Kansas City's Spring Festival Guide
From trendy boutique shopping to old fashioned county fairs, ethnic festivals with delicious delicacies and local barbecue festivals... there is something for everyone! This is your complete guide to KC's Spring Festivals
TIPS: Click the event name to visit the Festival Website for additional information! Also, some festival plans may change in inclement weather, check websites and Facebook pages for updates.
Note: This list was compiled by the staff of KC Parent Magazine and may not be reproduced in print or online without permission. Please email kristina@kcparent.com if you have an addition to this list.
Ongoing
First Fridays in the Crossroads from 7-9pm Crossroads Art District, Kansas City, MO. Art galleries, retailers and other participating art venues located in the Crossroads Art District showcase art from 7-9pm. With ample parking and an abundance of indoor and outdoor entertainment, there’s no better way to spend a night than enjoying drinks or dining at an area restaurant, followed by a stroll through the galleries and shops of KC’s heart of cultural activity. Children are welcome! However, galleries and streets tend to become crowded and most galleries cannot accommodate strollers.
Third Friday Art Walk in Englewood from 5-9pm Englewood District, Independence, MO. Englewood Station Arts District is a place of charming shops, beauty-filled art galleries, rich dining options, significant local history, and unique people.
4th Friday in Liberty from 10am-9pm in Historic Downtown Liberty, Liberty, MO. For your convenience businesses on the square will be open until 9pm every 4th Friday.
Fourth Fridays in Olathe (pictured above) from 5-8pm at Johnson County Square, 100 W. Park Street, Olathe, KS. On every Fourth Friday from May to September, more than 1,500 residents and visitors fill downtown Olathe. With food trucks, music, local shops, restaurants, and great activities for everyone, Downtown Olathe is the place for you to celebrate the end of your week on Fourth Fridays!
April 20-21
Food Truck Friday at Union Cemetery April 20 from 11am-1:30pm at Union Cemetery, 227 E. 28th Terrace, Kansas City, MO. Enjoy lunch with Bop N’ Bowl Ash and Bleu Cheese Co. Between 2 Buns by The Carlsons for food Polar Oasis for dessert, and RUBEO for live music!
Worlds of Fun Festival of Music Weekends April 20 – May 13 at Worlds of Fun, 4545 Worlds of Fun Dr, Kansas City, MO. The Worlds of Fun Festival of Music provides band, orchestra, and choral students the opportunity to perform on-site at Kansas City’s hometown amusement park. Nationally recognized adjudicators listen, evaluate, and comment on each performance, and give top honors to the highest rated performance in each participating category. All are welcome to join the audience and celebrate the performances of these budding musicians and vocalists.
Flights of Fancy Mega Kite Festival (pictured above) April 21 from 10am-5pm at MCC-Longview, 500 SW Longview Road, Lee's Summit, MO. Come to this annual, free, family-friendly event to see mega kites soaring in the sky. Flights of Fancy is the perfect opportunity to get together with family and friends to see mega kites, power kites, stunt kites and more, including the world's largest windsock - three stories high and 200 feet long!
April 27-29
3rd Annual Pleasant Hill Railroad Days 2018 April 27-29 in Downtown Pleasant Hill Missouri, 125 Wyoming Street, Pleasant Hill, MO. Enjoy train displays, live music, shopping with our vendors and local businesses. This event is rain or shine and free to attend.
Maifest April 28 from Noon-5pm at Kansas City Bier Company, 310 W. 79th Street, Kansas City, MO. Jewelry making, arts and crafts, flower pot decorting, May Pole dancing, fairy costume contest, raffle drawings and more. Betty Rae's Ice Cream truck will be there for the duration of the event as well.
3rd Annual Train Festival (pictured above) April 28 from 10am-4pm at Atchison Railroad Museum, 200 South 10th St, Atchison, KS. Adults: $5 Children 10 and under are free with an adult. Enjoy a family fun day with little train rides provided by the Northeast Kansas Railroaders Inc., tours of the Atchison Railroad Museum, a scavenger hunt, live music with Dan Bliss from 12pm-3pm, giveaways from Operation Life Saver and more! Santanamals will also be joining us at this year’s event to provide balloon art for kids!
Olathe Medical Center Family Fun Fest April 29 from 11am-3pm at Olathe Health Cancer Center, 15123 S. OMC Pkwy., Olathe, KS. Come out for a day of fun for the whole family - and sneak a peek of the new Cancer Center and Robotic Surgical System! The kids can get their faces painted and a free bike helmet, while parents can receive free wellness screenings.
May 4-6
Touch a Truck May 2 from 10-11:30am at Riverfront Community Center - South Parking Lot, 123 S Esplanade Street, Leavenworth, KS. Get up close and personal with all the big rigs and hard-working vehicles they see in their community. They'll all be there: fire trucks, ambulances, SWAT vehicles, dump trucks, cement mixers, police cars, street sweepers, animal control vehicle, tow trucks and front loaders, even a petting zoo. Enjoy free carousel rides next door at the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum, and join us in the gym of Riverfront Community Center (just to the north) for our Toddler Tyme with all kinds of toys to play with and tricycles to ride, bounce houses, music, games and activities, and free popcorn!
Brookside Art Annual May 4-6 at Brookside District, 63rd & Wornall, Kansas City, MO. The Brookside Art Annual is known for its festive atmosphere, hospitality, convenience, and has become a must-attend event for artists and art seekers alike.
Guadalupe Centers Cinco de Mayo Fiesta May 4-5 at Guadalupe Centers, 1015 Avenida Cesar E Chavez, Kansas City, MO. Growing in popularity with new attractions for the 2 day event, families can enjoy local and out of state entertainment, mariachis, folkloric dancers, food trucks, kid’s rides, petting zoo, booths, contests, raffles and much more, including a 5K run/walk for the whole family!
Harry's Hay Days (pictured above) May 4-5 in Grandview, MO. The fun begins on Friday, May 4th with a FREE concert featuring the Stolen Winnebagos at the Grandview Amphitheater at 7pm. The fun continues Saturday morning on May 5th at 10am with the Harry's Hay Day Parade! You don't want to miss this fun parade with local businesses and organizations as they travel up Grandview Road and along Main Street. Once the parade is finished, Main Street will transform into a festival full of food trucks, vendors, live entertainment (A mermaid, stilt walker, fire-breather, and more!), live music, games, and plenty more for the whole family. The fun ends at 6pm on Saturday, so spend your weekend with us in Grandview!
Lansing DAZE/Brew, Blues & Bar-B-Q May 4-5 at Kenneth W. Bernard Park, 15650 Gilman Rd., Lansing, KS.
Plein Air KC Festival May 4-12 at Penn Valley Park, Pershing Road and Main Street, Kansas City, MO. Artists from across the country will gather for an extended Paint-Off to capture the natural beauty of Penn Valley Park en plein air, while competing for cash prizes. The event concludes with a gala reception and auction to showcase the art with proceeds benefiting the Penn Valley Park Conservancy.
Polski Day May 5 at St. Joseph Church - All Saints Parish, 811 Vermont Ave, Kansas City, MO. Polish Music, food and entertainment. The Polski Day Parade which begins at 11:00 a.m., at 12th &Central, and heads east onto 8th Street, going up the wrong way on a one way street to Vermont, and ends at the church. Enjoy Polish food, music, and entertainment beginning at Noon. A special Polka mass will be held at 4:00 p.m
Kansas Food Truck Festival May 5 from 4-10pm in Lawrence, KS. This 1-day festival will feature 25+ regional food trucks with cuisine from across the world. The $10 ticket gives you access to the festival with live entertainment and proceeds benefit Just Food, the Douglas County Food Bank.
Spring Starts Here Downtown Shawnee Open House May 5 from 10-3pm at Downtown Shawnee, 11110 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS. The annual downtown open house event is kicking off the season with activities for the whole family! Enjoy food trucks, kids’ activities, a scavenger hunt, giveaways, and downtown business open houses with special promotions and sales. Its also opening weekend of the farmers’ market.
The 17th Annual Village Crawfish Festival May 5 from -11pm at St Pius X Church , 5500 Woodson Rd, Mission, KS. Enjoy the fabulously popular table of ten set up for the 4th year running. (These have sold out each of the previous years). Must be purchased online, in advance. Food: Fresh boiled (onsite) Crawfish, Sausage, Red Beans & Rice, KC Style BBQ Pork, Corn on the Cob, Potatoes, Onions, Mushrooms, Bread & Dessert. Beverages: Beer, Wine, Soda and Bottled Water. Live Entertainment: Billy Ebeling & The Late For Dinner Band
Wings over Weston May 5 from 9am-3pm at Weston Bend State Park 16600 Hwy. 45 North, Weston, MO. The state’s largest annual birding festival, introduces birds, their migration and the importance of conservation of habitat to children. This event is free and all ages are welcome to enjoy educational stations, including bird banding, guided bird hikes, arts and crafts, games and rescued birds from Operation Wildlife and raptor rehab.
Children's Day & Sheep Shearing May 5 from 9am-4:30pm at Missouri Town 1855, 8010 E. Park Road, Lee's Summit, MO. Attend the annual shearing of Missouri Town 1855’s resident flock of sheep. Skilled artisans demonstrate all aspects of wool productions from shearing, washing, carding, dyeing, spinning and weaving. Kids will dive into a pie eating contest and join in the fun of games played by their ancestors in the mid-1800s.
Arts in the Park Lawrence May 6 from 10am-5pm at South Park, 12th & Massachusetts, Lawrence, KS. The annual juried outdoor exhibition of fine art and fine craft, is Lawrence’s premiere arts event and is sponsored by the Lawrence Art Guild. Featuring the highest quality work by many area artists and craftspeople, as well as continuous musical entertainment, food vendors, and family fun, Art in the Park typically attracts thousands of people. It is the Lawrence Art Guild’s primary fund-raising event.
Wanderfest! May 6 from Noon-6pm at Tower East Neighborhood, 604 E. 31st. , Kansas City, MO. Join over 15 participating businesses and organizations for music, art, crafts, food, drinks, fun! Enjoy demonstrations and tours from businesses, workshops, and artist studios not normally open to the public, along with food and drink specials from local restaurants. Shop from a wide assortment of handmade goods from craft vendors popping-up at three different locations. Other activities will include bicycle repair, you-pick herbs and veggies, caricature drawing and fun kids’ activities.
Blue Valley Rec Food Truck Fest May 6 from 4-7pm at Sports Complex Fields 2-4, 137th & Antioch, Overland Park, KS. Fresh, local food, Covered shelter with picnic tables, Live music - The Good Sam Club band, and Playground and kid’s activities.
All of Us Launch Day Kansas City May 6 from Noon-5pm at Union Station , 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO. The All of Us Research Program wants to speed up health research and medical breakthroughs. Dance to live music by Healthy Hip Hop and Steppers KC. Workout with special fitness guest Aja James. Create a piece of art with local artist Vania Soto. There’s more… Science City discounted admission, Free health screenings and stories to live better, Lots of prizes and giveaways.
May 10-13
Johnny Kaw Day May 10 from 5:30-7pm at Manhattan City Park, 11th Street & Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS. Mark the occasion of Johnny Kaw's birthday with a 1-mile fun run/walk around City Park and have Johnny-themed birthday cake. Our city treasure turns 52 years old this year, and for the first time to our knowledge has never been recognized with a birthday party. Grab your very own authentic Johnny Kaw Bobblehead and join the Kaw Club! Hot dog-eating contest part of many fun activities during this one-time celebration.
Union Cemetery Quick Paint May 10 from 5-8pm at Union Cemetery, 227 E. 28th Terrace, Kansas City, MO. Artists will transform blank canvases into great works of art in one of Kansas City’s most historic cemeteries. Food trucks will be on site to provide yummy food from their trucks, so come hungry! Union Cemetery Historical Society will be giving two walking tours of the Cemetery and we encourage you to join! Tours will begin at 6:30pm and at 7:30pm. Reserve your spot by ordering your ticket!
2018 Asian Festival May 12 from 10am-7:30pm at Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd, Overland Park,KS. Asian food, Martial Art demonstrations & workshops. 24 counties are participating and the Festival Emcee will be 41 Anchor Cynthia Newsome.
Country & Food Trucks Festival May 12 from 3:30-9pm in Downtown Topeka, 9th and Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS. Choose tasty eats from food trucks before claiming a spot in front of some of your favorite, or soon-to-be-favorite, bands in Downtown Topeka. Food trucks will begin serving at 3:30pm. Music starts at 4:00pm.
Lenexa Art Fair (pictured above) May 12 from 10am-7pm at Lenexa Civic Campus, 17101 W. 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, KS. This one-day, outdoor, juried art fair features more than 40 fine artists from the region, live jazz music throughout the day, sidewalk chalk art contest, food trucks, a children's art area and a wine and craft beer tasting featuring local wineries and breweries in the evening.
Taste of Shawnee May 12 from 3-6pm at Shawnee Town 1929. Featuring local restaurants, their fantastic food, fun and entertainment. The Taste of Shawnee is hosted by the Rotary Club of Shawnee and was created with one goal in mind, coming together as a community to share great food for a great cause.
May 18-20
Yard Games Happy Hour May 18 frpm 6:30-9pm at Kansas City Community Gardens , 6917 Kensington Ave, Kansas City, MO. A ticket will get you unlimited beer while you enjoy activities in the garden! Yard games and beer go hand in hand! Game include bean bag toss, horse shoes, croquet, bocce ball, and more! There will also be live music, a raffle, and food for purchase from Beauty and the Bistro! Tickets are $5 and kids are free. Proceeds from the Happy Hour in the Gardens events will go towards KCCG’s mission to empower low-income families to grow their own nutritious food.
Party Like it’s 1843 celebrates the 175th Anniversary of the Great Migration on the Oregon Trail. The Great Migration left from the Independence Square on May 20th, 1843. The three day celebration includes the following: Friday, May 18th 6:30PM-9PM Westward Ho! Down - National Frontier Trails Museum- 313 W. Pacific, Independence, MO. This event will showcase pioneer dancing and music. The Missouri Town dancers will also be there to help teach new moves. Appetizers and drinks will be served. Tickets are $20. Saturday, May 19th 10:00AM-4:00PM Live Action Oregon Trail Game - Hiram Young Park- 215 E. Lexington Ave. Independence, MO 64050. Teams of 4 will try their luck on the Oregon Trail. There will be 10 stops along the trail each with its own activity, including but not limited to trivia, puzzles, and physical challenges. The event will take place in Hiram Young Park. $20 per team. The team with the most points wins a Independence Square gift basket. Saturday, May 19th 10:30AM- 4:30PM Oregon Trail Lecture Series - Brady Courtroom, 2nd floor of the Historic Truman Courthouse. The topics will focus on the Trails and the 1840s. This is a free event, but you must RSVP to attend. Saturday, May 19th 10:00 AM-4:00PM 1843 Lexington Avenue - Lexington Ave. between Liberty and Main Streets on the Independence Square will be closed to traffic. There will be craft making supplies and 1840s games for kids, all free of charge. There will also be an old time photo booth with costumes for a small fee. First person interpreters will also be strolling around the Square interacting with visitors. Pioneer Trails Adventures will also have wagon rides from the Truman Courthouse to the Log Cabin Courthouse to the National Frontier Trails Museum. Mid Continent Public Library is hosting two story times- 10:30 and 11:30. Saturday, May 19th 5:30PM Pioneer Fashion Show - Guests will learn about the fashions on the Oregon Trail and 1840s with a narrated fashion show. Truman Memorial Building Auditorium, tickets are $15. Sunday, May 20th 2:00PM Sounds from the Oregon Trail - National Frontier Trails Museum auditorium- 313 W. Pacific. Dana Mengel of the Mengel Bros. Duo has written an Oregon Trail Soundtrack inspired by diaries and letters from the trails. Guests will enjoy a preview of this amazing composition with a five piece strings ensemble. Light refreshments will be served as well. Tickets are $10. There is a combo ticket option: $40 for a ticket to the Westward Ho! Down, the Pioneer Fashion Show, and Sounds from the Oregon Trail.
Food Truck Friday at Union Cemetery May 18 from 11am-1:30pm at Union Cemetery, 227 E. 28th Terrace, Kansas City, MO. Enjoy affordable lunch in downtown’s most peaceful park space.
Celebration of the Arts: Lee's Summit May 18 from 6:30-10pm at Legacy Park Amphitheater, 897 Blue Stem Parkway, Lee's Summit, MO. Don’t miss this wonderful, FREE, annual event which will kick off the 2018 season of events at Legacy Park Amphitheater. Enjoy live performances including dance, theatre, music and fireworks. R-7 student art will be on display, as well as Got Art student work, Bright Lights Institute will also be there and a couple of local artists in the plaza area.
Tasty Expo May 19-20 at Overland Park KS Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS. Open to the public for the first time, foodies will delight in free samples from over 200 food, wine, spirits, and beer samples. The event will feature live demonstrations throughout the day from leading chefs, mixologist, cicerones, and BBQ aficionados. This event allows local farmers, growers, and producers to connect with thousands of prospective new customers, tell their story, and provide information on where to purchase products. Many of the products being sampled will be available for sale during the show. Tickets can be purchased for $20.
Family Fun Fiesta at the Zoo (pictured above) May 19-20 from 10am-3pm at Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO. Enjoy cultural crafts provided by the Mattie Rhodes Center. Our animals are joining in with fiesta themed enrichment items.
Chalk Walk at The Concourse Fountain May 19-20 at The Concourse Fountain in Kessler Park, Benton Blvd. and St. John Ave., Kansas City, MO. Join Northeast Arts KC and KC Parks at the 11th annual Chalk Walk. Chalk Walk is a free, family friendly event that will transform the grey concrete sidewalks of The Concourse in Kessler Park into temporary, colorful works of art that kids, parents, amateurs and practicing artists create.
Turkey Creek Festival & Artisan’s Expo May 19 from 10am-4pm at Antioch Park, 6501 Antioch Road, Merriam, KS. Activities include a petting zoo, delicious food and unique craft vendors, music, giant inflatables and more. Calling all crafters of hand-made goods!
The 4th Annual Spring Swing May 19-20 from 10am-6pm at Alexander Majors House 8201 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO. Enjoy the Midwest's favorite indie craft fair as we celebrate all things handmade at The Spring Swing! The Strawberry Swing is a highly curated, juried event where you will find 100+ handmade vendors, food trucks, live music, kid's crafts, and more! Come see what all the buzz is about. Family Friendly Fun!
14th Annual Troost Festival May 19 from 11am-8:30pm at 3100 Block of Troost between 31st and Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO. Festival began in 2005 to erase the dividing line and create a meeting place. Our tag line is "Neighbors Celebrating Neighbors". Everyone is invited to the celebrate their neighbors, especially the people who live, work, and worship daily in the neighborhoods surrounding Kansas City’s Troost, Prospect, and Main Corridors. As we share our time and talents in all aspects of the Festival, we are creating the opportunities to know, and be known, by one another. Exhibitors, vendors, live stage, children's activities.
British Gala Festival May 19 from 10am-4pm at Ararat Event Center, 5100 Ararat Drive, Kansas City, MO. Enjoy British entertainment, exhibits, British vehicles (weather permitting), shop British goods, and services, and then take it easy whilst you take a seat for a delightful Afternoon Tea.
May 25-27
Illuminated Waters May 25-26 at Theis Park, 47th and Oak, Kansas City, MO. This unique, free, two-day water festival will combine everything we have all learned to love - StoneLion Puppet Theatre’s giant puppet play, food trucks from around Kansas City, interactive art, games and music. Everything will be at Theis Park right next to Brush Creek. Experience new artists, strolling musicians and activities before the show, watch amazing giant puppets in a play, floating on the water, actually in the water and GLOWING. But wait, that’s not all - after the show join in the fun with a family friendly glow party afterwards. Glowing art, glo performers, backlight fun, music and interactive games alongside illuminated puppets.
Lawrence Busker Festival May 25 – 27 in Lawrence, KS. Coming again in 2018, the Lawrence Busker Festival is the area’s largest gathering of street performers in the area. Come join us for three days of family fun with some of the most talented freaks, geeks, artists and musicians around. If you want to raise your kids right you got to get them to the Busker Workshops for kids on Saturday Morning - they will learn the life-long skills of juggling, magic and balloon animals. With these skills they can begin a good busking career!
Salute to Veterans Corporation Airshow (pictured above) May 26 & 27 at Columbia Regional Airport, Columbia, MO. Salute to Veterans Corporation invites the public to their two-day airshow at Columbia Regional Airport over Memorial Day weekend. FREE admission and parking!
Worlds of Fun Festival of Dance May 26-27 at Worlds of Fun, 4545 Worlds of Fun Dr, Kansas City, MO. Celebrate the art of dance at the Festival of Dance, where performers showcase their talent in front of family, guests and fellow performers. This competition is designed to be an educational learning experience, in which participants receive feedback on methods that improve their skills, all while enjoying the Midwest’s premier entertainment destination with fellow performers. With a panel of 3 distinguished judges, each adjudicator takes on the responsibility to not only evaluate each routine, but to make positive suggestions that instructors and dancers may use to better their technique. All are welcome to join the audience and celebrate these performances!
Browne's Irish Street Faire May 26 from 5-11pm at Browne's Irish Market 3300 Pennsylvania Ave. Kansas City, MO. Enjoy The Elders (farewell appearance - retiring this year), Eddie Delahunt and other bands and Irish dance troops, Irish beers, Whiskey Tent, and Food trucks. Pack your blankets, lawn chairs and favorite friends and relatives. Part of the proceeds benefits local charities. $20/ea.
Kansas City Symphony’s Bank of America Celebration at the Station May 27 from 3-10pm at Union Station Kansas City, 30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO. Music Director Michael Stern leads the orchestra in a moving patriotic concert to celebrate Memorial Day — followed by the city’s largest fireworks display. Make it an all-day family affair with pre-concert musical acts, activities and food trucks. Blankets and lawn chairs welcome.
May 31 - June 3
Old Shawnee Days May 31 – June 3 at Shawnee Town 1929 Museum, 11501 W. 57th Street , Shawnee, KS. Enjoy a carnival, parade, live music and entertainment, food trucks, arts and crafts and family fun.