Best of August

August - one last hurrah before the first school bell rings! This summer, the Kansas City Zoo anticipates the arrival of the sloth! It's time for fabulous festivals, terrific exhibits, great shows, and a few more long days at the pool. Our top picks for August in Kansas City are here.

Note: We are looking forward to each event on this list. They are numbered to correspond with their position on the map, not in order of preference. We love them all.

• August at the Kansas City Zoo

  The Kansas City Zoo is excited to be welcoming a four-year-old two-toed male sloth (native to South America), from the Biodome in Montreal, who will soon be on exhibit in the Discovery Barn on August 14.

  It seems like we’ve been waiting forever to welcome our new sloth to the Kansas City Zoo, but our new slow-moving friend is now getting used to his new home in the Discovery Barn. A generous, long-time Zoo donor has given him the moniker Arenal, named after a volcano in Costa Rica. He will go by the nickname Arnie.

  Arnie is a Linne’s two-toed sloth, one of six species of sloths. He is three years old and weighs 21 pounds. Arnie came to the Kansas City Zoo from the Biodome de Montreal in Canada. His diet consists mostly of fruits, veggies and greens but his favorite foods are sweet potatoes and grapes. He does not like peppers and tomatoes. Although sloths are often depicted as lazy, it is this low-calorie diet that makes them notoriously slow-moving. Sloths are built to conserve energy. Their four-chambered stomach allows them to hold large quantities of food, which takes two to four weeks to digest in their bodies. They defecate only about once per week, which is typically the only time they descend from the trees. The Linne’s two-toed sloth is native to the high canopy of tropical, subtropical and cloud forests of Venezuela, the Guyanas, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Brazil and now in Bolivia. Sleeping an average of 15 hours per day, they are nocturnal animals and typically only move from tree to tree at night. They have three- to four-inch claws which help them to hang on to branches but are also used for defense from predators. Their most unique characteristic is their ability to live upside down. They eat, sleep, breed, give birth, and fight upside down. In fact, their hair grows from belly to back to allow for rain to slide right down the hair and off of the sloth; they are the only mammal with hair growth in this direction. Their heart, liver and spleen are also positioned differently in their bodies to allow for this upside-down lifestyle.

  Don’t be slow like Arnie… hurry to the Zoo and see him for yourself!

  August Special Events at the Kansas City Zoo:

  • August 3 & 4: Art for the Animals
  • August 10: KU Day at the Zoo
  • August 17: Girl Scout Day
  • August 17: Melon Summer Smash
  • August 24: Wine Walk for Wildlife  (21 and over, registration required)
  • August 24 & 25: Dog Days of Summer
  • August 24 & 25: Humboldt Penguin March

• Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens

  Festival of Butterflies: thru Aug. 11.  Enjoy this family favorite and immerse yourself in the world of butterflies native and exotic! Special programming, family-friendly activities, free expert advice each weekend (Friday-Sunday) of the festival. 

• Missouri State Fair

  Aug. 8-18: The 407-acre fairgrounds will present premier livestock shows and competitive exhibits, and first-class professional entertainment. Mark your calendar for summer’s best family vacation experience!

• US Gymnastics Championships

  Aug. 8-11: 

  The U.S. Gymnastics Championships returns to Kansas City, Mo., for the first time since 1987. The four-day championships held at Sprint Center from Aug. 8-11 will feature the country's best gymnasts vying for national titles and national team berths.​ 

  • Junior & Senior Men's Day 1 & 2 Package: Aug. 8 & 10 (4 Sessions)
  • Junior & Senior Women's Day 1 Package: Aug. 9 (2 Sessions)
  • Senior Men's & Senior Women's Day 2 Package: Aug. 10 & 11 (2 Sessions)
  • Junior & Senior Women's Day 2 Package: Aug. 11 (2 Sessions) 

• Stonehenge at Union Station

  thru Sept. 28, 2019: Stonehenge at Union Station. Stonehenge, celebrated by scholars, writers and artists for countless generations comes to life in this large-scale exhibition, suitable for all ages and featuring multiple hands-on interactives to amplify key elements of the monument's mysteries. So much more than a massive marvel of ancient engineering, Stonehenge and it's immense stones have captured our imaginations and dared us to explore and explain prehistoric unknowns like never before. Join as we dig into these ancient mysteries and present the latest in modern discoveries. This must-see exhibition is here for a very limited time.

• Grand Carnivale at Worlds of Fun

  Experience Worlds of Fun like you never have before when myth and magic join together to create the all-new Grand Carnivale. Experience Grand Carnivale every day through August 4 beginning at 5:00 p.m. to celebrate the sights, sounds, smells and tastes from cultures around the world including India, China, Italy, France, and Germany. Indeed, the Grand Carnivale has something for everyone – from crafts and games to delectable food and drink, to live music and astounding entertainment. Take part in our Spectacle of Color interactive light parade, complete with dazzling floats, authentic music, and mesmerizing street performers. And finally, top off the night at the Carnivale Street Party, a magnificent party filled with international music and merrymaking until the park closes.

• Elephant and Piggie's "We Are In A Play" at The Coterie

  The Coterie's summer musical, Elephant and Piggie's "We are in a Play!" (showing thruAugust 4, 2019), is a smash hit for the entire family! Throughout the show, the two friends make great memories, learn to forgive, learn to share the spotlight, and demonstrate the power of true loyalty. Audiences will love this upbeat, fun-filled show. Read our review.

• First Saturday at Shoal Creek Living History Museum

  First Saturdays at Shoal Creek Living History Museum (August 3) are free fun for the entire family!  The Shoal Creek re-enactors bring the village to life with Gunfighters, Outlaws, Civil War Soldiers, and Mountain Men roaming the streets. Enjoy family fun activities and historical demonstrations of life in Missouri during the 19th century. Skits and gunfights throughout the day. Shop the Mercantile and visit the newspaper office located in the Crossroads Inn.

• Ethnic Enrichment Festival

  Aug. 16-18:

  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.  Sorry, no pets allowed.

  • Friday: 6-10 p.m.
  • Saturday: Noon-10 p.m.
  • Sunday: Noon-6 p.m.

  Price: Adults: $5; 12 & Under: Free

• 5th Annual PNC kidFEST

  August 31: You won’t want to miss out on the 5th Annual PNC kidFEST, Saturday, August 31 at Science City! kidFEST is full of interactive, early-childhood science education. This event is dedicated to hands-on learning for your youngest STEM explorers, so prepare for hands-on activities, demonstrations, and more that will engage and inspire your little ones. It'll be a science-filled fun day, all you need to bring is a BIG imagination and a smile!

  Plan ahead, and purchase tickets to experience the joys of messy learning, today!

• Adventures of Clifford the Big Red Dog

  When you spend the day exploring the Crown Center district, one of the top picks for families with young children is the free exhibits on Level I. This year, enjoy Adventures of Clifford the Big Red Dog: thru Sept. 22.  Transport yourself to the world of Clifford, Emily Elizabeth and all the residents of Birdwell Island in this exciting, interactive and FREE exhibit. Climb aboard the ferry, explore Clifford’s dog house, work together to fill Clifford’s big dog bowl and be greeted by a colossal 9-foot-high Clifford with a tail to slide down.  He won't follow you home, but the memories will!

• Grand Opening: Legends Lawn

  Aug. 23 & 24:

  The Lawn will officially open at Legends Outlets this August, and we are celebrating with special events & activities all weekend long! The Lawn Grand Opening Schedule:

  Friday, August 23: Ribbon Cutting & Young Professionals Night

  9 – 11 AM: Ribbon Cutting with city officials, Village West neighbors, Legends Outlets employees, etc. Private event. Closed to the public. 

  4 – 7 PM: Young Professionals Night featuring yard games, a live DJ, prize giveaways, complimentary appetizers, and more. Free to attend and open to the public. Must be 21+ to consume alcohol. 

  Saturday, August 24: Family Fun Day 

  10 – 11 AM: Free “mommy and me” workout class featuring The Burn KC and Tony Temple. Registration information will be available soon. Free to attend and open to the public. Registration required. 

  11 AM – 3 PM: Family-friendly entertainment and activities, mascot appearances, back-to-school prize giveaways, swag, snacks, and more. Free to attend and open to the public. 

• Celebrate the Moon Landing's 50th Anniversary

  Experience the largest combined collection of Soviet-era and U.S. artifacts that tell a comprehensive story of man's race to space better than anywhere else in the world. Featuring many Apollo 11 artifacts. Explore the secrets of the universe in the planetarium. Ignite your curiosity with explosive live science demonstrations in Dr. Goddard's Lab. Learn more.

• August at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

  Summer Fun at T/m:

  • August 3: Miniature Masterpieces
  • August 7 & 10: Surprise Program
  • August 17: FREE Admission Day!  At T/m’s annual Farewell to Summer Free Admission Day, we’ll unveil a new scavenger hunt and craft workshop with a spy theme. Come bid summer goodbye with an adventure full of mysterious clues and secret codes.

  And, special exhibit, "A Space of Their Own: Dollhouses of the 20th Century" through January 6, 2020:

  Over the last 200 years, dollhouses have evolved alongside the children who played with them. In a world designed for adults, the dollhouse has provided kids with a space of their own to dream and imagine. This special exhibit will dig into T/m’s extensive collection and display some never-before-seen examples, from glittering mansions to humble bungalows. 

• Expanding Oz

  Special Exhibit thru Nov. 2: 

  The Wizard of Oz" has become one of the world’s most loved stories. Come explore what you don't know in the latest exhibition "Expanding Oz" at the Johnson County Museum.  See one-of-a-kind Oz memorabilia from original books to stage productions and pop culture.  And to it think it all started with one book, written by L. Frank Baum in 1900!         

  Open regular museum hours and museum admission rates apply.  As always, museum members are free! 

• August at National World War I Museum and Memorial

  August Events at National World War I Museum:

  • Hands-on History Saturdays at 11am: History is brought to life in this family‑friendly program in which kids of all ages are invited to handle Great War artifacts, every Saturday at 11 a.m. FREE to the public | Near Paul Sunderland Bridge
  • August 24 & 25: Living the Great War. This free weekend event features the Living History Volunteer Corps and other World War I living historians sharing their knowledge and inviting the public to inspect their collections in a camp setting on the Museum and Memorial grounds. Living historians offer educational programs each day at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., a children’s obstacle course is available and the Kansas City Dawn Patrol will have replica WWI-era aircraft on display (weather permitting) and a 1918 Ford Model T from the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. FREE to the public | Museum Southeast Lawn

• Family Events in Downtown Lee's Summit

  Downtown Lee's Summit is hosting several family-friendly events this summer!

  • August 8 at 8:30 PM: FREE Movie: Troop Beverly Hills. This year for our Downtown Movie Nights, we’re celebrating Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street’s 30th Anniversary by showing movies from 1989! Join us this season for some great throwbacks!
  • August 23: Fall Open House. Get excited for falling leaves and pumpkin spice everything by shopping in Downtown Lee’s Summit this weekend. Merchants will feature new items for Fall 2019, and customers can also enter to win a Downtown Shopping Spree!

• Touch-a-Truck Topeka

  Families are invited to Downtown Topeka on August 31, 2019, for the 7th Annual Touch a Truck Event. Bring the kids to look at, climb in and learn about a variety of specialty equipment and vehicles. Food and drinks will be available through vendors and food trucks. This is a free event, a donation of a non-perishable food item is suggested benefiting Harvesters Community Food Network.