100 Ideas Under $10 to enjoy in Kansas City this Summer

Olivia Bock updated this on 5/24/25 to reflect that the Curious George™: Let’s Get Curious! exhibit at Crown Center has now been replaced by the Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails exhibit. For the latest version of this article, visit kcparent.com/things-to-do-in-kc/ideas-under-10-to-enjoy-in-kansas-city-2024.

Every parent loves to find ways to stretch the family budget while making the most of summer break. We’re here to help!

FIFTY IDEAS for FREE FUN in Kansas City

1. 1. Play at Crown Center’s Curious George™: Let’s Get Curious! Exhibit. (As of 2025, this exhibit is now Thomas & Friends:  Explore the Rails^TM  )

1. 1. Attend a free summer concert, especially Sunset Music Fest: Town Center, LIVE at the Legends, Olathe LIVE! Summer Concert Series.

1. 1. Watch a free movie in the park.

1. 1. Attend a Kansas City areaannasummer festival.

1. 1. Attend a free family fun night on Thursdays in June and July atannaMahaffieannaStagecoach Stop.

1. 1. Play at one of theannabest parksannain Kansas City.

1. 1. Visit Kaleidoscopeannaa free hands-on art center where children use their imaginations to make art with left-over materials from Hallmark’s manufacturing processes (tip: reservations required).anna

1. 1. Ride theannaKC Streetcarannaand participate in our Streetcar Scavenger Hunt on KCParent.com.

1. 1. Union Station’s 7th floor is now Graffiti Attic, the largest “Free Wall” in Kansas City! They welcomeannaamazing street artists to come to paint up the 1/4 mile of wall space!

1. 1. Goannafishing.

1. 1. Splash and play at a Kansas City areaannasprayground.

1. 1. Tour the Truman Home in Independence and learn about President Truman and his wife Bess.

1. 1. Stroll throughannaKauffman Memorial Gardens.

1. 1. Participate in one of our local library’sannasummer reading program.

1. 1. Visit a newannalibrary. Kansas City is rich with exciting local libraries, try one beyond your neighborhood location.

1. 1. PreK to 12th Grade Students and their Parents/Guardians are Eligible forannaFREE AdmissionannatoannaTheatre in the Parkannaand theannaJohnson County Museumannawith the Sunflower Summer program!

1. 1. Play “I Spy” atannaLakesideannaNature Center.

1. 1. Marvel at modern art at theannaNermanannaMuseum of Contemporary Art, where admission is free.

1. 1. Pack a picnic at one ofannaFive “Secret” Places to Picnic in Kansas City.

1. 1. Visit bison and elk at theannaNativeannaHoofedannaAnimal Enclosure at Fleming Park.

1. 1. Watch as marbles are made atannaMoon Marble.

1. 1. Stop and smell the roses atannaLoose Park.

1. 1. SpendannaFirst Fridays in theannaCrossroads.

1. 1. Take a tour of the Kansas City MissouriannaCity Hall.

1. 1. Hike atannaErnieannaMiller Nature Center.

1. 1. Photograph friends in front of one ofannaKansas City’s 200annafountains.

1. 1. Get free money at theannaFederal Reserve Bank &annaMoney Museum.

1. 1. Enjoy one of KC’s Best FREE Hiking Trails.

1. 1. Bring binoculars for bird watching atannaBurroughsannaAudubon Nature Center and Bird Sanctuary.

1. 1. Watch chocolate or fudge-making demo atannaChip’s Chocolate Factory.

1. 1. Learn about the Santa Fe Trail atannaCave Spring Historic Site & Nature Center.

1. 1. Discover the waterfall atannaParkvilleannaNature Sanctuary.

1. 1. BikeannaTrolley Trail.

1. 1. Take a free class atannaBurr OakannaWoods Nature Center.

1. 1. VisitannaWaterfalls in the Midwest.

1. 1. Enjoy hands-on exhibits atannaPrairie ParkannaNature Center.

1. 1. Discover Kansas’ most famous residents through the artwork atannaLegendsannaOutlets Kansas City.

1. 1. Learn about nature at theannaAnita B.annaGormanannaDiscovery Center.

1. 1. Imagine you’re in the Wild West atannaAntioch Park.

1. 1. Get a great view of the city at Rooftop Park on top of the building that houses Cosentino’s Market in the KCP&L District.

1. 1. Visit the free National Archivesannaat Kansas City and learn about local history through their exhibits.

1. 1. Enjoy FREE outdoor theater at GladstoneannaAmphitheatreannaTheater in the Park showing Legally Blonde: The Musicalanna(July 8-10) and Li’l Abneranna(Aug. 12-24)annaannaor Leawood Stage Company’s free showing of TheannaAddamsannaFamilyanna(July 14-21), or Romeo & Juliet at Southmoreland Park (July 14-July 3), or Belton Theater in the Park’s Shrek: The Musical (June 17) or Cinderella (June 18).

1. 1. Discover a masterpiece at the free KemperannaMuseum of Contemporary Art.

1. 1. Hike the trails at the Kansas City Kansas Public Library – F. L.annaSchlagleannaBranch and nature center.

1. 1. Learn about your family history atannaMidwest Genealogy Center – MCPL.

1. 1. On Friday mornings, visitannaFarms at Colonial Gardens | Livestock Feeding Experience.

1. 1. Walk the trail around Lenexa’s legendary dam atannaBlack Hoof Park.

1. 1. Book a tour atannaKC Strings.

1. 1. Discover the natural bridge atannaCarl Chinnery Nature Trail.

1. 1. And remember to searchannaFree Events on our Kansas City calendar, where there are free (and cheap) things to enjoy every day.

TWENTY IDEAS $5 or less per Person

1. 1. Watch a film on the Extreme Screen atannaUnion Stationannawhere you can catch summer blockbusters and documentaries.

1. 1. Imagine and play at KidScape at the Johnson County Museum, a pint-size play village for young children.

1. 1. Step back in time at Shawnee Townanna1929annaduring theirannaTime Travelers Summer Series.

1. 1. The Lake OlatheannaParkannaMarina has canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and pedal boats available to rent for $5/30 minutes.

1. 1. Search our daily calendar where you’ll always find affordable options.

1. 1. On rainy days, play inside atannaBackyard Specialists Pay For Play.

1. 1. Ride the KC NorthernannaRailroad, just 75 cents on Saturdays and Sundays.

1. 1. Learn about gardening at the BeanstalkannaChildren’s Garden.

1. 1. Visit theannaHistorical Society of Lee’s Summit & Museumannaand explore Downtown Lee’s Summit.

1. 1. Sign up for free bowling at www.KidsBowlFree.com or free roller skating at www.KidsSkateFree.com. Shoe and/or skate rental fees still apply.

1. 1. Rent a Stand Up Paddleboard or Canoe atannaLegacy Park.

1. 1. Tour the WatkinsannaWoolen Mill State Park and learn about the 1860s woolen mill and grist mill.

1. 1. Share a Skyscraper at Winstead’s.

1. 1. Feed animals at DeannaannaRose Children’s Farmstead.anna

1. 1. Really hot outside? Treat the kids to a sweet treat at one ofannaKC’sannaBest Ice CreamannaShops.

1. 1. Visit the Shawnee IndianannaMission and learn about the school attended by boys and girls from Shawnee, Delaware, and other Indian nations from 1839 to 1862.

1. 1. Join a summer movie club at your local theater (see our KC Summer Movie Guide).

1. 1. Participate in a stargazing event on Saturdays at Powell Observatory and look at the night sky through the largest telescope in the region.

1. 1. Learn about Kansas’ farming heritage at the fun and interactive National AgriculturalannaHall of Fame.

1. 1. Buy a slushie at Quik Trip.

THIRTY Ideas $10 or less per Person

1. 1. Catch a game withannaKansas CityannaMonarchsannaat Legends Fieldanna- tickets are less than $10/ea to watch from “Homerun Hill.”

1. 1. Learn about the Pony Express and early Missouri citizens atannaSt. Joseph Museums.

1. 1. Visit the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and learn about the 33^rd President of the United States.

1. 1. Admission to the Kansas CityannaZoo is less than $10 for Jackson and Clay County residents, and FOTZ members enjoy unlimited admission all year long.

1. 1. Learn about the night sky at a show at the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium at Union Station.

1. 1. Visit Powell Gardensannaand explore Fortopia.

1. 1. Participate inannaThursday Toddler Time at Ceramic Cafe.

1. 1. Play volleyball or ride a bike atannaBerkley Riverfront Parkanna(then visit the nearby City Market and purchaseannaa fun lunch orannafresh produce on weekends).

1. 1. Come face to face with big cats at Cedar Cove: Public Tours.

1. 1. Explore theannaNelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Admission to the museum is free, and parking is $12/car (less than $10/person if you have multiple passengers).

1. 1. Visit Missouri Townanna1855 and learn about the lifestyle of the area’s earliest settlers.

1. 1. Play arcade games atannaDave & Buster’sannaat Legends Outlets.

1. 1. Take a wagon ride aboard Pioneer TrailsannaAdventures and learn the history of Independence, Missouri.

1. 1. Pick berries at a local U-Pick Farm (you set your budget, but you’ll likely spend at least $10/person).

1. 1. Swim at a local outdoor pool or beach found on our guideanna(admission is typically less than $10/person).

1. 1. Watch outdoor theater at Shawnee Theatre in the Park.

1. 1. Learn about Kansas City’s baseball heritage at the NegroannaLeagues Baseball Museum.

1. 1. Attend a puppet show and make a finger puppet at the PuppetryannaArts Institute.

1. 1. Celebrate Kansas City’s jazz roots with a visit to the AmericanannaJazzannaMuseum.

1. 1. Tour the Strawberry HillannaMuseum and learn about immigrants from Eastern Europe.

1. 1. Enjoy arcades, laser tag, rides or go-karts atannaAmerica’s Incredible Pizza Company.

1. 1. Head to a local Farmers Marketannaand stock up on fresh produce and locally made goods.

1. 1. Enjoy a little “winter in the summer” and enjoy indoor ice skating at Independence CommunityannaIce.

1. 1. Visit the KUannaNaturalannaHistory Museum and see live-animal exhibits, the famous Panorama, and displays of fossils and Kansas wildlife.

1. 1. Rent a pedal boat at Shawnee MissionannaPark Marina.

1. 1. Visit the Overland ParkannaArboretumannaand Botanical Gardens.

1. 1. Tour the JohnannaWornallannaHouse Museum or AlexanderannaMajorsannaHome and learn about Kansas City’s earliest citizens.

1. 1. Make a Day Trip to Atchison and visitannaAmelia Earhart Birthplace Museumannato learn about the first lady of flight.

1. 1. Ride the rails withannaBelton Grandview and KC Railroad.

1. 1. Dine out and take advantage of Kids Eat Free deals.

And searchannaEvents on our Kansas City calendar, for even more fun things to enjoy every day.