Best of July in Kansas City: 2014

Fabulous Fireworks, farm fresh foods, summer nights under the stars enjoying live performances.... we LOVE July in Kansas City!

Independence Day Celebrations: Kansas City Style

• When, Where, What: Read our KC Independence Day Celebration Guide for Fireworks & Festivities across the metro!
• Why We LOVE It: Fireworks, parades, festivals, picnics and music! Kansas City celebrates Independence Day with a bang! Read carefully... our guide includes both events with and without fireworks.

Fruit & Berry Picking in Kansas City

• When, Where, What: Read our KC U-Pick Farm Guide for Berry Patches and Orchards across Kansas City!
• Why We LOVE It: In Kansas City, we enjoy many “u-pick farms” across the metro area. Please note, some farms from previous years are no longer in business or no longer offer u-pick. This list will get you started.

Gardens Gone Wild: An Animal Art Adventure

• When, Where, What: Powell Gardens (816.697.2600. 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50 Kingsville, MO.) exhibit Gardens Gone Wild thru Oct. 5.
• Why We LOVE It: Powell Gardens is a summer favorite for our family. This summer, families enjoy a fun-filled scavenger hunt as they embark on a  journey through wetlands, woodlands, tropics and more to discover 26 bronze animal sculptures by nationally acclaimed artist Dan Ostermiller. The sculptures include a 12-foot elephant playing and spraying into the Fountain Garden; a pair of wrestling bears near a hollow log kids can explore and even encounter farm animals such as Priscilla, a 5-foot-tall hen making her home in the Heartland Harvest Garden’s Fun Foods Farm! Read our full review of Gardens Gone Wild for more information.
• Bonus: Powell Gardens is hosting an array of fun extra events in conjunction with the exhibit including July's Booms & Blooms to celebrate Independence Day! Follow their calendar for information.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

• When, Where, What: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Coterie June 17-Aug. 3.
• Why We LOVE It: We can always depend on a professional, out of this world, top notch performance at The Coterie. This summer, they offer a fabulous family showing of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as audiences embark on a musical adventure with an out-of-this-world car that flies through the air and sails the seas. The sensational songs include “Truly Scrumptious,” “Toot Sweets,” “Hushabye Mountain,” and the Oscar-nominated title song, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Read our full review of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Coterie.

Nights at Starlight: Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Sound of Music

• When, Where, What: at Starlight Theatre 816.363.7827 KC Starlight Theatre!
• Why We LOVE It: Our family is so excited to enjoy two of our all-time favorite musicals. Every summer, we enjoy family shows at Starlight and 2014 offers a fun-filled family-friendly season of entertainment! 
• Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: July 8 - 13: One of the most enduring shows of all time, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the irresistible family musical about the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel's favorite son. The first collaboration of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Joseph blends pop, country and rock into an uplifting, technicolored story of biblical proportions. Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the "coat of many colors," this magical musical is full of unforgettable songs including "Those Canaan Days," "Any Dream Will Do" and "Close Every Door." Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will feature Broadway and television star Diana DeGarmo (Hairspray, Hair) as the The Narrator and Broadway Star Ace Young (Grease, Hair) as Joseph.
• Sound of Music: July 25  - 31: It has been called “the loveliest musical ever written,” and the hills of Kansas City will come alive next summer, with The Sound of Music! Rodgers & Hammerstein’s final collaboration tells the classic story of how the stern Captain Von Trapp discovers a new love for his children when the free spirited, Maria, brings laughter and music back into their lives. Wit, warmth and gentle humor combine to make this one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s best-loved musicals.

FREE Sprint Family Fun Days

• When, Where, What: July 12 from 11am-3pm at KC Power and Light District. Sprint Family Fun Days are offered on the 2nd Saturday of the Month May-Oct.
• Why We LOVE It: July's Family Fun Days theme is Beach Party.It's Luau time in the city! Little ones can hit the bongos with the Drum Safari, slide down water slides and play in fun bounce houses! Face painting, sand art, hula classes and more! Help us bring the fun of the beach to the streets of downtown KC! The Sprint Family Fun series events are held on 14th Street between Main Street & Walnut Street in the Kansas City Power & Light District from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every second Saturday of the month May - October. Events are free to attend! Remember - ALL SPRINT FAMILY FUN DAYS attendees receive $2 parking at the KC Live and Main Street (next to Cosentino's Market) garages - Just tell the attendant you are coming to Family Fun Days in the Power & Light District or get your ticket validated at any Power & Light District restaurant, shop and venue!

Mosaic Life Care Family Fun Day

• When, Where, What: It's time for the second annual Family Fun Day at The Life Center of Mosaic Life Care at Shoal Creek! Bring the entire family. Saturday, July 12, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 
• Why We LOVE It: This fun-filled day includes balloon animals, face painting, a magician, kids parade, storytelling, Mad Science Adventures, arts, crafts, games, prizes, delicious lunch options and more! KC Wolf will be stopping by for a howlin' good time full of memorable family moments with Mosaic Life Care! 

Big Picnic at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

• When, Where, What: Kansas City's Big Picnic July 20 from 5-8pm FREE at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak, KC, MO).
• Why We LOVE It:  As The Nelson-Atkins Museum continues celebrating the Sculpture Park’s 25th Anniversary, they partner with Kansas City Parks and Rec during National Parks and Recreation month to host the biggest picnic the region has ever seen, rain or shine! The Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park and Theis Park will be linked to become a giant space for Kansas City to come together for an evening of fun. Pack your own picnic, purchase a tote-for-four from us or grab your dinner from an on-site food truck! Highlights of the Day include: July is National Ice Cream Month, and Blue Bell Ice Cream is giving away treats! Bring a blanket to be part of a giant checkerboard-patterned display, The Big Picnic, by artist Alison Heryer. Human ants, giant food and other whimsies create a larger-than-life picnic experience by StoneLion Puppet Theatre. Children’s art activities and a “Best-Packed Picnic Basket” contest for adults. Acoustic musicians. Cooling stations throughout.  The Big Picnic “dronie”—a commemorative aerial pic taken from a hovering drone at 7:15 p.m. Picnic tote-for-four, $29—click here to pre-order by July 16. Pick up rain or shine. No refunds. So sorry, but no grills, no stakes, no tenting. Kansas City’s Big Picnic is generously supported by the Hall Family Foundation.

Fairs & Festivals 

• When, Where, What: Read our KC Summer Festival Guide for a complete schedule.
• Why We LOVE It: It's Summer in Kansas City and that means Festivals! Whether you fancy a good old fashioned county fair, or an ethnic festival with delicious delicacies, or something a bit more out of the ordinary... there is something for everyone! Read our guide to Festivals in the Kansas City area (a few of these are Day Trips in Missouri and Kansas) for Summer 2014!

Union Station: The Discovery of King Tut 

• When, Where, What: Science City at Union Station is the place to be this summer! 
• Why We LOVE It: Science City is Kansas City’s largest, most interactive science museum with something for visitors of all ages. Favorite exhibits include the Challenger Exhibit where you gear up as an astronaut for space flight, DinoLab where children dig for bones and watch as fossils are preserved, Echo Cave where children learn about nature firsthand, and exhibits about health, engineering, water, optical illusions and more. Top off your visit with a planetarium show for an unforgettable experience. This summer enjoy the Discovery of King Tut Exhibit.
• About The Discovery of King Tut: This never before assembled complete recreation of King Tut’s Tomb and Treasure is making its North American debut in Kansas City. In this breathtaking exhibition, you will learn about and walk in the footsteps of the 1922 discovery of the most significant ancient Egyptian archeological site imaginable. Explore the tomb’s treasures as they were at the moment of discovery. Marvel at more than 1,000 brilliant objects, filling nearly 20,000 square feet. Listen as Howard Carter tells his story of mystery and adventure (audio tour included with every ticket purchase). Additional admission charged.

Mahaffie Family Fun Nights

• When, Where, What: Mahaffie Family Fun Night 6-8 PM every Thursday Night in June & July, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm (1200 Kansas City Road, Olathe, KS). FREE admission. Enjoy a variety of historic-themed activities each week. Special activities like stagecoach rides are $2/person. 913.971.5111 www.mahaffie.org
• Weekly Themes: July 3-Celebrate Olathe! (Grand Opening of the Olathe Community Center, 19th Century Indepenence Day & 19th Century Fireworks). July 10-Civil War. July 17-Wonders of Victorian Science or Kansas Wheat Harvest (depends on crop readiness). July 24-Kansas Wheat Harvest or Wonders of Victorian Science (depends on crop readiness). July 31-County Fair.
• Why We LOVE It: Mahaffie is hosting special programs on Thursday evenings from 6-8pm when the farm truly comes to life with hands-on history from the 1850s. Activities include free activities (for example: butter churning, planting seeds, tours of the home) and activities with a small fee (for example: Stagecoach rides, working in the Blacksmith Shop, Grinding Corn)and they vary with the theme each week. Our children were enthralled at the blacksmith shop where they made their own "S Hooks" last year and the stagecoach ride is a fun historic experience.
• Bonus:  Read our tips for the most fun at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop before you go.

Super Kids Save the World

• When, Where, What: thru Sept. 7 at Crown Center (2500 Grand Blvd., KCMO). On the 1st level, open during shop hours. FREE hands-on children's exhibit.
• Why We LOVE It: Let's face it,  Kansas City summers can get HOT and sometimes you're looking for a little a/c to cool off. The FREE hands-on children's exhibits at Crown Center are a great indoor option for families looking to get the wiggles out in creative and educational ways. The latest exhibit Super Kids Save the World is developed by The Magic House®, St. Louis Children's Museum. Super kids become super heroes when given the power to go green! The exhibit's big message is Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle. In the Garden, kids pick fresh vegetables before selling them in the Farmer's Market. They can sort and hang laundry in the House, sell funky clothes at the Re-Use Charity Shop and use their scientific skills to learn about solar power and bio-fuel in the Research Lab. This is a summer must-see - for FREE! You simply can't beat that.

Train Rides

• Details: Sat & Sun at 2pm thru Oct, and Sat at 11am thru Aug ride aboard the Belton, Grandview & KC Railroad Co. (502 Walnut, Belton, MO) for $9.50/passenger. Every Friday June - Aug, enjoy Ice Cream Trains at 7pm for $10.50/passenger. 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. We are 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!

Early Mornings at the Zoo 

• When, Where, What: NEW Summer Hours at the Kansas City Zoo, 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Beat the heat and arrive in the cool of the morning!
• Why We LOVE It: The zoo is a must-see summer destination and the early mornings are a great way to beat the heat! While you're there, check out the Penguin Keeper Chats, Gorilla Zoo Keeper talk, the Polar Bear Chat, Elephant painting, and Sea Lion Feeding. Kids love to watch the polar bears swim and play when they first arrive at the zoo, followed by the penguins in the Helzberg Penguin Plaza. The African Exhibit has been ranked as the #1 African Zoo Exhibit in America. Visitors now enjoy a bird's eye view of majestic animals on the sky safari - ride above the African plains exhibit at the Zoo. Riders view the giraffes, zebras, antelope, cheetahs, rhinos, birds, and more from an up-close view above the treetops unlike any other. 

Shop at Kansas City's Farmers' Markets! & Special Events

• 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!
• City Market Busker Festival: Jun 21, 2014 from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm at The City Market Third & Main Kansas City , MO. Free, freaky, fun entertainment! Enjoy circus style performances at the City Market--fire breathers, aerial trapeze, glass walking, juggling, and more! 

KidScape at the Johnson County Museum: Summer Arts, Pop 'N Play, & Live Performances

• When, Where, What: Johnson County Museum (6305 Lackman Road, Shawnee, KS). Admission: FREE. Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Sundays 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. 913.715.25550. Read our review of KidScape. Special events at KidScape in July include: Summer Arts Programs Every Friday (registration required), Wednesday Events  (either Pop 'N Play for little ones or live concerts, story tellers, and special prgrams. Visit the Johnson County Museum Calendar for specific details.
• Why We LOVE KidScape: We enjoy KidScape all year long! The educational and hands-on exhibit is perfect for kids ages 3-9 (but our younger-than-3 children love it too!). Children escape into a child-sized suburban streetscape, where children role-play as community figures in educational environments: bookstore, park, City Hall, hospital, fashion boutique, farm, and theater.This is a terrific indoor option for super hot or rainy days! And, be sure to explore the rest of the Johnson County Museum on your trip. My children adore the pioneer home complete with a kitchen, dining table, and chicken coop. The historical exhibits in the Johnson County Museum tell the story of the area for older children - adults.

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!