PEACH SEASON IN KC

BY KRISTINA LIGHT

We love peaches! Delicious peach cobbler (see below for a favorite recipe courtesy of Silver Dollar City), fresh peaches, peaches on ice cream, peaches with the blueberries we picked earlier in the summer … to quote Rachael Ray, “Yummo!”

Peach Picking Season: Mid- to late July through August or September (varies with each orchard).

Peach Picking Tips: Call the farm for a picking report before you head out. Many of the farms are small and have limited fruit availability.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Bring bottled water and snacks for the kids. Check out Going Places on KCParent.com for fun places to visit near the orchard of your choice!

How to Pick Peaches:

According to Wagon Wheel Orchard, “The proper way to pick tree fruit is to twist gently and lift up— do not pull down on the fruit or you will damage the fruit and the tree.”

Kansas City Area Peach Orchards

Colonial Gardens: 27610 E. Wyatt Rd., Blue Springs, 816.229.1277

Fun Farm Kearney: 650 N. Jefferson St., Kearney, Mo., 816.628.0028

Pome on the Range: 2050 Idaho Rd., Williamsburg, Kan., 785.746.5492

Weston Orchard & Vineyard: 18545 Co. Rd. H, Weston, Mo., 402.209.4117

Our Favorite Peach Cobbler Recipe!

Silver Dollar City Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:

1 c. sugar

2 t. baking powder

3/4 c. milk

3/4 c. flour smidge of salt

1 stick butter, melted in an 8x8 baking dish

2 c. sliced peaches, or your favorite fruit

Additional 3/4 c. sugar

Instructions:

(NOTE: Pay close attention to the DO NOT STIR instruction—it’s important.)

Mix the cup of sugar, baking powder, milk, flour and salt together. After you melt the stick of butter into the baking dish pour the batter mixture over the top. Do not stir! Now, mix the sugar with the fruit and drop it through the batter mixture; Again, do not stir! Bake for an hour at 300 degrees. If you double the recipe, it may take a bit longer. This recipe may boil over a bit, so place pan on a baking sheet with parchment paper (Note: Mine did not boil over in a deep dish Pyrex pan, but my teacher’s DID boil over in a metal baking pan). The cake portion should be golden brown. Serve with whipped topping, ice cream or half and half. The 8x8 size (single recipe) should serve six people.

1 Saturday

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

Reptiles: Snakes Alive! 10:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Discover how snakes are one of the most surprising animals during this meet and greet. Pre-reg at MDC.MO.gov.

Independence Day Celebration 2:00, historic Downtown Weston. Celebrate Independence Day in Weston with an old-fashioned parade! WestonMO.com

Lights on the Lake 3:00, Osawatomie City Lake (Kansas). Fun includes bounce houses, face painters, food, music and fireworks! CityOfOsawatomie.ticketspice.com/lotl2023

Polly’s PopFest 4:00, Independence Square. A new festival celebrating all things pop, including popcorn, Popsicles, pop music, pop culture and more! IndepSquare.com

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

Red, White & Blue Springs 6:30, Blue Springs South High School. This celebration will have live music, fireworks, vendors and more. BlueSpringsGov.com

Summer Concert Series 7:00, Ward Parkway Center. Join for a free outdoor concert with genres from jazz and classic rock to Irish and indie. WardParkwayCenter.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

Smithville Fireworks 9:00, Smith’s Fork Park. Join for the annual fireworks show. The fireworks will be set off from Smith’s Fork Park at dusk. SmithvilleChamber.org

2 Sunday

KC Northern Train Rides Noon, Line Creek Park. Ride restored trains around a half-mile track in the park for 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

Flags for Freedom Thru July 8, Merriam Marketplace. Stop by to view an astonishing display that honors our nation. Merriam.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

Superhero Night 6:00, Legends Field. Character appearances and wear your favorite superhero costume for a parade. Post-game fireworks! MonarchsBaseball.com

Overland Park Civic Band Concert 7:00, Indian Creek Recreation Center. Bring the family for a free summer band concert. OPCivicBand.org

3 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.

Old-Fashioned Picnic 6:00, Shawnee Indian Mission. Enjoy patriotic music and play games while you wait for the fireworks to begin! ShawneeIndianMission.org

Fairy Tale Village

Thru Sept. 4, Crown Center. Discover a world of make-believe as classic children’s tales come to life. CrownCenter.com

Legacy Blast 6:00, Legacy Park (Lee’s Summit). Concessions, food trucks, face painting, balloon artists and inflatables for kids, followed by fireworks! LSParks.net

Liberty Fest 6:00, Capitol Federal Sports Complex of Liberty. Activities, food trucks, live music and fireworks! TheLibertyFest.com

Kearney Fireworks Celebration 7:30, Kearney Amphitheatre (Missouri). A free concert from Kansas City Groove Therapy followed by fireworks. KearneyAmphitheatre.com

4 Tuesday Happy Independence Day!

VillageFest 2023 7:30, Prairie Village Municipal Complex. Pancake breakfast, children’s activities, face painting, carnival rides and more! PVKansas.com

Independence Day 9:00, Missouri Town Living History Museum. Patriotic speeches, children’s games and period cooking, parade and more! MakeYourDayHere.com

Celebrating the 4th at the Farm 9:00, Deanna Rose. Enjoy old-fashioned games and activities and participate in a bike parade. OPKansas.org

Fourth of July Celebration 10:00, Downtown Parkville. Pancake breakfast, community parade, music, skydiving exhibit and fireworks!

Celebration in the Park Noon, Leawood City Park. Kids activities and entertainment, food trucks, live music, inflatables and fireworks! 913.663.9153

Stars and Stripes Picnic 3:00, National World War I Museum and Memorial. Grab a bite to eat, shop local vendors, enjoy live music and

5:00, Stilwell Community Park. A salute to freedom, Stilwell style! Parade, kids games, music, concession trailer and fireworks!

Now Open

WWI has left enduring legacies on the world. One such legacy is the design and craft of artificial limbs, facial prosthetics and technology for those with limb loss or limb difference. Bespoke Bodies: The Design & Craft of Prosthetics explores the language, history and modern conceptions of prosthetic devices through the ages and through the stories of designers, medical professionals and users.

Independence Day Festival 5:00, Celebration Park (Gardner). Live music plus various food vendors and activities with a fireworks show! GardnerKansas.gov

Star Spangled Spectacular 6:00, Corporate Woods Office Park. Celebrate Independence Day with stage shows, food trucks and fireworks! OPKansas.org

July Fourth Fireworks 9:45, College Boulevard Activity Center. Celebrate Independence Day in Olathe with the annual fireworks display. OlatheKS.org

5 Wednesday

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

What’s That Wednesdays 10:00, Watkins Museum. On Wednesdays, stop by a cart full of artifacts to examine and explore. WatkinsMuseum.org

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 July. BBTheatres.com

Family Movies 2:30, Indian Creek Library. Enjoy a free movie on the big screen. Bring blankets and pillows for floor seating. OlatheLibrary.org

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 7:30, White Theatre. See this muchloved family classic based on the Bible’s book of Genesis. TheJKC.org

6 Thursday

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

Doctor Dolittle 11:00 and 1:00, the Coterie. See this new youth and family audience’s version of a country physician who can talk to animals. TheCoterie.org

Science Is Astounding 4:00, Antioch Library. A chemistry-based program for school-age children that are excited by science and math. JoCoLibrary.org

Fireworks: 1860s Style 6:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. Enjoy a concert, learn about history and enjoy fireworks! OlatheKS.org

7 Friday

Open Gym 9:30, Kaw Prairie Community Church. Grab a coffee from the coffee shop and hang out with friends while your kiddos get their energy out! KawPrairie.org

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

Kitties & Canvas 10:00, Great Plains SPCA. Kids ages 6 to 11 unleash their creativity with paintbrushes and adorable kittens as their muses. Pre-reg at GreatPlainsSPCA.org.

Teddy Bear Picnic 11:00, Swope Park. Grab your teddy bear and picnic lunch to celebrate National Teddy Bear Day. Entertainment, ice cream and more! Pre-reg at KCParks.org.

Fridays in the Park 11:30, Macken Park (North KC). Enjoy a Friday summer afternoon in the park listening to local musicians. NKC.org

Friday Family Special 11:00, Kanga’s Indoor Playcenter. Summer is here, and Kanga’s has a sizzling special for families every Friday! Independence.KangasPlaycenter.com

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

WeekEnder 6:00, Crown Center Square. Cap off Friday with local bands and food trucks followed by a famous flick under the stars. CrownCenter.com

ICI Summer Nights 6:00, Independence Community Ice. Each Friday night public skate this summer has a fun theme. IndependenceCommunityIce.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

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

Movies in the Park 7:00, Cornerstone Park. Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and head out to the park to see Back to the Future. GardnerKansas.gov

Sand Cinema 9:00, Longview Lake Beach. Load the kids in the car to watch Puss in Boots: The Last Wish on the giant inflatable screen! MakeYourDayHere.com

8 Saturday

Junque n’ Donuts 8:00, Louisburg Cider Mill. Miami County’s best outdoor flea market and craft sale. Grab some lunch and enjoy yard games. LouisburgCiderMill.com

Second Saturday 9:00, Powell Gardens. Take advantage of extended hours. Each season brings more to explore! PowellGardens.org

Antique and Craft Fair 9:00, BinghamWaggoner Estate. Shop antiques and crafts on the lawn of the Bingham-Waggoner Estate. BWEstate.net

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.

Kids in the Kitchen 10:00, Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. Learn the skill of canning and preserving favorite foods! Pre-reg at Johnson.K-State.edu.

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

13 8:30, Shawnee Theatre in the Park. With an unforgettable rock score, 13 is a musical about fitting in and standing out! TheatreInThePark.org

9 Sunday

Farmers Market 9:00, the City Market. The market is open year-round and offers a variety of fresh produce, meat, specialty groceries and more. TheCityMarket.org

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

Public Tours 11:00, Cedar Cove. Explore Cedar Cove with an experienced guide. See these epic animals and learn about them. Tours start every half-hour. SaveOurSiberians.org

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

Overland Park Civic Band Summer Concert 7:00, Indian Creek Recreation Center. The band will play music of all ages. OPCivicBand.org

10 Monday

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

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

Muddy Mondays 10:30, Ceramic Café. Have you always wanted to try throwing clay on a wheel? A clay expert will show you how to get started. Pre-reg at 913.383.0222.

50 Nights of Fire Thru Aug. 12, Worlds of Fun. An ending to the day featuring some of the greatest moments of Worlds of Fun’s dedication to adventure and fun. WorldsOfFun.com

11 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