Some of the best events occur in the fall in Kansas City! From art fairs to festivals to Halloween-themed events, there’s something for everyone on this list.
Fall Events in Kansas City for Families
SEPTEMBER
SantaCaliGon Days Festival
Celebrate westward expansion at this FREE Independence festival, Aug. 30 – Sept. 2. More than 400 booths, free entertainment, fantastic bands, a Midway carnival and bingo. Free parking is available at the Community of Christ Auditorium parking lot located at 1001 W. Walnut. Shuttles run every 15 minutes and cost $1 per rider. Learn more.
Kansas City Renaissance Festival
Looking for a new way to spend a fall weekend in Kansas City? Bring your family to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival for a magical time! Be sure to plan your visit around the theme weekends and kid specific activities. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (plus Labor Day Monday) from August 31 through October 13, and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on October 14. Get tickets.
GloWild at the Kansas City Zoo
GloWild: Legends & Lore is set to dazzle the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium once again this fall, featuring a new magical theme. Visitors will be treated to an enchanting nighttime journey through two distinct loops: the adventure loop, with elements like Atlantis and dinosaurs, and the fantasy loop, which includes an enchanted forest and a fairy garden. The festival promises a mile-long spectacle of intricate lighted sculptures. Crafted by 151 artisans using over 34 tons of steel and 89,000 feet of fabric, the displays offer a one-way path filled with photo ops, concessions, and entertainment. Special features this year include access to Sobela Ocean Aquarium on Wednesdays and seasonal-themed lanterns.
The festival opens September 6 and runs through December 29. Learn more.
Terra Luna at the Overland Park Arboretum
Local performance group, Quixotic, will open a portal between everyday reality and elemental fantasy at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The annual multimedia installation will guide guests on a wild journey through the grounds, culminating in an immersive performance uniting live music, dance, aerial acrobatics, and more. Animated by the Arboretum’s transitioning seasons, the boundary-breaking event will illuminate the environment in surprising ways: agrestal costuming that incorporates the bounty of the gardens, embedded performers who meld and merge with the twilight landscape, light design that leads the audience deeper into the dream. Tickets are on sale now for the event which runs the evenings of September 12-15 and September 19-22. Sept. 19 is Adults Only night!
Tricks and Treats at Worlds of Fun
Tricks and Treats is Worlds of Fun’s ALL-NEW family-friendly fall daytime event! Everyone in the family is sure to have a boo-last with our spooky, kooky Halloween activities, live shows, a costume contest, seasonal food and drinks, and, of course, candy! If that’s not fang-tastic enough, you will also enjoy your favorite rides and attractions throughout the park. The special event runs 11 a.m – 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, September 14 – October 27.
Hanging with Heroes
Plaza Art Fair
Held Friday, Sept. 20 through Sunday, Sept. 22, the Plaza Art Fair encompasses nine city blocks and features 240 artists. The Plaza Art Fair is a top-ranked, national art event with three live music stages and over 20 featured restaurant booths. It continues to be a weekend of people simply celebrating art and each other, as well as Kansas City’s unofficial welcome to the fall season. The Plaza Art Fair always has interactive and creative projects for kids! Stop by the Broadway block between 47th Street and Nichols Road. All ages are welcome!
Overland Park Fall Festival
The OP Fall Festival in Downtown Overland Park is back with a great line up of live music, children’s performers and entertainment, food trucks, the Overland Park Farmers’ Market and an all-day artisan fair. The festival kicks off Sept. 27 and features a full line-up of activities all day on Sept. 28.
Library in the Park
It’s time for the 8th annual Library in the Park! Come celebrate our community at Huron Park behind the Main Library from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on September 28. Featuring local author Brandon Todd, live music, face painting, lawn games, ice cream, and fun library activities for the whole family. There will also be a giant book and movie sale! We will have hundreds of items available for you to browse. You can fill a KCKPL bag for just $5. The sale will be cash only.
October
Olathe Arts Festival
The Olathe Arts Festival (October 27-28) at the Johnson County Square in Downtown Olathe will provide individuals and families an enriching experience that inspires and celebrates the arts and creativity. The Festival will showcase exceptional art from across the region, food & drink, live entertainment, and activities for the entire family!
Missouri Town Fall Festival
Explore the sights and sounds of the harvest season on October 5-6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.! Historic interpreters, artisans, musicians, and crafters will bring to life the hard work and celebration that took place as the crops came in. Hitch a ride on a wagon, see sorghum being made, play a 19th century game, and make memories to last a lifetime.
Brew at the Zoo
Brew at the Zoo is back on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.! Enjoy an adults-only (ages 21+) evening of live music and a free sampling from more than 35 local breweries and wineries, plus food trucks available to tame your belly’s roar! Your 2024 Brew at the Zoo ticket also includes access to GloWild: Legends & Lore, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium’s immersive lantern festival featuring a 1-mile walk through handmade steel and silk sculpture works works depicting Atlantis, dinosaurs, mythical creatures, and more.
Cornucopia at the Power & Light District
Night of the Living Farm at Deanna Rose Farmstead
Dark Forest at Powell Gardens
Mildale Farm Fall Festival
American Royal World Series of Barbecue
The American Royal World Series of Barbecue is the largest barbecue contest in the WORLD and the American Royal’s largest fundraiser! Join other barbecue lovers at the Kansas Speedway on October 31 – November 3 for a BBQ experience like no other – live music, delicious BBQ, activities for the BIGS and the LITTLES (Saturday is better for the littles), and a vendor fair that’s a MUST SEE for all BBQ enthusiasts.
Though we aim to ensure the accuracy of all our postings, we always advise you check online before heading out for the most up-to-date information.
