MONTHLY EVENTS
First Fridays in the Crossroads Arts District. First Fridays in the Crossroads Arts District has art galleries that open their doors and welcome visitors to browse and explore. Venture by KC Streetcar, car, bike or by foot to experience the avant-garde neighborhood that the arts built. Many local stores also join in the monthly celebration, offering items for KC shoppers of every taste. A wide array of places to dine and enjoy cocktails will tempt your taste buds too. Plus, keep an eye out for street vendors and local artists around the neighborhood. First Fridays officially begins at 5 p.m. and many of the galleries stay open until at least 9 p.m. More info
First Weekends in the West Bottoms. Once home to Kansas City’s thriving stockyards, the West Bottoms now offers to a wide assortment of antique and vintage stores that invite visitors to search for kitschy-cool artifacts the first weekend of every month. First Weekends in the West Bottoms brings food trucks, special happenings and more to the historic district. The region has a distinct flavor to it, a mixture of KC’s agricultural roots and a fresh, vibrant culture that mindfully pays homage to ages past. With the area more bustling than in recent memory, you can spend your whole weekend there and still find more to do next time you visit. More info
SPRING EVENTS: MARCH | APRIL | MAY
Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championships – March. The road to the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship goes through Kansas City as Big 12 teams battle for conference supremacy. Between games, celebrate the history of hoops—and indulge your inner athlete—at the adjacent College Basketball Experience. More info
Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade – March. One of the country’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parades features hundreds of floats proceeding through Midtown, ending in Westport, where the Celtic-themed revelry continues into the wee hours. More info
Brookside Art Annual – April/May (date varies). Dominated by quaint neighborhoods, the Brookside neighborhood becomes the center of the Midwest art community each May. The Brookside Art Annual is known for its festive atmosphere, hospitality, and convenience, and has become a must-attend event for artists and art seekers alike. The show is located at 63rd and Brookside Boulevard (one block east of Wornall) between 63rd Street and Meyer Boulevard. The annual show includes children’s activities, including face painting, arts and crafts, balloon animals and more. More info
Celebration at the Station – May, Memorial Day Weekend. Start your summer with the largest free Memorial Day weekend event in the Midwest. Against the majestic backdrop of Union Station, the Kansas City Symphony performs patriotic favorites with appearances from special guests, followed by fireworks to end the evening. More info
SUMMER EVENTS: JUNE | JULY | AUGUST
Old Shawnee Days – June. Past meets present during this event that celebrates the history of Shawnee. Attractions for the four-day celebration includes rides, live music, games, historical reenactments, and crafts. While there is no admission fee and all concerts and events are free, cost may vary with food, drink, crafts, and the carnival. More info
Boulevardia – June. Crown Center transforms into an all-senses destination during this favorite festival hosted by Boulevard Brewing Co., complete with food trucks, concerts, maker booths, a family carnival and, of course, beer stations that offer local, regional, and national craft brews. Advanced tickets required to enter. More info
KC RiverFest – July. Celebrate July Fourth in this festival at Berkley Riverfront Park, which begins with live music, activities and food and concludes with one of the largest fireworks shows in the Midwest. More info
Johnson County Fair – July/August (date varies). Come out to celebrate all of the best in Johnson County at the fair in Gardner, KS. The event lasts a week and has a variety of things to do, including carnival rides, a demolition derby and live music. More info
Jazzoo – August. Creative black-tie attire makes for an unlimited number of fashionable photo ops in this annual fundraiser at the Kansas City Zoo. Party animals from across the metro will gather to enjoy unlimited food, drinks, and entertainment. Funds raised support the Zoo Learning Fund and help buy food for animals. More info
FALL EVENTS: SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER
Kansas City Irish Fest – September, Labor Day Weekend. Dedicated to promoting the culture, music, character, and history of Ireland and of the Irish people who call Kansas City home. Kansas City Irish Fest offers attendees the chance to see some of the top Irish entertainment in the world. But there’s so much more to do here beyond listening to music! After all, we’re here to bring the heart of Ireland to the Heart of America, and that means everything from Irish culture to shops, beverages, food, and activities using Irish themes and traditions. More info
KC Airshow – July/August/September (date varies). This air spectacular in New Century, KS, features an annual lineup of star-studded aerialists, exhibits and other experiences. Voted the Best Air Show in 2019 by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the KC Air Show produces the best air show experience in the country while directing net proceeds from the air show into aviation-focused STEM educational programs for school-aged children in the Kansas City area. More info
Plaza Art Fair – September. This nationally recognized, nine-block art event at the Country Club Plaza typically draws crowds of more than 250,000 who gather for art, live music and food and drinks from a variety of KC restaurants. More info
Louisburg Ciderfest – September, October. Head to Louisburg Cider Mill for the annual Ciderfest, where guests are invited to watch how apples are pressed into cider, sample cider donuts and other treats, plus live music, and activities for young ones. The Ciderfest is always held on the last weekend in September and the first weekend in October. More info
Kansas City Renaissance Festival – September, October. Fall weekends have been about stepping back in time since 1977 at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival! Experience a medieval-themed village home to jousting knights, thrill-seeking acrobats, and beautiful maidens. Watch shows, artisans working their crafts, and feast on hand-held culinary delights. Themed weekends add extra fun… More info
WINTER EVENTS: NOVEMBER | DECEMBER | JANUARY | FEBRUARY
Annual Christmas in the Park – November, December. This magical winter wonderland features more than half million lights and 175 animated displays, all designed and built entirely in-house by our talented crews! Your drive to the Longview Lake Campground begins at the Frank White Jr., Softball Complex. Admission is free. Voluntary exit donations benefit more than 35 local charities. Since its inception, Christmas in the Park has donated more than 1 million dollars to charities right here in our community. More info
Plaza Lights – November, December, January. A local tradition for more than 90 years, Plaza Lights is a 15-block holiday spectacle on the famed Country Club Plaza, featuring thousands of glittering, jewel-colored lights that accentuate every dome, tower, and window of the Spanish-inspired shopping district. Timeless in every way imaginable, the Plaza Lights are a quintessential KC holiday tradition—and a delightful reminder of the Spanish-inspired Plaza’s undeniable beauty. View the Plaza Lights nightly Thanksgiving through early January. Plaza info & Ceremony info
The Nutcracker – December. Performed by the Kansas City Ballet, this iconic, long-running show is a veritable holiday favorite in the Kansas City region. More info
Kansas City Restaurant Week – January. Dine well and do good during this 10-day, two-weekend event that highlights hundreds of the hottest restaurants in the city, each featuring special multi-course menus with portions of the proceeds benefitting area charities. More info
Cupid’s Gems Artisan Jewelry Show – February. The annual Cupid’s Gems Artisan Jewelry Show at Thompson Barn is a juried event where you can purchase a variety of original, handcrafted jewelry items. Jewelry artists in this show offer one-of-a-kind, handmade jewelry; no imported or manufactured jewelry is accepted. Browse the wonderful, handcrafted jewelry, shop for gifts or find a new treasure for yourself. This is also a perfect opportunity to shop for a Valentine’s Day gift for a special person in your life. More info
