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Best of April in Kansas City

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April means Spring in Kansas City! It's time to enjoy Worlds of Fun, Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, the Kansas City Zoo and other outdoor attractions. Also, treat the kids to wonderful family-friendly productions, amazing exhibits, and family fun! 

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead Open for the Season

The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead (13800 Switzer, Overland Park, KS) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 2 to Oct. 31. Admission - $2/person (under age 2 free) Fri.-Sun. & holidays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Mon.-Thu.: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors enjoy Free Admission Mon.-Thu.: 2 p.m. to close. 913.897.2360. The first sign of spring in Kansas City: the opening day at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. This is one of our family's FAVORITE outings in Kansas City! The children love feeding goats, watching horses, turkeys, prairie dogs, bison, and chickens. My girls LOVE taking pony rides, but they also offer wagon rides, mining, and fishing. Explore the Dairy Barn, pond, petting zoo, one-room country schoolhouse and the Indian Encampment. The children's butterfly garden is a great place to play or take a photo. Nothing says spring quite like a day at the farm!

KC Easter Egg Hunt Guide

Here comes Peter Cottontail.... it's time for our annual roundup of Kansas City's Easter Egg Hunts, Shows, Parades, and Festivities!

A Little Princess presented by The Culture House

A Little Princess presented April 4-7 by The Culture House at 11149 W 95th St., Overland Park, KS. Based on the classic Victorian-era novel, a young girl's resilience and the power of her imagination change the world. Written by Tony-nominated composer/lyricist, Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), and Brian Crawley (Violet), A Little Princess is based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, which was honored by School Library Journal as one of the "Top 100 Chapter Books" of all time. This re-imagined version of the classic tale expands beyond the confines of Victorian England to Africa, giving the writers ample opportunity to include lively African music and dance, exotic locales like Mali and Timbuktu and creating an unforgettable journey around the world.

MPE Homeschool Conference & Curriculum Fair

MPE Homeschool Conference & Curriculum Fair April 5-6, 2019 at KCI Expo Center (11730 North Ambassador Drive, KCMO). Providing Information on Homeschooling Techniques & Curriculum Choices.

Johnson County Healthy Yards Expo

Johnson County's Healthy Yards Expo will be held April 7 at the Shawnee Civic Center this year.  Make greener choices for your yard and home at the Ninth Annual Johnson County Healthy Yards Expo — a FREE Earth-friendly lawn and garden event. Kansas Healthy Yards and Communities (KHYC), developed by K-State Research and Extension, helps homeowners make better choices on environmentally conscious lawn and garden care techniques. Johnson County Extension is teaming with Johnson County Stormwater Management and the cities of Lenexa, Overland Park and Shawnee to present the Expo. 

Just Between Friends Sale (Overland Park)

Just Between Friends is the place to find amazing deals on the best items for the kiddos, newborns to teens! Don't miss out on the best in kids' and maternity consignment. Upcoming Sales: April 11-14 at the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds and May 16-19 at the Overland Park Convention Center. Use our FREE admission ticket.

C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters

C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters April 12-13 at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Set in an eerily stylish office in Hell, one of Satan’s senior tempters, Screwtape, schemes meticulously to capture the soul of an unsuspecting human on earth. An international smash hit, this stage adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ satiric masterpiece creates a morally inverted universe that reveals unseen spiritual powers and principalities in humorous, vivid and surprising ways.

Worlds of Fun Opening for the Season

Worlds of Fun opens for the season the weekend of April 13-14. Kansas City’s amusement park with 235 acres of family rides, thrill rides and waterslides, including seven world-class rollercoasters and Oceans of Fun, the city’s first waterpark. Your senses come alive as you enter the gate, the sights and sounds take over, and the little ones in your family take your hand. Breathtaking views from towering coasters, hair-raising thrill rides and a Planet Snoopy kids area that is the playground for new memories. 

Access Art

Access Art is a free event presented by Mid-Continent Public Libraries on April 13 and 14. Access Art is an all-day event led by instructors from the Kansas City Art Institute and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art with opportunities for you to create new works of art. This event will feature free workshops in drawing, painting, poetry writing, illustration, paper craft, digital graphic arts, and family art activities. In addition, attendees will be able to meet and interact with local artists and artisans throughout the day. 

Passport to India

Passport to India Festival April 14 at The Nelson-Atksin Museum of Art. Experience a colorful celebration of South and Southeast Asian art and culture with several festive dance performances, a fashion show, art activities, learning in the galleries and Indian-inspired cuisine. 

Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure The Coterie

Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure Apr. 16-May 19: Inspired by music made famous by The Beatles, Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure hits the stage. Meet the Beat Bugs – five insect pals who explore the world and pick up life lessons along the way in this new musical, based on the Netflix animated series that incorporates songs of that famous band. Walter, Buzz, Jay, Crick, and Kumi embark on a mission to save Strawberry Fields from being taken over by a stink bug with other plans for it. Some of the songs from the iconic catalogue that appear in the show include “All You Need Is Love,” “Come Together,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Read our review of Beat Bugs.

KC Fountain Day

Fountain Day April 16 at 11am at Delbert J. Haff Circle Fountain, Meyer Boulevard and Swope Parkway, KC, MO. Celebrate the official start of the 2019 fountain season in the City of Fountains! Fountain Day is a Spring ritual and holiday unique to Kansas City. Please join the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and the City of Fountains Foundation at the entrance to Swope Park and celebrate our newly renovated fountain made possible by GOkc funds.

Flights of Fancy

Flights of Fancy Festival April 20 at MCC-Longview 500 SW Longview Rd. Lee's Summit, Mo. This free festival is open to the public and it is absolutely wonderful. Kite enthusiasts gather every year to fly their favorite kites. You'll see gigantic kites, stunt kites, Chinese kites, and fun kites... last year we loved Snoopy and his dog house. They even have giant kites kids can climb through and the kites do a candy drop over the field. The festival is a wonderful way to enjoy Spring and it's such a relaxed, beautiful nice family tradition... we never miss it! 

The Magic School Bus at The Folly

The Magic School Bus April 22 at The Folly. When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip!  But when rivalries both old and new threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk getting forever lost in the solar system.

Disney on Ice Frozen

Disney on Ice Frozen April 25-28 at Kansas Expocentre: Be a part of Anna’s adventure to find her sister, Queen Elsa, whose icy powers trapped the kingdom in an eternal winter. Join Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven as they encounter wintry conditions and mystical trolls in a race to bring back summer. Hosted by Mickey and Minnie, your whole family will sing along to unforgettable music and be delighted with special appearances by the Disney Princesses, Woody, Buzz, Dory and more. Experience magic at every turn and create memories to last a lifetime at Disney On Ice presents Frozen - the show worth melting for!

Störling Dance Theater presents "Sower"

Störling Dance Theater presents "Sower" April 26-28 at 11149 W 95th St., Overland Park, KS. After years in the archives, Mona Enna will revive one of her original pieces, Sower. One of the first pieces to garner her attention and a passionate following, Sower brings to life the Biblical, Parable of the Sower. A parable that has kept people pondering their life in the most profound of ways, Störling-Enna creates a tribal context to give life and reality to this parable about the earth and sun, faith and passion, community and individuality. Sower also includes an innovative use of live dancing and animation designed specifically for the production originally set in 1999. Also contributing will be makeup artist, Kristen Alley, who will be crafting the tattoo design for the tribe. We are excited to combine these various artistic influences to create a memorable experience for all ages.

Carlsen Center's April Shows

Enjoy live shows all season at JCCC Performing Arts Center (12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS). January's shows offer great shows for parents and educational shows for families.

April Shows at Carlsen Center:

Visit the Kansas City Zoo

The Kansas City Zoo is open year-round (6800 Zoo Dr., KCMO. 816.513.5800 www.KansasCityZoo.org). Pack a picnic and bring it to the zoo! Explore the Polar Bear Passage, Stingray Bay, Helzberg Penguin Plaza, Tiger Trail, Australia, Africa, and sea lions. Enjoy zookeeper chats and shows, and take a ride on the carousel or train for more fun.

Bonus: Visit the Zoo's Calendar to learn about Polar Bear, African and Penguin Overnights when visitors are invited to spend the night at the zoo and other special events year round!

April's Special Events at the Kansas City Zoo: 

Journey to Oz at Crown Center

Journey to Oz: A FREE Exhibit at Crown Center thru May 12, 2019: One of the world’s beloved movies turns 80 this year, and Crown Center is celebrating by bringing the magic of the big screen to you!  Families can tour the enchanting world of the Munchkins, follow Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, sneak into the Wicked Witch’s castle and much more. Open Monday – Friday, 10am to 6pm; Saturday, 10am – 7pm; Sunday, 11am to 6pm.

Farmers Market Season

Kansas City's Farmers' Markets start opening ALL Month long! With over 30 markets to choose from, ranging from small to large all across the metro, there is something for the locavore in all of us. Check out our Guide to Kansas City Farmers' Markets and read great tips for buying local farm fresh produce and discover a Farmers' Market near you. We're fortunate to have so many terrific Farmers' Markets in Kansas City to choose from. If you want to eat organic, fresh, locally grown produce, or you are looking for plants for your own garden, or local honey, Amish baked goods, or even live animals... Kansas City's Farmers' Markets have it all! Several even boast live music and entertainment. This is an excellent family outing on a Spring Saturday... you have fun and finish a chore all at once!

Brought to you by KCParent.com! Follow KC Parent Magazine on Facebook for more family fun inspiration all month long!

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.

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