Annual Events & Festivals - Annual Events And Festivals

Awhile back a gentleman wrote to the editor of the Kansas City Star complaining about what he considered a tragic lack of things to do in our town. Where, he implored, could he take his family when they came to visit in early July? For the next week or so, letters to the newspaper answered him with long lists of fascinating attractions . . . and more than a few offers to help him move out of town.

Perhaps he had missed the previous week’s edition listing (for one Saturday alone) festivals celebrating Slavic, Greek, Scottish, African-American, and Hispanic cultures; three garden tours; a rock fest; a folk dance; three free jazz concerts; a fishing derby; the Monkees at the Midland; real monkeys at the zoo; a sailboat regatta; and Elvis Presley’s cousin singing “Blue Suede Shoes.” And that doesn’t even include standbys such as Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun, the Truman Library, theaters, art exhibits, or lazy afternoons at a park or lake. Mister, if you can’t find something to do in that group, you’re not trying hard enough.

So here’s our calendar for the rest of you. As you’ll see, around here we’ll throw a party or start a parade based on little more than the fact that that it’s Tuesday. Our Wild West roots also show up in rodeos and barbecues, including the granddaddy of ’em all, the American Royal, but those of you with more refined tastes won’t be disappointed. Flamenco guitar in a rose garden, check. Nutcracker Suite from a balcony, check. A 10-city-block outdoor art show, double check.

One of our finest treasures, our diversity, is evident in the number of ethnic festivals held throughout the year. You’ll have a chance to taste spanikopita, kimchee, bangers and mash, or alligator on a stick (tastes just like chicken) while listening to a bagpipe, electric guitar, bouzouki, fiddle, steel drum . . . or accordion if you must.

And few cities celebrate the holidays as passionately as we do, with an old-fashioned Easter parade, and no fewer than 24 separate fireworks displays on the Fourth of July. Even our Halloween is spook-tacular, with a dozen haunted houses and pumpkin patches. Winter brings holiday tours of historic homes and the world’s most thrilling display of Christmas lights. So come soon, and come often. No matter when you arrive we’ll have something wonderful waiting for you.