Celebrate Fourth of July in Kansas City

By
Sarah McGinnity
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sparklers with American flag in background

Make your plans to celebrate Fourth of July in Kansas City! Here is a list of some of the top Independence Day celebrations across the Kansas City metro area, with tips for planning ahead with your family in mind.

**Please note that most events are weather permitting, so stay tuned to event websites, Facebook notices and news outlets as schedules are subject to change.

Saturday, July 1

Red, White and Blue Springs

Celebrate the Fourth of July at Red, White & Blue Springs! This free celebration will have live music, fireworks, vendors and more. Join us at this free event, located at Blue Springs South High School. Gates open at 6 p.m. with fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Smithville Lake Dam Fireworks Display

Join Smithville Parks & Rec for the annual Smithville Fireworks Show! This free fireworks show will be set off from Smith’s Fork Park (North side of the Spillway) at dusk, roughly 9PM. Great spots to watch the show are at Smith’s Fork Park, on the Lake near the dam, Smith’s Fork Campground, and surrounding areas around the park. Parking is available throughout Smith’s Fork Park.

Independence Day Celebration – 1860s Style

Experience Independence Day 1860s style with a reading of the Declaration of Independence, cookstove demonstrations, stagecoach rides, a Vintage Baseball game and more. Visitors can also meet Lady Columbia and Uncle Sam. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnics for this all-American celebration.

Popstar Night at the Royals

Enjoy a Taylor Swift themed Royals night which includes a silent disco from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. (included with theme ticket). Don’t forget to stay for fireworks after the game. The Popstar Night (Royals Version) finale will be themed to pop music, capping off this magical Saturday night with a bang! Learn more.

Monday, July 3

LibertyFest

This local festival, beginning at 6 p.m., includes fun family activities, food trucks and a beer garden, fishing, live music, veterans celebration, and a fireworks finale which will begin at approximately 10 p.m.

Lee’s Summit Parks Fireworks Show

Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation (LSPR) and the City of Lee’s Summit invite you to a free fireworks celebration on Monday, July 3 at Legacy Park! The gates open to the park at 6 p.m., and fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Concessions, DJs, food truck vendors, and activities for children 12 and under will be featured at the baseball, soccer, softball, and football venues before the fireworks.

Fourth of July Weekend at the Kansas City Royals

Tuesday, July 4

Stars and Stripes Picnic

The Stars and Stripes Picnic at the National WWI Museum and Memorial is Kansas City’s official Independence Day celebration! Bring your friends and family to grab a bite to eat, shop from local vendors, listen to live music and enjoy the largest fireworks display in the city. The public is welcome to begin picnicking on the south grounds of the Museum and Memorial as early as 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4. A fireworks display over the iconic Tower will begin around 9:40 p.m. FREE to the public – rain or shine!

Beach Fest at Lake Olathe

Lake Olathe is hosting the ultimate 4th of July Celebration. Admission to this private event includes a sack lunch, Aqua Park use, Boat Rentals, Open Swim, and other fun family activities and games including a tie dye water gun fight with t-shirt souvenir. Beach fest is the perfect activity to celebrate the 4th of July before Olathe’s Fireworks. All Participating parties must register. Young children not eating or participating in activities do not need to register.

Celebrate the Fourth on the Farm

Celebrate Independence Day at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. This is a great way to get the entire family involved in some patriotic fun. Bring your decorated bike for the parade and enjoy old fashioned lawn games and more fun activities. Admission fee applies. The farm closes at noon.

Overland Park’s Star Spangled Spectacular

Enjoy an evening of concerts, food and fireworks at Corporate Woods Founders’ Park on July 4, 2023 from 5-10:30 p.m. Visitors can enter Corporate Woods Founders’ Park at any time on Independence Day. Parking is available in any open Corporate Woods parking lot. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, food, water, and coolers. Alcohol and pop-up tents are prohibited. Food trucks open and concerts begin at 5 p.m. Fireworks start at approximately 10 p.m.

Olathe Fireworks Display

Celebrate Independence Day in Olathe on July 4 with the annual fireworks display at College Boulevard Activity Center (11031 S. Valley Pkwy.). The show begins at dark, approximately 9:45 p.m. Restrooms and hand washing stations will be available throughout CBAC, as well as the Meadow Lane Elementary and Olathe Northwest High School parking lots.

Parkville 4th of July Celebration

Parkville’s traditional salute to Independence Day includes a pancake breakfast, a community parade, food, fun, shopping, a skydiving exhibition, and our Fireworks Finale at 9:30 p.m. Parking surrounding the event is at a premium, so be sure to make use of shuttles running to/from the South Platte YMCA. Be sure to check the website for a full list of fun events throughout the day.

Prairie Village VillageFest

Enjoy a pancake breakfast, bounce houses, face painting, carnival rides, petting zoo, pony rides and more from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 77th and Mission, followed by free swimming at the PV pool from noon – 6 p.m. All are invited to VillageFest.

Independence Day Festival in Gardner

Live music, food vendors, bounce houses, face painting, portable zip lines, interactive entertainment and more highlight this celebration hosted by Gardner Parks and Recreation at Celebration Park, beginning at 3 p.m. Fireworks begin at approximately 10 p.m. Free and open to all ages!

Thursday, July 6

Family Fun Night – 1860s Fireworks

Decorate your bikes, wagons, strollers and scooters and participate in the Mahaffie parade at 6:45 p.m. The civic band will perform at 7 p.m. with patriotic music beginning at 9 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and a picnic. Pie, ice cream, root beer sales in the back yard of the farmhouse. Fireworks begin about 9:30 p.m.
Sarah McGinnity
Sarah grew up in Manhattan, Kansas (Go Cats!), she moved to Minnesota where she met her husband, Shea. Realizing how much she hated snow in May, she convinced him to move to Kansas City in 2010. Together they have lived in Midtown, Waldo, the Plaza, and now Overland Park. Sarah is mom to 10-year-old, Henry, 7-year-old Clark and 5-year-old Lucy. She has her master’s in urban administration and is passionate about making Kansas City a more equitable and supportive community. In between the crazy, she likes to drink coffee, run, hike, travel as much as possible, and experience all things Kansas City!
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