Ready for fall festival season? Here are 7 events this weekend in the Kansas City area

Joseph Hernandez
·4 min read

Fall festival season starts this weekend in the Kansas City area.

The change in seasons brings local celebrations featuring seasonal fare including apple cider, football and Oktoberfest. From downtown Kansas City to Spring Hill, activities are kicking off Friday.

Here’s a list of some of the activities around the metro:

APPLEFEST

Travel back to 1857 at Grinter Applefest, a festival dedicated to the life and times of early Kansas settlers in Wyandotte County.

Visitors can take a tour of the historic Grinter home, the oldest remaining private residence in the county.

The two-day festival also features historical reenactments, music, crafts and vendor booths. Representatives from the Wyandot and Delaware nations will attend the event.

The festival is at 1420 S. 78th St. in Kansas City, Kansas and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The festival is free, but the entrance fee to go inside the Grinter House is $3 for kids and $6 for adults.

CIDERFEST

The Louisburg Cider Mill is kicking off the season with Ciderfest, a festival spanning two weekends. The days start with the Louisburg Lions Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m.

Other activities include pony rides, inflatable slides, cider and donut-making and craft booths are ongoing throughout the day until 6 p.m. Live performances from local bluegrass and country artists add to the festivities.

Ciderfest is free and open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 1-2 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Louisburg Cider Mill is at 14730 K-68 Highway in Louisburg.

DREAM BIG DAY

Crown Center and Children’s Mercy team up to host Dream Big Day this Saturday. It’s a family-friendly festival and celebration, rallying the community around the children’s hospital.

The day starts with pre-walk activities to warm you up for the 1-mile walk to and from the Dream Big Field at Hospital Hill Park, north of Children’s Mercy Adele Hall campus at Gillham Road and E. 22nd St.

After the walk is done, celebrate in Crown Center square with:

  • Yard games

  • Video game trucks

  • Silent disco

  • Giant chalk drawing

  • Caricature artists

  • Balloon artists

  • Photo booths

  • Face painting

  • Giant building blocks

Dream Big Day runs from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and the gates open at 8 a.m. It’s free to join and register for the walk, which you can do here.

FALL FESTIVAL

Downtown Overland Park is hosting a festival to celebrate the beginning of Fall. Join everyone for two days packed with hands-on activities for kids and adults, live entertainment, local vendors and plenty of festival food.

The festival is open Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and it’s free for all to enter.

The fall festival takes place at 7935 Santa Fe Drive in Overland Park.

LEE’S SUMMIT OKTOBERFEST

The free festival brings you German-inspired activities, food, drinks and more. Live entertainment, a carnival, a petting zoo, arts and crafts and a wagon parade are just a glimpse of what you can see this weekend.

Oktoberfest is happening in downtown Lee’s Summit on Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The carnival is open Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Oktoberfest is at 220 SE. Main in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Check out Oktoberfest’s website for more information.

LIBERTY FALL FESTIVAL

More celebrations for Fall take place over the weekend at Liberty Square.

The free festival brings over 200 artists, vendors and two stages packed with entertainment from regional and local artists.

Kids can enjoy themselves in the carnival and you can shop around art, jewelry and unique gifts for your furry friends.

The festival is open on Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The carnival and booths around the carnival are open Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The Liberty Fall Festival is at 1 Courthouse Square in Liberty. Take a look at the website for more information.

SPRING HILL FALL FESTIVAL

The Spring Hill Fall Festival brings a big party to a small town. This marks the festival’s 68th year and provides a family-friendly atmosphere.

You’ll see live entertainment, craft booths and more throughout the festival at Spring Hill City Park.

A street dance will take place on Saturday evening at the Spring Hill Recreation Commision ball fields at 331 W. North St. and come back Sunday for a Kansas City Chiefs watch party as they play the Indianapolis Colts at noon.

The free festival runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Spring Hill City Park is at Hale and Washington Streets in Spring Hill.