Labor Day is coming up soon, but there’s still time to make plans for the weekend. Here are just a few things going on in Kansas City this coming weekend.
Labor Day weekend is the first day of the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. If you love Renaissance fairs, you’ll love this huge festival. It covers more than 16 acres and includes shops, artists, rides, games, great food, and, of course, many people in costumes.
The Kansas City Royals are planning against Detroit Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you’re a sports fan, here’s your Labor Day weekend activity!
Irish Fest is also taking place this weekend. Centered around the Crown Center, the event features three stages with many different performers and other Irish-themed activities. Food, of course, will also play a huge part!
Another Labor Day tradition is Santa-Cali-Gon Days, an event held at Historic Square in Independence, Missouri. This huge festival lasts all weekend and features many different games and live entertainment. Admission to Santa-Cali-Gon Days is free.
If you’re a doll collector, you’re going to want to be at Oak Park Mall this Labor Day. American Girl is going to open, and this store has everything doll lovers want. There might even be a few free giveaways if you get there early enough!
Summer is almost over, but there are still a few more weeks left to squeeze in some fun in Kansas City. The weather is cooling off a bit, so it’s a great time to head outdoors and enjoy a walk in the park. Many farmers’ markets are also still open, so you can still pick up fresh vegetables and fruit.
What else is there to do in Kansas City? The Kansas City Zoo has a great number of animals for the kids to see, and there’s even a petting zoo area where they can meet some of these animals up close and personal. You can even get a coupon for a free child’s admission when you purchase an adult admission.
For those who don’t want to spend the day in the heat, there’s the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. The museum includes many different interesting exhibits, including the Memories of Korea special exhibit. Exhibits highlighting Truman’s life and his presidency shouldn’t be missed. Two for one admission coupons are available up through December 31.
For those with young children, the Wonderscope Children’s Museum may be of more interest. Here, kids can explore the world via a number of different hands-on exhibits. One of the most popular is the LEGO Ocean Adventure that gives kids the chance to learn about the ocean while playing with large LEGO bricks.
Finally, the Toy & Miniature Museum has 38 rooms showing off a large number of marbles, miniatures, and nostalgic toys. Some of these toys will bring back memories of childhood. The museum has everything from steam engine trains to vintage games and some one of a kind toys, too.
Wondering what to do this Fourth of July in Kansas City? Well, the people of KC certainly know how to celebrate our nation’s day of independence. They have a number of different events you can attend and, of course, many of them feature fireworks.
More than 20,000 people attend the annual Parkville Fourth of July Fireworks and Festival every year. Things start on Tuesday morning with a parade followed by an all-day carnival at English Landing Park. At 9:30 p.m., fireworks are shot off over the Missouri River.
Berkley Riverfront Park is host to the KC Riverfest, one of the most popular fireworks shows in the KC Metro. There are a number of things to do before the fireworks show, but you don’t want to miss the grand finale. This fireworks display is actually choreographed to live music!
Worlds of Fun, one of Kansas City’s popular theme parks, will be hosting its own Fourth of July celebration. This event is one of the longest running annual fireworks show in Kansas City, and it all starts around 10 p.m.
For those wanting to spend a little time with nature before watching fireworks, the Booms and Blooms Fest at Powell Gardens is exactly what you want. Stroll through the beautiful gardens, maybe even take a picnic dinner, before settling near the lake to watch the fireworks. This event is actually held on the third, not the fourth, so you can attend it and then plan to see another fireworks display on Independence Day.
Finally, Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular is another amazing Fourth of July event full of funnel cakes, a free concert, and a huge fireworks display that is one of the biggest in the area. It all starts at 4:00 p.m. and lasts until 11. Note that parking is a concern with this event, so be ready to walk.
It’s a foregone conclusion that sending your mom flowers on Mother’s Day is a great idea. What isn’t such an easy decision is picking the flowers to send. Sure, there are a number of different arrangements specifically designed for Mother’s Day, but many of these bouquets use different flowers. Which ones are right for your mom? Here are a few tips for selecting the perfect flowers for your mother.
Is she a girly girl? Some women are more into pink, bows, and hearts than others. If your mom is what many would call a girly girl, she would enjoy any arrangement that features a cute animal, bright pink and purple flowers, or other traditional “girl” type things.
If, on the other hand, your mom loves gardening or working outdoors, you might want to look for a live plant or an arrangement that she can later plant outdoors. This has the extra advantage of giving her a gift that will last for years instead of only a few weeks or so. Every time she sees the lovely plant you got her, she will think of you. If you want to get her a traditional bouquet, however, you might want to go with one that comes in a rustic basket and features bright blooms like sunflowers.
Anyone creative or artistic will like arrangements made up of very colorful flowers or exotic flowers. You can also pick one of the wilder or expressive vases instead of a traditional glass vase. Ask your florist to really get creative here or look at mixing and matching some flowers that you don’t traditionally see together.
If you know your mother’s favorite color (and every child should!), you can always base your flower selection around it. Selecting flowers in that color and surrounding them with complimentary colored blooms can make the decision process easier, especially if you have a trained florist helping you.
These tips should get you started on the right path to selecting an arrangement that fits your mom’s personality. If you need more help, consult with your florist. He or she an help you create a custom-made arrangement that is perfect for your mother.
Administrative professionals work very hard all year around. They are often the key contact people for major events and the day to day operation of your business, plus they are the people who keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Since 1952, businesses across the world have honored these hard-working individuals during Administrative Professionals Week.
Administrative Professionals Week is the final week of April. This year, that’s April 18 through 24. While it’s appropriate to show your appreciation all week, April 21 is specifically set aside as Administrative Professionals Day, so if you’re going to send your administrative assistant flowers, that would be the day to do it.
In addition to surprising your administrative professional with a large, bright bouquet of flowers, you may also think about taking him or her out to lunch, giving them a day off, or surprising him or her with a party.
Ready for some springtime fun in Kansas City? There are many great attractions in the city for you and your family to enjoy. Here are just a few of the best attractions for you to enjoy this spring.
The Crown Center in the heart of Kansas City is a great place to start your springtime adventure. They have a great number of different dining options, plus the center features three live theatres and a huge movie complex. Next door to the Crown Center is Union Station, a historic landmark that houses Science City. This attraction is a hands-on science center that kids will enjoy.
If you’d rather go outdoors, the Overland Park Arboretum features 300 acres of trees, flowers, and nature. More than 80 percent of the park is natural ecosystem, while the remaining part of the garden features botanical gardens, a visitor’s center, and a conservatory. You can wander through the Erickson Water Garden, the Monet Garden, and a learning arboretum. The arboretum also features many different hiking and walking trails.
A visit to the Kansas City zoo can also be a great springtime activity for families. The zoo has more than 200 acres and over 1,000 animals, including elephants, kangaroos, camels, and more. Several new additions, including an indoor rainforest, new viewing decks, and a lion viewing area are now open, and a polar bear exhibit is planned for 2010.
If you need to cool down on a hot spring day, Oceans of Fun is a great destination. This water theme park features a 72 foot super slide, a water funhouse with cannons and rope bridges, and a 2,000 square foot spray ground for the kids. For a more relaxing time, you can float down the Caribbean Cooler or visit the Castaway Cove and its swim-up cabana.
If you live in Kansas City or are going to be visiting the area around March 17, you might enjoy getting in on some of the great St. Patrick’s Day events going on in the city. There are a variety of different traditions that KC has for celebrating this Irish holiday, and while some of them do include drinking green beer, there are activities for the entire family as well. Just don’t forget to wear your green or you might get pinched!
The biggest event, of course, is the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. It takes place on the day itself, March 17, and it starts around 11:00 a.m. It’s scheduled to last until 1:00 p.m. or so, depending on how quickly the various floats and such move. The parade follows the traditional route down Broadway from 33rd Street to 43rd Street. This year’s Grand Marshal is Irishman Ian Byrne, the lead singer for The Elders and the owner of Byrne Custom Woodworking.
There are a number of different pubs and bars holding St. Patrick’s Day events, of course. One of the most popular is Kelly’s Westport Inn. Their traditional celebration is full of live music and other fun entertainment. You can enjoy a pint at the bar or go out on Randal’s Rooftop, a large open deck that provides quite a view. Other places to hang out include O’dowd’s Little Dublin, Mike Kelly’s, the Gaf, and Lew’s. All feature live music and other entertainment.
For those who really want to party, the Martini Corner’s Street Party offers up five different bars and music all day long. It’s held at 31st and Oak and promises a great time for anyone who loves dancing. Likewise, the Power and Light District will be holding their Shamrocks and Shenanigans party starting at 6:00 a.m. with their Kegs and Eggs event.
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