Everything's Even More Up-to-Date in Kansas City

“Everything’s up-to-date in Kansas City,” or so the song lyrics go. This fall and winter, we’re excited to see big improvements and new additions making our city better than ever.

Worlds of Fun: WinterFest

Worlds of Fun welcomed two new unique and thrilling rides in 2017: Mustang Runner, featuring three arms with seven gondolas per arm turning one way while the base of the ride spins the other way, and Falcon’s Flight, “a hair-raising thrill at nearly 100 feet above the ground.” This winter, the park introduces a new tradition with WinterFest, a holiday themed festival. Seasonal cheer will abound as the celebration surrounds guests with spectacular holiday lights and décor, world-class live entertainment, mouth-watering treats and heart-warming experiences.

Kansas City Ballet: 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Season

The Kansas City Ballet is celebrating 60 years of dance! The 2017-18 season promises to bring spectacular world-class ballet to the stage with an unforgettable season of performances. The season begins with Romeo & Juliet (Oct. 13-22), William Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy. Christmas brings the annual tradition of The Nutcracker (Dec. 7-24). New Moves, showing Feb. 15-18, brings fresh creations to the stage and showcases the company’s new talent. April features the Anniversary Dance Festival, with amazing performances including Diamonds April 6-8, and The Man in Black April 13-15. Audiences look forward to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz May 11-20.

Lenexa Public Market

The Lenexa Public Market opened this autumn, bringing a new and unique concept to Kansas City. With a desire to support local businesses, the 11,000-square-foot food hall and market showcases diverse merchants that offer fresh foods and locally sourced, handcrafted products. The venue is a great place to shop, enjoy a meal, get together with friends and family and support local businesses. In addition to the great shopping and dining spaces, the market also hosts classes and events to learn the art of food preparation and cooking, as well as health workshops.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Through the Eyes of Picasso

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art welcomes a new exhibit, “Through the Eyes of Picasso,” opening Oct. 20. The exhibit explores Picasso’s lifelong fascination with African and Oceanic art, uniting his paintings and sculpture with art that had a seminal impact on his own creative exploration. The exhibition features 170 works, including more than 60 paintings, sculptures and ceramics by Picasso alongside more than 20 works of African and Oceanic art that were part of his personal collection—pieces he collected, lived with and kept with him in his studios, many of them featured for the first time in the Americas.

Kansas City Zoo’s Touch Tank

The Kansas City Zoo has introduced amazing improvements annually for the past several years, including Polar Bear Passage, Tiger Trail, Orangutan Canopy, the Tropics, the Helzberg Penguin Plaza, the African Sky Safari and the interactive Billy Goats Gruff Yard with more than 20 goats enjoying their new playground. Another fabulous addition arrives in 2018: a 20,000- to 30,000-gallon touch tank where visitors will be able to touch stingrays and sharks. The tank will be home to cownose rays, cat sharks and small bamboo sharks.

Legends Outlets: “the Lawn”

Legends Outlets is transforming the west end of the property into a new community space named “the Lawn.” This winter, shoppers will enjoy park-like features and interactive elements, including a jumbo outdoor LED screen placed on Legends Outlets’ iconic smokestack, and a smaller LED display facing the property’s Civic Courtyard Fountain. The space will be ideal for picnics, screenings and experiences.

Lea McKeighan Outdoor Ice Rink in Lee’s Summit

Lea Mckeighan North Park has long been a favorite for Lee’s Summit residents, and the Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation Department continues to make improvements on the city’s signature park. This season, the city will upgrade the existing skate park, as well as add an outdoor ice skating rink, a summer splash pad and new playground equipment and walking trail.