Festivals + Celebrations
Our Favorite Spring & Summer Festivals & Events in the Midwest
Kansas City is the place to be, offering unforgettable experiences and making it the perfect destination year-round. With family-friendly fun and cultural events, the city celebrates in style. Loews Kansas City Hotel puts you right in the heart of it all, nestled in the city’s vibrant arts district. Explore exciting events and everything else the city has to offer, all just steps away.
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) - 22 mi, less than a 30-minute drive away.
Event Highlights
May
Brookside Art Annual | May 2 - 4, 2025
The Kansas City art festival season kicks off with the Brookside Art Annual, where the tree-lined streets of charming Brookside transform into al fresco gallery spaces, accompanied by tasty treats and live music.
Cinco de Mayo Celebration | May 2 - 3, 2025
Experience the vibrant spirit of Cinco de Mayo at Guadalupe Centers' annual celebration. Enjoy three days of festivities, including live performances, artisan vendors, and local cuisine in Kansas City's historic Westside neighborhood.
Turkey Creek Festival | May 17, 2025
This all-day event in Merriam, KS, includes everything from a pancake breakfast and a 5K to live music and a Kid Zone at the picturesque Antioch Park.
Kansas City Triathlon | May 18, 2025
KC's premier triathlon event kicks off the summer season at Longview Lake. Options include Olympic, Sprint, and Relay distance options, as well as a duathlon.
June
Vaile Strawberry Festival | June 7, 2025
The beautiful, historic Vaile Mansion hosts this annual event, which welcomes craft and antique dealers who set up their wares throughout the mansion—and, of course, strawberry treats as you shop.
KC Pride | June 6 - 8, 2025
See why The Advocate named KC Pride one of the top 10 LGBTQ festivals in the nation. Throughout the weekend event, celebrate inclusion, diversity, and pride with live music and performances from local and national headliners.
Future Stages Festival | June 15, 2025
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts presents a free day of compelling performances, engaging youth-friendly activities, and one-of-a-kind entertainment.
WaterFest | June 27 - 28, 2025
Waterfest is a fun-filled, family-friendly event that is the largest annual festival in nearby Excelsior Springs, MO. Activities include live music, fireworks, a car show, and other homespun traditions.
Q BBQ Fest Kansas City | TBA
Pitmasters from across the country gather at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for this family-friendly festival. Featuring free admission for all, individual pitmasters offer barbecue dishes for sale. The event also features live music, beer, VIP experiences, and more.
July
KC Fringe Festival | July 13 - 17, 2025
There’s no better time to celebrate Kansas City’s vibrant creativity than during this 14-day showcase of local performing and visual arts.
Festival of Butterflies | July 17 - Aug. 3, 2025
This perennial favorite is at Powell Gardens. Step into the magical world of butterflies and enjoy opportunities to learn more about the fluttering creatures.
Amelia Earhart Festival | TBA
Head to Atchison, KS, Amelia Earhart’s birthplace, for an annual celebration of the aviation icon packed with events, including live music, carnival rides, a food and crafts fair, aerobatic performances, and the grand finale: a Concert in the Sky fireworks show.
August
Festa Italiana | August 1 - 3, 2025
Eat and drink your way through Italy—no passport required! Italian culture takes center stage in this event at Zona Rosa, which includes food, a beer garden, a car show, and novelty booths.
Innovation Festival | August 3, 2025
Music and innovation collide at Crown Center Square. Enjoy live music, explore the area's biologics leadership, and sample the latest creations from a selection of regional breweries.
Heart of America Hot Dog Festival | August 9, 2025
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum welcomes hot dog aficionados to sample delicious ballpark franks, including the signature Kansas City Monarch Dog, plus live music and admission to the museum.
Ethnic Enrichment Festival | August 15 - 17, 2025
KC’s diverse cultures unite at this weekend extravaganza that includes food, dancing, and music representing dozens of countries, as well as several ethnic groups recognized by the Ethnic Enrichment Committee.
Kansas City Irish Fest | August 29 - 31, 2025
Celebrate KC’s Celtic heritage with three days of live music, special performances, locally provided libations, activities for young ones, tastings, and plenty more in this beloved Crown Center bash.
Kansas City Renaissance Festival | TBA
Step back in time at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, a medieval-themed village home to jousting knights, thrill-seeking acrobats, and beautiful maidens.
Each event in Kansas City offers a unique way to experience the city’s vibrant culture. For more details, visit our front desk.
