Summer Festivals & Fairs in KC: 2013
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! This is our guide to Festivals in the Kansas City area (a few of these are Day Trips in Missouri and Kansas) for Summer 2013!
TIP: The name of each festival is linked to the website for the event - simply click the green event name to visit the festival website!
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.
June Festivals & Fairs in Kansas City
Prairie Village Art Show May 31- June 2, Prairie Village Shops. Annual Art Show featuring over 100 artists from across the country. Children's activities, food, music and more!
Festa Italiana May 31 - June 2, Zona Rosa. One of Kansas City’s favorite festivals, Festa Italiana, the unique celebration of Italian traditions and Italian-American culture, will be hosted once again at Zona Rosa this year! This longtime local ethnic festival draws visitors from across metropolitan Kansas City and beyond. This popular family event has free admission and showcases Italian food booths, a beer garden, vendors, live Italian music, dancers, a kids play area and much more! 816.587.8180
Liberty Arts Squared May 31 - June 1, Historic Downtown Liberty. The visual arts area incorporates two and three-dimensional fine arts and crafts. Media will be juried and displayed in two separate categories: Fine Arts and Crafts. The Children's art area of the festival will feature interactive arts activities in the visual arts, literature, musical arts and music-making and performance. The activities are set up so that children can become engaged with producing art and viewing demonstrations throughout the children's area. Activities will be available for all age groups from very young through teen-aged. Liberty Arts Squared will have storytellers featured during the day on Saturday at various locations on the Historic Downtown Square.
Annual Serb Fest at St. George May 31 - June 1, St. George Serbian Orthodox Church. Delicious Serbian Food & Fun. Children's activities, games, authentic food, music, and performances. 913.281.2942
Children's Day & National Trails Day June 1, Missouri Town 1855. A special day of games and activities specifically designed to introduce children to a simpler time in our history. Time honored activities such as tug-of-war, marbles, and gunny sack races will be featured. A special exhibit will introduce participants to the ever expanding trail system of Jackson County. Adults, $5.00; Youth 5-13 and Seniors, $3.00; Under 5, Free. 816.503.4860
Vaile Mansion Strawberry Festival June 1, Vaile Mansion. There will be approximately 100 craft & antique booths set up on the spacious lawn. Entertainment, food, children's corner, carriage rides, vintage cars, and wonderful Strawberry Treats. Free admission to grounds, Mansion tour $6.00.
Rose Show and Rose Day June 1 - 2, Loose Park. Each year at the height of the rose season, KCRS sponsors Rose Day in the garden and a Rose Show in the Loose Park Garden Center. Spring and Fall rose care demonstrations are held in the Garden Center as well as other educational programs. 816.784.5300
Weston Children's Day June 2, Weston, MO. Fun for all ages. This year's Kid's Day will be held on Sunday June 2, 2013, in the Weston City Park. There will be food, games, and drawings for prizes. Mark your calendar and kick off your summer fun. Contact Kristine Lindahl at Renditions 816.640.2300.
Old Shawnee Days June 6 - 9, Old Shawnee. Kick off your summer with everyone’s favorite Shawnee event - Old Shawnee Days! There’s something for everyone - music, carnival rides, contests, games, the parade, crafts, shopping, festival food, and so much more.
Smoky Hill River Festival June 6-9, Salina Kansas. Festival-goers will discover the vibrant sounds of musical instruments and voices blended with colorful artwork and outdoor-art installations designed to intrigue and engage each visitor. Mix these elements with a touch of children's laughter and a 'dash' of tantalizing outdoor cooking and you can just about captured the essence of the unique 'recipe' that comprises the Smoky Hill River Festival.
Jazzoo June 7 Kansas City Zoo. Jazzoo is the Kansas City Zoo’s largest fundraiser. It helps raise support for the children’s educational programs and feeds the Zoo’s more than 1,000 animals. This year’s theme, Mystique of the Beak, celebrates the upcoming arrival of the Zoo’s new state-of-the-art penguin habitat. 816.513.5700
Downtown Days...Streets Alive! Festival June 7 - 9, Downtown Lee's Summit. Downtown Days is a family-friendly festival featuring live entertainment, arts & crafts, a carnival, kids street, delicious food, street performers, and more! New this year Downtown Days is partnering with Downtown Rotary to host a sanctioned BBQ competition. Free. 816.246.6598
Sugar Creek Slavic Festival June 7 & 8, Sugar Creek. This June, join Sugar Creek and its citizens as they pay tribute to their Slavic heritage in the only way they know how - with scores of heel-kicking dancers, ivory-toned riffs from squeezebox masters, and of course, pound upon pound of juicy Kielbasa. Fee for food and crafts. Free entertainment.
Little Blue River Arts Fest June 8-9, White Oak Plaza Shopping Center, Blue Springs. Artists from the area will be displaying paintings, drawings, printmaking, photography, jewelry, ceramics, textiles and much more. The Art Fest will also feature musical entertainment, a hands-on art activity for children, and food and beverage. Admission is free. 816.260.4325
Scottish Highland Games June 7 - 9, E.H. Young Park. The Kansas City Scottish Highland Games has world-class bagpiping, sanctioned highland dancing and Scottish heavy athletics competitions. Bring the family to a wee bit of Scotland in America's heartland! Come experience the color, sounds and traditions of Scotland, here in greater Kansas City, Missouri! Listen to the Great Highland Bagpipe playing over the fields, see world class athletes toss the ancient Scottish caber, and watch our sanctioned Highland Dance competitions showcase the best dancers from across the country. Two stages of live Celtic Music continue throughout the Games, featuring favorite regional entertainers and national headliners. Find many Scottish Clans on Clan Village and discover your genealogy, or simply share the special company of clansfolk from around the region and the world. Tickets range from $5-25/adult (varies with number of days and times), FREE for children 12 and under.
50th Annual Greek Festival June 7 - 9, St. Dionysios. 50th Annual Greek Festival. Come and enjoy a little taste of Greece with delicious food, dancing, crafts and more. FREE Admission, charge for food and vendor goods.
Sprint Family Fun Days June 8, KC Power & Light District. The monthly Sprint Family Fun Series is back on the 2nd 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! June theme: Summer Safari (Animals & Nature). Entertainment Includes: Brandon Draper's Drum Safari, Stone Lion Puppet Theater's "It's A Jungle" Show and Radio Disney. Plus - Don't miss the Exotic Animal Petting Zoo, Pig Races, The Reptile Guy and More!
Crown Center Antique Festival June 8 -9, Crown Center. The festival's 12th year will feature pottery, china, toys, linens, collectibles, furniture, jewelry, books and much more. More than 100 dealers. FREE Admission. 816.274.8444
Flag Day at Fort Osage June 8, Fort Osage. A display of flags representing different periods of American history will be featured. Knowledgeable staff will answer questions concerning proper flag etiquette and provide background on this enduring symbol. Adults, $7.00; Youth $4.00; and Seniors, $3.00. 816.503.4860
Farmstead Dairy Days June 8, Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. Learn why milk really does do a body good . . .Ice cream, cow milking at the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. $2/person admission. Under 1 Free 913.897.2360
Festival on the Trails June 8, Downtown Gardner. The Festival on the Trails is in it's fourth year in downtown Gardner Kansas. Gardner has a rich history of events that attract area families.
KC Festival of Fountains June 9, Henry Bloch Fountain in Front of Union Station. Kansas City visitors and families will have a unique opportunity to learn about the fountains that make our city special. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the City of Fountains Foundation has organized this first-ever event, designed to showcase local fountains and encourage contributions for several that need immediate repairs. Activities will include a Lego interactive exhibit, Science City projects, the Zoomobile, animals from Lakeside Nature Center, and a Power-Point show of Kansas City fountains. Children will enjoy a Fountains Activity Book designed by a local teacher especially for the occasion. The entertainment stage will feature El Grupo Mexican Dancers, the Starlight Stars, Ailey the Group, the Junior Ballet and DJ Slavi Dillane. Local radio station, Alice 102.1 will broadcast live from the event. Vendors will offer food and drink.
Fiesta Filipina June 15 - 16, Filipino Cultural Center. An annual showcase of Filipino culture, food, dance, music, and games. The Fiesta commemorates Philippine Independence and will feature: a sampling of favorite Filipino cuisine, performances by the Sinag-Tala Dance Troupe and Sampaguita Choir, and arts and crafts from various vendors, among others. Cost is $2 per person. Children 12 and under are free. Open Saturday 12 AM-8 PM; and Sunday 12-6 PM.
National Marina Day June 8, Lake Jacomo . Do you love boats, fishing and free family fun? Then head out to the second annual National Marina Day hosted by Lake Jacomo Marina and Bass Pro Shops. The day is jam-packed with boat rides; fishing tips and tricks; raffle prizes; children’s crafts and contests; outdoor cooking demonstrations and so much more. 816.503.4800
Dragon Boat Festival June 8, Brush Creek . You are invited to come to the east side of the Country Club Plaza along Ward Parkway and Brush Creek, just west of J.C. Nichols Parkway, and within sight of the Sister Cities Bridge to enjoy cultural and social exchanges among all the people of Kansas City through a celebration of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival. The day will include cultural games, performances, delicious food, and dragon boats, and fun activities for children of all ages. Dancers, drummers and musicians from all over town will entertain you on the stage.
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival June 18 - July 7, Southmoreland Park. The Festival will present As You Like It Tuesday - Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and also on Monday, July 1. NO SHOW July 4. This delightful pastoral comedy will bring our park to life as our heroine Rosalind journeys to the Forest of Arden with her cousin Celia and her philosophical Fool, Touchstone. The Forest provides a safe place for the exiled Duke and his entourage, the dispossesed Orlando and for Rosalind and her companions. In the wilds, the wildest adventures occur. This story has everything we love about Shakespeare's comedies; mistaken identity, madness and mayhem. And of course, LOVE. Mark your calendars for the Festival's 21st season production.
Belton Community Days June 19-22, Main Street Belton. The annual Parade on Saturday. Carnival, USSSA State Baseball Tournament, contests, fireworks, games, food and vendors.
Fiesta Kansas City June 21 - 23, Crown Center. Celebrate Hispanic culture at this 13th annual event, which features great music, food, dancing and exhibits. Sponsored by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. Admission charged. 816.274.8444
Great Lenexa BBQ Battle June 21 & 22, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park (87th & Lackman Road). The two-day event, which includes children's activities and live music, attracts cookers from all over the country who compete for the coveted title of Grand Champion of the Great Lenexa Barbeque Battle, Kansas State Champion. Prizes and ribbons are awarded for the top 10 contestants in seven categories and top three overall winners.
Irish Street Faire June 22, Browne's Market. Featuring music by Scarlet Town, St. Andrew's Bagpipe Band, Eddie Delahunt She's a Keeper and The Elders. Special performances by O'Riada McCarty Manning Irish Dancers and Driscoll Irish Dancers! Irish Brews, Irish and Festival Foods, Vendor Booths and a Large Children' Area. *A benefit for The Don Bosco Center. Tickets $12 or $10 in advance at Brownes or area Hen House Stores. Children under 12 are free. Bring your lawn chairs, bring your neighbors and enjoy a great Kansas City Summer Festival. Parking nearby at VFW and GE lots.
Shatto Family Day at the Farm June 22, Shatto Dairy Farm (816.930.3862). This FREE event celebrates June as dairy month and thanks the entire Metropolitan region for their support of Shatto Milk Company, the area's true local family dairy farm. Enjoy entertainment, hay rides and free lunch.
Children's TLC Duck Derby June 23, Schlitterbahn Waterpark. The Duck Derby is the agency’s fun-filled summer event, and has quickly become an event the entire Kansas City community looks forward to each year.
Lansing Independence Day Celebration June 28, Lansing Kansas. Fireworks show begins approx. 9:30 pm. Children's Inflatables, BBQ, Soda, Cotton Candy, Snow Cones & much more! Directions: Turn West on 4-H Road off Main Street/US 73/K-7 Highway. Drive approximately 2.5 miles to the Kenneth W. Bernard Community Park entrance Questions call (913) 727-5488.
Maker Faire: Kansas City June 29 - 30, Union Station Kansas City. Celebrate things people create themselves — from new technology and electronic gizmos to urban farming and “slow-made” foods to homemade clothes, quilts and sculptures. This family-friendly event demonstrates what and how people are inventing, making and creating. It brings together Makers, Crafters, Inventors, Hackers, Scientists and Artists for a faire full of fun and inspiration. Come see what others are making and be inspired to tap into your own creativity! What Will You See at Maker Faire: Kansas City? rockets & robots • diy science & technology • arts & crafts • bicycles • electronics • artisan foods • urban farming • sustainable living • woodworking • circuit boards • alternative energy vehicles • fire arts • live music • art cars • tesla coils • arduino & kits • and so much more! Admission charged.
Waterfest June 28 - 30, Excelsior Springs. This three day event features arts, crafts, live entertainment, and water games for the kids, lawn tractor pull, classic car-hot rod and truck show, parade, fireworks and much more.
Downtown Olathe Arts Festival June 29 - 30, Downtown Olathe. Held in historic downtown Olathe, this juried art festival will feature a wide range of artistic talents from your community, and across the region. Listen to live music while you enjoy art of all kinds, of various genres and mediums. Emerging artists and artists with disabilities will be among those featured at the Festival. Also enjoy live performances from local performing artists and delicious concessions that will keep you fueled up for the festivities.
July Festivals & Fairs in Kansas City
Flags For Freedom June 29-July 6, Merriam Marketplace. Over 3,000 American Flags on Display. Concerts, Ceremonies, and Festivities throughout the event honoring the American Armed Services.Also enjoy Music at the Marketplace: Free FRIDAY NIGHT Concert Series EVERY Friday night through mid-August at 6:30pm at the Merriam Marketplace (5740 Merriam Dr.). All events are family orientated and free of charge. 913.384.5440
Booms and Blooms July 3, Powell Gardens. It's peak time to enjoy the collection of more than 400 varieties of daylilies in the Perennial Garden. Look for your favorites at McConnell’s Plantland daylily sale in front of the Visitor Education Center throughout the festival. Don't miss seeing the nation's largest edible landscape! Tasting Stations are open from 1 to 7:30 p.m. so you can sample the day's harvest. Linda Duerr, Executive Chef at The River Club in Kansas City, will demonstrate a recipe using produce grown in the Heartland Harvest Garden (included in festival admission). Come early for a splash through the Fountain Garden and a tour of the NATURE CONNECTS exhibit of LEGO brick sculptures. Also enjoy Paint-A-Pot and face painting starting at 2 p.m. (extra fee applies). The music begins at 4:30 p.m. with a performance by
Luehrman, Shaffer & Check on the lawn near the Fountain Garden. At 7:30 p.m. the Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra takes the stage for a pops concert that includes patriotic favorites. Enjoy a sizzling fireworks display that really shines against the dark country sky! It begins at the conclusion of the symphony's performance or approximately 9:30 p.m. Rain Date: Friday, July 5 Festival admission is $12/adults, $10/seniors and $5/children ages 5-12. Festival admission includes free parking, admission to exhibits and free trolley rides.
Parkville 4th of July Festival July 3 - 6, English Landing Park. Bring the whole family for a taste of good old-fashioned Americana. The traditional salute to Independence Day includes a parade, carnival rides, fireworks and more! 816.505.2227
KC Riverfest July 4, Berkley Riverfront Park. Since 2005, KCRiverFest has been recognized as Kansas City’s premier Independence Day Festival on the Missouri River. Hosted by the Friends of the River-KC (FOR-KC) and produced by EventPros Inc., KCRiverFest at Berkley Park is known as the only place in downtown Kansas City to celebrate the Fourth of July with spectacular fireworks, amazing food and world-class family entertainment. Admission charged. 816.960.3400
Sunflower Art Fest July 12-14, 9200 Kill Creek Rd. DeSoto, KS. Three days of fine art, food, festivities and entertainment.
Sprint Family Fun Days July 13, KC Power & Light District. The monthly Sprint Family Fun Series is back on the 2nd 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! July Theme - Ultimate Field Day (Sports & Fitness). Entertainment Includes: Free concerts by the Sugar Free All-Stars and Sing Alongs with Radio Disney - Plus, meet KC's Favorite Sports Mascots, Play Baseball, Bowling and More!
Cass County Fair July 16 - 21, Cass County Fair. The Cass County Fair continues to grow and attract bigger crowds for such events as: The Motocross, a Wednesday night Arena Concert, the Demolition Derby, nightly entertainment in the Miller Pavilion, The Southern Fun Carnival, the high powered Tractor Pull and of course 2 nights of MRCA sanctioned rodeo.
KC Fringe Festival July 18 - 28, Crown Center. A city-wide celebration of local, regional and national artists. Admission charged. 816.516.4750
Amelia Earhart Festival July 19 - 20, Atchison Kansas. 16th annual celebration of the life of the famed aviatrix. Friday evening LakeFest outdoor concert at Warnock Lake features rising star Chris Young and native Kansan Jerrod Niemann. Other highlights include a downtown fair with arts & crafts, live entertainment, food vendors and children’s activities, panel discussions with authors and researchers, award luncheon, carnival rides, aerobatic performances, aviation displays and spectacular fireworks over the Missouri River. Tip: Read our Atchison Day Trip Tips For more ideas! 800.234.1854
Party in the Park July 20, Swope Park. Play all day at the annual Party in the Park! Held each July in celebration of National Parks and Recreation Month, Party in the Park provides free or low-cost, family-friendly activities at Swope Park attractions all day long! 816.513.7527
Platte County Fair July 23 - 27, Platte County Fairgrounds. Old-Fashioned County Fair - Games, Rides, Carnival, Food, Music and More! The fair has been an annual event in our community since the first fair in 1863. It is recorded as being the oldest continuously operating fair west of the Mississippi River. The fair draws participants and spectators from a 100-mile radius, and in some cases even further. 816.431.FAIR
Douglas County Fair July 26 - August 3, Lawrence. KS. Petting zoo, pony rides, demolition derby, tractor show, live concerts, turtle races, carnival, tractor pull and more.
Miami County Fair July 20 - 27, Paola. Youth rodeo, carnival, races, parade, demolition derby, bike derby, dog show, horse show, pancake breakfast, concerts and more.
Wyandotte County Fair July 23 - 27, Wyandotte County Fairgrounds. Old-Fashioned County Fair - Games, Rides, Carnival, Demolition Derby, Food, 4-H Events, Petting Zoo, Pony Rides, Music and More! 913.788.7898
Missouri Peach Days July 27 - Aug. 4, 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!
August Festivals & Fairs in Kansas City
Festival of Butterflies Aug. 2- 4, 9-11, Powell Gardens. Each August Powell Gardens transforms the 2,500-square-foot conservatory into a temporary butterfly house, filled to the brim with gorgeous blooms and hundreds of tropical butterflies. And that's just the beginning! Festival days are packed with hands-on fun. Highlights include a native butterfly breezeway by Master Gardeners, Monarch Watch and the Idalia Society, kids' crafts, a costume parade, a butterfly catch-and-release area and much more. Festival admission is $12/adults, $10/seniors and $5/children ages 5-12. Festival admission includes free parking, admission to exhibits and free trolley rides.
Johnson County Fair Aug. 6 - 10, Gardner, KS. Dog show, youth rodeo, carnival, concerts, goat milking, police & fire demonstrations, bull blast, barrel racing, parade and demolition derby.
Missouri State Fair August 8 - 18, 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!
Great Midwest Balloon Fest August 9 - 10, 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.
Sprint Family Fun Days August 10, KC Power & Light District. The monthly Sprint Family Fun Series is back on the 2nd Saturday of each month! August Theme - Luau (Beach Party before Back-to-School). Entertainment Includes: Free concerts by The Doo Dad's, Jim Cosgrove and More! Plus, enjoy Water Inflatables and Slides, Bubbles, Sand Activities, a Fish Pond and More!
Tails on the Trails Fest August 10, Lenexa. For a day of fun with your dog, come to Lenexa’s Tails on the Trails Pet Festival. Located at Ad Astra pool and park, the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013. Enjoy pet vendors, pet talent show, dog swims and demonstrations.
Ethnic Enrichment Festival of Kansas City August 16-18, Swope Park. Admission charged. 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.
Lexington Community Fair August 19 - 24, Lexington, MO. Crafts, carnival, vendors and more.
KC Irish Fest Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 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
Santa-Cali-Gon Days Aug. 31 - 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
Leavenworth County Fair August 2013, dates TBA. Leavenworth County Fairgrounds, Tonganoxie, KS.
Looking for MORE Summer Fun? Follow our 100 Days of Summer blog for the inside scoop on summer fun in KC!