Ready for sweater weather, KC? From pumpkin patches and corn mazes, to apple picking and German beer celebrations, fall is where Kansas City thrives.
Get ready to come alive — or play dead at a fall-tastic haunted house like Beast & Edge Haunted House — with this seasonal guide featuring 45 fall events.
Tis the season to Wiesn!
Photo via @kcoktoberfest
Festivals
GloWild | Now-Sun.,Dec. 11 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, MO |$18+ | Immerse yourself in this colorful nighttime lantern festival filled with handmade art displays of animals, landmarks, botanicals + Asian cultural creations.
Kansas City Renaissance Festival | Now-Sun., Oct. 16 | 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturdays + Sundays | King’s Gate, 633 N. 130th St., Bonner Springs, KS | $10+ | Gather ‘round and celebrate 45 years with jousting, street acts, a Royal Court, an artisan marketplace, fair food, and rides.
Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival | Fri., Sept. 16-Sun., Sept. 18 | Times vary | 1000 W. Main St., Blue Springs, MO | Free entry | Come out for the 53rd annual festival decked out with handmade crafts, live performances, a carnival, festival food, a car show, and a parade.
Fall Family Festival | Sat., Sept. 17 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Beanstalk Children’s Garden, 6917 Kensington Ave., Kansas City, MO | Free entry | Enjoy an outdoor fall day with family fun, including a fruit and veggie tasting, garden crafts, bug exhibits, hand painting, yard games, and a scavenger hunt.
Waldo Fall Festival | Sat., Sept. 17 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Gregory Blvd. + Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO | Free entry | Have some neighborhood fun during this 30th annual festival with vendor booths, food trucks, and live music.
KC Ciderfest | Sat., Sept. 17-Sun., Sept. 18 | Times vary | KC Pumpkin Patch, 13875 S. Gardner Rd., Olathe, KS | $25+| Sample hard ciders at this 21+ only event that includes a complimentary KC Wine Co. glass and activities like slide mountain, adult tricycles, roller bowlers, and a ball zone.
Overland Park Fall Festival | Fri., Sept. 23-Sat., Sept. 24 | Times vary | 7935 Sante Fe Dr., Overland Park, KS | Free entry | Explore this artisan fair with 50+ vendors, live performances from local artists, children’s entertainment, food trucks, and a farmers market.
Plaza Art Fair | Fri., Sept. 23-Sun., Sept. 25 | Times vary | Country Club Plaza | Free entry | Celebrate 91 years with 240+ artists, three live music stages, 20+ featured restaurant booths, and activities from local favorites like Made in KC.
Liberty Fall Festival | Fri., Sept. 23-Sun., Sept. 25 | Times vary | Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce, 1170 W. Kansas St., Liberty, MO | Free entry | Ring in 45 years with 200+ artists and vendors, two stages featuring regional and local performers, a carnival, shopping, food vendors, a parade, and a chalk art contest.
Spring Hill Fall Festival | Sat., Sept. 24-Sun., Sept. 25 | Times vary | Spring Hill City Park, Hale + Washington streets, Spring Hill, KS | Free entry | Kick off this fall fest with a parade, plus a free pancake breakfast, a chili contest, and a Chiefs watch party on the second day.
Gladfest | Fri., Sept. 30-Sun., Oct. 2 | Times vary | Linden Square, 601 NE 70th St., Gladstone, MO | Free entry | Join Gladstone’s biggest party including a carnival, the Little Mr. and Miss Gladstone competition, a community pep rally, a digital scavenger hunt, arts and crafts vendors, and a marketplace.
Scarecrow Festival | Sat., Oct. 1 | 9 a.m. | Shawnee City Hall, Shawnee, KS | Free entry | Bring your kiddos out to decorate pumpkins and participate in other fall-related crafts while parents shop the farmers market and explore the annual scarecrow competition.
Fall Festival of Arts, Crafts & Music | Sat., Oct. 1-Sun., Oct 2 | Times vary | Missouri Town 1855, 8010 E. Park Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO | $10+ | It’s harvest season — explore the 46th annual celebration with historic interpreters, musicians, artisans, wagon rides, sorghum-making, and games from the 19th century.
KC Oktoberfest | Fri., Oct. 7-Sat., Oct. 8 | Times vary | Crown Center Square | $10+ | Say “prost” for the biggest Oktoberfest presented by Kansas City Bier Co. — our city’s largest locally owned brewery — for Bavarian style bier, food, live music, and competitions.
Chili Challenge | Fri., Oct. 7-Sat., Oct. 8 | Times vary | Santa Fe Trail Dr. + Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, KS | Free entry | Foodies unite — come with an empty stomach and get ready to turn up the heat with your fill of chili, hot wings, and salsa samples.
Oktoberfest Live! | Sat., Oct. 8 | 2 p.m. | Kansas City Live! Block | $10+ | Cheers to this German celebration with seasonal beers, wiener dog races — yep, you heard that right — games, live entertainment, and food.
Cornucopia | Fri., Oct. 14-Sun., Oct. 16 | TBA | Power & Light District | Free entry | Go fall out with this festival of autumn traditions including carnival rides, bounce houses, pony rides, barbecue, beer and spiked cider, funnel cakes, pumpkin carving, and a ride on the Ferris wheel.
Lansing Fall Festival | Sat., Oct. 15 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Angel Falls Trail, 900 Ida St., Lansing, KS | Free entry | Enjoy live music, a petting zoo, and food vendors, and sign your pup up for the first annual Laughable Dog Costume Contest.
Dogtober Fest | Sun., Oct. 16 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Kemper Outdoor Education Center, 8201 S. Jasper Bell Rd., Blue Springs, MO | Free admission with donation of canned or dry dog food | It’s going to be a dog-gone good time at this fest with 3000+ furry friends and lots of fun contests like Best Trick, Best Kisser, Best Tailwagger, and a Halloween Costume Contest.
Orchards, pumpkin patches + mazes
Johnson Farms Plants & Pumpkins | Now-end of fall | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 17701 Holmes Rd., Belton, MO | $12+ | Explore harvest season on this 140-acre farm with 5,000 trees in the U-Pick apple orchard, plus pumpkin spice donuts and 25,000+ blooming garden mums in seven colors.
Cider Hill Family Orchard | Now-Sun., Oct. 30 | Times vary (closed Mondays) | 3341 N. 139th St., Kansas City, KS | $13+ | Take part in U-Pick at the orchard with apple picking, exploring the pumpkin patch, hayrides, and snacks like kettle corn and apple pie nachos.
Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch | Wed., Sept. 21-Mon., Oct. 31 | 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | 17607 NE 52nd St., Liberty, MO | $17+ | Pick pumpkins, take a train or wagon ride, and watch shows like The Pumpkinator and Uncle Lester’s Pig Races.
KC Pumpkin Patch | Sat., Sept. 24-Sun., Oct. 30 | 1-6 p.m. | 13875 S. Gardner Rd., Olathe, KS | $14+ | Access the pumpkin patch and score all sizes, meet the farm animals, and have a ball with 50+ farm adventures like the NINJA course, zipline, and Barrel Train.
Faulkner’s Ranch and Pumpkin Farm | Fri., Sept. 30-Sun., Oct. 30 | Times vary (closed Mondays) | 10600, Raytown Rd., Kansas City, MO | $14+ | Come out for the 24th Pumpkin Season to purchase pumpkins, donuts, and fall decor from the gift shop and access the play area with wagon rides, a field maze, pony rides, and a zipline.
Haunted houses
Worlds of Fun Halloween Haunt | Fri., Sept. 16-Sat., Oct. 29 (select nights) | 6 p.m.-12 a.m. | 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave., Kansas City, MO | $40+ | Walk (or run) through fog-filled midways with 400+ monsters roaming the park while you navigate haunted attractions and rides.
Beast & Edge Haunted House | Fri., Sept. 16-Sat., Nov. 5 (select nights) | Starts 7:30 p.m., closing times vary | The Beast Haunted House, 1401 W. 13th St., Kansas City, MO | $27+ | The Edge of Hell and The Beast have collaborated to bring multiple floors of terror to KC, filled with monsters, phantoms, and even a live alligator.
Macabre Cinema Haunted House | Fri., Sept. 23-Sat., Nov. 5 (dates vary) | Starts 8 p.m., closing times vary | 1222 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO | $27+ | Join the spookiness with four floors of fright and a haunted 1930s movie theater that boasts movie sets from “The Mummy,” “Hellraiser,” and “Killer Clowns from Outer Space.”
Exiled Haunted House | Fri., Sept. 30-Sat., Oct. 29 | Times vary (Fridays + Saturdays) | 12829 Loring Rd., Bonner Springs, KS | $40+ | Test your survival skills in this outdoor thrill fest — a self-guided half-mile hike through the dark, evil forest infested with deranged creatures.
Full Moon Escapes | Wednesdays through Sundays | Wed., Thurs., and Sun., 12-8:30 p.m. + Fri.-Sat., 12-11 p.m. | The Beast Haunted House, 1401 W. 13th St., Suite C, Kansas City, MO | $90+ | As if escape rooms aren’t creepy enough, bring up to 10 guests to three different themed rooms through the end of the year, including The Ghost of Merlin, The Manhattan Project, and The Beast Tool Room.
Halloween happenings
Terra Luna | Thurs., Sept. 15-Sat., Sept. 24 | 7-11 p.m. | Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, KS | $25+ | Experience this limited-engagement multimedia installation that incorporates live music, dance + aerial acrobatics.
Macabre: Lee’s Summit Symphony | Sat., Oct. 1 | 6 p.m. | The Pavilion at John Knox Village, 520 NW Murray Rd., Lee’s Summit, MO | Kick off Halloween early with this spooky performance directed by Kirt Mosier that includes “Harry Potter” theme songs along with “Danse Macabre” and “Ritual Fire Dance.”
Kid Friendly Ghost Tours | Fri., Oct. 7 | 6-9 p.m. | Alexander Majors House & Barn, 8201 State Line Rd., Kansas City, MO | $10+ | Bring the entire family out for an eerie tour of this home, followed by arts and crafts.
Dark Forest | Fri., Oct. 21-Sun., Oct. 30 | 5-11 p.m. | Powell Gardens at KC Botanical Garden, 1609 NW US Highway 50, Kingsville, MO | Prices TBA | Take on this immersive, nighttime, multimedia walk-through installation filled with creepy music and performances from ethereal creatures.
Tricks and Treats | Sat., Oct. 29 | 12-3 p.m. | Power & Light District | Free entry | Dress up your kids, pets, or come with your crew and enjoy the Halloween festivities, including photo ops and cosplayers from Planet Comicon.
Halloween Party: CarnEVIL | Sat., Oct. 29 | 7-10 p.m. | KC Live! Block | Prices TBA | Come dressed to impress and enter the biggest costume competition in KC and party the night away with access to 12+ venues.
Wicked Wine Walk | Sat., Nov. 12 | 2-6 p.m. | Power & Light District | Price of purchase, RVSP | Bring your 21-and-up boos crew out for live music, wine tastings, and small plates with a portion of the proceeds going to KC Public Schools Education Foundation.
Trick-or-treating
JCPRD’s Trick-or Cache | Fri., Oct. 14 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Antioch Park, 6501 Antioch Rd. | $7+ | Use one of the provided GPS devices and search for hidden caches around the park with your group — Halloween candy is awarded for every find.
Trunk or Treat | Sun., Oct. 16 | 4-6 p.m. | Lakeside Nature Center, 4701 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO | Free | Go trick-or-treating with the Kansas City Police Department and the center’s staff for this second annual drive-thru event.
Fairy Tale Forest | Thurs., Oct. 20-Mon., Oct. 24 | 5:30 p.m. | Martha LaFite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, 407 N. Lafrenz Rd., Liberty, MO | Free | Trick-or-treat through 100+ jack-o-lanterns on this quarter-mile walk filled with friendly fairy tale creatures giving out candy, followed by a live animal exhibit and craft-making.
