Between major additions to popular museums, athletic events slated to draw sold-out crowds and an extended KC Streetcar line, the Heart of America is set to delight first-time visitors and return guests alike in 2025.
Start making plans for the year with these 25 highlights, hotspots and can’t-miss events.
1. An Extended KC Streetcar
The Heart of America’s popular choice for public transportation is set to significantly expand its reach in 2025. With the KC Streetcar’s 3.5-mile Main Street extension slated to debut during the summer, seamless arrivals will soon be made easy at more of Kansas City’s favorite entertainment destinations.
Riders on the extended line can conveniently reach local shopping in Union Hill, nightlife in Westport and striking architecture on the Country Club Plaza, along with premier cultural institutions like The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Best of all, the KC Streetcar remains free to ride every day.
2. Destination-Worthy Dining
Kansas City’s signature cuisine continues to invite innovation. The region’s barbecue landscape is dynamic as ever, with new establishments and pop-up projects like Night Goat Barbecue joining a lineup of legends. (Navigate them all in one place via the KC BBQ Experience.)
In addition to visiting a pair of founding establishments that shaped KC-style barbecue—Arthur Bryant’s and Gates Bar-B-Q—there’s a brand new way to explore the comprehensive story of smoked meats: The world’s first Museum of BBQ opens inside Crown Center in the spring.
Of course, additions to the city’s stellar dining scene reach well beyond barbecue. A James Beard-awarded tortilleria now offers lunch service at Yoli Loncheria, beloved dinner destination Corvino boasts a brand new cocktail lounge and The Prospect has expanded its community-oriented approach to coffee with the addition of the Nook inside the Kansas City Public Library.
3. A Perennial Sports Capital
By now, it’s well known that the City of Fountains is a sports fan’s paradise. Patrick Mahomes’ brilliant playmaking keeps the Kansas City Chiefs dominant within the NFL, Bobby Witt Jr. posted MLB’s leading batting average as the Kansas City Royals made their return to the playoffs, and Temwa Chawinga secured the NWSL’s Golden Boot award during the Kansas City Current’s first season at CPKC Stadium.
Sporting Kansas City delivers raucous crowds that KC’s place as the Soccer Capital of America, the Kansas City Comets field an indoor soccer team and the Kansas City Mavericks offer the chance to catch a professional ice hockey game in the heartland.
Kansas City’s high-powered pro teams are joined by a series of standout collegiate events all throughout the year. The Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships return to T-Mobile Center in March, drawing thousands of fans and delivering one of America’s most electric environments for college basketball. (Hoops diehards can also catch WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark as the featured speaker at WIN for KC’s Women’s Sports Awards in February.)
The NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship will also take place at T-Mobile Center, and the Big 12 Women’s Soccer Championship and the NCAA Division I Women’s College Cup are set to be played at CPKC Stadium.
4. Neighborhoods to Know
No matter how much time you’ve spent venturing through Kansas City’s destination-worthy districts, there’s undoubtedly still much more to explore. The region’s many vibrant neighborhoods continue to be defined by their distinct charms, welcoming all kinds of fresh experiences along the way.
The 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District remains a cultural cornerstone within the KC community. A trio of longstanding institutions—the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the American Jazz Museum and the Black Archives of Mid-America—have been joined by notable new additions, including a technicolor taproom at Vine Street Brewing and a multipurpose space for visual arts at the Zhou B Art Center.
Waldo is full of popular choices for foodies, from James Beard-nominated plates at Waldo Thai to cinnamon rolls and breakfast bites at Hemma Hemma—named a favorite by Donna Kelce. The West Bottoms has welcomed new additions from a hi-fi lounge to a high-energy arcade, while downtown Shawnee is a clear pick for beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic libations alike.
5. Magnificent Museums
Always reimagining their offerings, Kansas City’s museums contain endless treasures.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial has upgraded many of its exhibitions, including spaces that portray trenches, field hospitals and other immersive experiences that allow guests to more closely sense the realities of the First World War.
In addition to a sprawling collection and a gorgeous 22-acre sculpture park, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art hosts an annual lineup of showstopping cultural festivals: Passport to India, the Deaf Cultural Festival, Día de los Muertos and more.
Just around the corner, theKemper Museum of Contemporary Art has welcomed the latest installation in its Atrium Project, a series that commissions the works of emerging and mid-career Hispanic artists.
More New Developments
6. Straight to the Point
Easily identifiable by the shimmering KC Wheel, the Pennway Point district will soon welcome a food and beer hall, neon museum and more.
7. An Architectural First
America’s first entertainment district over a river makes its debut with the opening of the Rock Island Bridge in spring 2025.
8. Historic Hangouts
Kansas City’s oldest district is welcoming plenty of new additions. Make your way to Westport for arcade bars, live music and favorite dives.
9. A Nearby Retreat
Indulge in a resort-style escape with the midyear opening of the region’s first Margaritaville Hotel in Kansas City, Kansas.
10. Going Live
The Kansas City Power & Light District welcomes a series of upgrades this spring, including new dining options and expanded amenities in the KC Live! Block.
Adventure for All
11. Pickleball Paradise
Pickleball’s popularity hasn’t shown any sign of slowing. Hotspots for the sport like Chicken N Pickle and SERV are joined by major events, including the return of PickleCon.
12. Riverfront Restoration
Berkley Riverfront’s growth makes it ideal for active exploration, with a spacious riverfront trail and popular spots like Bar K Dog Bar joined by a beer garden and more new additions.
13. New at the Zoo
The much-anticipated addition of Sobela Ocean Aquarium at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium continues to make a splash.
14. Urban Excursion
Urban Hikes Kansas City is an excellent way to get to know the city while staying in motion. Urban Hikes’ guided walking tours dive into cultural and historical topics across the area.
15. Exploring Legacies
Powered by Visit Kansas City Kansas, the KCK Legacy Trail offers a historical look at Latino, Indigenous and Eastern European life in the Sunflower State.
Favorite Events and Traditions
16. Festivals for All
Summertime is festival season, promising the return of favorite community gatherings from Boulevardia to the Heart of America Hot Dog Festival.
17. Renowned Waterworks
The City of Fountains dazzles visitors with its hundreds of waterworks, whether it’s during the official Fountain Day celebration or on a self-guided tour.
18. Labor Day Celebrations
Labor Day Weekend delivers a trio of much-anticipated celebrations: the Kansas City Irish Fest, Santa-Cali-Gon Days and the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.
19. Shining Bright
Don’t miss the chance to see the Plaza Lights shine for the holidays, with the beloved tradition celebrating its centennial this season.
20. A Thriving Jazz Scene
There’s no bad time for jazz in Kansas City, but major moments like International Jazz Day and the annual American Jazz Walk of Fame induction create unique ways to celebrate.
Year-Round Highlights
21. Learning & Libations
As Northeast Kansas City’s premier historical institution, the Kansas City Museum now serves old-school cocktails and phosphates in its downstairs soda fountain, Elixir.
22. A New Look at Books
Recently opened reading establishments, including Bliss Books & Wine and BLK + BRWN, join beloved bookstores like Prospero’s and Rainy Day Books to delight everyone in search of a great story.
23. Heartland Hospitality
With luxurious guestrooms and a stunning rooftop, the Crossroads Hotel recently earned a prestigious MICHELIN Key.
24. Stellar Shopping
Fashion brands like Charlie Hustle and ULAH join alluring gift destinations such as Made in KC and Shop Local KC to offer a first-rate shopping scene.
25. The Modern Cocktail Movement
A century later, Kansas City’s Prohibition-defying past can still be felt at favorite drinking establishments. Yesterday’s stories guiding today’s creations at area distilleries.
