Events abound in Lee’s Summit

Here is a partial list of the many events that draw crowds to Lee’s Summit.

▪ Music in the Park – through Labor Day

This free summer concert series runs throughout the summer. The public is invited to gather at 6:30 p.m. Fridays at the Howard Station Park in downtown Lee’s Summit. For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org.

▪ Oktoberfest – Sept. 22 and 23

The Lee’s Summit Chamber’s annual fundraiser Oktoberfest is held annually in Historic Downtown Lee’s Summit. More than 70,000 people have attended past fall festivals, which include a carnival, biergarten, children’s activities, arts and crafts booths, two stages of continuous entertainment, and German meals. For more information, call 816-524-2424 or visit lsoktoberfest.com

▪ Summit Art Festival – Oct. 6-8

This free outdoor festival will feature more than 90 local, regional and national artists for a unique blend of art and local music in historic Downtown Lee’s Summit. The festival will include the Lee’s Summit R7 Student Art Pavilion, a “Summit Art” Pavilion, hands-on children’s art activities, free parking and a food court. For more information, call 816-600-5932 or visit summitart.org

▪ Farmers Market Harvest Fest – through Oct. 7

Enjoy live music and free pumpkin decorating while shopping for fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts and more at Second and Douglas streets. For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org

▪ Haunted and Historic Spaces Tour – Oct. 20

Visit and hear about some historic and creepy places in Downtown Lee’s Summit. The tour begins with a wine reception and ends with chills! For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org

▪ Boos, Barks and Badges Halloween Parade – Oct. 28, 2018

Families and their dogs are invited to join the costume parade from City Hall Plaza to Howard Station Park. After the parade, children can trick-or-treat at participating Downtown Lee’s Summit businesses. Awards will be given for the best costumes following the parade. For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org

▪ Mayor’s Tree Lighting – Nov. 17, 2018

Join Lee’s Summit Mayor Randy Rhoads as he lights the downtown tree. Free hot drinks and cookies, choir performances and a visit from Santa will get participants into the holiday spirit. Many local stores will be open late for holiday shopping. For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org

▪ Farmer’s Market Holiday Mart – Dec. 16, 2018

Vendors will have prepared gifts and goodies for last-minute holiday shopping for the event at the Lee’s Summit Elementary Gym, 110 S.E. Green St. For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org

▪ Chocolate Crawl – Early February 2018

Guests can visit downtown businesses to enjoy a variety of free chocolate treats (while supplies last) and shop for Valentine’s Day gifts. For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org

▪ Emerald Isle St. Patrick’s Day Parade – March 10, 2018

Festivities begin before the parade and include a traditional Irish breakfast, a Bits O’ Gold Coin Hunt for children at Howard Station Park on Southeast Main Street, a home-brew competition and a public tasting. Following the noon parade, Downtown Lee’s Summit bars will hold a pub crawl. The competition and pub crawl are for ages 21 and older. For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org

▪ Flights of Fancy – April 21, 2018

Flights of Fancy at Metropolitan Community College-Longview will feature dazzling kite displays ranging from a pod of whale-size kites to a three-story wind sock on public and professional flying fields. Also on tap will be ground kite displays, kites for purchase and food trucks plus children’s activities including a candy drop, all on the lawns of the MCC-Longview campus, 500 S.W. Longview Road. For more information contact Tami Morrow, 816-604-2640, or go to www.kitefest.mcckc.edu.

▪ Downtown Bunny Hop – March 31, 2018

The Easter Bunny will preside over the annual parade and the Bunny Ears and Easter Hat Contest. The morning parade will proceed from City Hall Plaza to Howard Station Park for the contest. The Easter Bunny will be available afterward for photographs with children, and downtown businesses will hand out candy. For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org

▪ Music in the Park – Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends, 2018

This free summer concert series runs throughout the summer. The public is invited to gather on Fridays, 6:30 p.m., at the Howard Station Park in downtown Lee’s Summit. For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org

▪ Downtown Days…Streets Alive! – June 1 to 3, 2018

The festival spans six blocks in the historic, award-winning Downtown Lee’s Summit central business district. Live entertainment, food vendors, arts and crafts, a carnival, the KCBS-sanctioned Smokin’ on the Summit BBQ contest and much more are part of the festivities. For more information, check out the event website at www.leessummitdowntowndays.com.

▪ SMOKIN’ on the Summit BBQ – June 1 and 2, 2018

This annual Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned competition will be held in Unity Village. The event is a State Championship Qualifier with all teams competing for placement in the American Royal BBQ. For more information about the food and fun, visit www.smokinonthesummitbbq.com.

▪ Legacy Blast – Independence Day fireworks in early July 2018 at Legacy Park

This Independence Day celebration features a free fireworks display choreographed to music, food vendors, entertainers and inflatables For more information, contact the Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation department at 816-969-1500 or www.cityofls.net/parks.

▪ Christmas in July – Mid-July, 2018

Santa will drop by the Farmers Market in his “summer outfit” and take pictures with kids. Customers can also enter to win a Farmers Market gift basket while shopping for fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, and more! For more information, call 816-246-6598 or visit www.downtownls.org.

This story was originally published July 24, 2017 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Events abound in Lee’s Summit."