Sarah Swade
Welcome to my hometown! Fall and winter are my favorite times of the year in the city. We love exploring local pumpkin patches and cider mills in the fall and celebrating beloved holiday traditions in the winter.
Seasonal traditions stand out this time of year with many fabulous festivals and events. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! is an October staple for hundreds of Americans, and Worlds of Fun celebrates with the Peanuts Gang during their Great Pumpkin Fest. Louisburg Cider Mill is famous in our region for everything fall, and rightfully so. With delicious cider, apple cider donuts, a beautiful pumpkin patch, and corn maze, and it’s centerpiece barn hosting many fall events, this is a must-see autumn attraction. We also love taking kids to spend a day playing at Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch in the Northland. It offers giant pumpkin pillows, a large petting zoo, train rides, and pig races. Johnson Farms Pumpkin Patch, in the south part of town, has delightful play areas, pumpkins, apple picking, a pumpkin chomping dino and tractor-pulled hayrides. You’ll find our guide to the city’s best patches and fall attractions on KCParent.com.
Many of our favorite attractions are open year-round and just keep getting better. We love visiting Science City at Union Station, where new hands-on exhibits are educational and fun. The Kansas City Zoo is home to many animals, including the new sloth, and our beloved favorites like the polar bear, penguins, orangutans and sea lions. The zoo is open year-round and offers a variety of programs from daily zookeeper chats and animal feedings to special events, including overnights for families and junior zookeeper programs for children. When I need to recharge my creative juices, I love to head to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, our always-free art gallery where new exhibits and special events keep the beauty fresh for each visit.
These are just a few of our favorite ways to explore our city this season. You’ll find many more as you flip through the pages of KC Going Places.
Welcome to Kansas City! We’re happy you’re here and we hope you love it just as much as we do!