Best of August in Kansas City

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!

Special Events at National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

• When, Where, What: National Museum of Toys and Miniatures 

August Events: 

• LITTLE ADVENTURES at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures on Wednesdays and Saturdays thru August 10
• FAREWELL TO SUMMER FREE DAY: Aug. 20, 10am-4pm. Check one last thing off your “summer fun” list with free admission to National Museum of Toys and Miniatures.
• Why We LOVE It: Explore the museum collection through gallery talks and guided tours, then visit the hands-on workshop to make your own toy or miniature. This museum offers a educational, interactive, and whimsical exhibits where the story of play comes to life!

Tax Free Back to School Shopping Weekend

• When, Where, What: August 5 - 7: Missouri's Tax Free Weekend for back-to-school supplies and clothing. By state law, the sales tax holiday begins on the first Friday in August and continues through the following Sunday. In 2016, the three-day holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 5, and runs through Sunday, August 7. Certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items as defined by the statute, are exempt from sales tax for this time period only.
• Why We LOVE It: Stock up on school supplies and clothes saving 6-8% during Tax Free Shopping.

Enchanted Forest

• When, Where, What: thru Augu. 15 at Overland Park Arboretum. Free with admission. Open Daily 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• Why We Love It: Discover the mystical domains of gnomes, fairies, elves, sprites, trolls, and other garden creatures along a woodland trail. There’s a new world at the Arboretum! Bring the whole family for this delightful walk in the woods. 

Bricks and Mavericks

• When, Where, What: August 20 at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Demonstrations begin at 11, 11:30, Noon and 12:30 and are free to the public.   
• Why We Love It: LEGO Master Builder Joe Nunnink takes flight at the National World War I Museum and Memorial with a series of interactive demonstrations on building WWI-era airplanes. Learn from the best and then create your own planes! 

​KC Ballet Dance Day

• When, Where, What: Aug. 27, FREE Dance Classes and Performances courtesy of the KC Ballet at the Todd Bolender Center.
• Why We LOVE It: Enjoy the 6th annual KC Dance Day at the Bolender Center from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with FREE dance classes and FREE performances; even an open rehearsal by Kansas City Ballet dancers! Lunch will be served from 11:00 am to 3:00 p.m. by 2 Guys & a Grill. You may purchase a $6 meal ticket your choice of a hamburger, veggie burger, hotdog, or chicken breast plus chips and bottled water. Between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. we will offer a complimentary shuttle trolley from the parking at the Union Station Garage to the Bolender Center.

Jurassic Gardens & Festival of Butterflies

• When, Where, What: Jurrasic Gardens thru Oct. 3 at Powell Gardens.
• Why We LOVE It: Travel back millions of years to explore the lost world of dinosaurs and prehistoric plant life! You will encounter incredibly realistic dinosaur replicas, designed by Missouri's Guy Darrough, a well known fossil collector, fossil preparation expert and illustrator. From his Lost World Studios in Arnold, Mo., Guy creates realistic models of prehistoric animals using fossilized bones and other materials. The lifelike dinosaurs, large and small, will be placed throughout the Gardens and include a 32-foot T Rex, 30-foot Hypsibema—Missouri's state dinosaur, and many more! 
• Bonus: Festival of Butterflies Aug. 5-7, 12-14. It's the 20th anniversary of Powell Gardens' Festival of Butterflies!

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure

• Details: thru Aug. 7 at The Coterie.
• Why We LOVE It:  It’s the world premiere of a new musical for all ages (yes, even parents) of the much-loved madcap journey from New York’s Central Park Zoo to the beaches of Madagascar. See Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hippo and the always-plotting penguins. Their journey goes from the wilderness to just plain wild with King Julien. Join these crack-a-lackin’ friends and get ready to MOVE IT MOVE IT.
• Bonus: Read our review of Madagascar: A Musical Adventure.

T-Bones Games

• When, Where, What: all summer the T-Bones play at Community America Ballpark. Tip: Kids Eat Free every Monday Night at the game!
• Why We LOVE It: The Kansas City T-Bones are a member of the Central Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball and they play at Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, KS. Free parking, great promotions, kids eat free on Mondays, and family-friendly fun make T-Bones games a highlight of summer!

Belton Train Rides

• Details: Rides Sat & Sun at 2pm May-Oct, and Sat at 11am (June - Aug) aboard the Belton, Grandview & KC Railroad Co. (502 Walnut, Belton, MO). The Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad Co. is a short line passenger railroad and demonstration museum in Belton, Missouri, just south on US Hwy. 71 from the Kansas City Metro Area. The BG&KC offers excursions on our line running south from Belton on a 5 mile, 45 minute round trip. This is an all volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving rail travel and railroading.
• Why We LOVE It: All Aboard! The young, and the young-at-heart, LOVE trains... the charm, the fun memories and nostalgia. This summer, ride the rails with the Belton, Grandview & Kansas City Railroad. The organization is a non-profit volunteer organization run by volunteers like John, who happily tells every visitor his pay is the smile on the kids' faces... and do they ever smile!

​Koalas & Special Events at the Kansas City Zoo

• When, Where, What: The Kansas City Zoo is open year-round. (6800 Zoo Dr., KCMO. 816.513.5800 www.KansasCityZoo.org).
• Why We LOVE It: The Kansas City Zoo just welcomed Koalas and we couldn't be more excited! The Kansas City Zoo is one of our favorite year-round attractions, and with the Penguin Exhibit, Polar Bear Passage, Tropics and Discovery Barn all near the entrance and all with indoor exhibits, a cool weather outing to the zoo is more fun than ever! Then, on warmer days check out the kangaroos in Australia and the elephants, zebra, and giraffes in Africa.
• Tip: Mark your calendar for these fun events at the Zoo: Aug 6 -  Meet PBS Star Daniel Tiger. Aug 6 & 7 -  Back to School Weekend. Aug 13 & 14 -  Zootastik Learning Fest— Reptiles & Amphibians. Aug 20 & 21 -  SnowZoo  Cheetah Run. Aug 26  - FOTZ Exclusive Evening. Aug 27 & 28 -  Species Spotlight—Lions  Penguin March. Sept 3 & 4 -  Superhero Weekend.

• And more on the Zoo Calendar!

August Festivals

There are dozens of festivals to enjoy for every interest. These are our favorites for August. Read our KC Summer Festival Guide for more.

Festival of Butterflies Aug. 5-7, 12-14, Powell Gardens. It's the 20th anniversary of Powell Gardens' Festival of Butterflies! See hundredsof colorful, free-flying butterflies in the indoor conservatory. Learn more about Monarch butterflies and other native species in our two outdoor butterfly breezeways. Experts from Monarch Watch will be here with a fantastic educational display and to offer advice on ways to protect these beautiful butterflies. Don't miss the daily costume parade, led by Ms. Frizzle! See the Gardens' new caterpillar float, created by Linda Williams. 

Missouri State Fair August 11 - 21, Sedalia, MO.  The 400-acre fairgrounds will present premier livestock shows and competitive exhibits, and first-class professional entertainment. Admission charged. Read our Tips for the Missouri State Fair before you go!

Sprint Family Fun Days: Theme "Ice Cream Social" Aug. 13, KC Power & Light District. Bring your kiddos downtown for the Sprint Family Fun Series the second Saturday of each month, May - October! Admission is FREE!* Be a part of all the fun on social media by connecting with us using #FamilyFunKC! Admission to the event is free. Fees apply for premium activities.

Ethnic Enrichment Festival of Kansas City August 19-21, Swope Park. Admission charged. Parking is Free ( Handicap Parking available). Feel the world beat in the heart of America. This event is one of the largest festivals of its kind in the country and features more than 60 different cultures selling their native foods, crafts and performing ethnic music and dances. The festival is held during the third full weekend of August near the front entrance of historic Swope Park.

Parkville Days Aug. 19-21, Parkville, MO. One of downtown Parkville’s biggest festivals, the annual Parkville Days offers great family entertainment and fun in historic downtown Parkville. This year’s event offers something for everyone! Browse and enjoy dozens of art, craft, and food and specialty booths. The Evans Midland Empire Carnival is here all weekend starting Friday at 6 pm. There will be great jazz and blues on the main stage Friday night and Saturday starting at 4 pm. The downtown shops and restaurants will host their end-of-summer sales and specials Friday and Saturday. Admission is free and guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to enjoy a relaxing day at English Landing Park. Everyone is encouraged to use the free parking at Park University and English Landing Centre. Alcohol will be available at the festival; but cannot be taken out of the festival grounds. Outside alcohol will not be allowed into the festival.

Baconfest  Aug. 27, 3011 Baltimore Avenue - Kansas City, MO. What to Expect at Bacon-Fest: BACON VENDORS- Sample some of the areas most awesome bacon creations! BACON EATING CONTEST - Bacon Eating Contest starts at 3:30pm at the main stage & costs $10 to participate. Are YOU up to the challenge? Limited entries available, reserve your spot online!) LIVE BAND - SHOTGUN AND LACE 

​Pick Berries and Fruit

• Details: Pick your own fruit and berries at KC area U-Pick Farms. Read our U-Pick Guide for locations.
• Why We LOVE It: Picking apples and peaches at u-pick farms and enjoying the "fruit of our labor" with yummy summer cobblers, smoothies, and treats is one of our favorite (and tastiest) summer traditions! There are many wonderful local farms, patches, and orchards where you can pick a variety of fruits, berries and other produce. The blueberry season typically begins mid-June with other fruits to follow! Click here for our Berry Picking in KC guide!

Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun with FIVE NEW Family Rides!

• When, Where, What: Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun are open for the Season and you can enjoy both parks for the price of one ticket.
• Why We LOVE It: Worlds of Fun is a roller coaster enthusiast’s dream park! Families can glide, fly and launch into 2016 at Worlds of Fun with the addition of five new family rides coming to Planet Snoopy next season: Woodstock Gliders – Young guests control their own flight with moveable wings. Beagle Brigade Airfield – Get your aviators glasses ready for a high-flying adventure with Snoopy. (formerly titled Flying Ace). Snoopy Space Buggies – Defy gravity and bounce to the moon and back. Linus Launcher – Experience the sensation of weightlessness through flight with feet dangling. Snoopy Junction – All aboard! Snoopy the conductor leads kids on a railroad adventure. And, it’s home to seven world-class roller coasters, including one of the tallest, longest and fastest roller coasters in the world, the Mamba, with a first drop of 205 feet! The Patriot is a giant inverted coaster that carries the daring through four inversions at a top speed of 65 mph. The extremely daring can pay an extra fee to experience the Ripcord, a Sky Coaster attraction that sends riders in a free-fall pendulum motion from 180 feet in the air at speeds of up to 80 mph.

Music in the Park: Lee's Summit

• When, Where, What: Select Fridays in Downtown Lee's Summit
• Why We LOVE It:  Enjoy free Friday night concerts featuring a variety of musical genres in Howard Station Park in Downtown Lee’s Summit. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets for seating. Event dates are as follows: July 8, July 22, July 29, August 12, August 19, August 26, September 2

The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD®

• When, Where, What: thru Sept. 5 at Crown Center. FREE Admission. Hours: Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sun, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Why We LOVE It: An exciting hands-on traveling exhibit created by the Betty Brinn Children's Museum in collaboration with Hasbro. The exhibit features MR. POTATO HEAD, the much-loved silly character, who becomes an explorer, scientist, and adventurer with a change of his "parts." In addition to building a variety of essential academic skills, the exhibit encourages children to welcome new experiences with confidence, curiosity and humor, to think about all they can be and do, and to always respect themselves and others.

Swimming Season

• Details: Read our KC Water Fun guide for the best pools, waterparks, and beaches near you!
• Why We LOVE It: Summer with kids = swim season! With waterparks (including Oceans of Fun where admission to Worlds of Fun is included in the same ticket, and Schlitterbahn with the world's tallest waterslide), neighborhood pools (ranging from basic pools with a classic diving board to full on attractions and lazy rivers), FREE spraygrounds (outdoor sprinkler playgrounds), and swim beaches at local lakes - there are many great ways to enjoy swimming, splashing, and playing in the water all summer long! Read our KC Water Fun guide for the best pools, waterparks, and beaches near you!

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!

A Day at the Lake

• When, Where, What: You can fish year-round at one of Kansas City's great Fishing Spots, or enjoy the Kids Fishing Derbies across the metro all month long! Then, Kansas City's Swim Beaches open Memorial Day Weekend for a day of memories swimming at the lake!
• Why We LOVE It: Introduce your kids to the sport of fishing and enjoy a hobby that will last a lifetime. If you're lucky, you may even enjoy a great dinner out of the deal too!