KCKidsFun

The radio stations and stores have officially skipped over Thanksgiving and are heralding the impending 2009 holiday season. Talk in our house has turned to Christmas lists and Santa. My shoulders are slumping from the mere thought of digging out Christmas decor.

But one thing I do get excited about – even in November – is the wide range of upcoming holiday performances for children in Kansas City. It is time to start calendaring those events and buying tickets. Last year, we took our older kids to see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Sprint Center. What’s on tap for this year? I’m not even sure where to start – but I’ll give it a shot.

Take a look at these fantastic holiday performances you might share with your KC kids:

• A Christmas Story, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, KCMO – November 20 thru December 27
• Madeline’s Christmas, Theatre for Young America, City Stage at Union Station – December 1 thru 26
• Miller-Marley Youth Ballet presents Clara’s Dream – Blue Valley North High School, December 5 and 6
• Ballet Conservatory of Independence presents The Nutcracker – Liberty Performing Arts Theater – December 11 and 12
• How the Symphony Saved Christmas, Kansas City Symphony – Lyric Theatre, KCMO – December 12 and 13
• Ibsen Dance Theatre presents The Nutcracker – Park Hill High School, Kansas City North – December 12
• The Nativity, Paul Mesner Puppets – Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, 13th & Broadway, KCMO – December 18 thru 20
• The Nutcracker, Kansas City Ballet, December 16 thru 27

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On a related note, we’re hoping that some of you might be interested in helping some children attend the Ballet Conservatory of Independence’s performance of The Nutcracker. Tickets to the December 11th and 12th performances start at $6 for children and $10 for adults – but they are having special performances for school groups as well. Those tickets start are $4.

Local writer Rita Arens is helping the Ballet Conservatory publicize these performances but heard this from the Kansas City Missouri School District:

When I called the KCMO school district a few weeks ago, the very nice woman there told me so many of the kids are on the reduced or free lunch program they probably couldn’t afford the $4 ticket price.

So, Rita set out to do something about that. And we’d like to help. Because $4 shouldn’t keep children from taking a worthwhile field trip.

The district will send one class from each of their 33 elementary schools if enough money is raised to cover their ticket prices. Can you help? Can you spare $4 (or $20 or $100) to help kids share the magical experience of The Nutcracker? Ultimately, we’re looking for about $3,000 but every little bit helps.

If you (or your family or your company) would like to sponsor some of the KCMOSD kids to see The Nutcracker, please contact Rita ASAP. Her email is ritajarens <at> gmail.com and her phone number is 816-529-9814.

Thanks everyone!

It’s October in Kansas City.  Brisk mornings, sunny afternoons. Maybe a little bit of rain here and there, but all in all— fantastic weather. The leaves are at their peak and many trees have already dropped theirs for the winter.

What better time to get the kids outside! The Kansas City area has several fabulous nature centers with walking trails. We love the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in south Overland Park. Stop in at the visitor’s center for a fun scavenger hunt list for the kids to take on your walk.

For an easy stroll, there is a paved path of decent length. The Arboretum also has non-paved, mulched walking trails through the woods. The walk is beautiful and full of things to see, especially for little eyes that like to spy critters and “perfect” leaves.

Other similar spots to check out around town include:

• Ernie Miller Park & Nature Center in Olathe – check their schedule for fun storytimes and exhibits at the Nature Center in addition to their gorgeous prairie walking trails

• Anita B. Gorman Discovery Conservation Center in Kansas City – just a hop, skip and a jump from the Plaza, Midtown and Brookside, can you believe it? The Discovery Center has FANTASTIC Saturday programming for kids and it’s all usually FREE!  Don’t miss BIG BROWN BATS on Halloween–Oct. 31, 2009!

• Burr Oaks Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs – four great trails to walk and super programs for kids and babies.

• Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary in Liberty – several walking trails (several are handicapped accessible) and wonderful kids’ programs and events.  The annual Fairy Tale Forest just concluded, but you’re sure to find fantastic programming in November, too!

• Lakeside Nature Center in Kansas City – in Swope Park near the Zoo, you can hike the trails with a naturalist.

• Wilderness Science Center in south Overland Park – this nature preserve is owned by the Blue Valley School District. Located behind Blue River Elementary School and Blue Valley Middle School, its building is primarily intended for use by school groups but the trails are open to the public after school hours and on weekends. A lovely walk in the woods.

• Kemper Outdoor Education Center in Blue Springs – located in Fleming Park, you’ll find everything from fossils, reptile and wildlife displays, gardens, walking trails and more!

Many parks around town also have great walking trails if you’re not looking for the formal educational offerings of a nature center. Pack some water, some snacks and a kid or two or four and head to:

• Kill Creek Park, Olathe

• Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa

• Longview Lake Park, Kansas City

• Weston Bend State Park, Weston, MO

• George Owens Nature Park, Independence, MO

For more ideas:

• Bike and Hiking Trails

Get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall!  The city has so much to offer— better yet, it doesn’t cost a thing!!!

Confession time. Halloween is NOT my favorite holiday.

I know, I know! Everyone else LOVES Halloween. And I do a decent job of faking it for my kiddos. We decorate. We work hard on costumes. We buy too much candy.

It does seem like the entire city is excited about Halloween though. TONS of stuff going on for the whole family around Kansas City over the next few weeks – all related to the spooky All Hallow’s Eve…(including a bunch of Trunk or Treat options for you!)

So, mark your calendars and get some good use out of those costumes!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

• Pumpkins in the Park – Roberts Park, Independence, MO – 4:30pm to 6pm – pumpkin decorating and storytelling – FREE!

Friday, October 23, 2009

• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scary hayrides, candy and much more!
• Midland Railway’s Haunted Train, Baldwin City, KS – 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm
• Friday Night Ghost Tours on the Square – Independence (MO) Square – covered wagon ride with ghost tours and historical stops – 7, 8, 9 and 10pm
• Church of the Ascension trunk or treat, 127th and Grant, Overland Park, KS 6:30 pm
• Leawood Freaky Fall Fest, Leawood City Park – 5pm to 9pm
• Fairy Tale Forest, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Liberty, MO – 5:30pm to 8pm – non-scary Halloween fun for all ages!
• Enchanted Forest, George Owens Nature Park, Independence – 7pm to 9pm – designed for families with kids 3 to 9
• Spirits of the Past, Missouri Town 1855, Lee’s Summit, MO – ghost stories, hayrides and trick-or-treating through 19th century buildings – 6pm to 9pm – ADVANCED RESERVATIONS ONLY!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scaryhayrides, candy and much more!
• Midland Railway’s Haunted Train, Baldwin City, KS – 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm
• Trail of Treats, Woods Chapel Church, Lee’s Summit, MO – 5 to 6pm
• Trick or Treat OFF the Street, Mahaffie Farmstead, Olathe, KS – 5:30pm to 8:30pm
• Enchanted Forest, George Owens Nature Park, Independence – 7pm to 9pm – designed for families with kids 3 to 9
• Mystic Pumpkin Festival, Englewood Station Business District, Independence (Winner & Sterling Rds.) – begins at 4:30pm – pumpkins, the Doo-Dads, haunted fire truck rides and more!
• Fairy Tale Forest, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Liberty, MO – 5:30pm to 8pm – non-scary Halloween fun for all ages!
• Spirits of the Past, Missouri Town 1855, Lee’s Summit, MO – ghost stories, hayrides and trick-or-treating through 19th century buildings – 6pm to 9pm – ADVANCED RESERVATIONS ONLY!
• Boo at the Zoo! Kansas City Zoo – all day – trick or treating and Halloween-themed activities!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

• Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church trunk or treat, 11100 College Blvd, OPKS, 3:30pm to 5pm
• Platte Woods UMC trunk or treat, Platte Woods, MO – 4pm to 6pm
• Visitation School trunk or treat, KCMO – 5pm to 6:30pm
• Boo at the Zoo! Kansas City Zoo – all day – trick or treating and Halloween-themed activities!
• Fairy Tale Forest, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, Liberty, MO – 5:30pm to 8pm – non-scary Halloween fun for all ages!
• Pre-Halloween Bash hosted by Robichaud Photography and Jonni’s Dance Academy, Eastbrook Plaza, 1839 NW Vivion Rd (Northland) – 1pm to 4pm – FREE trick or treating, games, crafts – professional portraits in Halloween setting for $10

Monday, October 26, 2009

• Ray-Pec Trunk or Treat, Ray-Pec High School, Peculiar, MO – 6pm to 8pm

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

• Pumpkins in the Park – Cler-Mont Park, Independence, MO – 4:30pm to 6pm – pumpkin decorating and storytelling – FREE!
• City of Riverside Trunk or Treat, Riverside (MO) Community Center – 7pm to 8pm

Thursday, October 29, 2009

• Midland Railway’s Haunted Train, Baldwin City, KS – 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm
• Trunk or Treat, Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 9555 N. Oak, KCMO – 6:30 to 8pm

Friday, October 30, 2009

• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scaryhayrides, candy and much more!
• Midland Railway’s Haunted Train, Baldwin City, KS – 6:30pm, 8pm and 9:30pm
• The Doo-Dads LIVE! at the Record Bar, 1020 Westport Rd., KCMO – 6pm to 8pm
• Friday Night Ghost Tours on the Square – Independence (MO) Square – covered wagon ride with ghost tours and historical stops – 7, 8, 9 and 10pm

Saturday, October 31, 2009

• Spooktacular Halloween Party at Culinary Center of Kansas City (Overland Park) – 10am – $65/parent-child team
• Mildale Farm Fall Fest, Edgerton, KS – 10am to 3pm – hayrides, nature walks, pumpkins, cider, fishing and more!
• Kids Club Halloween Event, Whole Foods, 91st & Metcalf, OPKS – 10am to 12pm – costume parade, goodie bags, decorate a cookie, face painting, balloon artistry – FREE!
• Spooktacular Halloween at Zona Rosa (Northland) – 10am to 12pm – join KidZone and Radio Disney for this not-so-scary Halloween party!
• Spook-ZOO-tacular Fun at the Kansas City Zoo! – 10am to 3pm – costumes, snacks, magicians, ghost stories and Radio Disney!
• Halloween at the Legends, KCKS – 12:30pm to 3:30pm – costumes, trick or treating, DJ, bounce house, games, activities and more!
• Night of the Living Farm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, Overland Park, KS – 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Presale $7.00 per person; $8.00 at the gate; children under 1 free. Old-fashioned lanterns and carved pumpkins lead you through pathways of graves and ghouls. There will be games, music and dancing, scary and non-scary hayrides, candy and much more!
• The Great Pumpkin in downtown Overland Park – pumpkin patch, seasonal products, live music, games, crafts -  3pm to 6pm
• Trick or Treat Trail, Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty, Overland Park, KS – 3pm to 6pm – FREE – pumpkin patch, “apple orchard”, candy, crafts, games and more!!
• Culinary Center of Kansas City’s Haunted Kitchen – walk-in event (no reservations) – hands-on treat-making and more – 3pm to 6pm
• Trick or Treating on the Square and Halloween Parade – Independence Square, Independence, MO – 1:30 to 3pm, trick or treating; 3pm, parade
• Justin Roberts LIVE at the Record Bar, Westport Rd., KCMO – 12pm – with special appearance by Mr. Stinky Feet!
• Valley View United Methodist trunk or treat, 8412 W. 95th St. OPKS. 4pm to 5:30pm
• Winnwood Baptist Church trunk or treat, Kansas City North – 6pm to 8pm
• Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church trunk or treat, 114 SE Douglas, Lee’s Summit. 6:30-8:30pm
• Belvidere Heights Baptist Church trunk or treat, 15109 White Avenue, Grandview, MO. 6 to 8pm
• Kansas City Baptist Temple trunk or treat, Raytown, MO – 3pm to 5pm
• Red Bridge Christian Church trunk or treat, south KCMO – 6pm to 8pm
• New Hope Church trunk or treat, Kansas City North – 6pm to 8pm – with games, bounce house and more!

And don’t forget to check out our Pumpkin Patch Directory!!