Ranked third by the Urban Institute for hosting the most festivals and special events among the country's top 50 cities, Kansas City offers fun events to discover every season. The following list represents Kansas City's major annual events with 2008 dates. 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.org 
Kansas City hosts one of the nation’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in downtown KC.

April 12
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. Open weekends April 12-May 11. Open daily May 12 (closed May 16)-August 22. Open weekends and select Friday evenings Aug. 23-Nov. 2.

May 2-4
Brookside Art Annual, www.brooksidekc.com
More than 70,000 people come out to this charming neighborhood for one of the top art shows in the country.

May 17
Kansas City Literary Festival, www.kansascitylitfest.org
This second annual festival celebrates KC's rich literary heritage through panel discussions, roundtable discussions, poetry, unique performances, cooking demonstrations and readings from some of the regions and nation's best authors, on six stages!

May 23-25
Great American Barbecue, www.thinkbbq.com
Known as the “Mardi Gras of Meat,” this four-year-old weekend event features championship cooking competitions, live music, a kids’ barbecue contest, a hot air balloon rally and family entertainment in celebration of Kansas City’s barbecue heritage.

May 24
Oceans of Fun Season Opening, www.worldsoffun.com
The largest outdoor water park in the Midwest begins its summer season. Open daily May 24-Aug. 22. Open weekends and select weekdays Aug. 23-Sep. 7.

May 25
Celebration at the Station Symphony Concert, www.kcsymphony.org
Thousands gather 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 13-15
Scottish Highland Games, www.kcscottishgames.org
For 31 years, Scottish clans have assembled for bag piping, Highland dancing and Scottish athletics competitions.

June 13-15
Rhythm & Ribs Jazz 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 17 to July 6
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival presents: Othello, www.kcshakes.org 
This free outdoor festival presents professional productions of William Shakespeare’s Othello each evening except Mondays.

June 21-22
Crown Center Antique Festival, www.crowncenter.com
Ranked the #2 antique show in the Midwest by Discover Mid-America, the eighth annual festival will showcase pottery, china, toys, linens, collectibles, furniture, jewelry, books and more from more than 150 dealers.

June 27, July 4, 11, 18, 25
Free Friday Night Flicks, www.crowncenter.com
Bring your blanket and lawn chairs, sit under the stars and take in a classic movie on a huge outdoor screen at Hallmark Cards’ Crown Center.

July 4-5
KC Riverfest, www.kcriverfest.com
Celebrate the Fourth along the Missouri River at Berkley Riverfront Park family activities and fireworks over the river.
 
July 21-27      
KC Fringe Festival, www.kcfringe.org        
Experience live performances at this festival packed with live theatre, dance, performance art, visual art, spoken word, puppetry, storytelling, film and fashion.

August 1, 8, 15, 22
Free Friday Night Concerts, www.crowncenter.com
Friday night music at Crown Center with some of the hottest country and pop stars!

August 8-10 & 15-17
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 semitropical and tropical butterflies. 

August 15-17
Ethnic Enrichment Festival, www.eeckc.org
The Ethnic Enrichment Festival is one of the largest free festivals in the Midwest, featuring more than 40 food booths, Scottish Highland games, and other authentic ethnic entertainment.

August 29-31
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 and Celtic rock from locally and nationally-known bands, award-winning Irish dancers, heritage displays and workshops, ethnic food and extensive children’s activities.        

August 29-31
Rock the Light, www.rockthelight.com
In its eighth year, Rock the Lightis the Midwest's largest contemporary Christian music festival.

August 29-September 1
Santa-Cali-Gon Days, www.visitindependence.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, national country music and family entertainment.

August 29-October 12 (weekends)
Kansas City Renaissance Festival, www.kcrenfest.com
A 16th-century English marketplace comes to life for seven weekends amid a beautiful wooded setting. Entertainment includes fair damsels, jousting knights, sorcerers, artisans, craftsmen, dancers, musicians, jesters and royalty—all in authentic and colorful costumes.

September 19-21
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.

September 20-October 31
Halloween Haunt, www.worldsoffun.com
One of the city’s largest Halloween events comes to life each weekend with seven extreme haunts, spooky shows and daytime scare-free family fun.

September 26-28
Kansas City Oktoberfest, www.kcoktoberfest.org
The city’s largest Oktoberfest celebration features German entertainment and the largest Beer Hall in the Midwest.

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.

October 2-5
American Royal BBQ Contest, www.americanroyal.com
Considered the “World Series of BBQ,” this competition is largest BBQ contest in the world featuring more than 500 teams.

October 6-12
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 cancer survivors.

November 7
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. 

November 22-December 24
Kansas City Repertory Theatre presents: A Christmas Carol,  www.kcrep.org
The Rep presents their 28th annual production of this seasonal classic.

November 27 – January 11
Country Club Plaza’s Season of Lights, www.countryclubplaza.com
The Plaza lights have been a Kansas City holiday tradition for more than 80 years. More than 80 miles of lights outline the Spanish-influenced architecture of this prestigious shopping and dining district.

November 28– January 1
Mayor's Christmas Tree, www.crowncenter.com
More than 7,200 white lights brighten one of the nation's tallest Christmas trees and is the centerpiece for an illuminating holiday celebration at Crown Center Square.
 
December 5-28
Kansas City Ballet presents: The Nutcracker,  www.kcballet.org
The Kansas City Ballet's million-dollar production of this timeless classic is the largest in the Midwest.

Download Related Images

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
	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 2 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.
	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
	Crown Center Ice Terrace Caption: The Ice Terrace at Crown Center is Kansas City's only outdoor, public ice rink. 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 Symphony, musician Caption: Founded in 1982 and recognized as "The Sound of Kansas City," this 80-person orchestra performs more than 100 concerts annually. Download:  Low-Res; High-Res
	Oktoberfest Caption: Oktoberfest is held annually each September at Crown Center square. Download:  Low-Res; High-Res
	Powell Gardens Caption: Kansas City's botanical garden features 915 acres of beautiful, ever-changing gardens, nature trails, contemporary architecture and year-round events. This image is not available for download. Download:  Click here to request image.
	Zona Rosa Holiday Crowns Caption: Zona Rosa has brought back a longtime downtown Kansas City tradition of suspending large lighted crowns over the street ways. This image is not available for download. Download:  Click here to request image.