We might be a little biased, but Kansas City truly shines in the summer—especially when it comes to family-friendly festivals. From live music and food trucks to kid-focused activities and outdoor fun, KC offers some of the best summer festivals for families in the region. If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Kansas City this summer, be sure to mark your calendar for these can’t-miss local favorites!
Best Summer Festivals in Kansas City
MAY
Turkey Creek Festival (May 16)
Get ready for one of Merriam’s biggest celebrations of the year! The Turkey Creek Festival is a full day of family fun you won’t want to miss. Start your day with a 5K walk/run, then enjoy free kids’ activities, live music, arts and crafts, delicious bites, and plenty more fun for the whole family.
Celebration at the Station (May 24)
Kansas City’s favorite Memorial Day tradition! Join the Kansas City Symphony for Bank of America Celebration at the Station. The Symphony’s free concert event takes place Sunday, May 24, on the South Plaza of Union Station Kansas City and the North Lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. and includes food trucks, live pre-concert entertainment on the main stage, plus various vendors and booths in the Kansas City National Security Campus. The Kansas City Symphony also performs iconic patriotic works by John Williams, Aaron Copland and John Phillip Sousa, plus crowd favorites Armed Forces Salute and the 1812 Overture with live cannons. The grand finale features a stunning fireworks display accompanied by your Kansas City Symphony. It’s the perfect kick-off to your summer!
Festa Italiana (May 29-30)
One of Kansas City’s favorite festivals, Festa Italiana, the unique celebration of Italian traditions and Italian-American culture, will be May 29-30. This longtime local ethnic festival draws visitors from across metropolitan Kansas City and beyond. Enjoy an amazing assortment of Italian food favorites, great entertainment on the main stage all weekend, an Italian Motorsports Show, Farfalla Events Pop-up Shopping Market, bounce houses for kids and much more.
Prairie Village Art Show (May 29-31)
The Prairie Village Art Show is celebrating our 69th year of connecting the community to culture and creativity! As the second oldest art show in Kansas City, we have an established footprint in the artist community showcasing artists both locally and from all over the country. The Shops of Prairie Village hosts 100 artists every year and attracts patrons from the entire Kansas City Metropolitan area. Over 15,000 people attend the Prairie Village Art Show over the action-packed weekend. The Prairie Village Art Show is an annual event not to be missed!
JUNE
Old Shawnee Days (June 4-7)
KC PrideFest and Parade (June 5-7)
Lee’s Summit Downtown Days (June 5-7)
Kansas City Mom Collective Summer Bash
We’re celebrating one of the biggest summers in Kansas City at our soccer-themed Summer Bash! Join us on Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m. – noon, for a morning of FREE international and soccer themed family fun, giveaways and good vibes at Park Place in Leawood.
World Cup Fan Fest (June 11-July 11, select dates)
Meant to be a global celebration, Fan Fest is where families, visitors and soccer lovers can all experience the excitement of the matches without a stadium ticket. It will be open each of the six days Kansas City hosts a match, the days when the U.S. Men’s National Team is in action, and select days between June 11 and July 11. Expect live match screenings on large-scale video boards, live entertainment, local food and drink options, interactive fan experiences and a family-friendly atmosphere while highlighting KC’s culture and hospitality. Check out our family guide here.
Dragon Boat Festival – Brush Creek (June 20)
The first and only Kansas City International Dragon Boat Festival began in 2005 and has been a highlight of early summer on Brush Creek at the Country Club Plaza annually for about 20 years. The Dragon Boat Festival returns to Brush Creek on June 20 at 10 a.m. Check here for updated details.
Juneteenth Celebrations (June 6, 19-20)
Make Music Day KC (June 21)
Make Music Kansas City is a live, free musical celebration on June 21, the longest day of the year, with concerts on streets, sidewalks, venues and parks across the city! Completely different from a typical music festival, Make Music is open to anyone who wants to take part. Every kind of musician — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion — pours onto streets, parks, plazas, and porches to share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers. All of it is free and open to the public.
Great Lenexa BBQ Battle (June 26)
Hundreds of pitmasters compete in the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle each year. The battle is the state’s largest barbeque competition. In 1984 Governor John Carlin declared it the official Kansas State Championship. Lenexa Parks & Recreation hosts and organizes the event. Barbeque teams host private parties on Friday. Admission is $5 at the gate. The public is encouraged to enjoy the atmosphere, live music and kids’ activities on Friday. Food and drinks are available for purchase from the concession area.
JULY
Fourth of July in Kansas City
Don’t miss our annual guide to 4th of July celebrations across the metro area, with tips for planning ahead with your family in mind. The updated guide will be published in early June and will include changes due to World Cup activities.
Festival of the Butterflies – Powell Gardens (July 16-August 2)
Festival of Butterflies invites nature enthusiasts of all ages to celebrate the Midwest’s most whimsical pollinator at Powell Gardens. Spend a day outdoors exploring tropical and native butterflies alongside stunning botanic displays. This festival is a Kansas City family-favorite!
Amelia Earhart Festival (July 17-18)
The spirit of legendary aviatrix Amelia Earhart is alive and well in Atchison! Each summer the community pulls out all the stops in honor of its favorite daughter, complete with a downtown music, food and crafts fair, star-filled outdoor concert, children’s activities, awards and honors, Earhart research and literature, music on the beautiful Riverfront, aerobatic performances and the grandest of all finalés — the “Concert in the Sky” fireworks show. Learn more.
Kansas City’s Lawn Party (July 19)
Bask in the summer vibes on Kansas City’s favorite lawn! In celebration of the Donald J.
Hall Sculpture Park and National Parks and Recreation Month, The Nelson-Atkins
Museum of Art teams up with Kansas City Parks and Recreation to host a massive
party from 4-8 p.m. — complete with family-friendly activities, food trucks, live
performances, and much more. Admission is free and people of all ages are welcome. Learn more.
AUGUST
Ethnic Enrichment Festival (August 21-23)
The annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival in Kansas City highlights the cultures (more than 60!) found in the Kansas City metro with food, artistic performances, shopping, music and more.
Parkville Days (August 21-23)
One of downtown Parkville’s largest events, the Parkville Days festival features a variety of family-friendly entertainment. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy live music along the Missouri River and on Main Street. The Evans Midland Empire Carnival is open all weekend, starting Friday at 6 p.m. Browse and enjoy arts and crafts, retail, food, and specialty booths. Participating downtown shops will host their “end of” sales and specials and much more! Admission is free.
No matter what your family loves—live music, cultural celebrations, food festivals, or outdoor adventures—Kansas City delivers an unforgettable lineup of summer events. From May through August, these Kansas City summer festivals offer countless ways to make memories with your kids while exploring the heart of the metro.
As you plan your season, bookmark this guide to the best family friendly festivals in Kansas City and check back for updates, new events, and insider mom tips. Whether you’re a local or visiting KC with kids, there’s always something exciting happening just around the corner.
Thank you for all the info