Our scrapbook is at least a century old. | Gif by KCtoday
Let’s take a trip down memory lane. From the very first Guadelupe Centers’ Gran Fiesta in 1926 to Prairie Villages’ single-story days in 1968, Kansas City summers have always been lively.
We dug through the Missouri Valley Special Collections at the Kansas City Public Library to see what August looked like back then — Zeppelin flyovers, peach packing, and all.
Annual Benefit Book Sale | Friday, Aug. 29-Monday, Sept. 1 | 10 a.m. | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | Book lovers will find a wide variety of art books at incredible prices, with proceeds supporting the Spencer Art Reference Library.
Just Between Friends | Friday, Aug. 29-Sunday, Aug. 31 | 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. | Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS | $2 | Save hundreds of dollars on new and gently-used clothes, toys, shoes, books, and gear for all sizes — infant to teen, plus maternity — all in one place.
SantaCaliGon Days Festival 2025 | 12 p.m. | Historic Independence Square, Independence | Free | This historic festival stands as the region’s oldest and largest free event, featuring food vendors, handcrafted arts and crafts, a world-class carnival, and live performances.
Kansas City Irish Fest | Friday, Aug. 29-Sunday, Aug. 31 | Times vary | Crown Center | $9.80+ | See some of the top Irish entertainment in the world. And there’s so much more – everything from Irish culture to shops, beverages, food and activities using Irish themes and traditions.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival | Saturday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Aug. 31 | Times vary | City Market | Free | City Market’s streets will burst with color as artists of all ages transform the pavement into an open-air gallery.
Mimosas in the Park | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Frank A. Theis Park | Free | Sip creative + classic takes on mimosas, start your day with a free guided yoga session, browse boutique vendors, snack its food truck lineup, and challenge your friends to giant lawn games.
Sunday, Aug. 31
Natsu Matsuri | 4-9 p.m. | Merriam Marketplace, Merriam, KS | $5+ | This annual Japanese tradition returns to KC with a showcase of Japanese-owned businesses, artists, and organizations, as well as traditional games like water balloon fishing and goldfish scooping.
Nourish helps you develop healthy habits that last — all over telehealth and covered by your insurance. | Photo via Nourish
$0. That’s how much 94% of patients pay out of pocket to talk to a dietitian through Nourish — an easy-to-use platform that connects you with the right care to support your health goals.
Nourish helps match you with a Registered Dietitian for telehealth appointments, so you can access hyper-personalized, clinical-grade nutrition care that’s right for your health journey.
Remember last year’s demolitions? SomeraRoad has begun renovations on the 119-year-old Moline Plow Building — an early project in its $526.7 million West Bottoms redevelopment. The warehouse will transform into 121 loft apartments + 23,000 sqft of retail, connecting to The Depot, a new public plaza. (KCBJ)
Drink
Local rapper Alan Wayne, with Moon Brown + Andrew Beck, is opening Namaste & Midtown — a non-alcoholic bar, dispensary, lounge, and artist hub. Read how the concept blends recovery, wellness, and creative self-expression, debuting later this month. (Kansas City Star)
Try This
Paddle season doesn’t have to end. Olathe’s Ace Pickleball Club opens tomorrow, Aug. 30, with 11 courts (plus a mini “dinking” court) separated by skill level. Walk-ins are welcome, but memberships keep your game going year-round — plus, your first month is free. (Johnson County Post)
Real Estate
Leawood’s $500 million East Village project will bring 55+ living to 135th + State Line. Along with the development’s single-family homes, villas, and community park, the apartment complex plans for luxe perks like a rooftop patio, outdoor pool, and on-site physical therapy space. (KCBJ)
Sports
After 14 years, the Border Showdown is back. Mizzou vs. KU returns to the football field on Saturday, Sept. 6 in Columbia, MO — and Charlie Hustle dropped specialty gear so you can rep your side in style before kickoff.
Featured Deal
Best-selling activewear and everyday apparel up to 60% off? Athleta’s taking an extra 30% off sale items now through Monday, September 1. Shop the sale.*
Amid all the wedding hubbub, there’s also a baby shower on the calendar — and no, not in the “But Daddy I Love Him” sense. The Kansas City Zoo + Aquarium is celebrating Cappy, its newest rock hyrax, who already has his sea legs when it comes to showing off in his habitat. Pro tip: Jackson + Clay County residents can snag tickets to meet the little scene-stealer for $10 off with proof of zip code.
Meridian’s original hair trimmer, now 40% off for Labor Day. This unisex shaver was built for beards, chest, legs, and bikini lines, is 100% waterproof, and was top rated by Elle, Esquire, GQ, and Forbes. Psst — Shop tons of great markdowns like this one while Labor Day sales last.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Breezy 70-degree days can only mean one thing: our dining al fresco guide is begging for an update. Naturally, I’ll be “researching” by posting up on Lula’s Southern Cookhouse’s string-lit patio, bib on, ready to tackle their limited-time all-you-can-eat crab boil. All in the name of journalism, of course.
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