Your roundup of summer and fall fairs and fests in the KC area
If there is a reason to celebrate, we probably have a fair or festival to celebrate it.
Music, art, food and agriculture are the biggies, but we also have events focusing on butterflies, balloons, pumpkins and cigars, to say nothing of Greeks, Irishmen, Japanese and pagans.
Most county fairs will run in late July and early August, to be followed by the state fairs in Sedalia and Hutchinson.
Then some of the area’s biggest events will arrive as summer winds down, with the Kansas City Irish Fest (Aug. 29-31), Santa-Cali-Gon Days (Aug. 29-Sept. 1), the Kansas City Renaissance Festival (Aug. 30-Oct. 13) and the American Royal (Sept. 4-Nov. 15).
Finally, we will have an onslaught of harvest festivals, Oktoberfests and other community celebrations geared toward autumn.
County and state fairs
Douglas County Fair, July 25-Aug. 2, Lawrence. dgcountyfair.com
Johnson County Fair, July 28-Aug. 2, Gardner. jocokansasfair.com
Leavenworth County Fair, July 29-Aug. 2, Tonganoxie. leavenworthcountyfair.com
Atchison County Fair, Aug. 5-9, Effingham, Kan. thenewsleaf.com/fair.htm
Missouri State Fair, Aug. 7-17, Sedalia. mostatefair.com
Kansas State Fair, Sept. 5-14, Hutchinson. kansasstatefair.com
Music, film and other entertainment
Christian Family Day Festival, July 26, Downtown Courtyard Stage, Smithville. nehemiahfest.com
OMG Music Fest with Jacob Whitesides, Reed Deming, Grant Landis, Round 2 Crew, Alyssa Shouse and Dylan Holland, Aug. 3, Granada, Lawrence. omgmusicfest.com
“Riot on Westport” Hip Hop Fest, Aug. 16, Riot Room. theriotroom.com
KC Improv Festival, Sept. 5-13, multiple venues. kcimprovfestival.com
Buzz Beach Ball 2014 with Arctic Monkeys, Weezer and The 1975, Sept. 5 at Sporting Park.
Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival featuring Godsmack, Seether, Skillet and more, Sept. 5, Cricket Wireless Amphitheater. cricketwirelessamp.com
Crossroads Music Fest, Sept. 6, Crossroads. crossroadskc.com
Music On Main, Sept. 6, Grandview Main Street. grandview.org/musiconmain
Prairie Village Jazz Festival, Sept. 6, Harmon Park. prairievillagejazz.org
Dancefestopia Music Festival, Sept. 12-13, Berkley Park. dancefestopia.com
Nehemiah Festival, Sept. 12-14, Smith’s Fork Park, Smithville. nehemiahfest.com
Yallapalooza featuring Jake Owen with Eli Young Band, The Cadillac Three and more, Sept. 19, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
Music Fest and Back Porch Jam, Sept. 27, Watkins Woolen Mill State Park & Historic Site. watkinsmill.org
Kansas International Film Festival, Oct. 10-16, Glenwood Arts Theatre. kansasfilm.com
18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival, Oct. 11, American Jazz Museum. festival.americanjazzmuseum.org
Kansas City Jewish Film Festival, Oct. 11-19, Jewish Community Center. jcckc.org
Arts and crafts
Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival, Sept. 6-7, Crown Center Square. kcchalkandwalk.org
Brush Creek Art Walk, Sept. 12-14, Brush Creek Trail. brushcreekartwalk.org
Zona Rosa Arts Festival, Sept. 12-14, Zona Rosa. zonarosa.com
Mission Arts & Eats Festival, Sept. 19-20, 6200 Martway. missioncvb.org/events/arts-eats
Plaza Art Fair, Sept. 19-21, Country Club Plaza. countryclubplaza.com/event/plaza-art-fair
UNplaza Art Fair, Sept. 20-21, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church. peaceworkskc.org/unplaza.html
Festival of Arts, Crafts and Music, Oct. 4-5, Missouri Town 1855. jacksongov.org/missouritown
Summit Art Festival, Oct. 10-12, Downtown Lee’s Summit. summitartfest.org
Food and drink
Heart of America Hot Dog Festival, Aug. 2, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. hoahotdogfestival.com
Crawfish Festival, Aug. 8, City Market. thecitymarket.org
Microbrew Festival, Aug. 16, Zona Rosa. zonarosa.com
Kansas City Kosher BBQ Competition and Festival, Aug. 17, Ritz Charles. kckosherbbq.com
BaconFest, Aug. 23, Union Station. baconfestkc.com
“Independence Uncorked” Wine Festival, Sept. 13, Bingham-Waggoner Estate. independenceuncorked.com
Village West WineFest, Sept. 13, Village West. villagewestwinefest.com
Shawnee Great Grillers Blues and Barbeque State Championship, Sept. 26-27, Shawnee Town. shawneegreatgrillers.com
KC Beer Fest, Sept. 27, Power & Light District. powerandlightdistrict.com
Lenexa Chili Challenge, Oct. 17-18, Old Town Lenexa. ci.lenexa.ks.us/parks/festivals_chili.html
Other celebrations
Paint the Night “Around the World” Street Fair, July 26, Park Place. parkplaceleawood.com
Festival of Butterflies, Aug. 1-3 and 8-10, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org
Wayne City Landing Days, Aug. 7-9, Sugar Creek. sugar-creek.mo.us
Great Midwest Balloon Festival, Aug. 8-10, Kansas Speedway. midwestballoonfest.org
Buffalo Bill Days, Aug. 15-16, Leavenworth. visitleavenworthks.com
Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Aug. 15-17, Swope Park. kcparks.org
Tiblow Days, Aug. 21-23, Downtown Bonner Springs. bsedwchamber.org
Lawrence Busker Festival, Aug. 22-24, Downtown Lawrence. lawrencebuskerfest.com
Roots Festival, Aug. 22-23, Paola Park Square. rootsfestival.org
Kansas City Irish Fest, Aug. 29-31, Crown Center. kcirishfest.com
Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, Independence Square. santacaligon.com
Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Aug. 30-Oct. 13, Bonner Springs. kcrenfest.com
Fall Festival, Sept. 2-6, Concordia, Mo. concordiafallfestival.com
American Royal, Sept. 4-Nov. 15, American Royal Complex. americanroyal.com
Grain Valley Fair, Sept. 4-7, Grain Valley Community Center. grainvalleychamber.org
Johnson County Old Settlers, Sept. 4-6, Downtown Olathe. johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com
Greek Festival, Sept. 5-7, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. annunciationkc.org
Big Shoal Country Fair, Sept. 6, Atkins Johnson Farm and Museum. atkinsjohnsonfarm.com
Fall Family Festival, Sept. 6, Beanstalk Children’s Garden, Swope Park. kcparks.org
Kansas City Cigar Festival, Sept. 6, Country Club Plaza. kccigarfestival.com
Spinach Festival, Sept. 6, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa. lenexa.com/parks/festivals_spinach.html
Belton Fall Festival, Sept. 12-13, Main Street. beltonfallfestival.com.
Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival, Sept. 12-14, Downtown Blue Springs. bluespringsfallfestival.com
Jesse James Festival, Sept. 13, 16 and 18-21, Kearney. jessejamesfestival.com
Missouri Baptist Children’s Home Apple Festival, Sept. 13, First Baptist Church, Raymore. mbch.org
Paws in the Park Dog Walk Festival, Sept. 13, English Landing Park. pawsinpark.com
Spirit of Freedom Walk and Family Fest, Sept. 13, Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center. kcparks.org
Raymore Festival in the Park, Sept. 18-20, Raymore. raymorefestival.com.
Higginsville Country Fair, Sept. 20, Higginsville. higginsvillecountryfair.com
Waldo Fall Festival, Sept. 20, 75th and Wornall. waldokc.com
Kansas City Yoga Festival, Sept. 26-27, Bartle Hall. kcconvention.com
Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest, Sept. 26-27, Downtown Lee’s Summit. lschamber.com
Liberty Fall Festival, Sept. 26-28, Downtown Liberty. libertyfallfest.com
Grand Festival of Chez lez Canses, Sept. 27, Fort Osage National Historic Landmark. jacksongov.org/fortosage
Overland Park Fall Festival, Sept. 27, Santa Fe Commons Park. opkansas.org
Tobacco Festival, Sept. 27, Weston. westonmo.com
Wild West Days, Sept. 27-28, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm. mahaffie.org
Kansas City Pagan Pride Day, Sept. 28, Merriam Marketplace. kcppd.com
Gladfest, Oct. 3-5, Gladstone. gladstonechamber.com/?events/gladfest
Harvest Celebration and Antique Tractor and Equipment Show, Oct. 3-5, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org
Oktoberfest, Oct. 3, Shawnee Civic Centre. shawneegermanclub.org
Applefest, Oct. 4-5, Weston. westonmo.com
Farmers Market Harvest Fest, Oct. 4, Downtown Lee’s Summit. downtownls.org
Hope Harvest Fest, Oct. 4, Downtown Pleasant Hill. hopeharvestfest.com
Oktoberfest, Oct. 4, Commercial Street Mall, Atchison. atchisonkansas.net
Parktoberfest, Oct. 4, English Landing Park, Parkville. parktoberfest.net
Scarecrow Festival, Oct. 4, Shawnee City Hall. shawneekscvb.com/pages/wgo_hol_scarecrowfest.htm
WaterFire, Oct. 10-11, Plaza. waterfirekc.com
Weston Irish Festival, Oct. 10-12, O’Malley’s Pub & Courtyard. westonirish.com
Greater Kansas City Japan Festival, Oct. 11, JCCC. kcjapanfestival.com
Harvest Festival, Oct. 11, Shoal Creek Living History Museum. shoalcreeklivinghistorymuseum.com
Pumpkins and Mums Autumn Festival, Oct. 18, Hall of Waters Historic District, Excelsior Springs. esprings.com
Dogtober Fest, Oct. 19, Kemper Outdoor Education Center. jacksongov.org
Harvest Night, Oct. 24, Recreation Park, Raymore. raymore.com
This story was originally published July 23, 2014 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Your roundup of summer and fall fairs and fests in the KC area."