Heritage Days returns for it’s 12th year of festivities in celebration of the history, culture and continued evolution of the West Bottoms!

Throughout the month of May, Heritage Days invites visitors and locals to experience the dynamic energy of the district through family-friendly events, cultural programming, live entertainment, art exhibitions, legendary BBQ and the community that call this neighborhood home.

The following public events are planned as part of the month-long celebration:

May 1-3: First Friday Weekend

May 2 | 12 p.m.: 5th Annual Taste of AAPI: Culture You Can Taste, Liberty Courtyard

May 3 | 2 p.m.: Barbecue Kings: A Missouri Valley Sunday Series presentation, Kansas City Public Library

May 9 | 9 a.m.: Girls on the Run 5K, HyVee Arena

May 9 | 10 a.m.: Ride and Roll Bike Giveaway & Ride, Liberty Courtyard

May 9, 14-17: 4th Annual HWBA Plein Air Events, in honor of Wilbur Niewald

May 9 | 9 a.m.: Plein Air Tribute Plant & Paint, Loose Park

May 14: Plein Air All-Day Kickoff Paint, Rock Island Bridge

May 15 | 4:30 p.m.: Plein Air Evening Quick Paint, Stockyards Exchange East Lot

May 15 | 9 p.m.: Plein Air Nocturne, The Ship/Lemonade Park

May 16 | 8:30 a.m.: Plein Air Morning Coffee & Sketch, Liberty Courtyard

May 17 | 1 p.m.: Plein Air Final Turn-In & Judging, Rock Island Bridge

May 15-16: West Bottoms Backyard Barbeque, Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society

May 15: One-Meat Showdown, Liberty Lot, 12 p.m. set up

May 16: Backyard BBQ, Liberty Lot, 12 p.m. chicken turn-in, 12:30 p.m. pork ribs turn-in

May 16 | 10 a.m.: The Strawberry Swing, Liberty Courtyard

May 17 | 10 a.m.: A Kaw Social, Rock Island Bridge

May 20 | 6 p.m.: Stockyards Legends Dinner, The Exchange Room, Livestock Exchange Building, 2026 Honoree: Pat O’Neill

May 22 | 6 p.m.: Fourth Friday Kick Back, Liberty Courtyard, Presented by Latino Arts Foundation

May 23 | 11 a.m.: Copa de Calle Street Soccer, Liberty Courtyard

May 23 | 6 p.m.: Wettest Block Pig Roast, Incline on 9th

May 30 | 11 a.m.: Halal Food Festival, Liberty Courtyard

May 30 | 7 p.m.: Casino Night, Fuego Cantina

Additional details and registration information for the events can be found on the Historic West Bottom’s website, at www.hwb-kc.com/heritage-days.

Make plans to experience the spirit of the Historic West Bottoms firsthand, and join in on all of the fun to be had in the heart of Kansas City this May!