Looking for fun September activities in the KC area? Check out these 4 free events
If you couldn’t tell by the temperature outside, the first day of fall is right around the corner.
The change of seasons promises some cooler temperatures later in September, according to the weather forecast. That should make going out to enjoy fall events in the Kansas City area safer and more inviting.
And there are quite a few outdoor festivals and events on the calendar in the coming weeks for people of all ages to enjoy.
Whether you’re looking to celebrate Hispanic culture, wander through blocks of art galleries or take a trip out of Kansas City, here are a few things to look forward to this month.
Art Westport
The 43rd annual Art Westport is back starting Friday. With streets closed at Westport Road and Pennsylvania Street, visitors can wander through the entertainment district and see 141 vibrant artists from the Kansas City area.
Westport’s restaurants will be open throughout the art fair, and food tents are set up throughout the area.
“We’ll showcase a wide range of mediums from ceramics, digital art, drawing, and fiber to glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and wood,” Westport special events manager Lexie Boyd said.
“We are excited for the public to see these artists’ remarkable works – a few will be showing commercially for the first time.”
Art Westport runs from 3-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Plaza Art Fair
The 92nd annual Country Club Plaza Art Fair runs from Sept. 22-24, rain or shine. The nine blocks of the entertainment district will be filled with art, live music and food from 16 of the Plaza’s restaurants.
At least 240 artists from around the world are scheduled to have their art on display and for sale all weekend long, including Kansas City-based mixed-media artist Jenny Meyer-McCall, who is the Plaza Art Fair’s featured artist for 2023.
Local musical acts including The Phantastics, Kat King, The Zeroes, Maggie Boone and more will be performing.
Country Club Plaza general manager Breana Grosz said they anticipate hosting over 250,000 visitors from across the country during the weekend.
The art fair is free for everyone to attend and all of the Plaza’s parking garages are open for free during the fair.
The Plaza Art Fair is open from 5-10 p.m. on Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 23 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 24.
Fiesta Hispana
Barney Allis Plaza in downtown Kansas City is once again hosting Fiesta Hispana, a celebration kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month.
The 44th annual celebration runs from Sept. 15-17, honoring all Hispanic cultures. Throughout the weekend, visitors are exposed to all types of Latin traditions, whether it’s Mexican music, Puerto Rican food or Salvadorian treats.
Some of the performers visitors can hear include Grupo Stampede, Johnny Hernandez and Avizo, who are coming in from Houston.
Fiesta Hispana is open from 5-11 p.m. on Sept. 15, noon to 11 p.m. on Sept. 16 and noon to 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 17.
The event is free to attend. Parking is also free on the streets of downtown Kansas City, or you can pay for a parking spot inside one of the nearby garages, such as the Auditorium Plaza or 1220 Walnut St. garages.
Camp Leavenworth
A two-day festival celebrating all things Leavenworth, this free event invites everyone to discover the town’s wonders 40 minutes northwest of Kansas City.
Camp Leavenworth runs Sept. 22 and 23, and is located at Leavenworth Landing Park and the CW Parker Carousel Museum, at the intersections of South Esplanade Street and Cherokee and Choctaw streets.
Some of the attractions Camp Leavenworth has in store for visitors include Friday night fireworks, a mess hall with a variety of local food vendors, a makers fair featuring clothing, jewelry and items from Leavenworth-based shops.
Guests can also hear music from local performers such as Casi Joy, Summer Breeze, KC Latin Jazz All-Stars, Starhaven Rounders and more.
Camp Leavenworth is open from 5-9 p.m. on Sept. 22 and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 23.
