Best Summer Festivals in Kansas City

By
Sarah McGinnity
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We might be biased, but we’re pretty sure KC has some of the best summer festivals for families in Kansas City, especially in the summer! Mark your calendar for these favorites.

Best Summer Festivals in Kansas City

MAY

Kite Festival on the Prairie (May 5)

Families, bring your kites, and picnic blankets for a day on the prairie at the Overland Park Arboretum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pick up the shuttle at the parking lot and it will take you to the south end of the property. Or, take an adventurous hike through the woods to find your way there. This is a great opportunity to see and enjoy the prairie, perhaps for the first time. Enjoy food trucks, family activities and of course, fly your kites. This event is included with admission. Food trucks meals and snacks are available for an additional cost.

Celebration at the Station (May 26)

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 28, 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 with Drive On and the Back Alley Brass Band, 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 31-June 2)three kids in front of Festa Italian sign

One of Kansas City’s favorite festivals, Festa Italiana, the unique celebration of Italian traditions and Italian-American culture, will be June 2-4. 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 and much more.

Prairie Village Art Show (May 31-June 2)

The Prairie Village Art Show is celebrating its 66th year of connecting the community to culture and creativity! The Shops of Prairie Village host 100 artists every year and attracts patrons from the entire Kansas City Metropolitan area. Learn more. 

JUNE

Old Shawnee Days  (June 6-9)

The bands will be rockin’, kids will be smilin’, and the turkey legs will be smokin’ as Old Shawnee Days returns! Old Shawnee Days is FREE and open to the public. All performances are FREE! Any food/drink/vendor/ride purchases can vary in price. Don’t miss the parade on Saturday, June 8 at 10 a.m. Get the full schedule.

KC PrideFest and Parade (June 7)

Get ready to paint the town with love, because KC PrideFest & Parade 2024 is back and brighter than ever. Join us for a weekend of celebration, unity, and unapologetic authenticity in Theis Park.

Lee’s Summit Downtown Days (June 7-9)

Start your summer with the FREE Downtown Days Festival presented by Lee’s Summit Medical Center- Friday through Sunday, June 7, 8 & 9, 2024. Festivities include free live entertainment, carnival rides, sports zone, festival food, handcrafted goods, two craft beer tents and so much more.

Dragon Boat Festival – Brush Creek (June 15)

The Dragon Boat Festival returns to Brush Creek! Check here for updated details.

Juneteenth Celebrations (June 1, June 15)

JunteenthKC encourages people of all backgrounds from Kansas City to learn about African American history and grow. Check out the cultural parade on June 1 and the Heritage Festival on June 15. Learn about all the events here.

Boulevardia (June 14-15)

Boulevardia is a unique beer, food and music festival. It’s our own country within a country — that just happens to be in Kansas City. No passport needed. Experiences include live music, bottomless brunch, taps and treats, local food tastings and vendors.

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. Learn more.

JULY

Fourth of July in Kansas CityYour Guide to a Kansas City Fourth of July

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!

Festival of the Butterflies – Powell Gardens (July 18-August 4)

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 19-20)

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 21)

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 16-18)

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 23-27)

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.

Sarah McGinnity
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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