Best of April: 2013

April Showers bring May flowers... we hope! April brings a beautiful and fun-filled spring to Kansas City with great shows, fabulous festivals, and unforgettable events at our favorite local attractions! 

Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead opening for the Season!

• When, Where, What: The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead (13800 Switzer, Overland Park, KS) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 1 to Oct. 31. During the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day), the Farmstead is open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Admission is FREE Monday-Thursday, and $2/ea Friday-Sunday. 913.897.2360
• Why We LOVE It: The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead 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!

True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf

• Details: True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf thru Apr. 3-28  At Paul Mesner Studios (1006 E. Linwood Blvd., KCMO), 816.756.3500 www.paulmesnerpuppets.org/calendar.html.
• Why We LOVE It: Paul Mesner Puppets presents this hysterical fractured fairytale with creative puppetry and laugh-out-loud hijinks. Think you know the real story behind the huffing and puffing? Think again. There’s only one individual who knows the true story about one wolf, three houses and three little pigs: Alexander T. Wolf. He only wanted a cup of sugar and he did have a cold. Mr. A. Wolf gets to set the record straight. Appropriate for entire Family -  Pre-school to Adult.

Pudge Ate a Prophet

• When, Where, What: Trilogy Cultural Arts Center presents Pudge Ate a Prophet, April 4-7 at Indian Creek Community Church
• Why We LOVE It: A whale of a tale based on the children’s book by Damon & Dan Taylor. This is the Bible story of Jonah told from a fish eye view. Pudge is a big fish, a very big fish and he is miserable because of his size. That’s until God reveals his plan for Pudge in transporting his prophet, Jonah. Funny, Fun & Fantastic characters above and below sealevel. Be part of the first cast to ever perform this magical musical.

Momix Botanica

• Details: Momix Botanica Apr. 5 & 6 at 8pm at Yardley Hall. 
• Why We LOVE It: The Performing Arts Series at JCCC consistently brings world-class entertainment that is thought-provoking, challenging, and unforgettable to Kansas City. This spring, enjoy "Botanica," a commentary on the state of nature today, reveals its changing imagery in MOMIX’s unforgettable illusionary style. Be transported from your everyday life to a fantasy world. In an endless search for “another gravity,” artistic director Moses Pendleton combines athletic dance, riveting music, outrageous costumes, inventive props and pure talent to create an entertaining multimedia experience. You may know MOMIX from their television commercials for Hanes and Target. See them live!

Annie

• Details: The Culture House presents Annie April 11-13 at Youthfront Auditorium. Tickets $7-$10.
• Why We LOVE It:  This is the final production to be performed at Youthfront Auditorium, site of numerous events since its opening in 1966, before it is torn down. The star of Annie, Chelsea  Philgreen, is the youngest daughter of Topher Philgreen, COO of Youthfront. The Culture House dedicates this production to the many years of service that the auditorium has given to the city. And what a wonderful show to bid farewell to a great theatre! Annie is in one of the world's best-loved musicals. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan ANNIE charms everyone's hearts, despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, ANNIE escapes to the wondrous and magical world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, ANNIE foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations and befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. This is a must-see for the entire family!

The Little Mermaid

• Details: The Little Mermaid April 20 & 21 at 2pm & 7pm at the Lewis & Shirley White Thetare on the Jewish Community Center Campus (5801 W. 115th St., OPKS). 913.492.0004. Tickets $12 each.
• Why We LOVE It:  The Little Mermaid, the beloved Hans Christian Andersen story comes to life in this beautifully choreographed ballet by Miller-Marley. Children will be captivated by the music and beauty as the tale of The Little Mermaid comes to life on stage.

Flights of Fancy

• Details:  MCC-Longview Flights of Fancy Kite Festival April 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at MCC-Longview 500 SW Longview Rd. Lee's Summit, Mo.
• Why We LOVE It:  Every year, we pack a picnic, our favorite kites, and the camera for a day of fun on the lawn of Metropolitan Community College - Longview for the Flights of Fancy Festival. 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 a giant kite 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! 
• Bonus: Read our Tips for Flights of Fancy before you go!

NASCAR: Sprint Cup

• When, Where, What: April 20-21 the NASCAR Sprint Cup at the Kansas Speedway.
• Why We LOVE It: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will take place at the Kansas Speedway on April 20-21. Enjoy a day at the races with your family. While there, visit the souvenir trailers and concessions. Families can tailgate or "trackgate", with horseshoes, frisbees, baseballs, etc., and grills. Of course, at Kansas Speedway, the possibilities are endless with Legends within walking distance. A prerace concert takes place inside the track for fans in the stands to enjoy. And the prerace flyovers are a hit with the entire family.

May Day at Lanesfield School Historic Site

• When, Where, What: May Day at Lanesfield.  April 27 from 1pm – 4pm at Lanesfield Historic Site 18745 S. Dillie Rd Edgerton KS 66021 913.893.6645. FREE Admission
• Why We LOVE It: A historic celebration of Spring! Dance around the Maypole to live music! Make a May Basket. Enjoy free refreshments. Decorate your wagon or bike and parade it around the grounds. Crowd determines crowning of May King and Queen!

Spring Into Hope

• When, Where, What: Spring Into Hope 2013:  Friday April 26, 2013 from 5:00PM – 10:00PM and Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10:00AM-4:00PM at the Independence Events Center. Admission is $25 on Friday and $10 on Saturday
• Why We LOVE It: Supporters of the Marian Hope Center shop to help raise money for the programs and services we provide for children and their families! Marian Hope Center was born of a vision for enhancing the lives of children with special needs through integrative, holistic programs. Staffed by multifunctional therapists and paraprofessionals that are highly talented and nurturing, Marian Hope Center is growing and gaining recognition among health care, academic, and child advocacy professionals for its unique functional approach and phenomenal successes in treatment, instruction, and complete care for children and their families.
• Bonus: Save 50% on tickets with our exclusive coupon!

Funville at Crown Center

• Details: thru May 5, Crown Center. Open during Crown Center shopping hours. FREE. 816.274.8444 www.crowncenter.com/Event/Event.asp
• Why We LOVE It: This FREE hands-on exhibit is a great place for indoor play on a cold winter's day! Sparking imaginations with interactive play as children exploree what they want to be when they grow up - a zookeeper, an astronaut, a firefighter, a school teacher, a veterinarian, a football player, a racecar driver or even the President of the United States? Kids explore grown-up occupations in a kid friendly educaitonal environment. They can forecast the weather, do magic tricks, work in a barbershop, ride a tractor and even ride a bull. In "FUNVILLE," the most important job is to have fun!
• Tip: Read our guide to Funville at Crown Center for tips and tricks to make the most of your day!

Shop at Kansas City's Farmers' Markets!

• When, Where, What: 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.
• Why We LOVE It: 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!