If, as a Kansas City area resident, you were asked, “What is the region’s premier fall festival?” you probably would have difficulty conjuring up an answer.
About the best you could do: “That depends.”
If the category is the visual arts, you probably would say the top fall event is the Plaza Art Fair. It attracts artists from around the country, as well as crowds in the hundreds of thousands.
If your interests lie more in the musical arts, you’ll have a tougher time deciding because there will be festivals in a variety of genres. Among them are rock, country, hip-hop and Christian. One of the local favorites, PorchFestKC, combines all genres. And a new event, Rhythm ’N Balloons, not only combines genres but also throws in hot-air balloons.
If you’re a culinary type, the World Series of Barbecue at Kansas Speedway is tough to beat. Unless you’re more into wine or beer. Then the Independence Uncorked Wine Festival or the KC Beer Fest might be for you.
Finally, if you have to pick just one traditional, party-till-you-drop festival … well, it still depends.
Some folks would say the Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center is the best. Others would opt for Santa-Cali-Gon Days on the Independence Square or Johnson County Old Settlers in downtown Olathe. And still others would insist the Kansas City Renaissance Festival is the clear choice.
The point is: You can’t go wrong. There is a festival, fair or celebration for just about everyone.
Art
Art Westport, Sept. 9-11, Westport District. artwestport.info
Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival, Sept. 10-11, Crown Center. kcchalkandwalk.org
Brush Creek Art Walk, Sept. 16-18, Country Club Plaza. missourivalleyimpressionistsociety.com
Plaza Art Fair, Sept. 23-25, Country Club Plaza. plazaartfair.com
UNplaza Art Fair, Sept. 24-25, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church. peaceworkskc.org/unplaza.html
Summit Art Festival, Oct. 7-9, Downtown Lee’s Summit. summitartfest.org
Music
Kansas City Summer Fest, Aug. 26, Visions Reception Hall. eventbrite.com
Rhythm ’N Balloons, Aug. 26-28, Hodge Park. rhythmnballoons.org
Tumbleweed Country Music Festival, Sept. 3-4, LaBenite Riverfront Park. tumbleweedcountry.com
Dancefestopia, Sept. 9-11, LaBenite Riverfront Park. dancefestopia.com
Crossroads Music Fest, Sept. 10, Crossroads Arts District. cmfkc.com/tickets
Riverside Musicfest featuring Little River Band, Sept. 17, E.H. Young Riverfront Park. ticketmaster.com
PorchFestKC, Oct. 8, Valentine neighborhood. porchfestkc.com
Festival of Praise featuring Fred Hammond, Hezakiah Walker and more, Oct. 15, Music Hall. ticketmaster.com
Food and drink
Independence Uncorked Wine Festival, Sept. 10, Bingham-Waggoner Estate. independenceuncorked.com
KC Beer Fest, Sept. 10, Power & Light District. kc-beerfest.com
Village West WineFest, Sept. 17, Schlitterbahn Waterpark. villagewestwinefest.com
Shawnee Great Grillers Blues and Barbeque State Championship, Sept. 23-24, Shawnee Town. shawneegreatgrillers.com
Louisburg Ciderfest, Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 1-2, Louisburg Cider Mill. louisburgcidermill.com
Botanical Brewfest, Oct. 8, Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. opabg.org
Lenexa Chili Challenge, Oct. 14-15, Old Town Lenexa. ci.lenexa.ks.us/parks
World Series of Barbecue, Oct. 26-30, Kansas Speedway. americanroyal.com
Other events
Kansas City India Fest, Aug 28, Overland Park Convention Center. iakc.org
De Soto Days, Sept. 1-4, De Soto. desotodays.com
Kansas City Irish Fest, Sept. 2-4, Crown Center. kcirishfest.com
Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival, Sept. 2-5, Independence Square. santacaligon.com
American Royal, Sept. 3-Dec. 4, American Royal Complex. americanroyal.com
Booms & Blooms Festival, Sept. 3, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org
Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Sept. 3-Oct. 16, Bonner Springs. kcrenfest.com
Johnson County Old Settlers, Sept. 8-10, Downtown Olathe. johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com
Belton Fall Festival, Sept. 9-10, Main Street, Belton. mainstreetbelton.org
Grain Valley Fair, Sept. 9-10, Grain Valley Community Center. grainvalleychamber.org
Greek Festival, Sept. 9-11, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. greekfoodfest.org
Jesse James Festival, Sept. 9-10 and 15-18, Kearney. jessejamesfestival.com
Big Shoal Country Fair, Sept. 10, Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum. atkinsjohnsonfarm.com
Kansas City Cigar Festival, Sept. 10, Diebel’s roof. kccigarfestival.com
Missouri Baptist Children’s Home Apple Festival, Sept. 10, First Baptist Church, Raymore. mbch.org
Spinach Festival, Sept. 10, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa. lenexa.com/parks/festivals_spinach.html
Swift Mile street festival, Sept. 10, North Kansas City. eventbrite.com
Blue Springs Fall Fun Festival, Sept. 16-18, Downtown Blue Springs. bluespringsfallfestival.com
Fiesta Hispana, Sept. 16-18, Barney Allis Plaza. kcconvention.com/events
KC Oktoberfest, Sept. 16-18, Union Station. eventbrite.com
Nehemiah Festival, Sept. 16-18, Smith’s Fork Park, Smithville. nehemiahfest.com
Zona Rosa Arts Festival and Vintage Market, Sept. 16-18, Zona Rosa. zonarosa.com
Arts & Crafts Fair & Fall Festival, Sept. 17, Shawnee Town 1929. shawneetown.org
Crossroads Crush, Sept. 17, Cameron. cameronmochamber.com
Festival of the Lost Township, Sept. 17, Raytown. brownpapertickets.com/event/2520443
Freedom Festival, Sept. 17-18, John Brown Museum State Historic Site, Osawatomie. kshs.org/john_brown
Waldo Fall Festival, Sept. 17, Waldo Area, 75th and Wornall. waldokc.com
Raymore Festival in the Park, Sept. 22-24, Raymore. raymorefestival.com
Liberty Fall Festival, Sept. 23-25, Liberty. libertyfallfest.com
Oktoberfest, Sept. 23-25, Downtown Lee’s Summit. downtownls.org
Fall Festival, Sept. 24, Downtown Overland Park. downtownop.org
Grand Festival of Chez les Canses, Sept. 24, Fort Osage. jacksongov.org
Harvest Festival and Chili Cook-Off, Sept. 24, Paola Town Square. paolachamber.org
Tobacco Festival, Sept. 24, Weston. westonmo.com
Wild West Days, Sept. 24-25, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm. mahaffie.org
American Indian Cultural Celebration, Sept. 25, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. nelson-atkins.org
Gladfest, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, Gladstone. gladstonechamber.com
Oktoberfest, Sept. 30, Shawnee Civic Centre. shawneegermanclub.org
Applefest, Oct. 1-2, Weston. westonmo.com
Dust Bowl Jamboree, Oct. 1, E.H. Young Riverfront Park. facebook.com/dust-bowl-jamboree-645069982271135
Fall Festival of Arts, Crafts & Music, Oct. 1, Missouri Town 1855. jacksongov.org
Greater Kansas City Japan Festival, Oct. 1, JCCC. kcjapanfestival.com
Harvest Moon American Indian Festival, Oct. 1, Osage Trail Station Neighborhood. harvestmoonfestivalkc.com
Harvest Celebration and Antique Tractor, Engine and Equipment Show, Oct. 1-2, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org
Oktoberfest, Oct. 1, Commercial Street Mall, Atchinson. atchisonkansas.net
Waterfire, Oct. 1, Country Club Plaza. waterfirekc.com
Weston Irish Festival, Oct. 7-9, O’Malley’s Pub & Courtyard. westonirish.com
Friendship Fair, Oct. 8, Sylvester Powell Community Center. culturalcrossroads-kc.org
Harvest Festival, Oct. 8, Shoal Creek Living History Museum. shoalcreeklivinghistorymuseum.com
Shawnee Indian Mission Fall Festival, Oct. 8-9, Shawnee Indian Mission. kshs.org/shawnee_indian
Sprint Family Fun Days: Fall Festival, Oct. 8, Power & Light District. powerandlightdistrict.com
Glow: A Jack-O-Lantern Festival, Oct. 14-15, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org
Dogtober Fest, Oct. 16, Kemper Outdoor Education Center. jacksongov.org
Pumpkins and Mums Fall Festival, Oct. 22, Hall of Waters Historic District, Excelsior Springs. visitexcelsior.com
Holiday Boutique, Nov. 3-6, Overland Park Convention Center. kcholidayboutique.com
Kansas International Film Festival, Nov. 4-10, Glenwood Arts Theatre. kansasfilm.com
Day of the Dead Festival, Nov. 6, Nelson-Atkins Museum. nelson-atkins.org
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