Fe Trail. Relive the adventures of early stagecoach passengers. Tour the home, blacksmith shop and farm. Mahaffie offers many events throughout the year, including hands-on pro...