Memorial Day Weekend — the unofficial start of summer also marks a time for reflection. We know that, while some are preparing their white OOTDs, others are sandwiching the white in between red and blue.
Whether you’re planning to partake in the federal holiday or just want to get out in the sun (and it looks like there will be plenty of it this weekend), we hope your Memorial Day Weekend is a time to remember.
Memorial Day events
Celebration at the Station | Sun., May 29 | 5-9 p.m. | Union Station | Free | Head to the Liberty Memorial lawn for food, entertainment, a patriotic concert by the Kansas City Symphony, and KC’s largest fireworks show.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial | Fri., May 27-Mon., May 30 | Times vary | 2 Memorial Dr., Kansas City, MO | Free+ | Check out eight events, like a helicopter display + the traveling Vietnam Wall — and get free admission if you’ve served (half off to the public).
Summer events
Kansas City Monarchs | Fri., May 27-Wed., June 1 | Times vary | Legends Field | $8+ | Celebrate the start of summer with the 2021 American Association champions all weekend.
Oceans of Fun | Sat., May 28-Mon., May 30 | 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave., Kansas City, MO | $35+ | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Opening weekend includes an on-site radio DJ, a live chalk muralist, and a 40th birthday smoothie.
Sporting KC | Sat., May 28 | 8 p.m. | Children’s Mercy Park | $32+ | The boys in blue kick off the weekend at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
KC Current | Mon., May 30 | 2 p.m. | Children’s Mercy Park | $17+ | The women’s team takes on No. 3 Racing Louisville.
Bonus: Several public pools open this weekend on the Kansas side, like these in Shawnee, Lenexa, and KCK. KCMO’s spraygrounds are also coming online, and Summit Waves in Lee’s Summit launches its season May 28 (check your nearest pool for details).
Memorials around KC
Liberty Memorial | 2 Memorial Dr., Kansas City, MO | This is the nation’s first monument to those who served in The Great War. You may be familiar with the tower standing watch over downtown, but you may not know about these design features + symbolism.
Rosedale Arch | 3602 Springfield St., Kansas City, KS | Another WWI monument, built right before the Liberty Memorial was finished + modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, stands watch over downtown KC from Mount Marty Park.
Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial | 174 E. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO | Situated in Washington Square Park, this monument honors the 900 Missourians (100 from Kansas City) who died in the Korean War.
Citizen Soldier Statue | 406 W. 34th St., Kansas City, MO | At the entrance to the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Headquarters in Midtown, this is a tribute to all military members from the Spanish-American War to present day.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fountain | 4181 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO | This Westport fountain honors the 451 Kansas Citians who died in Vietnam.
Some of this information was gathered via Visit KC.
Note: a previous version of this story had “Monument” in place of “Memorial.”