It’s that wonderful time of year when thoughts turn from swimming pools and sunscreen to pumpkins and hardy mums! There are more than a few options around for you and your family to welcome fall, meander through a corn maze, sip some cider, and pick some PUMPKINS!! KCKidsFun has done all the legwork for you…all you need to do is load up the family and have some FUN! As always, if we’ve missed anything…feel free to leave a comment or shoot us an email. We’d be happy to add your favorites to our growing list of places to partake in pumpkins. Enjoy!

The Berry Patch (just south of Leawood & Martin City) Features fall blackberry picking. Train ride, Haybale mountain and maze also on site!

Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze (Liberty, MO) Has a mining camp, corn maze and railroad!

Faulkner’s Pumpkin Farm (Kansas City, MO - south of I-470) -check out the NEW LOCATION at 10600 Raytown Road with farm, ranch and train rides

Johnson Farms (Belton, MO) Pony rides, hay rides, and farm animal corral

KC Pumpkin Patch (Gardner, KS) Features petting zoo, haunted barn, and the ever-popular pumpkin launch!

Looper Farms (Holt, MO - just north of Clay County on I-35) - u-pick pumpkin patch, hayrides, trainrides

Louisburg Cider Mill (Louisburg, KS) -named one of the top 10 cider mills in America!

Louisburg Corn Maze (Louisburg, KS)

Pendleton’s Country Market (Lawrence, KS)

Powell Pumpkin Patch (Louisburg, KS) - FREE admission! Pack a lunch and enjoy the picnic area.

Pumpkins, Etc. (Platte City, MO)

Red Barn Farm (Weston, MO) -features pony rides, pumpkins and apples

Schaakes Pumpkin Patch (Lawrence, KS) - hayrides, hay maze and 35 varieties of PUMPKINS!  Free admission.

Sibley Orchards (Sibley, Jackson County, MO) -for apples, pumpkins, cider and homemade FRUIT PIES!

Vaughn Orchard, 816-386-2900 (Weston, MO)

Wagon Wheel Orchard (Gardner, KS)

Only a few more weekends until SCHOOL STARTS! There’s still lots to do with the kids around the Kansas City metro. A few things to check out this weekend - August 9 and 10, 2008:

• Worlds of Fun is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Mamba roller coaster. To commemorate the birthday, admission to the park is rolled back to 1998 prices for August 9 and 10. Only $26.99 instead of $39.99 (regular gate admission).
• Johnson County (KS) Fair Parade on Saturday morning, August 9th, at 10:30am - Gardner Fairgrounds, 136 East Washington, Gardner, KS
• Kids Aviation Adventure Day - FREE - Saturday, August 9th from 9am to 3pm - Wheeler Downtown Airport
• Also on Saturday, OPEN HOUSE at the Ford Learning Center at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art - 1 to 4pm - learn about all of the great educational offerings at the Nelson!
• StoneLion Puppets presents Bubba & Trixie at the Kansas City Public Library, Central Library - 2pm on Saturday - click the link to RSVP!
• Saturday is also the LAST DAY AT KANSAS CITY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM IN KCKS! Jim Cosgrove will perform and MORE!
• Straw Hat Saturday at Shawnee Town - Saturday from 10am to 2pm - $1/adult and 50 cents for kids
• Sprint Family Fun Day in the Power & Light District, downtown KC - Saturday, August 9th - check out Wonderscope LIVE! and Funky Mama
• KidFest at Zona Rosa, Kansas City north, 12pm to 4pm on Saturday - Back to School with High School Musical 3!
• Festival of Butterflies, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO (east of Lee’s Summit) - Saturday AND Sunday
• Funky Mama & Mr. Stinky Feet, Music in the Park, Santa Fe Commons Park, 81st & Santa Fe, downtown Overland Park, 7:00-8:30pm, Sunday August 10th
• A Celebration Honoring the Gant Sisters, Hallbrook Country Club, 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, August 10th

So…LOTS to do this weekend! Get out and enjoy the city with your kids before they head back to school!



 

Late summer in the Kansas City metro brings a wide variety of fairs and festivals - awesome activities to share with your kids! And guess what?! Believe it or not, late summer is approaching…

So, where and when can your kids get their fill of Tilt-A-Whirls, funnel cakes, ferris wheels, crafts, cotton candy and live music? Where can you find the BEST people watching all year?

Here’s where:

Miami County Fair, Paola, KS - July 19 thru July 26

Platte County Fair, Platte City, MO - July 23 thru July 26

Douglas County Fair, Lawrence, KS - July 30 thru August 2

Wyandotte County Fair, Kansas City, KS - July 31 thru August 4 - check out Bongo Barry, pig races, magic shows and stunt dog shows in addition to the carnival rides and games!

Johnson County Fair, Gardner, KS - August 4 thru August 9 - don’t miss the rodeo, Family Fun Night or the parade!

Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO - August 7 thru August 17 - 12 & under FREE every day; lot of free kids’ entertainment

Festival of Butterflies, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO - August 8 thru August 10 and August 15 thru August 17 - okay, so no ferris wheels or funnel cakes here…but really cool for you and the kids nonetheless!

Leavenworth County Fair, Tonganoxie, KS - August 12 thru August 16 - check out the parade on the 12!

Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Kansas City, MO - August 15 thru August 17

Lewis & Clark Trail Days, Buckner, MO - August 22nd and 23rd

Santa-Cali-Gon Days, Independence, MO - August 29 thru September 1 - 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 - August 29 thru August 31- awesome children’s area at this Crown Center event

Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bonner Springs, KS - August 30 thru October 13

The 47th Annual Annunciation Greek Food Festival, Kansas City, MO - September 5 thru September 7

Old Settlers Days, Olathe, KS - September 4 thru September 6

Valley Fair Daze, Grain Valley, MO - September 5th and 6th

Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson, KS - September 5 thru September 14 - will you drive to Hutchinson to see Corbin Bleu (Chad from High School Musical) in concert?!

Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival, Blue Springs, MO - September 12 thru September 14

JUST ADDED:  FESTIVAL ON THE TRAILS, GARDNER, KS - September 12 thru September 14 (Wow!  Don’t miss Lee Ann Womack performing LIVE as well as pony rides, the Buckaroo Corral and kids’ entertainers!!)

Zona Rosa Art Festival, Kansas City north, MO - September 12 thru September 14 - check out Mr. Stinky Feet in concert on Saturday the 13th!

Jesse James Festival, Kearney, MO - September 12 thru September 21

Plaza Art Fair, Kansas City, MO - September 19 thru September 21 - spend some time at the Kids’ Art Workshop!

As you make your plans for the Fourth of July, you’ll want to reference our comprehensive listing of fireworks displays and celebrations, organized by city. There are lots to choose from, in every corner of the metro! Fireworks generally begin at dusk, which is around 9:30pm this time of year. Grab a few lawn chairs, load up the cooler, go heavy on the bug spray and ENJOY!  Wishing a Happy and SAFE Fourth of July to all of our readers.

KANSAS CITIES

Overland Park

• Star Spangled Spectacular at Corporate Woods (College Blvd at 69 Hwy.) An old-fashioned celebration kicking off at 4pm featuring activities and musical entertainment provided by Q104 Country followed by live band ‘Atlantic Express’ playing from 8:15-11pm!
• July 4th Extravaganza Block Party - Christ Church, 5500 W. 91st St. - music, inflatables, face painting, fire trucks and FIREWORKS at Meadowbrook Country Club - event is free, concessions for sale - event begins at 7 pm (parking at Hillcrest Covenant Church nearby)

Olathe

• Fourth of July–Celebrating Community at Great Mall of the Great Plains (151st Street and I-35). Featuring bike parade, clowns, magicians, childrens’ games as well as local and regional performers.

Leawood

• Celebrate 4th of July with Leawood! at the Leawood City Park, 10601 Lee Blvd. from 5-10pm.  Free admission, $5 activity bands for kids.  Activities include:  face painters, stilt walkers, live music and watermelon contests.

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