The best thing about emerging from winter into spring in Kansas City are all the fun things to do. While there are plenty of things you can enjoy year-round, spring is a special time. After a year with really cold temperatures and snow, it’s even nicer to be able to venture out for some fun activities and new-to-you spots in Kansas City.
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Top three things to do in KC this spring
If you don’t have time to read this entire post, here are the top things to do in Kansas City in the spring!
See a KC Current Game
Brand new stadium for the women’s soccer team is one of the biggest things to open in 2024!
- CPKC Stadium is the first women’s professional sports stadium in the world.
- 2024 Season Tickets are sold out, but a waitlist is available for single game tickets.
Go To The Gardens
My personal favorite is Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.
- Visit one of four botanical gardens in the Kansas City metro area.
- Early spring flowers include daffodils and tulips.
Take In a Parade
KC loves a parade, and one of the most fun is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade held annually in March.
- The parade is March 17, 2024 starting at 11 a.m.
- The route begins at Linwood and Broadway, traveling south until it ends at 43rd and Broadway.
Stop and Smell the Flowers
What better way to celebrate spring, than by heading to a garden that’s tended to by Master Gardeners! There are several great options to choose from that are located across the Kansas City Metro area.
For visitors and residents of the Southeastern part of the metro, head to Powell Gardens. They have events and festivals throughout the year.
If you are in the Southwestern part of the city, check out the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. The flowers are in bloom, there’s a fun railroad garden, and you find great hiking trails beyond the gardens to enjoy as well.
Finally, if you are in Kansas City proper, both the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden and Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden in Loose Park are fantastic options, as well.
1. Powell Gardens, 1609 NW US Highway 50, Kingsville, Mo.
2. Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 909 W. 179th St., Bucyrus, Kan.
3. Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, 4800 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, Mo.
4. Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden at Loose Park, 5200 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Mo.
Find A Market & Buy Some Local Produce
Spring flowers also bring the start to spring produce and farmer’s markets. Several farms around the city use greenhouses to get a jump start on Mother Nature. You will start to see vegetables showing up, alongside homemade baked goods, preserves, meat and eggs, as spring begins.
Perhaps the best known farmers market is the City Market. Running from April-December, the spring and summer are the best times to visit.
I also love the Parkville Farmers Market and the Independence Farmers’ Market in downtown Independence, MO. Parkville’s runs from May-October, and the one in Independence only closes down in November.
5. City Market, Fifth and Walnut streets, Kansas City, Mo.
6. Parkville Farmers Market, 8701 McAfee St., Parkville, Mo.
7. Independence Farmers’ Market, 211 W. Truman Road, Independence, Mo.
Get Active
The best way to prepare for an active summer is to start getting active in the spring. No matter what level of activity you like to do, there are practically endless choices in Kansas City.
If you are into biking, hop onto the Rock Island Trail. If you take it through Raytown, you can even stop for a beer at Crane Brewing. If that’s not your thing, how about swinging from the trees on a high ropes course in Swope Park with Go Ape? (I did survive this particular activity.) If that’s a little too active, you can try your hand at pickleball (Chicken N Pickle) or bocce on an outdoor court at Pinstripes.
8. Rock Island Trail begins trail begins on S.W. Jefferson Street in Lee’s Summit and terminates 13.5 miles north at the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, Mo.
9. Crane Brewing, 6515 Railroad St., Raytown, Mo.
10. Go Ape, 7331 Oakwood Drive, Kansas City, Mo.
11. Chicken N Pickle, 1761 Burlington St., North Kansas City, Mo.
12. Pinstripes, 13500 Nall Ave., Overland Park, Kan.
Take in a Parade
One of the best parades in Kansas City is the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade is part of one of Kansas City’s most popular festivals, and it’s held each spring.
Another great spring parade in Kansas City is the bi-annual Parade of Homes. During the last week of April and the first week of May, you can check out what local home builders have been up to. Just head to the website and find the map and head to the neighborhoods you’d like to see.
13. St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at Linwood and Broadway and proceeds south along Broadway to 43rd Street.
14. Parade of Homes guides will be available for pickup at the KCHBA (I-435 & Holmes) on April 18.
See a Game
Kansas City has three great, professional sports teams to cheer on in the spring. For the baseball lovers, the Kansas City Royals have many home games to be watched at Kauffman Stadium, check the schedule here. You’ll find plenty of fun, themed events at the ballpark.
If baseball isn’t your sport, how about men’s and women’s soccer? The 2024 season will be an exciting year for fans. National Women’s Soccer League KC Current will begin playing in their own stadium, CPKC Stadium Kansas City, is March (or at least, that’s the plan). Major League Sporting KC (men’s) play at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
15. Royals at Kauffman Stadium, 1 Royal Way, Kansas City, Mo.
16. KC Current at CPKC Stadium, 1460 E. Front St., Kansas City, Mo.
17. Sporting KC at Children’s Mercy Park, 1 Sporting Way, Kansas City, Kan.
Drink or Dine on a Patio
As a cocktail blogger, I obviously love any excuse to get outside for a drink. Spring is the perfect time to check out these Kansas City patios for a beer, a cocktail, or a meal. Several of them, like Gram and Dun, have heaters and are covered in case spring gets off to a chilly start.
18. Gram and Dun, 600 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo.
Shop for a Deal
Starting each March, and continuing through the rest of the year, the antique shops in the West Bottoms are open the first weekend of the month, Friday-Sunday. When the weather gets nicer, it’s a lot more enjoyable to walk around as you hunt for treasures.
If you are more into flea markets, head to Nate’s Swap Shop, which is open on weekends year-round. Nate’s Swap Shop is said to be KC’s largest indoor flea market. Or check out the Swap ‘N’ Shop at Boulevard Drive In.
19. West Bottoms, 12th Street Bridge Entertainment District, Kansas City, Mo.
20. Nate’s Swap Shop, 8200 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, Mo.
21. Swap ‘N’ Shop, 1051 Merriam Lane, Kansas City, Kan.
Enjoy Some Outdoor Entertainment
Speaking of Boulevard Drive In, you can catch movies from your car or your favorite outdoor chair starting at the end of April. They are the world’s first 4K drive-in cinema experience and they’re right here in Kansas City!
Another great springtime highlight in Kansas City is the reopening of Starlight Theatre’s season each May. Although they do have year-round events inside the enclosed stage, the regular season in the amphitheater kicks off with a Broadway series and live music concerts in late spring.
22. Boulevard Drive In, 1051 Merriam Lane, Kansas City, Kan.
23. Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Mo.
And there you have it. Some of my very favorite things to do in Kansas City in the spring.
About the author
Jenn Beard is the founder of Cocktails Away—a collection of adventures in pursuit of a great drink, a quality spirit, a unique ingredient, and the places they come from. When not traveling, she lives in Kansas City. Check out her blog for mouthwatering recipes and insider tips on DIY bartending and cocktail culture or travel to bars around the world at @cocktailsaway.