7 ways Kansas City attracts capital and visitors

Articles on Kansas City reveal the city’s multifaceted approach to drawing investment and visitors. Kansas City leverages dining and venues, celebrity tourism, and events to boost its economy. A new smoothie and juice cafe, Zen Donkey in Fairway, supports donkey rescue efforts, attracting local patrons. The cafe serves fresh smoothies and meals from local ingredients, tying community dining with social causes. Stoney River Steakhouse plans to open in 2027 in Lenexa, enhancing the area's dining scene. This complements other eateries in the region, forming a bustling culinary hub. Meanwhile, Kansas City Zoo's GloWild lantern festival returns, offering themed attractions and family activities. This event attracts locals and tourists, contributing to city tourism.

Simultaneously, the Hallmark Channel selects Kansas City for its film locations again, filming a new Christmas movie after its previous success. This decision highlights the city's appeal for the entertainment industry and brings in additional visitors and interest. Collectively, these initiatives show Kansas City's strategic mix of dining, entertainment, and social causes as key tactics in sustaining and enhancing its attractiveness as a cultural and economic destination.

This will be the fourth year the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium has presented its GloWild lantern festival.

NO. 1: POPULAR LANTERN FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE KANSAS CITY ZOO FOR FOURTH YEAR

The Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium’s popular GloWild lantern festival will return for its fourth year this week with a new theme. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Dan Kelly

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The native plant sales, like this one in Lenexa last spring, will be returning to Johnson County this month. There will be lots of variety in plants and lots of advice from experts for interested gardeners. By Judy Lamb

NO. 2: WHY FALL IS A GREAT TIME TO GO ALL IN ON KANSAS’ NATIVE PLANTS

Stacia Stelk gets it: | Published September 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Debra Skodack

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Zen Donkey Wellness Cafe and Juicery is now open in Fairway. By Jenna Thompson

NO. 3: NEW JOCO SMOOTHIE AND JUICE CAFE OPENS WITH A MISSION: RESCUING DONKEYS

Support rescue donkeys and sell protein-packed, organic smoothies? | Published September 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

What was once farmland off of Interstate 435 in Lenexa is now a booming downtown, with a civic center, apartments, restaurants, retail, shops and offices. By Roy Inman

NO. 4: UPSCALE STEAKHOUSE WILL OPEN IN GROWING JOHNSON COUNTY DEVELOPMENT

An upscale, Tennessee-based steakhouse is opening its first Kansas City area location. | Published September 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jenna Thompson

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An Academy Award winner entertained Kansas City Symphony audiences this week at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and found time to have some KC barbecue for lunch. By Tai Wilson

NO. 5: IN KANSAS CITY FOR FIRST TIME, AN OSCAR WINNER HAD TO TASTE THE BBQ. HERE’S WHERE

It’s not often when “God” walks into a Kansas City restaurant. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lisa Gutierrez

Rendering of the KU Cancer Center’s new building, set for 2027 completion.

NO. 6: CONSTRUCTION OF NEW KU CANCER CENTER IN KCK MOVING FORWARD. WHEN IT WILL BE DONE

The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s highly anticipated new, state-of-the-art facility has made it through some foundational hoops since its official groundbreaking in May, a representative from the center told Wyandotte County’s governing board. | Published September 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sofi Zeman

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A new Hallmark Channel holiday movie, “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas,” is being filmed in Kansas City. The time-traveling yarn stars Hallmark Channel favorites Nikki DeLoach, left, and Kristoffer Polaha.

NO. 7: HALLMARK CHANNEL IS MAKING ANOTHER CHRISTMAS MOVIE IN KC. HERE ARE THE DETAILS

For a second year in a row, Kansas City will appear in a Hallmark Christmas movie following the ratings success of last year’s “Holiday Touchdown: | Published September 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lisa Gutierrez

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.