It’s almost fall festival season! In previous years, we’ve posted the festivals separately to give you as much detail as possible. And we still will! But we thought it might be nice to also put together a list for those who like to plan ahead.
Many of the festivals are FREE (or cheap), but I threw in some other popular ones with higher price tags. You can decide whether or not they fit your budget. Keep in mind that free admission doesn’t mean everything at the festival is free. There may be a fee for some of the activities (e.g., carnival rides and games), and food is almost never free.
There are so many festivals in KC that I’m sure we missed some. If you see something we left out, please leave a comment below and we’ll add it as time allows.
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September
DeSoto Days Festival
August 30-September 1, 2018
Location: Miller Memorial Park
Hours: 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: FREE
Kansas City Irish Fest
August 31-September 2, 2018
Location: Crown Center Square
Hours: 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
Admission: $10 for adults on Friday; $7 for kids, $12 on Saturday and Sunday for adults; $7 for kids (3-12). Ticket prices go up on August 27.
Santa Cali Gon Days
August 31-September 3, 2018
Location: Independence Square
Hours: noon to 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.
Admission: FREE
Kansas City Renaissance Festival
September 1-October 14, 2018 (weekends plus Labor Day and Columbus Day)
Location: 633 N 130th St., Bonner Springs, KS
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Columbus Day
Admission: $22.95 for adults; $20.25 for students/seniors (65+); $13 for kids (5-12). Click here for discounts.
Concordia Fall Festival
September 4-8, 2018
Location: Downtown Concordia
Hours: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: FREE
Old Settlers Days
September 6-8, 2018
Location: Downtown Olathe
Hours: Noon to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: FREE
Belton Fall Festival
September 7-8, 2018
Location: Main Street in downtown Belton
Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Admission: FREE
Grain Valley Fair
September 7-8, 2018
Location: 713 S. Main Street
Hours: 2 to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: FREE
Jesse James Festival
September 7-8, 13-16, 2018
Location: Jesse James Park, Kearney
Hours: See schedule
Admission: FREE
Art Westport
September 7-9, 2018
Location: Along the streets of Westport
Hours: 1 to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
Annunciation Greek Fest
September 7-9, 2018
Location: 12001 Wornall Road, Kansas City
Hours: 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
Kansas State Fair
September 7-16, 2018
Location: Kansas State Fairgrounds, Hutchinson
Hours: See schedule.
Admission: $4 for kids (6-12) and seniors (60+); $7 for adults in advance
Lenexa Spinach Festival
September 8, 2018
Location: Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Prairie Village Jazz Festival
September 8, 2018
Location: Harmon Park
Hours: 3 to 11 p.m.
Admission: $5 for adults; FREE for kids (<18)
Winefest: Independence Uncorked
September 8, 2018
Location: Bingham-Waggoner Estate
Hours: 1 to 6 p.m.
Admission; $30 in advance/$40 at the gate
Crossroads Music Fest
September 8, 2018
Location: 18th & McGee
Hours: 6 p.m.
Admission: $20 in advance/$25 at the gate for adults; FREE for kids (12 and under)
Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival
September 8-9, 2018
Location: Crown Center Square
Hours: 10 a.m. to 0 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
Brush Creek Art Walk
September 14-16, 2018
Location: Country Club Plaza
Hours: TBD
Admission: FREE
Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival
September 14-16, 2018
Location: Downtown Blue Springs
Hours: Noon to 10 on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
KC Beer Fest
September 15, 2018
Location: Kansas City Power & Light District
Hours: 3 to 6 p.m.
Admission: $40
World Series of Barbecue
September 15-16, 2018
Location: Kansas Speedway
Hours: Gates open at 3 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Admission: $23 for adults; $8 for kids (11 and under) in advance, $25/$9 at the gate
Fiesta Hispana KC
September 14-16, 2018
Location: Barney Allis Plaza
Hours: TBD
Admission: FREE
Nehemiah Fest
September 14-16, 2018
Location: Smith’s Ford Park (Smithville Lake)
Hours: TBD
Admission: FREE
Sunflower Art & Music Fest
September 14-16, 2018
Location: The Barn at Kill Creek Farm
Hours: Noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
Higginsville Country Fair
September 15, 2018
Location: Downtown Higginsville
Hours: TBD
Admission: FREE
Friends of Shawnee Town Arts & Crafts Fair & Fall Festival
September 15, 2018
Location: Shawnee Town
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: $1
Waldo Fall Festival
September 15, 2018
Location: 75th & Wornall
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Hallmarket
September 15, 2018
Location: Crown Center Square
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Fall Family Festival
September 15, 2018
Location: The Beanstalk Children’s Garden
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Park Palooza
September 16, 2018
Location: Theatre in the Park, Shawnee
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: FREE
American Indian Cultural Celebration
September 16, 2018
Location: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Raymore Festival in the Park
September 20-22, 2018
Location: Memorial Park
Hours: 6 to 11 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: FREE
Kansas City Juggling Festival
September 21-23, 2018
Location: Rockhurst High School
Hours: TBD
Admission: TBD
Plaza Art Fair
September 21-23, 2018
Location: Country Club Plaza
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
UNPlaza Art Fair
September 22-23, 2018
Location: Southmoreland Park
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
Wild West Days
September 22-23, 2018
Location: Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: $5; kids 4 and under are FREE
Westport Oktoberfest
September 27-30, 2018
Location: Westport
Hours: TBD
Admission: FREE
Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest
September 28-29, 2018
Location: Downtown Lee’s Summit
Hours: 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
Jamesport Heritage Day Festival
September 28-29, 2018
Location: Spillman Event Center
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Overland Park Fall Festival
September 28-29, 2018
Location: Downtown Overland Park
Hours: TBD
Admission: FREE
Liberty Fall Festival
September 28-30, 2018
Location: Downtown Liberty
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
Louisburg CiderFest
September 29-30; October 6-7, 2018
Location: Louisburg Cider Mill
Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Oktoberfest in Shawnee
September 28, 2018
Location: Shawnee Civic Centre
Hours: TBD
Admission: FREE
Dust Bowl Jamboree
September 29, 2018
Location: E. H Young Riverfront Park
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Kansas Chocolate Festival
September 30, 2018
Location: Downtown Topeka
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission: FREE
October
Gladfest
October 5-7, 2018
Location: Downtown Gladstone
Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
Greater Kansas City Japan Festival
October 6, 2018
Location: Johnson County Community College
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Admission: Advance tickets are not yet on sale.
WaterFire
October 6, 2018
Location: Brush Creek
Hours: 7 to 10 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Scarecrow Festival
October 6, 2018
Location: Shawnee City Hall
Hours: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Admission: FREE
Applefest
October 6-7, 2018
Location: Downtown Weston
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: $1 for adults: FREE for kids (under 15)
Summit Art Festival
October 12-14, 2018
Location: Downtown Lee’s Summit
Hours: 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday
Admission: FREE
Shawnee Indian Mission Fall Festival
October 12-14, 2018
Location: Shawnee Indian Mission
Hours: 6 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Admission: $2 for adults: FREE for kids
Weston Irish Festival
October 12-14, 2018
Location: TBD
Hours: TBD
Admission: TBD
Harvest Festival
October 13, 2018
Location: Shoal Creek Living History Museum
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Admission: $5 (Kids 5 and under FREE)
Lansing Fall Festival
October 13, 2018
Location: Angel Falls Trail
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Lenexa Chili Challenge
October 19-20, 2018
Location: Old Town Lenexa
Hours: 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday
Admission: FREE
Glow: A Jack-O-Lantern Festival
October 19-20, 2018
Location: Powell Gardens
Hours: TBD
Admission: $12 for adults; $10 for seniors (60+); $5 for kids (5-12)
Pumpkins & Mums Fall Festival
October 20, 2018
Location: Downtown Excelsior Springs
Hours: Noon to 6 p.m.
Admission: FREE
Holiday Treasures Craft Festival
October 27, 2018
Location: Shawnee Civic Centre
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: FREE
November
Day of the Dead
November 4, 2018
Location: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: FREE
