KANSAS CITY’S ULTIMATE bucket l ist

• Visit stingrays, polar bears, kangaroos, tigers, penguins and giraffes at the Kansas City Zoo

• Ride the Zambezi Zinger at Worlds of Fun and try all of their world-class roller coasters. Then, make waves at Oceans of Fun—all for the price of one ticket!

• Spend the day bird watching at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

• Play miniature golf at the Art Course on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

• Stop and smell the roses at Loose Park

• Attend a KC Monarchs baseball game! TIP: Sundays are Family Fun Day.

• Challenge the kids to an escape game at Tick Tock Escapes

• Participate in hands-on history at the National World War I Museum and Memorial and get a spectacular view of the city atop Liberty Memorial.

• Explore Fortopia at Powell Gardens

• Participate in a summer reading program.

• Spend a day at Crown Center—visit Legoland or Sea Life and catch a show at the Coterie

• Pick berries, peaches and apples at local u-pick farms You’ll find a complete guide to local u-pick farms on KCParent.com.

• Ride bikes at one of KC’s best bike trails

• Spend a day at the Legends Outlets and meet up with friends on the Lawn.

• Explore one of Kansas City’s best parks. Use the Going Places guide on KCParent. com to find a new one.

• Visit the Johnson County Museum and play in KidScape, a child-sized village.

• Ride the KC Streetcar and visit the FREE KC Rail Experience at Union Station, play chess on the roof at the Central Library, explore Rooftop Park in the Power & Light District and taste-test a yummy treat at City Market.

• Watch a show and make your own puppet at the Puppetry Arts Institute

• Take a tour of the Roasterie and learn about coffee.

• Step back in time at one of Shawnee Town 1929’s familyfriendly summer events.

• Join a summer movie club at your local movie theater

• Rent a pedal boat at Shawnee Mission Lake or Lake Jacomo. Rent a stand-up paddle board at Lake Olathe or Legacy Park in Lee’s Summit

• Marvel at modern art at the Nerman Museum, where admission is free.

• Ride aboard the KC Northern Railroad for only 75 cents on weekends!

• Shop at one of KC’s farmers markets

• Go camping at a campground in Missouri or Kansas.

• Play disc golf at Swope Park

• Try the zip line at Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park in Swope Park.

• Nurture your creative bug at Ceramics Cafe

• Attend a weekend tour at Cedar Cove Feline Sanctuary where big cats live in Louisburg, Kansas.

• Share a Skyscraper, a giant ice cream soda or shake, at Winstead’s

• Swim at a local pool, waterpark, sprayground or beach—discover them all in our KC Water Fun Guide on KCParent.com.

• Feed the goats at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead

• Ride a stagecoach during one of Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm’s Family Fun Nights on Thursdays in June and July.

• Jump at Urban Air, an indoor trampoline park, and try their virtual reality experience.

• Participate in hands-on science at Science City, catch a planetarium show at Gottlieb Planetarium, watch a movie at the Extreme Screen and experience the Amazing Spider-Man exhibit at Union Station

• Learn about Missouri’s real discovered treasure at the Arabia Steamboat Museum

• Stroll through Kauffman Memorial Gardens

• Celebrate Black America’s baseball history at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

• Explore Downtown Kansas City and take photos with public art on display.

• Picnic near a Kansas City area waterfall. You’ll find a list on KCParent.com.

• Get an amazing view of the city from the River Observation Tower as you gaze out over the vast Missouri River.

• Roller-skate with the family at a local skating rink

• Go old school and catch a movie at one of KC’s drive-in theaters

• Take a family float trip and canoe locally

• Learn about the Santa Fe Trail at Cave Springs Nature Center

• Learn new things about nature through a class or program at one of KC’s nature centers or gardens

• Grab some cash and take the kids on a trash or treasure hunt ... a.k.a. garage sale shopping

• Stargaze at Powell Observatory, home to the Ruisinger telescope, one of the largest telescopes available for public viewing in a five-state area.

• Explore the Central Branch of the Kansas City Library, because any library with a parking garage painted with classic books has to be cool.

• Head to Moon Marble in Bonner Springs and watch a marble making demonstration.

• Root, root, root for the Royals! TIP: If attending a first game with a little one, take the family to guest services where young fans are awarded a souvenir certificate in honor of their first game.

• Watch the fish at Bass Pro in Olathe or Independence, the outdoor shop featuring giant fish tanks kids love.

• Ride the $1 Ferris wheel at Scheel’s.

• Munch on Topsy’s popcorn and enjoy their homemade lemonade.

Kristina Light will be writing about summer fun in Kansas City all season long on KCParent.com.

THE KCPARENT.COM CALENDAR FEATURES

OVER 1,000 EVENTS EACH MONTH!

Learn

Head to Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead on June 3 for Safety Day

Hop aboard a fire truck, slide into a police cruiser and visit with members of emergency services.

OPKansas.org

Enjoy

The Snow Queen comes June 9-10 to JCCC Polsky Theater. The Culture House performs the story of a young woman traveling through the seasons. CultureHouse.com

The Liberty Summer Festival is June 10-11 at Family Tree Nursery (Liberty). Enjoy live music, food trucks, workshops, kids activities and more! FamilyTreeNursery.com

Madagascar The Musical comes to the Music Hall June 16. See all of your favorite cracka-lackin’ friends as they find themselves on a journey.

Ticketmaster.com

Watch

On June 16 head to Electric Park for Movie in the Park. Pack blankets and snacks to enjoy Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark under the stars. Lenexa.com

1 Thursday

Fortopia Thru Sept 4, Powell Gardens. Enjoy a playful exhibition composed of awe-inspiring forts that invite explorers of all ages to discover the gardens! PowellGardens.org

Life on the Farm 9:00, Colonial Gardens. Activities may include feeding the chickens, hugging an alpaca or holding a baby goat! ColonialGardensKC.com

Nature Walk Thursdays 9:30, George Owens Nature Park. Discover one of the trails with a park naturalist on Thursdays in June and July. Dress for the weather. 816.325.7115

Toddler Time 10:00, Ceramic Café. On Mondays and Thursdays, toddlers 5 and under can paint one selected item for just $12! CeramicCafeKC.com

Pay for Play 10:00, Backyard Specialists. Plan a playdate for your children and their friends at the amazing showroom! BackyardSpecialists.com

Old Shawnee Days Thru Sunday, Shawnee Town 1929. Carnival rides, entertainment, food and lots of family fun! Old ShawneeDays.org

2 Friday

Enchanted Faire Today and tomorrow, Overland Park Arboretum. Enjoy arts and crafts, hair painting, photo ops and merriment for the whole family. ArtsAndRec-OP.org

Downtown Days Festival Thru Sunday, Downtown Lee’s Summit. Festivities include live entertainment, carnival rides, sports zone, festival food and more! DowntownLS.org

Festa Italiana Thru Sunday, Zona Rosa. Festival celebrates unique Italian traditions and ItalianAmerican culture. ZonaRosa.com

Prairie Village Art Show Thru Sunday, Prairie Village Shops. Annual art show featuring more than 100 artists. Children’s activities, music and more. PrairieVillageShops.com

Fresh Fridays 5:00, City Market. Sip and shop while enjoying music, food and fun each month. Admission is free, and all ages welcome. TheCityMarketKC.org

First Fridays 7:00, Crossroads Art District. Art galleries, retailers and other participating art venues of the Crossroads Art District showcase their art. KCCrossroads.org

Jazzoo 7:30, Kansas City Zoo. Be a part of the wildest fundraiser in town! Enjoy unlimited food, drinks and entertainment—all while raising money. KansasCityZoo.org

3 Saturday

Hospital Hill Run 7:00, Crown Center. Kansas City’s long-standing running tradition. Choose from the half marathon, 10K or 5K. CrownCenter.com

46th Annual Fishing Derby 8:00, C Lee Kenagy Park (Raytown). The derby is free and open to Raytown residents of all ages. UnctionMedia.com/rp2019

Strawberry Festival 9:00, Vaile Mansion. Hamburgers, hot dogs, strawberry treats, craft and antique vendors, plants for sale and more! VaileMansion.org

Donuts with Dad 9:00, Smithville Senior Center. Celebrating dads, grandpas, uncles or other positive male role models with a snack, craft and photo op! Pre-reg at SmithvilleParksRec.com.

Spring Jamboree 9:00, Missouri Town Living History Museum. Try your hand at the important work and play of Victorian children. MakeYourDayHere.com

Days Out with Frank and Ella

Safety Day 9:00, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Hop aboard a fire truck, slide into a police cruiser and interact with members of emergency services. OPKansas.org

Kids Projects and Activities 9:00, Home Depot locations across the metro. Children will enjoy making their own putting green. HomeDepot.com/c/kids

A Day in the Park 10:00, Shawnee Mission Park. Pack the picnic basket and kick off the summer with a fun-filled variety of facilities and activities. JCPRD.com

Global Neighbors & Flavors Fest 10:00, Lenexa Public Market. Feast on cuisine, performances and experiences from around the world! Lenexa.com

AKMA Art Fair 10:00, Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. Discover original artwork and enjoy live musical performances, art activities and more. Albrecht-Kemper.org

Let’s Be Friends! 10:00, Olathe Library (Downtown). Storyteller Priscilla Howe brings stories, songs, puppets and silliness for kids of all ages. OlatheLibrary.org

Mother Nature Reads 10:00, Lakeside Nature Center. Children hear a story, make a craft and often see a wildlife interpretation. LakesideNatureCenter.org

Hy-Vee SummerFest Noon, Memorial Park (Belton). Live music and performances, cornhole tournament, food trucks, games, crafters and fireworks. BeltonParks.org

4 Sunday

KC Northern Train Rides Noon, Line Creek Park. Ride restored trains around a half-mile track in the park. 75 cents/ride. KCNRR.com

Free Afternoon Program 1:30, Prairie Park Nature Center. Free program for the family may include video, slideshow and going outside to enjoy nature. LawrenceKS.org

Our Blue Planet 2:00, The Great Lawn (18th & Vine). Handmade parade features costumes, masks, street giant puppets and more. Festival after parade. StoneLionPuppets.org

Historic Middle School Book Club 4:30, Alexander Majors Home. Middle schoolers discuss a historical fiction novel. WornallMajors.org

Family Fundays 6:00, Legends Field. Bring a glove and ball and play catch on the field, and after the game, kids run the bases! MonarchsBaseball.com

Summer Concerts 6:00, Rotary Park. Enjoy a relaxing evening outdoors with free, live musical entertainment. BlueSpringsGov.com

5 Monday

Sensory-Friendly Mondays 9:00, Johnson County Museum. Limited occupancy session for kids with sensory processing differences and autism spectrum disorders. Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

Summer Kid Series 10:00 and 12:30, Miller Theatres (Blue Springs). See the Goosebumps movie for only $2.50/ticket. Combos also available. MillerTheatres.com

KidsGiG Thru Thursday, Westside Family Church. Engaging games, relationship building time with peers and learning about Jesus. Pre-reg at WestsideFamilyChurch.org/kidsgig.

Storybook Trail Thru June 11, Armstrong Park (Grain Valley, Mo.). Walk, bike or run along the trail to read pages from a storybook. CityOfGrainValley.org

6 Tuesday

Preschool Indoor Playground 9:30, Merriam Community Center. Kids can ride, slide and play inside! Parents supervise children. Merriam.org/park

Grinnin’ & Groovin’ 9:30, Ironwoods Park Amphitheater. The popular series features concerts and entertainment. Today’s performer is Mr Stinky Feet. 913.663.9154

Summer Kids Series Select days, B & B Theatres. Another reason why it’s great to be a kid in the summertime! Specially priced movies in June and July. BBTheatres.com

Story Time in the Park 10:00, Indian Creek Library. Bring a blanket for stories, songs and fingerplays. Stories geared to 3- to 5-year-olds, but all are welcome. OlatheLibrary.org

7 Wednesday

Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing Thru Oct 1, Union Station. The story of the web slinger, from his origins in 1962 to his modern-day adventures. UnionStation.org

Art in the Park 10:00, Heritage Park Shelter (Smithville, Mo.). Kid-friendly art and craft activities in the great outdoors. Pre-reg at SmithvilleParksRec.com.

Giggle Time 10:00, Roe Park. Gather little ones for some giggling and wiggling and a funfilled time with Mr Stinky Feet at this children’s program. OPKansas.org

Reading to a Rooster 10:00, Shawnee Town 1929. Kids can pull up a chair and show off their reading skills to help entertain the flock. ShawneeTown.org

8 Thursday

Used Homeschool Curriculum Sale 6:00, Journey Bible Church. Used curriculum sale. If new to homeschooling, come early for workshop. MidwestHomeschoolers.org

Nature Story Time 10:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Little nature lovers are invited to enjoy a morning filled with music, movement and outdoor adventure. OPKansas.org

Sunset Music Fest 6:00, Town Center Plaza. Free summer concert series. Performing tonight: Danielle Nicole band. TownCenterPlaza.com

Concert in the Park 7:30, Thompson Park. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and hear country rockers Drew Six. Listen to favorite songs under the stars. 913.344.8656

9 Friday

Fairy Tale Village 10:00, Crown Center. Discover a world of make-believe as classic children’s tales come to life. CrownCenter.com

The Snow Queen Today and tomorrow, JCCC Polsky Theater. The Culture House School of Dance performs the story of a young woman traveling through the seasons. CultureHouse.com

Greek Festival Today and tomorrow, St Dionysios Greek Orthodox Church. Festival features Greek food, dancing, music and more! StDionysios.org

Arts in the Park Today and tomorrow, Macken Park. Festival showcases local artists and makers. Also enjoy food, entertainment, kids activities and more! NKC.org

Sugar Creek Slavic Festival Today and tomorrow, Sugar Creek. Music, food and dance from Slavic nations of Eastern Europe. SlavicFest.com

Summer Concerts in the Park 6:30, Central Park (Zona Rosa). Bring a chair, blanket and friends and enjoy free concerts on Fridays. ZonaRosa.com

Olathe LIVE! 7:00, Stagecoach Park. Bring blankets, lawn chairs, food and nonalcoholic beverages to enjoy a night of live music. OlatheKS.org

Sounds on the Square 7:00, Linden Square. Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and join for a night of music under the stars. LindenSquare.info

Night Flight 9:00, Legacy Park Amphitheater. A nighttime 5K to benefit the Legacy for Parks Foundation. Pre-reg at CityOfLS.net/parks.

10 Saturday

Youth Fishing Derby 9:00, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Catch-and-release derby for kids 13 and under at Black Hoof Park. Prizes awarded. Pre-reg at Lenexa.com.

Free Admission 9:00, Johnson County Museum. A chance for families to enjoy the museum’s exhibits and Kidscape for FREE. JCPRD.com/1836/Museum

Concours D’Elegance 9:00, Crown Center Square. British car owners from around the region will display their cars. CrownCenter.com

Wild Miles 2023 9:00, Grounds Park (Blue Springs). Kids ages 5-13 complete a course full of climbing, crawling, swinging and jumping. Pre-reg at BlueSpringsGov.com/events.

Liberty Summer Festival Today & tomorrow, Family Tree Nursery (Liberty). Enjoy live music, food trucks, local vendors, workshops, kids activities and more! FamilyTreeNursery.com

Kids Club 10:00, Colonial Gardens. Kids enjoy fun activities while you shop at Colonial Gardens or savor a coffee at the Bean Counter. Pre-reg at ColonialGardensKC.com.

Dragon Boat Festival 10:00, Brush Creek (Country Club Plaza). Dragon boat races, entertainment, food and fun for the entire family. KCParks.org

1875 Historical Event 10:00, Shoal Creek Living History Museum. Enjoy family fun activities and historical demonstrations. ShoalCreekLivingHistoryMuseum.com

Babes in the Woods 10:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Flutter like a butterfly and learn about how the monarch butterfly makes its trek to Mexico.

Fun on the Bluff 10:00, Fort Osage. Join for music, food, storytelling, games and crafts from the past. Explore life on the wild frontier. MakeYourDayHere.com

Brick Fest Live Today and tomorrow, KCI Expo Center. See life-sized models made from bricks and enjoy hands-on activities. BrickFestLive.com

Family Fossil Find 3:00, Martha LaFite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Spend a day immersed in the Missouri wilderness experiencing a nature program. NatureSanctuary.com

Blues Fest 6:00, Lee’s Summit Amphitheater. Enjoy an evening of soulful blues music with performances from Jason Vivone and others. CityOfLS.net

Raytown Live 7:00, Town Center Greenspace. Bring blankets or lawn chairs and join folks from all over to kick back and enjoy the tunes. Raytown.Live

Movie Night on the Lawn 6:00, Legends Outlets. Watch timeless classics and Hollywood blockbusters on the big screen on Saturdays through October. LegendsShopping.com

Sounds on the Square 8:00, Independence Square. Every Saturday from June to August, live music will be featured around the Square. IndepSquare.com

Public Viewings 8:30, Powell Observatory. Bring lawn chairs or blankets to see images from the Ruisinger telescope on a large screen. ASKC.org/observatories/powell-observatory

11 Sunday

Second Sundays 10:00, Lexington, Mo. Enjoy first class fun with the farmers market, trolley tours, historic attractions and sites and more! VisitLexingtonMo.com

Future Stages Festival 2023 Noon, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Free festival showcases hundreds of young performers. KauffmanCenter.org/futurestages

Stories by the Campfire 1:30, George Owens Nature Park. Bring your lawn chair and sit by a roaring fire with great stories. Call 816.325.7115 for more information.

Summer Concerts 6:00, Rotary Park. Enjoy a relaxing evening outdoors with free, live musical entertainment. BlueSpringsGov.com

Freaky Friday 8:30, Shawnee Theatre in the Park. Bring the entire family to this delightful show based on the hit Disney film! TheatreInThePark.org

12 Monday

Visit Sea Life 10:00, Sea Life Aquarium. Bring the kids to see the Doodle Reef, the touch pool, Stingray Bay and more! Purchase tickets online at VisitSeaLife.com.

Gym for Me 9:00, Lenexa Community Center. Play items are available, including push toys, riding toys, balls and inflatables. Lenexa.com

Toddler Time 10:00, Ceramic Café. On Mondays and Thursdays, toddlers 5 and under can paint one selected item for just $12! CeramicCafeKC.com

13 Tuesday

Time Travelers 10:00, Shawnee Town 1929. Step back in time to the 1920s with family activities in this living history program. ShawneeTown.org

Story Time in the Park 10:00, Indian Creek Library. Bring a blanket for stories, songs and fingerplays. Stories geared to 3- to 5-year-olds, but all are welcome. OlatheLibrary.org

Art in the Park Pop-Up 10:30, Ironwoods Park. Forage for leaves, flowers and rocks and make photographic impressions on cotton fabric. 913.663.915

Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing

Thru Oct. 1, Union Station. The story of the web slinger, from his origins in 1962 to his modern-day adventures. UnionStation.org

The Princess and the Pea 10:00, Theatre for Young America. The Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale comes to vivid life in this musical comedy. TYA.org

The Tempest 6:00, Southmoreland Park. Bring a blanket and enjoy a show in the park! Preshow entertainment, food for sale and a performance. KCShakes.org

Nerf Night 6:30, Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter and Café. Enjoy Nerf night with blasters, foam darts, Nerf obstacles and pizza! Independence. KangasPlaycenter.com

Popsicles in the Park 6:30, Armstrong Park (Grain Valley, Mo.). Make new friends, hear a special story and enjoy free Popsicles! CityOfGrainValley.org

Movie Under the Stars 8:30, Anita B Gorman Discovery Center. See a short introductory program followed by a movie under the stars. MDC.mo.gov

14 Wednesday

Fortopia Thru Sept 4, Powell Gardens. Enjoy a playful exhibition composed of awe-inspiring forts that invite explorers of all ages to discover the gardens! PowellGardens.org

Retro Story Time 10:00, Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center. Hear a story from long ago read by a guest from the 1950s All-Electric House! Craft included. Pre-reg at 913.831.3359.

Days Out with Frank and Ella 10:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm. Enjoy a different history theme each Wednesday and Thursday with plenty of hands-on activities, crafts and a stagecoach ride! Mahaffie.org

Art in the Park 10:00, Heritage Park Shelter (Smithville, Mo.). Kid-friendly art and craft activities in the great outdoors. Pre-reg at SmithvilleParksRec.com.

Summer Kids Series Select days, B & B Theatres. Another reason why it’s great to be a kid in the summertime! Specially priced movies in June and July. BBTheatres.com

Music in the Garden 6:00, Colonial Gardens. Join for free live music and enjoy food and drink in the beautiful courtyard. ColonialGardensKC.com

Flag Day 2023 6:00, Great Overland Station (Topeka). Outdoor concert, children’s activities and a ceremony to retire 2022’s flags and present new flags. VisitTopeka.com

15 Thursday

Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing Thru Oct 1, Union Station. The story of the web slinger, from his origins in 1962 to his modern-day adventures. UnionStation.org

Pay for Play 10:00, Backyard Specialists. Plan a playdate for your children and their friends at the amazing showroom! BackyardSpecialists.com

Toddler Time 10:00, Ceramic Café. On Mondays and Thursdays, toddlers 5 and under can paint one selected item for just $12! CeramicCafeKC.com

Kids Day at Kenagy 10:00, C Lee Kenagy Park (Raytown). Check out the petting zoo, fire truck and police cars, story times and more! UnctionMedia.com/rp2019

Free Family Fun Nights 5:00, Kansas Children’s Discovery Center. Come explore a special place where children can create, discover and learn through play. KansasDiscovery.org

Sunset Music Fest 6:00, Town Center Plaza. Free summer concert series. Performing tonight: JAM with Quite Frankly. TownCenterPlaza.com

16 Friday

Time for Tots 10:30, Kemper Museum. Sing songs, read books, explore art and make your own art with a Kemper Museum educator. Pre-reg at KemperArt.org.

Local Life Today and tomorrow, Downtown Overland Park. Explore locally owned businesses, activities and more. Head to DowntownOP.org for details about this month’s theme.

Lake Fest Today and tomorrow, Smithville Lake. Pop-up makers fair, food trucks and vendors, live music, parade and more! SmithvilleMO.org

Friday Flamingle 5:00, Kansas City Zoo. Enjoy music, free carousel and train rides, yard games, cash bars, food truck treats and more! Ages 21+. KansasCityZoo.org

Third Friday Art Walk 5:00, Downtown KCK. Free, family-friendly events in Strawberry Hill along with pop-ups, art exhibits, performances and more. VisitKansasCityKS.com

Popcorn in the Park 6:00, Bennett Park. Tonight’s featured movie is The Rise of Gru. Enjoy free popcorn and water. LibertyMissouri.gov