30 places to take your kids in Kansas City this summer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Are you a parent, babysitter, teacher or family member looking for things to keep your kids entertained this summer? Well, look no further than the Kansas City metro.
Here are the coolest places around the city for kids and families to enjoy this summer or all year long:
PARKS & FARMS
1. Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens
July 8 – Aug. 14: Spend a day outside looking at tropical and native butterflies throughout Powell Garden’s botanical displays.
Prices:
Prices vary — Click here for ticket prices
2. Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Daily: From outdoor concerts to wine tasting to seasonal events and educational programs; the Overland Park Arboretum offers a variety of year-round activities for you and the family to enjoy while taking in the beauty of nature.
Prices:
Ages 5 and under — Free
Ages 6-17 — $2
Ages 18+ — $5
3. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Daily: Head over to Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead to see more than 250 birds, join a Goat Yoga class and learn about growing flowers and vegetables with your kiddos this summer.
Prices:
Children ages 2 and under — Free
Ages 3+ — $5
2-5 p.m.; Monday through Thursday — Free
4. Yaya’s Alpaca Farm
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday-Sunday: Children and families of all ages can head over to Yaya’s and pet any of the 70 alpacas on the farm. Guided tours, history lessons and educational activities are all available so you can learn about and meet these incredible animals!
Prices:
Children ages 2 and under — Free
Ages 3-13 — $10
Ages 14+ — $12
Open for scheduled tours by appointment — 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
5. Shawnee Mission Park
5 a.m.-11 p.m.; March 1 through Oct. 31: This 1,600-acre, multi-use park has everything you and the family could possibly want on a fun summer day. Between the 44-acre off-leash dog park, the archery range, the horseback riding trails, the outdoor theater, the marina and the beachfront, this park allows you and your family to spend some good time outdoors and make some high-quality memories.
Prices:
Entry — Free
Other amenities (beaches, boat rentals, fishing permit, etc.) — Prices vary
FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS
7. KC BBQ Fest
June 21-22: Nothing screams “Kansas City” like a good old-fashioned barbecue festival. Don’t miss your chance to sample some of the best barbecues from many of the country’s high-esteemed and award-winning pitmasters. Learn from the masters themselves and take the family so everyone can get a taste of Kansas City’s culture.
Prices:
Prices Vary — Click here for tickets
8. Amelia Earhart Festival
July 19-20: In honor of the legendary Amelia Earhart, join the Atchison, Kansas community and celebrate her legacy. From music to food to children’s activities to aerobatic performances to a fireworks show, this riverfront festival attracts thousands from across the nation for a reason.
Prices:
Prices vary depending on the day and activity — Click here for tickets
9. SantaCaliGon Festival
Aug. 30 – Sept. 2: Head over to Independence Square over Labor Day weekend this year and stop at one of the dozens of vendors, hop on a carnival ride, eat some good food and listen to live entertainment at the main and community stages.
Prices:
Free
10. Kansas City Lawn Party at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
July 21; 4 to 8 p.m.: In collaboration with Kansas City Parks and Recreation, this major outdoor event is full of family-friendly art activities, live music, food trucks and fun photo opportunities! All ages of people and furry friends are welcome.
Prices:
Free
SHOWS & ENTERTAINMENT
11. Summer Movies at Miller Theater
June 3 – Aug. 8; 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday: Miller Theater in Blue Springs is starting its Summer Kids Series with popular kids movies all summer long. Expect to see movies like “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile”, “Peter Rabbit 2”, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”, and more!
Prices:
Non-Loyalty Members — $5
Red Carpet Rewards Members — $3
12. The WeekEnder at Crown Center
6 p.m.; Fridays from July 12-Aug. 2: Starting in July, fill your Fridays with famous flicks under the stars. Grab a blanket, some good drinks, food from the food trucks and the family for this super fun start to all of your summer weekends. Some of the movies in the lineup are “The Addams Family (2019)”, “Footloose (1984)” and “Barbie.”
Prices:
Free
13. Friday Summer Concerts in the Park at Zona Rosa
6:30-8:30 p.m.; Fridays from June 7-July 26: Zona Rosa’s Central Park is hosting free concerts all summer. Come out and enjoy the live music from local bands, snag some food at one of the many restaurants in the shopping area, and grab a lawn chair or a spot to enjoy the talented musicians on stage.
Prices:
Free
14. Movie Night on the Lawn at the Legends Outlets
7 p.m.; Saturdays from May 11-Oct. 26: Sit back and watch some of Hollywood’s most classic and iconic blockbuster films every Saturday night this summer. However, if you can’t make it, don’t worry because the Legends Outlets are holding movie night all the way through the fall! Grab some friends, your kids, maybe some blankets and a whole lot of snacks for this super fun, outdoor experience.
Prices:
Free
15. Coterie Theatre
10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Monday through Friday: Grab tickets and see one of the many kid-friendly shows or sign your kids up for a theater class at Crown Center’s Coterie Theater. This summer, the theater is hosting many fun and adorable performances like “A Year with Frog and Toad” and “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” If you are seeking special accommodations for your child, make sure to check out the theater’s sensory-friendly and American Sign Language-interpreted shows.
Prices:
Prices vary — Click here for ticket prices
MUSEUMS & TOURS
16. National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wednesday through Monday: Home to the world’s largest fine-scale miniature collection and one of the largest collections of historic toys, this is the ideal place for any kid or history-lover. Check out all of the museum’s latest exhibits, and enroll your kid in the Art of the Imagination Summer Camp to learn about storytelling and toy creation.
General Admission Prices:
Age 5 and Under — Free
Ages 6-17 and College Students (With ID) — $5
Ages 18-64 — $8
Age 65+ — $7
EBT card — $3
T/m Members — Free
UMKC Faculty, Staff, and Students (With ID) — Free
Active Duty and Retired Military (With ID) — Free
17. The Rabbit Hole Museum
Times Vary; Tuesday through Sunday: Step into a real-life storybook with the first museum of its kind. This immersive and narrative experience is a nostalgic escape for children and adults alike. Take part in the museum’s many programs including a book-making workshop, writing labs, performances, events with local and national authors, and literature-based art-making activities.
Prices:
Under 2 years old — Free
Ages 2+ — $16
18. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday through Monday — 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday and Friday: Visit one of the most famous museums in Kansas City this summer with artistic creations dating back 5,000 years ago. Attend one of the many cultural festivals hosted by the museum, take a studio art class with your family, go on an educational tour through the Nelson-Atkins and grab a snack at one of the many delicious eateries.
Prices:
Free
19. Kansas City Fun Trolley Tours
8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday through Monday — 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday and Friday: Take the family and the kids to 25 of the most popular attractions and historic sites in Kansas City on this guided 90-minute trolley tour. If you are a KC native or an out-of-town traveler, this is a great opportunity to get to know this great city.
Prices:
Ages 2-12 — $15
Ages 13-59 — $29
Ages 60-100 — $25
Veterans — $25
20. Museum of Illusions
10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Daily: The Museum of Illusions is a unique and immersive sensory experience that will leave you and your kids both entertained and puzzled.
Prices:
Ages 5 and Under — Free
Ages 6-13 — $10
Ages 13+– $15
Family Package (2 adults + 2 Kids) — $40
INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES
21. Legoland Discovery Center
10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday through Thursday — 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: Step into the fun, interactive and educational world of LEGOLAND. Look at all the creations built from thousands of LEGO bricks and visit the full range of play areas including the LEGO Ideas Studio and The Great LEGO Race Virtual Reality Experience.
Under the age of 2 — Free
Ages 2-12 — $16.99
Ages 13+ — $16.99
22. Science City at Union Station
10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday — 12-5 p.m.; Sunday: Spend a few hours roaming through the over 100,000 square-foot indoor and outdoor scientific playhouse at Union State this summer. Grab your kiddos and take them to the different worlds filled with hands-on experiments, unique exhibits and educational science demonstrations. There is enough for everyone to be entertained at this three-story, family-friendly attraction!
Prices:
12 months and Under — Free
Union Station Members — Free
General Admission — $16.50
23. Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium
10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday — 12-5 p.m.; Sunday: Connect to the night sky and Union Station’s out-of-this-world show this summer. The Planetarium offers educational opportunities to learn more about astronomy and immerse yourself in a universe beyond our understanding. From evening laser concerts to daily shows to live guided tours, you won’t want to miss out on this magical experience.
Prices:
Prices Vary — Click here for ticket prices
24. Kaleidoscope at Crown Center
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday: Kaleidoscope is a great place to take any kid or adult who loves art and wants to unleash their inner child. Located in Crown Center, this well-known gem offers a variety of creative experiences so kids can uniquely express themselves and create in the process!
Prices:
Free
25. Creative Culture Studio
10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday — 12-5 p.m.; Sunday: What’s better than art and milkshakes? Oh yeah… Nothing! Creative Culture Studio is an assortment of different creative outlets. From painting pottery to wood shop to potting plants and so much more, this place has so many opportunities for you and your family to create some beautiful pieces of art while enjoying a delicious sweet treat.
Prices:
Prices Vary — Click here for prices
SPORTS & RECREATION
26. Pickleball at Chicken N’ Pickle
Restaurant, bar and property hours vary (click here): If you aren’t familiar with the latest trending sport pickleball, you are seriously missing out! This tennis-meets-ping pong activity is the perfect chance for some friendly competition with the kids while still having fun. What makes Chicken N’ Pickle the ideal place is the fact that it doesn’t just have indoor and outdoor courts, but it also has delicious food and other activities for the kids to enjoy.
Indoor Court — approximately $20 (prices vary depending on players and equipment)
Outdoor Court — approximately $10 (prices vary depending on players and equipment)
27. iFly
Times vary (click here): Have you ever wanted to go skydiving but can’t find the courage to do it? Well, iFly is your opportunity to (sort of) cross this off your bucket list, while also making memories with the family. Learn how to fly in real life with the help of iFly’s world-class instructors. All shapes, sizes and abilities can join in on the fun, however, no child under the age of three can participate.
4Flights — $139.99 per person
2Flights — $89.99 per person
Friends & Family 10 Flights — $424.99 shared by 1-5 people
28. Zip KC
1-5:30 p.m.; Thursday and Friday — 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: Speaking of flying, Zip KC is another unique opportunity to try something new and explore cool things that Kansas City has to offer. This four-line tour can reach speeds of nearly 55 mph and is a great way to get outdoors, get active, see some amazing views and get your adrenaline pumping. If ziplining isn’t your thing, don’t worry because there are plenty of “on the ground” activities for you and the family including ninja training, a foam party and an obstacle course.
Prices:
All ages between 70 and 275 pounds — $89.99 per person
29. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – Art Course
10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday — 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sundays: While you’re out with the kids at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art this summer, make sure to stop by the museum’s artist-designed, outdoor mini golf experience in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. This nine-hole course is the perfect daytime activity for children and families of all ages to enjoy, and it allows everyone to immerse in art while taking part in some friendly competition.
Prices:
Ages 3 and under: Free
Ages 4–12: $12
Adults with member discount: $14
Adults: $18
30. The College Basketball Experience
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday: Although the College Basketball Experience is another museum in the Kansas City area, it is unlike all the others because of its active and immersive exhibits. The museum offers real courts where people can compete in fun games that simulate high-pressure situations, and it even has a designated kids court where children between the ages of 2 and 9 can play safely and learn new skills. The College Baseball Experience is more than just a deep dive into the basketball greats, it’s a chance to be one of the greats.
Prices:
3 and under – Free
Ages 4-17 – $16
Ages 18-64 – $18
Ages 65+ – $14
Military (Must be active with ID)- $15
Now that you know about all the fun and unique events and activities right at your disposal this summer, get out there, make some memories and explore everything Kansas City has to offer!
**HONORARY MENTIONS**
31. Sea Life Kansas City Aquarium
32. Kansas City Zoo
33. Worlds of Fun
34. Oceans of Fun
35. City Market
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