Get ready for goat yoga, a pumpkin patch and more at this JoCo attraction

Gear up for goat yoga, fiber arts demonstrations and more.

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead opened its doors for the 2026 season April 1 with plenty of programs planned from now through the fall.

Last year, the farmstead offered both family- and kid-focused goat yoga classes for the first time, and they were a big hit. They’ll start them up again in June.

Meredith Thompson, volunteer program supervisor for the farmstead, said the goats themselves make the classes special.

“In a lot of other places, they’re bringing goats that they don’t know. These are our babies. We’re there when they’re born. We’re there socializing them,” Thompson said.

The farmstead staff is excited for the possibility of lots of international visitors as a result of this year’s World Cup games, she said. In honor of the event, the new baby goats have names reflecting soccer terms from various nations, such as Kit, Gaffer, Tiki-taka, Caviar and Panenka.

A few new breeds of goat are at the Farmstead this year, including Angoras and Toggenburgs.

On the program front, they’re embarking on a new exploration of fiber arts at the farmstead.

“Traditionally, we have always done shearing demonstrations, because obviously, our animals always need to be sheared,” Thompson said.

This year’s demos will show how they wash, card, spin and dye the different fibers.

“It’s this multi-step process on what do we do with the animal fiber that is produced and what can you do with it,” Thompson said. “I’m really looking forward to that addition.”

Those demos will happen as pop-ups throughout the season.

“We are so uniquely equipped to do these really fun hands-on educational experiences that can be very tactile,” Thompson said. “If we can get kiddos to do something a little bit messy — the messier the better. Those are the things they get the most excited about, and I think a lot of times make those really fantastic, lasting impressions.”

For Thompson, it’s an also an opportunity to get kids away from the ever-present screens in their lives. Parents appreciate the activities, too.

Overland Park resident Ali Thomas brought her son Lincoln, 3, to the farmstead’s opening day and relished the chance for hands-on learning.

“I love having the opportunity to teach kids about life on a farm. Having a place where they can truly engage with animals is a true gift,” Thomas said.

Allie Melton of Olathe brought her daughters, 2-year-old Kennedy and 1-year-old Elsie, to see the baby goats.

“We could stay at this part all day, and (Kennedy) would be happy,” Melton said.

If you’re sensitive to loud noises or crowds, you can try a visit to the Farmstead on one of its sensory-friendly mornings. Those will happen at 8 a.m. on the first Tuesday in May, June, July and August.

To beat the heat, this year’s June Bug Ball on June 18 is becoming a morning event instead of an afternoon one. Kids (and adults) can dress up while doing crafts, learning about pollinators and interacting with worms and insects. Thompson said she always sees lots of butterfly and bee costumes.

The event will also feature a show from Stone Lion Puppets

And if you’re into the Wild West, the Farmstead will celebrate the National Day of the Cowboy on July 25 with demos on how to groom and saddle a horse, opportunities to learn about cattle branding at the blacksmith shop and hands-on dummy roping for kids.

“That’s a lot of fun, one of those pieces where we’re definitely seeing history really come alive,” Thompson said.

Their biggest events of the year will be their fall finale: the pumpkin patch and the Night of the Living Farm Halloween celebration.

At the latter, there will be a hayride with some jump-scares as well as a non-scary tractor ride. They also have line dancing lessons, a Stone Lion Puppet show, carnival games, a pumpkin walk and hot chocolate. That will happen Oct. 16, 17, 23 and 24.

Thompson also said they’ve made a concerted effort to make as many activities and locations at the Farmstead as possible accessible to everyone.

The Farmstead is working with Variety KC to add more accessible items to its playgrounds. They’ve also repaved some pathways and made a new boardwalk by the little shops.