Guide to September in Kansas City

Thank you to our sponsors, Library Lets Loose and Waldo Fall Festival.

It’s September in Kansas City, and there are so many events to choose from, including visits to pumpkin patches, and apple picking! We suggest you check out our Guide to All Things Fall in Kansas City to pick your favorites. If you’re ready to start planning your September weekends, take a look at our list of fun events.

Party Time at the Johnson County Library

It’s time to party at the library! Join the Johnson County Library Foundation on Saturday, Sept. 17, for its signature fundraising event – Library Lets Loose! This is the festive, lively, 21+ after-hours celebration and fundraiser at the Central Resource Library 6:30-10 p.m.

Waldo Fall Festival

Celebrating three decades of festival fun in Waldo,
the Waldo Area Business Association will host its 30th Annual Waldo Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The event is back this year with a bigger layout, including a stage featuring local musicians and entertainment. The festival will feature a variety of Waldo businesses and local vendors from food, clothing, accessories, and specialty services. Plus, an array of food trucks will be available during the event including Kona Ice, Vee’s BBQ, Jason’s Lunchbox, and Omnivorium. Kids activities will be offered including a free bounce house, face painting and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop, explore and enjoy entertainment from all that Waldo and local vendors can offer, plus fun family activities.


Garmin KC Air Show

KC’s biggest end-of-summer party is scheduled for September 3-4, at New Century AirCenter. The region’s premier air show experience will again feature a world-class group of performers, top-shelf hospitality, and premium exhibitors. Children 5 and under are free for general admission seating. See all the details here. 

The Great Pumpkin Fest at Worlds of FunGreat Pumpkin Fest at Worlds of Fun

Hop on your tractor, pirate ship or witch’s broom and hurry on over for a super-sized celebration of all things fall at Worlds of Fun’s Great Pumpkin Fest, Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 17 – Oct. 30. Great Pumpkin Fest offers one-of-a-kind Halloween activities for kids throughout the park! In Europa, you’ll find play zones, costume contests and dance parties with Snoopy and the whole PEANUTS™ gang. During the kids’ Halloween event, loads of family-friendly games and activities await at every turn. Around every hay bale, you can catch toe-tapping, live entertainment and grab a comfy seat to just kick back and take it all in. And all the fun, fall food!

SantaCaliGon Days

Celebrate westward expansion at this FREE Independence festival, Sept. 2-5. More than 400 booths, free entertainment, fantastic bands, a Midway carnival and bingo. Free parking is available at the Community of Christ Auditorium parking lot at 1001 W. Walnut. Shuttles run every 15 minutes and cost $1 per rider.

Kansas City Renaissance Festival

Looking for a new way to spend a September day in Kansas City? Bring your family to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival for a magical time! Be sure to plan your visit around the theme weekends and kid-specific activities. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sept. 5 and Oct. 10. Check out our in-depth guide to the Ren Fest for family focused visit tips.

Lenexa Spinach Festival

Johnson County houses Lenexa – the spinach capital of the world (who knew?!). Come out to Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park (95th and Lackman, free parking shuttles) on Saturday, Sept. 10, for music, arts and crafts, and of course, the world’s largest spinach salad (think: 150 pounds of the leafy greens.). See more details here.

Kid activities include:

  • 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Rock painting, inflatables, pedicab rides (pending volunteer driver availability)
  • 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Face painting, balloon twisting
  • 2 p.m.: Rock-skipping contest

Hanging with Heroes

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Hanging With Heroes! Don’t miss out on this fun inaugural event giving families of Kansas City the opportunity to come together and hang with superheroes, community heroes, and even become heroes themselves! Join us Saturday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Zona Rosa’s Central Park as we join together to become a force of good in our metropolis! Click here for more details!

Plaza Art Fair

A stable for September in Kansas City is the 91st annual Plaza Art Fair. This year it’s happening Sept. 23-25, and is expected to draw crowds of more than 250,000 people, and feature 240 artists over nine city blocks. The kids will enjoy several interactive areas. Moms can relax in the Nursing Mother’s Lounge, and new this year – an area for dads or other support people. (Slow…clap!) Visit the event website for a full schedule of live entertainment and parking maps.

Family Day at Shatto Farm

Visit the home of Shatto Milk Company, 9406 N Highway 33, in Osborn, Missouri, to help celebrate the company’s anniversary. Activities on Saturday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., include farm tours, baby calf petting, viewing the cheese making process, product sampling, and visiting the retail store.

Overland Park Fall Festival

The OP Fall Festival in downtown Overland Park is back with a great lineup of live music,  children’s performers and entertainment, food trucks, the Overland Park Farmers Market and an all-day artisan fair. The festival kicks off Sept. 23 with a preview event and activities all day Sept. 24.

Julia Willhite
I'm Julia and I live in Olathe with my husband of 16 years, my 10 and 6 year old daughters, and our rescue pug Mabel. I’m a social worker turned SAHM and love Dr. Pepper, thunderstorms, and talking to other adults. I hate coffee, diet culture, and washing dishes. I'll talk your ear off about the best local parks and which restaurants have wronged me by changing their long-standing menu items. I try to walk the line between knowing a lot of stuff and not being a know-it-all. Some days I'm better than others.