Fall in Kansas City: Festivals, Pumpkin Patches and Events
After a summer of long hot days and volatile weather, I am certainly looking forward to fall in Kansas City. Our city is remarkable as the seasons start to change. I love to drive around Brookside at sunset and watch the sunlight reflect off the changing colors of the fall foliage.
Kansas City is simply remarkable in the fall.
Throughout the autumn months, there are numerous fall festivals, events, and fairs to enjoy. The most well-known might be the Renaissance Festival, but don’t forget some of the smaller events like the Weston Applefest and Lenexa Chili Challenge!
You will never run out of fun things to do in Kansas City.
And if you’re thinking of buying or selling, but think you missed “the season”, take my word for it, you didn’t! Fall is one of the best times to be selling a home because peaceful weather makes for calmer nerves. That makes homebuying feel less overwhelming. Be sure to check out my guide to selling your home in any season.
Here are a few of my favorite fall events, activities, and more. Do you have one to add to the list? Leave a comment or send me a message, I really welcome your feedback and hearing about YOUR favorite Kansas City activities.
Family-friendly Fall Activities and Events in Kansas City
Boo at the Zoo
6800 Zoo Dr, Kansas City, MO 64132
Trick or treating is not just for the kiddos! At this fun event the last weekend in October, zoo animals get in on the Halloween fun. Halloween-themed activities can be found all over the zoo, and at scheduled times throughout the day, the zoo animals will have their own pumpkin-smashing parties!
Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch
17607 NE 52nd St, Liberty, MO
If you have ever wondered what a working farm was like, then join one of the many festivities at this amazing pumpkin patch. The perfect place for kids! Carolyn’s includes Spookley the Square Pumpkin, hayrides, a petting farm, jumpin’ pad fun, and more. My favorite is The Pumpkinator, a humongous pumpkin-shooting cannon!
Faulkner’s Ranch
10600 Raytown Rd, Kansas City, MO 64134
Also, a beautiful event space, Faulkner’s Ranch has one of the largest pumpkin patches in the area. They have your typical hayrides and corn mazes, but also daily events like a cow milking contest, zipline, and a mechanical bull to show off your cowboy-side.
Kansas City Renaissance Festival
633 N 130th St, Bonner Springs, KS 66012
One of Kansas City’s most-loved fall traditions, the Kansas City Ren Fest opens its gates from Labor Day until Columbus Day. Launched in 1977; the festival now has 13 stages, 165 booths and entertains around 180,000 patrons annually. Grab a glass of mead, a turkey leg, and observe the drama of the daily jousting matches! Or find your wandering troubadour side as you explore the festival grounds.
Louisburg Cider Mill
14730 KS-68, Louisburg, KS 66053
A longtime Kansas City favorite, the Louisburg Cider Mill is famous for its apple cider and donuts. Did you know they also are the makers of Lost Trail Root Beer? This farm has been around since the 1970s, and new generations of apple cider lovers return each season. Find your way through their 10-acre corn maze before getting a peek behind the scenes of how apples are squeezed into natural cider. They also have a Movie Night on the farm, and this year marks the 41st annual Ciderfest, with events on September 28 and 29 as well as October 4 and 5.
Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest
Downtown Lee’s Summit, MO
Featured in KC Parent Magazine (2018), this special event the last weekend of September has family entertainment for everyone. Enjoy numerous food booths that offer German meals, two stages for live performances, many children’s activities and contests, arts and crafts and more.
Liberty Corn Maze
17607 NE 52nd St, Liberty, MO 64068
Take an afternoon to visit the Liberty Corn Maze, the largest corn maze in the state! With new fun designs each year and live music on some weekends, this is a fun fall activity for the whole family. The adults might want to check out the “Sauced and Lost” beer and wine festival as well!
Liberty Fall Festival
1 Courthouse Square, Liberty, MO 64068
The last weekend in September brings the Liberty Fall Festival, a fun family-friendly tradition that began in 1934. This is a great spot to let the kids ride carnival rides while you stock up on handmade gifts for the holiday season!
Shoal Creek Harvest Festival
7000 NE Barry Rd, Kansas City, MO 64156
October 5 marks the 14th anniversary of the Shoal Creek Harvest Festival. This historic site, which should be on your must-see list throughout the year, comes alive with fun fall activities, as well as reenactments of what life was like in this region over 100 years ago.
Weston Applefest
Weston, MO
The annual Weston Applefest Celebration takes place the first weekend in October in downtown Weston, just a few miles to the north of Kansas City. Enjoy the parade at 10 a.m., and then walk the streets to indulge in craft booths, food vendors, and numerous demonstrations of woodturning, soap making, and other fine crafting arts of times gone by.
Worlds of Fun Great Pumpkin Festival
4545 Worlds of Fun Ave, Kansas City, MO 64161
While the Worlds of Fun park can get pretty spooky Friday and Saturday nights leading up to Halloween, there is also a fun, more family-friendly event during the daytime hours on Saturdays and Sundays! Join Snoopy and the Gang for the Great Pumpkin Festival, weekends through October 31. This family-friendly event is all tricks and no treats! Plus, spending a day with a beagle is one of my favorite things to do!
Fall Activities for Adults
KC Pumpkin Patch
13875 Gardner Road, Olathe, KS 66061
The KC Pumpkin Patch is a part of the KC Wine Co, so here you get a vineyard and pumpkin patch all in one! They invite visitors out for a “Haycation”, a chance to get away from the city and enjoy a day of fall farm activities. They also have the annual KC Cider Fest September 28 and 29, which is a great event that includes samples of their hard ciders, KC Wine Co. slushies, and mini cider donuts.
Cider Hill Family Orchard
3341 N 139th St, Kansas City, KS 66109
Fall isn’t only about pumpkins, it’s also apple season! The Cider Hill Family Orchard is a perfect weekend getaway. Bask in the autumn sun while you stroll through the apple orchard trails. This is a fun U-Pick orchard, so get ready for a little work before you relax with a nice glass of apple cider.
KC Oktoberfest
Crown Center, 2450 Grand Boulevard; Kansas City, MO 64108
Happening the first full weekend in October, the KC Oktoberfest is a fun celebration of everything Bavarian! Modeled after a traditional German Oktoberfest, this event has food, music, entertainment, games, and more. Sponsored by KC Bier company.
KC West Bottoms Haunted Houses
West Bottoms, KCMO
There are several Haunted Houses to choose from in the West Bottoms for the very bravest of Halloween lovers! The Beast has been rated as the most “terror-ific” haunted house in the US 13 times. Make your way around the Bottoms and visit this spot, as well as The Edge of Hell, Macabre Cinema, and take a tour on KC Ghost & Gangsters Tour.
Worlds of Fun Halloween Haunt
4545 Worlds of Fun Ave, Kansas City, MO 64161
From mid-September through the last weekend in October, Worlds of Fun is transformed from the fun and happy theme park to something a little darker on Friday and Saturday nights. Fog sets in, and monsters abound after dark. Leave the kids behind, this is not recommended for those under 14!
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