Festivals and Fairs in August!
It's time for Summer Festivals in Kansas City and many of our FAVES occur in August! 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! This is our guide to Festivals in the Kansas City area (a few of these are Day Trips in Missouri and Kansas) for Summer 2012!
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.
Missouri Peach Days July 28 - Aug. 5, Lexington, MO. Sample Missouri's finest peaches at orchards and markets along Highway 24—the famous Santa Fe Trail. Special offers and discounts at participating orchards. Growers in Lexington in front of courthouse, Sat. AM July 28! http://www.visitlexingtonmo.com/images/file/PeachDays12Flyer1UpDraft.pdf
Festival of Butterflies Aug. 3-5, 10-12, Powell Gardens. Powell Gardens’ signature festival is a grand celebration of the fantastical beauty of the butterfly. The festival includes an indoor exhibit with hundreds of free-flying butterflies and moths from the tropical United States and Costa Rica, two outdoor butterfly breezeways aflutter with native species, children’s activities, a butterfly plant sale and much more. Festival Admission applies. $12/adults, $10/seniors, $5/children 5-12 http://www.powellgardens.org
Johnson County Fair Aug. 7-11, Gardner, KS. Dog show, youth rodeo, carnival, concerts, goat milking, police & fire demonstrations, bull blast, barrel racing, parade and demolition derby. www.JoCoKansasFair.com
Great Midwest Balloon Fest August 10-12, Great Mall of the Great Plains, Olathe Kansas. More than 50 hot air balloonists from all over the country will converge on Kansas City to compete for fun and prizes. This family-oriented weekend will include balloon glows and competitions, music and more. Admission charged. www.greatmidwestballoonfest.org
Missouri State Fair August 9-19, Sedalia, MO. Join the Missouri State Fair Aug. 9-19, 2012, in Sedalia, in celebration of our great State's 110th annual agricultural showcase! The 400-acre fairgrounds will present premier livestock shows and competitive exhibits, and first-class professional entertainment. Admission charged. www.MoStateFair.com Read our Tips for the Missouri State Fair before you go!
Ethnic Enrichment Festival of Kansas City August 17-19, Swope Park. Adult Admission : $3.00; Children 12 and under are admitted FREE with adult! Parking is Free ( Handicap Parking available). 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. http://eeckc.org
Sprint Family Fun Days August 18, KC Power & Light District. The monthly Sprint Family Fun Series is back on the 3rd Saturday of each month! 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!
Lexington Community Fair August 20, Lexington, MO. Crafts, carnival, vendors and more. http://www.visitlexingtonmo.com/index.cfm?Page=2012Events
Waterfest August 24, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Waterfest is a day for Lenexa residents to join together to celebrate water. A free event, Waterfest offers numerous interactive, educational booths that provide water quality, stormwater and other environmental information, as well as entertainment and many water-related activities that appeal to all ages. Booths include paddle boats, canoeing, cane pole fishing, waterslides, the Lenexa Fire Department Deluge and more. Entertainment included Operation Wildlife, Ernie Miller Nature Center, The Kansas City Zoo’s Zoomobile and local band the Ruskin Quartet. http://www.ci.lenexa.ks.us/raintorecreation/waterfest.html
Santa-Cali-Gon Days Aug. 30 - Sept. 3, Independence, MO. This premier annual festival on historic Independence Square features more than 400 crafters/vendors and more than 100 food booths, free local and nationally known country western music on a community stage, gospel stage and headliner stage, a midway carnival and old fashioned contests like watermelon seed spitting, ice cream eating and rootbeer chugging. FREE except carnival and vendor purchases 816.252.4745 http://www.santacaligon.com
KC Irish Fest Aug. 31 - Sept. 2, Crown Center. Commemorate Kansas City’s proud Celtic heritage with three days of music, dancing and exhibits. The festival will feature more than two dozen locally and nationally known bands, playing traditional music and Celtic rock. Off Center Theatre will host Irish comics. Admission charged 816.997.0837 http://www.kcirishfest.com
Leavenworth County Fair August 2012, dates TBA. Leavenworth County Fairgrounds, Tonganoxie, KS. www.visitleavenworthks.com