Best of August in Kansas City: 2012

July 30, 2012 11:40 a.m.

It's time to bid a fond farewell to Summer, make plans for Back To School, and enjoy many wonderful family outings in KC! Don't miss these our Top Picks for August in Kansas City!

Festival of Butterflies

When, Where, What: Annual Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens. August 3-5 & August 10-12 from 9am-6pm. Festival pricing: $12/adults, $10/seniors, $5/children 5-12, members/free. 816.697.2600. Powell Gardens' signature festival returns for its 16th year with brand new scene-stealing stars from Costa Rica. If you've enjoyed the sparkling beauty of the Blue Morpho, you'll appreciate new treasures from Costa Rica including the White Morpho, Stoplight Catone, and the "see through" butterfly called the Thick-tipped Greta or "Costa Rica Clearwing."
Why We LOVE It: Our family makes it an annual tradition to attend Powell Gardens' Festival of Butterflies. Walk through Butterfly habitats and discover hundreds of free-flying butterflies from the tropical United States and Costa Rica, two outdoor butterfly breezeways with native species, many themed hands-on children's activities, a nature photography exhibit and more. Visit the Powell Gardens website for more information.

Tax Free Back to School Shopping Weekend

When, Where, What: August 3-5: Missouri's Tax Free Weekend for back-to-school supplies and clothing. Applies to the following items: Clothing under $100, School supplies under $50, Computer software under $350, Computers/computer equipment under $3,500.
BONUS EVENT: Back To School Tax Free Weekend At Children's Orchard (Aug. 3-5). Children’s Orchard will DOUBLE your sales tax savings. Yes, even in our Olathe, KS store. The MO state sales tax* holiday is ON. *MO state exclusions and rules will apply. (OLATHE • 11933 Strang Line Rd. • 913-780-6600. INDEPENDENCE • 4201 S. Noland Rd. • 816-373-4585)
Why We LOVE It: Stock up on school supplies and clothes saving 6-8% during Tax Free Shopping.

Superhero Weekend at the Kansas City Zoo

When, Where, What: August 4 & 5, Kansas City Zoo. Admission Applies. 816.513.5800 www.kansascityzoo.org
More at the Zoo in August: Through August 19, the Zoo opens at 8am to enjoy early cooler weather fun. Misting stations for guests can be found throughout the Zoo; free tram rides to and from Africa and free water for guests. And August 25th is Zoological District FREE Day (Thank you residents of Jackson and Clay Counties for supporting the Zoo through the creation of the Zoological Tax District! As a thank you to you, admission to the Zoo on Saturday, August 25, 2012 will be free for you - residents of Jackson and Clay County -please bring a photo ID with your address).
BONUS: The much-anticipated Sumatran Tiger Exhibit just opened. This is a must-see!
Why We LOVE It: Toss the back to school blues away, and join us for Superhero Weekend at the Zoo! August 4th- Spider Man and Iron Man. August 5th- Captain America and Thor. Bring your cameras and autograph books and meet the hottest superheroes in Kansas City! Read our tips for the BEST Day at the Kansas City Zoo! Graphic used with permission:

Family Fun at the Toy & Miniature Museum

When, Where, What: Toy & Miniature Museum 5235 Oak Street Kansas City, MO. 816.333.9328 www.toyandminiaturemuseum.org. The Toy & Miniature Museum offers many great events all year, but two of our favorite are available in August! First, we love the Adventures in Learning Programs: Every Wednesday (through August 15), the Museum will host tours, gallery talks, and workshops designed to explore different aspects of the collection. And, we make it an annual tradition to attend FREE Back to School Day on August 25 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Visitors can play "I Spy" in the gallery using their very own homemade secret decoder badges, create a pin-back button, and dance away the afternoon to the live kid's band Peanut Butter Hamster from 1-3:30!
Why We LOVE It: The Toy and Miniature Museum is one of our favorite destinations! The museum, housed in the former Tureman Mansion, captures the imaginations of visitors young and old with its incredible collection of dollhouses, dolls, model trains, marbles and antique toys from around the world. Families will appreciate the special touches throughout the exhibits, including “touch me” buttons with working lights so you can see inside the tiniest of dollhouses, and step stools so little ones can see at their eye level. This is one destination loved by all generations and all ages—you’ll enjoy exploring childhood memories of years gone by through one of the most fun and magical museums in Kansas City! Read our Tips for the Best Day at the Toy & Miniature Museum.

Missouri State Fair

When, Where, What: The Missouri State Fair, celebrating 110 years, is held annually in Sedalia. This year it is Aug.9-19. See special promotions for more discounts. 1.800.422.3247 www.mostatefair.com.
Why We LOVE It: The Missouri State Fair is fun for the whole family with a live circus under the Big Top, Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Shows, animal shows and programs, a carnival, concerts, rodeos, and more! The 11-day event will feature hundreds of free demonstrations and exhibits highlighting agriculture innovation, green initiatives and other timely consumer topics like couponing.
Read our Tips for Family Fun at the Best Attractions at the Missouri State Fair.

Ethnic Enrichment Festival

When, Where, What: Ethnic Enrichment Festival August 17-19 at Swope Park. Friday, 6-10 p.m., Saturday, Noon-10 p.m., Sunday, Noon-6 p.m. $3/adults, Children 12 and under: Free, FREE Parking. 816.513.7553
Why We LOVE It: Every year we visit the Ethnic Enrichment Festival for a burst of flavor and tradition around the world. Over 60 countries participate each year with booths showcasing food and crafts from each country, and live performances on stage with dance, music, martial arts, and skills demonstrations. You may purchase food from each country creating your own smorgasbord of flavor, sampling many dishes from many cultures. Visit the Ethnic Enrichment Festival website for more information.
Bonus: Discover more fun in Kansas City for an Around the World Staycation!

Sprint Family Fun Days

When, Where, What: The monthly Sprint Family Fun Series is back on the 3rd Saturday of each month and KC Parent Magazine is proud to be a sponsor! The entire event is FREE and open to the public! It begins at 11 AM in the KC Live Block of the Power & Light District and ends at 3 PM - Rain or Shine!
Why We LOVE It: The Sprint Family Fun Series is one of the BEST Family-Friendly events in the metro and it's FREE! August 28-Bubbles and Balloons. Live music with the Doo-Dads. Balloon art. Mad Science. Marionette Puppet Shows and more! Read our tips for the BEST Day at Sprint Family Fun Days for parking, dining tips, and more!

Farmstead Safety Day

When, Where, What: August 18 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. The checks are free; no appointment needed. $2 admission fee/1 & under free. 913.895.6390 www.opkansas.org/Events/Farmstead-Safety-Day
Why We LOVE It: Hop aboard the fire truck, slide into the police cruiser or fly high at the LifeNet helicopter where, for a day, your son or daughter can imagine life as a firefighter, a police officer or a pilot. The Overland Park fire and police departments, the Kansas Highway Patrol, D.A.R.E., and other organizations will be on hand to teach children about safety and equipment. In addition to fire trucks and other safety vehicles, there also will be car seat safety checks by Kansas Safe Kids and State Farm Insurance from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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.