National World War I Museum in KC plans expanded fireworks show for July 4th
Kansas City’s official Fourth of July celebration will return to the National World War I Museum and Memorial with an expanded fireworks display honoring both America’s 250th birthday and the museum’s centennial year.
The annual Stars and Stripes Picnic is free and open to the public, offering two ways for visitors to celebrate Independence Day. Attendees can enjoy a traditional picnic experience in Penn Valley Park or watch from inside the FIFA Fan Festival on the museum’s grounds.
The 2026 celebration will conclude with a 20-minute fireworks show beginning around 9:40 p.m. Organizers say the display will feature three times as many fireworks shells as in previous years, creating the largest Stars and Stripes show to date over the Liberty Memorial Tower.
Penn Valley Park will open at 3 p.m. and will offer a relaxed, come-and-go atmosphere where visitors may bring their own food, drinks and picnic supplies. The park will also feature local food trucks, non-alcoholic beverages and a dedicated sound system for live performances and event programming.
Visitors choosing to celebrate inside the FIFA Fan Festival must have a free Fan Festival pass, subject to capacity limits. Those who purchase an All-Access Museum Ticket and arrive by 4:45 p.m. are guaranteed entry.
The Fan Festival will include performances by Lost Wax and DJ Ashton Martin, additional music programming, activities and broadcasts of FIFA World Cup matches. Outside food and beverages are not permitted inside the Fan Festival.
Organizers say this year’s celebration is intended to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary while recognizing the National WWI Museum and Memorial’s 100th year.
