Lucky you. You just found KCtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout Kansas City each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
(Don’t see anything you like? Check out our full events calendar.)
Festivals
Kansas City Greek Festival | Friday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 7 | Times vary | Kansas City Greek Festival | Free | Celebrate the flavors, music, and traditions of Greece at this three-day cultural celebration featuring homemade food, wine tastings, dance troupes, live music, and a Greek boutique/marketplace.
Lenexa Spinach Festival | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa, KS | Free | Hailed as the Spinach Capital of the World in the 1930s, this city festival features everything from specialty themed concessions to a spinach dip showdown.
Oktoberfest | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 12-8 p.m. | KC Pumpkin Patch, Olathe, KS | $30 | Raise a stein, race the mega slide, and sample 60+ farm attractions at this adults-only bash.
David Mann Chopper Fest | Saturday, Sept. 13 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | West Bottoms | $19+ | Honoring KC native David Mann, the legendary biker artist, this festival will feature a motorcycle show open to all makes and models, an archive show + David Mann-inspired art from around the world.
Plaza Art Fair | Thursday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Sept. 21 | Times vary | Free entry | An annual crowd of 250,000+ takes over nine city blocks to encounter 240 artists, three live music stages, and 20+ featured restaurant booths.
Dragon Boat Festival | Saturday, Sept. 27 | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. | Shawnee Mission Park, Shawnee, KS | Prices vary | Watch paddlers race to pounding drums + cheering crowds in this high-energy cultural tradition.
Stay active
Plaza 10K | Sunday, Sept. 7 | 7:30 a.m. | Multiple locations | $66+ | The flat and fast course runs along the banks of Brush Creek and goes through the heart of the Country Club Plaza, benefiting St. Luke’s Homecare & Hospice.
Mahjong for a Cure | Monday, Sept. 8 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | 4100 Homestead Court, Prairie Village, KS | $81 | Grab your friends, family, and mahjong sets for a day of friendly competition and fundraising for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
5th Annual Greatest Cornholio | Friday, Sept. 12 | 2:30-7 p.m. | GrindersKC | $12 | This is the perfect place to show off your bag tossing skills and win fantastic prizes while supporting Veterans Community Project.
MLB Home Run Derby X | Saturday, Sept. 13 | 7 p.m. | Kauffman Stadium | $21+ | See Royals legends Hosmer, Moustakas, and Gordon — along with other 2015 World Series squad members — swing for the fences in this global power-hitting showcase.
Hollywood Casino 400 | Sunday, Sept. 28 | 2 p.m. | Kansas Speedway, KCK | $56+ | Snag a seat in the Highline Club for high-top tables and Adirondack chairs with unmatched views, all-inclusive food and drink, pre-race access + designated parking.
Live performances
Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues | Tuesday, Sept. 2-Wednesday, Sept. 3 | 8 p.m. | Kauffman Center | $93+ | Narration meets Delta blues in a storytelling concert from a Hollywood legend.
Kansas City Symphony Presents “La nuit sombre” | Friday, Sept. 5 | 8 p.m. | Helzberg Hall | $49 | This one-night-only show features immersive choreography and breathtaking visual design from Quixotic, set to a soundtrack interspersing Aureliano Cattaneo’s mysterious “La nuit sombre.”
Sutton in Concert | Thursday, Sept. 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Kauffman Center | $44+ | Broadway’s two-time Tony winner brings powerhouse vocals to KC.
Terra Luna | Friday, Sept. 12-Saturday, Sept. 20 | 7-10 p.m. | Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Overland Park, KS | $35+ | Guests venture on a wild journey through the garden’s twilight grounds, culminating in an immersive performance uniting live music, dance, and aerial acrobatics.
“The Book of Mormon” | Tuesday, Sept. 16-Sunday, Sept. 21 | Times vary | Music Hall Kansas City | $109 | This outrageous musical comedy — which the NYT called “the best musical of this century” — follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word.
Nikki Glaser | Thursday, Sept. 25-Saturday, Sept. 27 | 7 p.m. | Multiple locations | $62+ | Following her viral roast of Tom Brady + solo-hosting the Golden Globes, this Missouri-born comic brings her sharp wit and unfiltered stand-up back home.
blink-182: “Missionary Impossible” Tour | Saturday, Sept. 27 | 7 p.m. | T-Mobile Center | $68+ | Pop-punk royalty brings the energy, sarcasm, and skatepark anthems that defined a generation of misfits.
Seasonal events
KC Retro | Saturday, Sept. 6-Sunday, Sept. 7 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Kansas City Convention Center | $30 | Explore a vibrant vendor floor filled with vintage toys, video games, and collectibles inspired by all things pop culture, and dive into its free-play retro arcade and cosplay.
Wine & Roses 2025 | Thursday, Sept. 18 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Loose Park | $100+ | This rose-inspired celebration with passed hors d’oeuvres, a wine bar, and classical music performed by a string quartet supports Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden for generations to come.
2025 History Crawl: Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 8:30-11:30 a.m. | Kansas City Museum | $30 | Attendees will explore early 20th century Kansas City, viewing several landmarks and houses of the era and learning about the notable figures who resided and continue to live in the neighborhood.
Uncorked: KC | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 6-10 p.m. | Union Station | $81+ | Sip and swirl 100+ wines and bubblies from across the globe while you dance the night away to live music, say “cheese” with your friends in our custom photo booth, and enjoy fave local food trucks.
Bark in the Sculpture Park | Saturday, Sept. 27 | 1-4 p.m. | Nelson- Atkins Museum of Art | Free | Your furry friend’s favorite event returns with an afternoon of art, enrichment, yard games, and treats for you and your paw-some pals.
Night at the Tower | Saturday, Sept. 27 | 6 p.m. | National WWI Museum and Memorial | $200+ | A departure from the traditional sit-down gala experience, this night includes unique after-hours access to the Museum, breathtaking views from the top of the Tower, and live music in the courtyard.
Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
- Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
- Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.