June ‘Staycation’ Ideas

Need to find some fun close to home to entertain the family this summer?  There is so much going on, you’re bound to find something you’ll enjoy.

Here are a few ideas we found right here in our area.  Many of them even offer free admission.  Please feel free to reply to the post, and let us know of other ideas.  We’ll post some more soon for July.

• Rainforest Adventure Exhibit
  Open through Sept. 5 @ Crown Center
  Free hands-on exhibit for kids to explore tropical rainforest around the world, including computer games, a 9-foot kapok tree, gorilla blind and a station to make your very own insect.

• Farmers Market Concerts
  10:30 a.m. @ the downtown Overland Park Clock Tower
  Free mid-day concerts. Visit http://bit.ly/kwNpg1 for a schedule of the artists performing.

• Park Place Summer Concert Series
  Thursday nights from 6 – 8 p.m. @ Park Place in Leawood (near 115^th & Roe)
  Free family-friendly concerts. Visit http://bit.ly/jAalkQ for a schedule of the artists performing.

• Music in Merriam’s Marketplace
  Friday nights at 6:30 p.m., June 10 – August 12 @ Park Place in Leawood (near 115^th & Roe)
  Bring a lawnchair or blanket and enjoy free concerts at Merriam’s covered marketplace pavilion at 5740 Merriam Drive. Visit http://bit.ly/k5PWej for a schedule of the artists performing.

• Music in the Park
  Sundays from 7 – 8:30 p.m., June 5 – August 14 @ Santa Fe Commons Park in Overland Park (8045 Santa Fe Drive)
  Bring the family. Bring a picnic. And bring chairs or blankets for these free outdoor concerts. Visit http://bit.ly/mJ3I0K for a schedule of artists.

• Friday Night Concerts @ Crown Center
  Fridays @ 8 p.m. in Town Center Square
  Free outdoor shows by country and pop favorites. Visit http://bit.ly/igYwps for a schedule of concerts.

• Old Shawnee Days
  June 2 – 5 in Shawnee Town
  Something for everyone – music, carnival rides, contests, games, the parade, crafts, shopping, festival food, etc. http://bit.ly/kyzjQN

• Prairie Village Art Show
  June 3 – 5 @ Prairie Village Shops
  The annual art show features over 100 artists from across the country. http://bit.ly/mDP0sJ

• Farm to Table Celebrations
  First Saturday of each month (May through October), 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. @ City Market, downtown KC
  These free, fun and family-friendly monthly celebrations each center around a Farmers Market theme, including June’s Get Your Sweet On. Visit http://bit.ly/iizJW9 for more information.

• Lost Trail Days
  June 4 @ Louisburg Cider Mill
  Free admission/parking, plus live cowboy music, cowboy poet, mutt strut contest, turtle races, bullfrog jumping contest, etc. http://bit.ly/iDWGNO

• Party in Your Park Concerts
  June 10 @ Quail Creek Park (70^th & Grandview) – ‘Loozin Sleep’
  Bring a lawnchair or blanket and enjoy Merriam’s free classic rock concerts on these summer days at these neighborhood parks.

• Mr. Stinky Feet in Concert
  June 10 @ 7 p.m., Frontier Park (155^th & Indian Creek Parkway, Olathe)
  June 11 @ 3 p.m., Cedar Roe Library (5120 Cedar, Roeland Park)
  Free concerts.

• Farmstead Dairy Days
  June 11 @ Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (135^th & Switzer, OP)
  Milk a cow, enjoy ice cream, and other dairy fun! $2/person, under 1 free. http://bit.ly/iuZumC

• Horse N’ Around Fest
  June 11, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. @ the Agricultural Hall of Fame.
  Put on your boots and come on out for some horsin’ around at the Ag Hall of Fame. Try your skills at roping, see a Farrier make horse shoes and watch the various horse enthusiasts demonstrate their skill. Admission fees/kids under 5 free. http://bit.ly/lreB83

• 50th Annual Greek Festival
  June 17 – 19 @ St. Dionysios (across the street from Holy Cross School)
  Enjoy a taste of Greece. Free admission.  http://bit.ly/kvGtFS

• Irish Street Faire
  June 18, 4 – 11 p.m. @ Browne’s Market, KCMO
  Browne’s Irish Marketplace (KC’s oldest retail business and North America’s oldest Irish business) celebrates its124th anniversary and annual Irish Street Faire. Tickets are $8 in advance/$10 at door. http://bit.ly/mTi00Q

• Shatto Family Day at the Farm
  June 18, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. @ Shatto Dairy Farm (north of KC)
  Celebrate Dairy Month in June at this free event.  Tour the local dairy farm, pet baby calves, milk a cow, sample Shatto products, etc. http://bit.ly/lWJu6u

• Sprint Family Fun Series
  Third Saturday of every month, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. @ the Power & Light District, downtown KC
  Free
  June 18 – Summer Safari  (petting zoo, train rides, scavenger hunt, puppet show)

• KC Chalk and Walk Festival
  June 18 – 19 @ Crown Center Square
  Artists start with empty squares of asphalt and by the end of the weekend, these squares will be transformed into magnificent pieces of artwork. http://bit.ly/lGC8ez

• Lake Fest
  June 18 @ Lake Jacomo, KCMO.
  Jackson County kicks off summer with Lake Fest! This family event features live music, one of the area’s largest water balloon contests, kids’ games, boat rides and a fireworks display over Lake Jacomo. $10.00 per vehicle admission.

• Dinosaur O’Dell & the T-Rex All-Stars Concerts
  June 25 @ 11:15 a.m., Ice Cream Dreamery @ Crown Center Square
  This performance is a fundraiser for the Children’s Place.
  June 29 @ 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., Pottery Barn Kids @ Town Center

• Dragon Boat Festival
  June 25 @ Brush Creek on the Country Club Plaza
  Enjoy cultural and social exchanges at the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival and Races. The fun will include cultural games and performances, food, dragon boats and fun activities for the family. More details at http://bit.ly/jR5u9K