KCKidsFun

Friday, September 2, 2011

• Rock The Light music and arts festival: A Great Family “Staycation” over Labor Day weekend (Sept 2-4). Come out to Youthfront South campground in LaCygne, KS, and camp, enjoy music, participate in sports competitions and attend special interest tents and workshops. Also, enjoy lake activities such as canoes, paddle boats, a lake Blob, pool and waterslide and much more. Special programming for children, and kiddos 5 and under get in free. See www.rockthelight.com for more info.
• Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 1 thru September 5 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!
• Kansas City Irish Fest, Kansas City, MO – September 2 thru 4 – awesome children’s area at this Crown Center event

Saturday, September 3, 2011

• Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 1 thru September 5 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!
• Midland Railway’s Railfest 2011 – Baldwin City, KS – train rides, motorcar rides, music and food!
• Kansas City Irish Fest, Kansas City, MO – September 2 thru 4 – awesome children’s area at this Crown Center event
• Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bonner Springs, KS – September 3 thru October 16 (Saturdays, Sundays & Labor Day)

Sunday, September 4, 2011

• Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 1 thru September 5 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!
• Silent Movie Sunday: Shoulder Arms at the National World War I Museum, 1pm – In this 1918 movie, Charlie Chaplin stars as a private who outshines all others with his incompetence. At night, he dreams of what he will do on the battlefields. Once there, he saves the girl and captures German leaders; but is it all still a dream? Bring your family to watch the comic genius in this free event that will take place in the Museum’s J.C. Nichols Auditorium.
• Midland Railway’s Railfest 2011 – Baldwin City, KS – train rides, motorcar rides, music and food!
• First Sunday Family Fun Day, noon to 4 p.m. at the Kansas City Museum. Families will use printmaking techniques using fruits and vegetables, as well as blocking printing and stamping to create wonderful pieces of art to take home!
• Kansas City Irish Fest, Kansas City, MO – September 2 thru 4 – awesome children’s area at this Crown Center event
• Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bonner Springs, KS – September 3 thru October 16 (Saturdays, Sundays & Labor Day)

Monday, September 5, 2011

• Blue Valley Rec Open Gym, Overland Park, KS – 10:30am-3:30pm
• Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 1 thru September 5 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!
• Midland Railway’s Railfest 2011 – Baldwin City, KS – train rides, motorcar rides, music and food!
• National World War I Museum open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Last day to view special exhibition “Following My Grandfather’s World War I Diary, A Photographic Journey.” Exhibition in Memory Hall is included with regular Museum admission. Hands-on History for kids from 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bonner Springs, KS – September 3 thru October 16 (Saturdays, Sundays & Labor Day)
• POPS IN THE PARK with the Kansas City Symphony – 7pm at The Theatre in the Park at Shawnee Mission Park, 7710 Renner Rd, Shawnee, KS 66219 – The Kansas City Symphony’s FREE Labor Day concert celebrates the holiday with familiar classics and your favorite movie themes — from Pirates of the Caribbean to Star Wars! Bring your family and friends, plus blankets and lawn chairs. The parking lot opens at 4:30 p.m.; gates open at 5pm Instrument Petting Zoo begins at 5:30pm.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

• Annual Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus Animal Walk, 6am. (PLEASE NOTE the start time is subject to change due to the nature of railway traffic). The animal walk will begin at Avenida Cesar E Chavez and W 22nd Street on the North Side of Union Station and continue downtown to Sprint Center.
• Leawood City Pool Doggie Dunk – 5:00-7:00pm

It’s time to start thinking about your holiday shopping (or at least your Thanksgiving meal plans!!) and we’ve got some ideas to help you. SHOP LOCAL!  The metro has so many neat, one-of-a-kind, locally-owned stores brimming with interesting gifts. Why not visit a few and put together a unique gift this year?

• Reading Reptile create a Books Basket or treat a lucky kid to a Story Time at Reading Reptile followed by “select any book you’d like…and it’s yours!”—what a neat gift!  And, you have to top off your visit with a unique fairytale-themed cupcake from Le Petit Rouge, the in-house cupcakery.

• A Train-Themed gift: The Learning Tree (Leawood, KS and Prairie Village, KS) has some wonderful trains and train gifts. Thomas the Tank Engine is there of course, but so are lots of other choices. Include a certificate for a special meal at Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant at the Crown Center Shops, or head across the state line to Shawnee, KS (just west of I-435 on Shawnee Mission Parkway) . What kid wouldn’t love to have her meal delivered tableside by a train?

• Unleash your child’s inner mad scientist! HMS Beagle is a wonderful store in Parkville, MO–”The Ultimate Science Store” according to their website.  You can introduce your child to science through a number of neat gifts from the basic chemistry set to a fantastic telescope.  They even have a science club with meetings for K-8th graders!  For the little ones–an easy introduction to science can be found by taking a trip to Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City in Shawnee, KS, featuring arts and sciences exhibits for kids ages 10 and under.

• GO RETRO! Moon Marble gift shop, located in Bonner Springs’ Moon Marble Company, has some great toys and games that have withstood the test of time…remember Pick-Up Sticks, Chinese Jumpropes and the wooden paddle with the red rubber ball attached?  Find all of these and more!

• Enrollment in a class at one of the metro’s parks and recreation offices or community centers is a gift that will last weeks and even months! Your little one can try something new like a beginner’s martial arts class, a dance or ballet class or even try something exotic like fencing! What a great way to spend the winter months. Try Blue Valley Recreation or any of the parks and rec departments listed in our Classes directory!

• Don’t Forget the Music – How about guitar (or other musical instrument) lessons at the School of Rock (North Kansas City), the Toon Shop (Prairie Village, Lee’s Summit or Overland Park) or the Music House (Overland Park)?

• Stop by Laura Little’s Candies in Prairie Village or Topsy’s Popcorn(multiple locations) for sweet treats for stockings

• Shop Etsy Local for unique, handmade items created by talented Kansas Citians like Kate Williams (crayon holders and tulle totebags), three red trees (terribly cute sock dogs, with a portion of sales benefiting Humane Society of Greater KC) and Becky Kelly (very sweet original paintings and prints for a nursery or little one’s room).

• Consider gifts that support local causes and organizations – like the Zoo! A  Zoo Membership purchased now is good for unlimited FREE admission through March 2012!  And, a portion of the membership is tax deductible.

There’s another place you might want to check out– because uniquely Kansas City traditions are being resurrected with each year!  Zona Rosa is a shopping district in North Kansas City at I-29 and Barry Road.  KC’s holiday past comes to life as the 2000-lb crowns are hoisted into place–near-exact replicas of the crowns that decked the streets of downtown KC for over 20 years!  You’ll also find the “Fairy Princess”.  She first appeared in the Kline’s toy department in 1936!  You can also catch the “Ice Igloo”. Modeled from the original Kansas City Museum igloo, a new, more spacious one has been constructed so the younger generation can make holiday memories of their own.

One of the most charming and unusual gift shops you’ll ever stumble into is located at the Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E. Winner in Independence. From simple finger puppets to puppet and marionette kits, books and finished products, there is a huge range of unusual products for kids of all ages.

Check out the Just Taffy Shop on the historic Independence Square. They have a fantastic selection of many flavors of homemade fudge, taffy and cotton candy and make it right there behind the counter. Owner Michael usually makes taffy Sunday afternoons about 12:30 or 1 p.m. and will use the big taffy pulling machine – he actually does free demonstrations for scouts, home schoolers, preschool groups (by appt.)  You might also visit Chip’s Chocolate Factory on Level 2 of Crown Center Shops.  Over 200 delicious
chocolate confections are made by hand using premium imported Swiss Chocolate and traditional confectioner’s techniques.

Let us know if you discover something fun and different to do with your family–we’d love to spread the word!  Believe me, this site will be buzzing over Christmas vacation with parents looking for things to do with their kiddos!!!

School has finally started and it’s already time to have a day off!!  I just know that we’ll get into the school routine– by mid-September! Record numbers of folks will be traveling over the long weekend, but if you’re staying in KC, or if you’re visiting our city from another place, here is a rundown of activities to keep you and your families entertained.  Have a safe, wonderful holiday!

These three events occur over multiple dates and are worth checking out!

• Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog exhibit at Crown Center – May 29 thru September 6 – FREE!
• Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bonner Springs, KS – September 4 thru October 17
• Zing Zang Zoom! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Sprint Center, September 8 thru 12 – discounted tickets available through our Special Offers page!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

• Animal Tales at Ernie Miller Nature Center, Olathe, KS – 10:30am to 11am – ages 2 to 6 – stories, songs and more
• Storytelling with Priscilla Howe – Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, Overland Park, KS – 10am – FREE
• Funky Mama live in concert at Matt Ross Community Center, Overland Park, KS – 10am – FREE
• Culpepper & Merriweather Great Combined Circus, Weston MO – 5pm and 7:30pm

Thursday, September 2, 2010

• Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 2 thru September 6 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!
• FREE Family Science Night at the Kansas City Zoo – 5pm to 7pm – the theme this time: Wicked Weather

Friday, September 3, 2010

• Kansas City Irish Fest – Crown Center, KCMO – great music, dancing, a terrific children’s area and more! – thru September 5
• Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 2 thru September 6 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!
• Friday Night Family Fun – Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch – 7pm – this week: Honey Night

Saturday, September 4, 2010

• Kansas City Irish Fest – Crown Center, KCMO – great music, dancing, a terrific children’s area and more! – thru September 5
• Wildlands Wanderings, Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, KCMO -10am to 2pm – reservations req’d by 9/2
• Make Leafy Tees – Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, KCMO – anytime between 10am and 2:30pm
• Barnes & Noble at Oak Park Mall is celebrating ‘American Girl’! Join a storytime marathon in the Children’s Department, where stories will be read throughout the day: 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:30 pm. Enter to win great prizes!
• Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 2 thru September 6 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!
• KC Symphony’s annual free “Pops in the Park” concert at The Theatre in the Park, Shawnee Mission Park, Lenexa, KS – a celebration of great American music – from The Sound of Music, to the Music Man, to Star Wars and Superman! Bring your family and friends, plus blankets and lawn chairs to the park. There will also be an Instrument Petting Zoo beginning at 5:00 p.m. so youngsters can experience a pre-concert activity where trained musicians help them try their hands at a variety of orchestral instruments. It will be a night to remember! The parking lot opens at 4:30 p.m.; gates open at 5:00 p.m.; concert starts at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

• Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 2 thru September 6 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!
• Kansas City Irish Fest – Crown Center, KCMO – great music, dancing, a terrific children’s area and more! – thru September 5
• First Sunday Family Fun Day at the Kansas City Museum – noon to 4pm – this month’s theme: Record Your Own History

Monday, September 6, 2010 (LABOR DAY)

• Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO – September 2 thru September 6 – TONS of fun for kids and adults alike. If you’ve never been, you should definitely try this one!
• Labor Day Parade, Louisburg, KS – 10am, followed by fun activities at American Legion Park

*Renaissance Festival image from NortheastNews.net