The summer is here—a great time to get out and explore all the wonderful things to do in your area. In Kansas City, we have plenty of great activities, without spending a fortune. In fact, you you don’t have to invest anything more than your time—and the payback is great!
Check out this list of free fun you can have with your free time in the Kansas City region.
- The Children’s Peace Pavilion in Independence is a museum with more than 25 interactive exhibits that help children build peacemaking skills, like cooperation, appreciation, conflict resolution, and communication.
- The Crown Center, which also houses the Hallmark headquarters, offers free outdoor movies and concerts throughout the summer.
- Discover why Kansas City is known as “The City of Fountains”. More than 200 fountains are spread across the region, with ornate sculptures and architectural design. Spend a day touring the many waterworks, like the Meyer Circle Sea Fountain, JC Nichols Memorial Fountain, and the Seville Light Fountain.
- For your artful side, plan a visit to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
- The Lakeside Nature Center, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, and Kauffman Memorial Garden provide relaxing escapes to enjoy the beauty of natural surroundings.
- Open seven days a week, the City Market is the largest farmer’s market in the region, with more than 140 farmer stalls bringing you fresh produce, meats, baked goods, and flowers, plus an array of specialty foods. You can also enjoy live music, festivals, and other free fun!
- Mark your calendar for First Friday, a monthly art festival in the Crossroads Art District. Local artists, galleries, and studios welcome visitors for an evening of creative entertainment.
- Our regional heritage is exhibited throughout the Kansas City area, and you can explore it for free. Check out the 1827 Log Courthouse, the wide array of activities at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, The Money Museum, Johnson County Museum of History, National Archives at Kansas City, and Shoal Creek Living History Museum.
- Got some bored kids? Take them to Kaleidoscope in the Crown Center, a free art studio for children between the ages of 5 and 12. sponsored by Hallmark. Youngsters will also put their energy to good use at Penguin Park, with a 26-foot kangaroo slide and much more. The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is a great way to get kids unplugged from their gadgets and explore life on an turn-of-the-century farm.
Put your wallet away. You can have so much fun in the Kansas City area without it!
