September

Kansas City Irish Fest - Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Celebrate KC’s Celtic heritage with three days of live music, special performances, locally provided libations, activities for young ones, tastings and plenty more in this beloved Crown Center bash.

Santa-Cali-Gon Days - Aug. 30- Sept. 2
This Independence festival commemorates the origin of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails during westward expansion. Browse more than 500 artisan, craft, food and commercial vendor booths, as well as a carnival, a 5K and more.

Kansas City Renaissance Festival - Aug. 31-Oct. 14
Step back in time at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, a medieval-themed village home to jousting knights, thrill-seeking acrobats and beautiful maidens.

Chiefs NFL Kickoff - Sept. 5
Ready to defend their championship, thousands of football fanatics will pack GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium as the Kansas City Chiefs kick off the NFL season against the Baltimore Ravens.  

Johnson County Old Settlers - Sept. 5-7
Head to the Johnson County Square in downtown Olathe for a weekend of carnival rides, live entertainment, local vendors, a parade and more community fun.

Art Westport - Sept. 6-8
Local artists gather in KC’s oldest neighborhood for Art Westport, a weekend fair that showcases original art, jewelry, fine crafts and more.

PBR Outlaw Days - Sept. 6-8
Professional bull riding takes over T-Mobile Center for three days of heart-pounding action. The Kansas City Outlaws, KC’s first pro bull riding team, feature some of the best riders in the country.

GloWild - Sept. 6-Dec. 29
This popular lantern festival returns to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium for the first year, but this time with a new theme, GloWild: Legends & Lore. Explore two loops, one for unique adventures and another for enchanted fantasies.

Exiled: Crooked Rose Woods - Sept. 13-Nov. 2
Saw franchise director and Kansas City native Darren Lynn Bousman is joining forces with Exiled, the region's bone-chilling outdoor haunted house. Together, they're crafting a one-of-a-kind fusion of terror and immersive storytelling in Bonner Springs, Kansas. 

Fiesta Hispana - Sept. 13-15
Sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Heritage Committee, this free festival celebrates Hispanic culture with great music, food, dancing and exhibits.

Jesse James Festival - Sept. 13-14 & 20-22
As the birthplace of the notorious outlaw, Kearney, Missouri, goes all out every September with a multi-day event featuring a parade, carnival, fishing tournament and more.

Halloween Haunt - select nights, Sept. 13-Oct. 26
Ghosts, ghouls and other creatures of the night roam freely through Worlds of Fun during Halloween Haunt, which showcases the scarier side of the amusement park.

Plaza Art Fair - Sept. 20-22
This nationally recognized, nine-block art event at the Country Club Plaza typically draws crowds of more than 250,000 who gather for art, live music and food and drinks from a variety of KC restaurants.

Camp Leavenworth - Sept. 20-21
Celebrating the people of Leavenworth, Kansas, this free street festival features two days of national music acts, fireworks, food trucks and more.

Overland Park Fall Festival – Sept. 27-28
Find live music, a local artisan fair, kids activities and festival food in downtown Overland Park. The popular farmers market will also be going on for fresh produce and locally grown foods.

NASCAR at Kansas Speedway - Sept. 27-29
Head to Kansas Speedway for fast-paced NASCAR action—plus, with two weekends each year, fans get a double dose of high-octane fun.

Liberty Fall Festival – Sept. 27-29
Shop from over 200 local artists and vendors, enjoy live entertainment, and don’t miss the carnival and car show at this family-friendly festival in Liberty.

Louisburg Ciderfest - Sept. 28-29, Oct. 5-6
Head to the Louisburg Cider Mill for the annual Ciderfest, where guests are invited to watch how apples are pressed into cider, sample cider donuts and other treats, plus live music and activities for young ones.

October

Pumpkin Festival - Oct. 3-27
Head to the pumpkin patch at Faulkner's Ranch in Kansas City. Families can also enjoy giant slides, games, pony rides, a petting farm and other activities. Don't miss out on the pumpkin spice donuts, apple cider slushies and other delicious fall treats.  

KC Oktoberfest - Oct. 4-5
Head to Crown Center to experience a two-day celebration of KC Bier Co. craft brews, traditional European food, engaging games, activities and Bavarian-style entertainment.

Foreigner - Oct. 5
Azura Amphitheater is marking its 40th season of outdoor entertainment in Bonner Springs, Kansas, and to celebrate, a group of juke box heroes is taking the stage. Special guest Loverboy will join Foreigner for the night.

Weston Applefest - Oct. 5-6
Explore historic Weston, Missouri, as arts and crafts booths line Main Street, touting a tempting range of apple delicacies, from dumplings and pies to cookies, all made by members of local churches.

Missouri Town 1855 Festival of Arts, Crafts and Music - Oct. 5-6
Enjoy wagon rides, reenactments, crafts and more in this annual festival that takes place at Missouri Town 1855, where guests can travel back in time to experience life in the 1850s.

Greater KC Japan Festival - Oct. 5
Hosted at Johnson County Community College, enjoy creative workshops, cosplay contests, traditional dancing, martial arts demonstrations and more in a celebration of Japanese culture.  

American Royal Livestock Show - Oct. 9-27
With roots dating back to 1899 and boasting a reputation as one of the toughest competitions, this iconic event draws thousands of owners, breeders, future business/agriculture leaders and animal enthusiasts from across the country.

Lenexa Chili Challenge - Oct. 11-12
This free foodie festival heats up Friday night with live music and a fireworks show. Then on Saturday, grab your spoon to feast on chili, hot wings and salsa samples as over 200 teams compete.

Brew at the Zoo - Oct. 12
Enjoy an evening of live music, delicious bites and a variety of beer and wine from local breweries and vineyards to support the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.

Shawnee Indian Mission Fall Festival - Oct. 12
Take a trip back in time at the Shawnee Indian Mission where you’ll find live music, First American dancing, wagon rides, historical presentations and more.

Gold Over America Tour ft. Simone Biles - Oct. 16
Olympic champion Simone Biles and more of America’s best gymnasts are coming to Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center for an action-packed night of gravity-defying athleticism.

Cornucopia - Oct. 18-20
Kansas City's downtown fall festival fills the streets of the Kansas City Power & Light District. Free to attend and designed for all ages, Cornucopia features three days of carnival rides, pumpkin decorating, face painting, favorite fall treats and many more festivities along Grand Blvd. and beyond.

Night of the Living Farm - Oct. 18-19, 25-26
Explore Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead after dark—if you dare! Dress up in your costume for this Halloween party at the farm, complete with hayrides, mad science experiments, mazes, marshmallow roasts and more family fun.  

Garmin Kansas City Marathon - Oct. 19
Featuring several distances, the Marathon is the area's largest and most exciting annual race event, taking runners on a tour through the coolest neighborhoods and past some of KC's most iconic landmarks, including the National WWI Museum & Memorial, the Country Club Plaza, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and more.

Walking with Ghosts: Real Life Hauntings with Amy Bruni - Oct. 24
Paranormal investigator and "Ghost Hunters" star Amy Bruni takes the stage at the Kauffman Center to share hair-raising tales from her countless hours hunting ghosts at America’s most haunted locations.

Hip Hops Hooray Beer Fest - Oct. 26
Vine Street Brewing, Missouri's first Black-owned brewery, is taking more exciting steps as it hosts the first hip-hop beer festival in the Midwest. Taste your way through over 30 craft beer brands from across the region. Meanwhile, each hour of the event will feature a different element of hip-hop, including DJ sets, breakdancing and more. 

American Royal World Series of Barbecue - Oct. 31-Nov. 3
The world’s largest barbecue competition includes live performances, a festival full of entertainment and plenty of food, making it one of fall’s signature events.

November

Crown Center Ice Terrace – opens Nov. 1
The Crown Center Ice Terrace is a favorite family destination during the winter months thanks to the outdoor skating rink that offers fantastic, festive views.

Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - Nov. 3
A lively festival celebrating Mexican art and culture, including an altar installation, features art activities, live music entertainment and Mexican food. A fall tradition for many families.

Billie Eilish – Nov. 16
Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish is bringing her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour to Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center with hits like “Birds of a Feather” and “What Was I Made For?”

Holiday Boutique - Nov. 21-24
The Overland Park Convention Center becomes a winter wonderland of merry shopping and gift-giving. Browse hundreds of vendors and cross off everyone on your list.

KC Rep presents A Christmas Carol - Nov. 23-Dec. 28
Even Ebenezer Scrooge would appreciate the holiday spectacular at Spencer Theatre, a metro tradition for more than 40 years. 

NWSL Championship - Nov. 23
CPKC Stadium, the world’s first stadium purposely built for a women’s professional sports team, will host the 2024 NWSL Championship this fall. The league’s top two teams will compete for the title at Kansas City’s history-making venue.  

Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony – Nov. 28
Timeless in every way imaginable, the Plaza Lights are a quintessential KC holiday tradition—and a delightful reminder of the Spanish-inspired Plaza’s undeniable beauty.

Arkansas vs Illinois - Nov. 28
Broadcasted nationwide, this Power 5 primetime matchup will see the Razorbacks take on the Fighting Illini men’s basketball team at T-Mobile Center on Thanksgiving Day.  

After Thanksgiving, Kansas City becomes an unforgettable holiday destination. Make sure these must-see holiday events are on your list.

KC's Holiday Events