|
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City is a festival town. In fact, the Urban Institute ranked it third among the country’s top 50 cities for hosting the most festivals and special events. You’ll find a diverse array of fun events to celebrate every season. The following list represents Kansas City’s major annual events in 2009. Go to VisitKC.com for a comprehensive list of events in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
First Friday of every month
First Fridays in the Crossroads Arts District, www.kccrossroads.org
Join the thousands that explore the galleries and shops in the Crossroads Arts District for one of the nation’s largest art walks.
March 17
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, www.kcirishparade.com
Kansas City hosts one of the nation’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in Midtown.
April 11
Easter Parade, www.zonarosa.com
Visitors and residents don their Easter best in this long-time KC tradition revived by the Zona Rosa shopping and entertainment district.
April 18
Worlds of Fun Season Opening, www.worldsoffun.com
Kansas City's popular amusement park opens for the summer with some of the region’s most thrilling rides, including the new Prowler roller coaster. Open weekends April 18–May 10. Open daily May 11-Aug. 25. Open weekends and select Friday evenings Aug. 28–Nov. 1.
May 1-3
Brookside Art Annual, www.brooksidekc.com
This charming neighborhood’s art festival has made a name for itself, attracting more than 70,000 people each year.
May 8-10
Fiesta Kansas City, www.crowncenter.com
Celebrate Cinco De Mayo at this ninth-annual event, which features great music, food, dancing and exhibits at Crown Center.
May 16
Kansas City Literary Festival, www.kansascitylitfest.org
Held at the Country Club Plaza, this second annual festival celebrates KC’s rich literary heritage through roundtable discussions, poetry, performances, cooking demonstrations and readings from some of the nation's best authors.
May 22-24
Great American Barbecue, www.bbqcontest.info
Known as the “Mardi Gras of Meat,” this four-year-old event in Kansas City, Kan., features championship cooking competitions, live music, a kids’ barbecue contest, a hot air balloon rally and family entertainment.
May 23
Oceans of Fun Season Opening, www.worldsoffun.com
The largest outdoor water park in the Midwest begins its summer season. Open daily May 23–Aug. 23. Open weekends and select weekdays Aug. 29–Sept. 7.
May 23-24
Jiggle Jam Family Fest, www.kcjigglejam.com
This Crown Center festival is the first of its kind in the Midwest. From classical to rock, families can enjoy music from more than a dozen national and local entertainers.
May 24
Celebration at the Station Symphony Concert, www.kcsymphony.org
Thousands gather at Union Station for this free patriotic musical salute by the Kansas City Symphony that concludes with fireworks over the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial.
June 12-14
Scottish Highland Games, www.kcscottishgames.org
For 32 years, Scottish clans have assembled for bag-piping, Highland dancing and Scottish athletics competitions in nearby Riverside, Mo.
June 19-20
Rhythm & Ribs Jazz and Blues Festival, www.kcrhythmandribs.com
Blending two of Kansas City's richest traditions—jazz and barbecue—Rhythm & Ribs creates an exciting recipe for family fun with an amateur barbecue competition and national jazz acts in the 18th and Vine Historic Jazz District over Father's Day weekend.
June 16-July 5
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival presents: Merry Wives of Windsor, www.kcshakes.org
Kansas City’s beautiful Southmoreland Park plays host to a Shakespearean classic every summer. Best of all, it’s free.
June 13-14
Crown Center Antique Festival, www.crowncenter.com
Ranked the #2 antique show in the Midwest by Discover Mid-America, this festival showcases pottery, china, toys, linens, collectibles, furniture, jewelry, books and more from 150+ dealers.
July 3-4
KC Riverfest, www.kcriverfest.com
Celebrate the Fourth along the Missouri River at Berkley Riverfront Park with family activities and fireworks over the river.
July 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
Free Friday Night Flicks, www.crowncenter.com
Bring your blanket and lawn chairs, sit under the stars and take in a classic movie on the huge outdoor screen at Hallmark Cards’ Crown Center.
July 19-26
KC Fringe Festival, www.kcfringe.org
This citywide, week-long festival is packed with live performances of theatre, dance, performance art, visual art, spoken word, puppetry, storytelling, film and fashion.
Aug. 7, 14, 21 & 28
Free Friday Night Concerts, www.crowncenter.com
Friday night music at Crown Center with some of the hottest country and pop stars.
Aug. 21-23
Ethnic Enrichment Festival, www.eeckc.org
The Ethnic Enrichment Festival is one of the largest festivals of its kind in the Midwest, featuring more than 40 food booths, Scottish Highland games and other authentic ethnic entertainment in Swope Park.
Aug. 7-9 & 14-16
Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens, www.powellgardens.org
Explore a world of floating colors as Powell Gardens transforms its glass-topped conservatory into a walk-through exhibit of hundreds of semi-tropical and tropical butterflies.
Sept. 4-5
Rock the Light X, www.rockthelight.com
Now in its 10th year at Starlight Theatre, Rock the Light is the Midwest's largest contemporary Christian music festival.
Sept. 4-6
Kansas City Irish Fest, www.kcirishfest.com
Celebrate KC’s deep Irish roots at one of the nation’s largest Irish festivals with traditional Irish music, Celtic rock, Irish dancers, heritage displays, ethnic food and children’s activities at Crown Center.
Sept. 4-7
Santa-Cali-Gon Days, www.santacaligon.com
Every Labor Day weekend, Independence celebrates its Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails heritage at this four-day street festival featuring one of the Midwest's largest arts and crafts shows, country music performers and family entertainment.
Sept. 5-Oct. 18 (weekends)
Kansas City Renaissance Festival, www.kcrenfest.com
A 16th-century English marketplace comes to life for seven weekends amid a beautiful wooded setting in nearby Bonner Springs, Kan.
Sept. 7-13
Tour of Missouri, www.tourofmissouri.com
Modeled after Europe’s popular Tour de France, the six-day, 600-mile Tour of Missouri attracts more than 120 professional cyclists to the Show-Me State.
Sept. 19
Waldo Fall Festival, www.waldokc.org
This 17th annual festival features food and day-long entertainment, and ends with a pub crawl through the quaint neighborhood.
Sept. 25-27
Plaza Art Fair, www.countryclubplaza.com
For more than seven decades, the streets of the Country Club Plaza have become an outdoor art gallery each September as art enthusiasts flock to see displays of magnificent works of art from the nation’s top visual artists.
Sept. 25-27
Kansas City Oktoberfest, www.kcoktoberfest.org
The city’s largest Oktoberfest celebration features German entertainment, food and of course, beer.
Sept. 25-Nov. 1
Halloween Haunt, www.worldsoffun.com
One of the city’s largest Halloween events comes to life each weekend with nine extreme haunts, spooky shows and daytime, scare-free family fun.
October–November
American Royal Livestock, Horse Show and Rodeo, www.americanroyal.com
The American Royal attracts competitors from across the nation to take part in one of Kansas City’s most famous traditions—an eight-week festival of rodeos, livestock shows and big-name country concerts in KC’s West Bottoms district.
Oct. 1-4
American Royal BBQ Contest, www.americanroyal.com
Considered the “World Series of BBQ,” this competition is largest barbecue contest in the world featuring more than 500 teams.
Oct. 12-18
Back in the Swing Retail Therapy, www.backintheswing.org
Hundreds of area shopping centers, boutiques and restaurants offer discounts through this shopping promotion, which benefits programs for local cancer survivors.
October 24
WaterFire Kansas City, www.visitkc.com/waterfire
Designed by award-winning artist Barnaby Evans, WaterFire is a unique, multi-sensory experience of music, fire and water. The moving art installation features more than 50 floating bonfires on the Country Club Plaza’s Brush Creek.
Nov. 6
Crown Center Ice Terrace Opening, www.crowncenter.com
Kansas City’s only public outdoor ice-skating rink opens for the season, which runs through mid-March.
Nov. 21-Dec. 27
Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s A Christmas Carol, www.kcrep.org
The Rep presents their 29th annual production of this seasonal classic.
Nov. 21-mid-January
Northern Lights at Zona Rosa, www.zonarosa.com
Zona Rosa revives a local tradition of stringing massive crowns as holiday decor over the streets of this entertainment district.
Nov. 26 – Jan. 10, 2010
Country Club Plaza’s Season of Lights, www.countryclubplaza.com
The Plaza Lights have been a Kansas City holiday tradition for 80 years. More than 80 miles of lights outline the Spanish-influenced architecture of this prestigious shopping and dining district.
Nov. 27-January 1, 2010
Mayor's Christmas Tree, www.crowncenter.com
More than 7,200 white lights brighten one of the nation's tallest holiday trees. The 100-foot Mayor’s Christmas Tree is the centerpiece for an illuminating holiday celebration at Crown Center Square.
Dec. 6-27
Kansas City Ballet’s The Nutcracker, www.kcballet.org
The Kansas City Ballet’s million-dollar production of this timeless classic is the largest in an eight-state region.
About the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association
The KCCVA is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to enhance economic growth and quality of life for the region and its residents through marketing, sales and service for the convention and tourism industries. For more information about all there is to see and do in Kansas City, visit the organization’s Web site at VisitKC.com.
##KC##
Photo Credit: Photos Courtesy of the Kansas City Convention
& Visitors Association
|
|
|
American Royal Rodeo
Caption: The American Royal Complex hosts rodeos, livestock competitions and horse shows for five weeks each fall.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
 |
|
|
American Royal, bullriding
Caption: The American Royal Complex hosts rodeos, livestock competitions and horse shows for five weeks each fall.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
|
|
Barney Allis Plaza
Caption: The outdoor Barney Allis Plaza offers a great spot to take a break amid downtown's tall buildings. This image is not available for download.
Download:
Click here to request image.
|
|
|
|
|
Celebration at the Station
Caption: The Memorial Day concert by the Kansas City Symphony at the Liberty Memorial draws thousands.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
|
|
Country Club Plaza Season of Lights
Caption: More than 80 miles of lights outline every building, dome and tower on the Country Club Plaza each holiday season. This image is not available for download.
Download:
Click here to request image.
|
|
|
|
|
Crossroads Arts District, gallery interior
Caption: The one-square-mile Crossroads Arts District is home to more than 60 art galleries and eclectic shops. This image is not available for download.
Download:
Click here to request image.
|
|
|
|
Crown Center Holiday
Caption: Hallmark's Crown Center is magical during the holidays with seasonal performances, an outdoor ice terrace and the 100-foot-tall Mayor's Christmas Tree.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
|
|
|
Kansas City Ballet
Caption: KC is home to one of the best mid-sized ballet organizations in the nation.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
|
|
Kansas City Irish Fest
Caption: Voted Kansas City's Favorite Festival, Irish Fest occurs every Labor Day weekend at Crown Center Square.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
|
|
|
Kansas City Renaissance Festival
Caption: The Kansas City Renaissance Festival is held annually on weekends from Labor Day to Columbus Day.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
|
|
Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Caption: The Kansas City Repertory Theatre's annual production of "A Christmas Carol" is a holiday favorite.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
|
|
|
Oceans of Fun
Caption: Oceans of Fun, located next to Worlds of Fun, is one of the Midwest's largest water parks.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
|
|
Oktoberfest
Caption: Oktoberfest is held annually each September at Crown Center square.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
|
|
|
Tour of Missouri
Caption: Held every September, Tour of Missouri is a seven-day, 600-mile professional cycling race across the Show-Me State. This image is not available for download.
Download:
Click here to request image.
|
|
|
|
WaterFire Kansas City, Brush Creek
Caption: WaterFire is a unique, multi-sensory experience of music, fire and water. The 2008 presentation takes place on Oct. 25. This image is not available for download.
Download:
Click here to request image.
|
|
|
|
|
WaterFire Kansas City, sidewalk performer
Caption: WaterFire is a moving public art installation supported by international music and sidewalk performers. This image is not available for download.
Download:
Click here to request image.
|
|
|
|
Worlds of Fun
Caption: Worlds of Fun offers more than 170 acres of wild rides, unique food and live entertainment.
Download:
Low-Res; High-Res
|
|
