Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's centennial.
Sophia Buonpane
sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Kansas City’s official Fourth of July was a multilayer celebration for America’s 250th birthday, the centennial of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, and for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Stars and Stripes fireworks display lit up the sky over the Liberty Memorial Tower and was viewable from the FIFA Fan Fest and Penn Valley Park.
Organizers said the display featured three times as many fireworks shells as in previous years — the largest fireworks Stars & Stripes show to date.
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's centennial. Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
It was the largest fireworks display at a Stars and Stripes event in Kansas City to date. Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's 100th Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's centennial. Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's 100th Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's 100th Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's 100th Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's 100th Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's 100th Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's 100th Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
Fireworks light up the night sky over Penn Valley Park on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The National WWI Museum and Memorial's Stars and Stripes Picnic celebrates America's 250th and the Memorial's 100th Sophia Buonpane sophiabuonpane@kcstar.com
This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 11:34 PM.
