Kansas City Sportshow: An outdoor recreation paradise in Bartle Hall. (816) 871-3650  

Martin Luther King Celebration: A week of activities honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. includes a concert, talent night, youth workshops and other special events throughout Kansas City. (816) 241-8100  

RV & Outdoor Fun Show: Bartle Hall is packed with hundreds of recreational vehicles to suit any life style. (816) 871-3700 or (913) 281-5600.  

February

Flower, Lawn and Garden Show: The American Royal Complex comes alive with beautiful floral and landscaping displays to plant the idea of spring in everyone's mind. (816) 871-5600  

Great American Train Show: Bartle Hall is the site of this spectacular event. Over 10,000 model trains on display and for sale. (708) 834-0652  

Ground Hog Run: Annual benefit held at the Hunt Midwest Enterprises underground facility is the only underground 10K run in the world.   

Kansas City Boat Show: Although the temperature may be low outside, thoughts turn to warmer weather with this glimpse of summer fun at Bartle Hall. (816) 871-3700  

KC Blues Society Mardi Gras Club Crawl: The Kansas City Blues Society sponsors a tour of various nightclubs featuring Kansas City blues music. (816) 531-7557  

National Wildlife Art Show: Over 80 artists from around the United States will exhibit at this art show, the oldest and most prestigious wildlife art show in the country. (913) 888-6927  

Plaza On Ice: The Country Club Plaza's Mermaid and Pomona Courtyards provide the backdrop for the Kansas City Chef Association's ice carving contest. (816) 753-0100  

March

Big 8 Conference Post-Season Tournament: Regional rivalries fill Kemper Arena to see which team wins a bid advancing the NCAA basketball tournament. (816) 471-5088  

Heart of America Barbershop Show: The Society of Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America hosts a Saturday afternoon and evening of prize-winning barber shop quartet concerts at the Music Hall. (913) 345-2800  

Home Show: What's new for consumers and home owners is on display at Bartle Hall. (816) 942-8800  

Kansas City's Winter Jazz Festival: A jazz festival emphasizing women in jazz and jazz education. (816) 444-4414  

NAIA Track and Field Championship: Hundreds of top competitors from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics compete in Municipal Auditorium Arena. (816) 871-3700  

St. Patrick's Parade: Over 300,000 revelers throng downtown to be part of the nation's third largest St. Patrick's parade held the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day. A street party follows as the Westport Square area becomes standing room only. (816) 931-7373

Snake Saturday: A Northland Irish celebration featuring a parade, arts and crafts, children's carnival rides, food and music. (816) 471-7463  

April

Brookside Art Annual: The Brookside neighborhood hosts an outdoor art extravaganza. (913) 432-6512  

Designer's Showhouse: In an annual benefit for the Kansas City Symphony, a stately residence is decorated and landscaped by top area designers. (816) 471-1100  

Earth Day: A weekend of activities focusing on issues dealing with the environment. For Kansas City, MO: call (816) 756-5686; For Kansas City, KS: call (913) 551-7003    

Prairie Winds Kite Festival: Shawnee Mission Park hosts individual and team kite competition, demonstrations, homemade kites, free kites for the kids, kite history display and a kite auction. (913) 894-5483      

Greater Kansas City Day: A special afternoon game welcomes the return of baseball and the Kansas City Royals. (816) 921-8000  

May

Harry's Hay Day: A celebration portraying the times at the boyhood farm of Harry Truman, including a pig roast, ice cream social, foot care, bike race and parade. (816) 761-6505  

Historic Preservation Week: Guided walking tours, lectures, slide shows and special events to help celebrate the anniversary of the Historic Kansas City Foundation are all part of this week-long event. (816) 471-3391  

Latin American Cinco de Mayo Parade: Parade through Kansas City Kansas celebrates Mexican culture. (816) 931-8869  

Queen City Rendezvous: Demonstrations of skills and crafts of the 1840-1860 time period. Free musical entertainment; food and crafts from the Midwest. Independence Square. (816) 252-0608  

Radio Day: Area radio stations sponsor free outdoor music performed by the Kansas City Symphony on the lawn Penn Valley Park. (816) 471-1100  

Southwest Boulevard Cinco de Mayo Celebration: Neighborhood celebration featuring music, entertainment, food, games, a parade and more. (816) 842-3339  

Truman Week: Many patrons gather for the various activities honoring our past President in his nearby hometown of independence. (816) 325-7111  

June

Abdallah Shrine Rodeo: This fun family event takes place at Kemper Arena. (913) 541- 8592  

Juneteenth Celebration: Kansas Citians come together to celebrate emancipation. Five days of activities include an awards ceremony, anti-drug workshops, a parade, musical entertainment, health fair and a martial arts tournament. (913) 321-8042  

Quilters Unlimited Annual Quilt Festival: Beautiful quilts are displayed in Bartle Hall. (913) 228-0551  

Settlers Day: Shoal Creek Missouri's living history festival of nineteenth century life features the sights, sounds, scents and tastes of life in the 1800's. (816) 792-2655  

Teddy Bear Jubilee: Teddy bear artists and exhibitors from across the U.S. and Europe show and sell teddy bears and related items. (913) 831-0912  

July

Abdallah Shrine Rodeo: Kemper Arena brings the wild wild west indoors. (816) 274-1900  

Blues and Jazz Festival: A combination of festivals features three days of great jazz and blues music. This event is Kansas City's single largest annual outdoor concert ever. Top local and national performers serenade the crowds at Penn Valley Park. (816) 753-3378 or (816) 967-6767  

Heart of America Shakespeare Festival: Free outdoor festival runs for three weeks at Southmoreland Park and celebrate the works, spirit and time of Shakespeare. Pre-performance lectures and activities precede a nightly performance of professionally produced theater. (816) 531-7728  

Independence Day at Missouri Town 1855 and Fort Osage: A mid-19th century celebration re-enacting Independence Day - a unique and festive affair. (816) 795-8200 ext. 260  

Kansas City Indian Club Pow Wow: Midwestern tribes compete in dance and skill during a three-day event at Wyndotte County Fairgrounds. (816) 421-7608  

Kansas City Jaycees Rodeo: Benjamin Stables is home to the area's largest outdoor PRCA rodeo. (816) 761-5055  

Midwest Regional BBQ Contest: Gladstone, Missouri hosts this cook-off leading up to the American Royal BBQ featuring an evening dinner and street dance and BBQ from seven states. (816) 436-4523  

The Southwestern Bell Classic: Senior PGA golf tournament features some of golf's greatest legends competing for $700,000 purse of Belton, Missouri's beautiful Lock Lloyd Country Club. (816) 765-2400  

August

18th & Vine Heritage Festival: Kansas City jazz was cradled in Kansas City's 18th & Vine area during the 1920s and 30s and a salute to this art form is held with a weekend of free concerts and sidewalk events. (816) 474-1080  

Annual Greek Feed Festival: Food extravaganza offers authentic, homemade Greek food, music and folk dancing. Held at St. Dionysios Greek Orthodox Church in Prairie Village, KS. (913) 621-5400  

Bullwhacker Days: Mahaffie Farmstead and Stagecoach Stop Historical Site in Olathe celebrates a family festival with entertainment, games, wagon and carriage rides, a craft show, 1860's period demonstrations and re-enactments. (913) 782-6972  

Cole Younger Days: Lee's Summit's Cole Younger and his brothers rode with Jesse James and his gang during the 1860s. Festival includes a parade, entertainment, carnival, crafts and a play on Cole Younger's life. (816) 524-2424  

Concourse d'Elegance: A Jaguar show for national points is held on the Country Club Plaza by Saks Fifth Avene. (913) 381-8211  

Cow Town Nationals: Kansas City's largest car show is held at the Kansas City Market Center. Featuring over 500 street rods, customs and trucks, and live entertainment nightly. (816) 464-1132  

Elvis Parade: "The King's" birthday is celebrated in downtown Kansas City with a noontime parade of Elvis Presley look-alikes, hilarious floats and even a few hound dogs. Barney Allis Plaza. (816) 561-9102  

Ethnic Enrichment Festival: Over three dozen ethnic groups throughout Kansas City celebrate their nationalities with a three-day festival. In one colorful setting, sample the world's different cultures, cuisine, crafts, music and dance. (816) 871-5750  

Highland Games: Scottish clans assemble for a one day gathering of athletic, musical and dance competition. (816) 587-7398  

Jazz Lover's Pub Crawl: The Kansas City Jazz Commission sponsors a tour of a dozen-plus nightclubs featuring Kansas City's own brand of jazz. A continuous shuttle bus service provides the transportation for this event. (816) 444-4414  

Jazzoo: An elegant evening of music and food from some of Kansas City's finest restaurants is presented in a unique setting of the Kansas City Zoo. (816) 531-6100  

Kansas State Barbecue Contest: Lenexa, Kansas is the place where all five senses are treated to a barbecue contest with the state championship at stake. (913) 541-8592  

K.C. International Hot Air Balloon Championship: Festival features dozens of hot air balloons, including the largest in the world, at Shawnee Mission Park. (913) 649-0004  

"The Life and Times of Jesse James": The James Gang… folk heroes or notorious outlaws? You can decide for yourself as this outdoor drama is staged at the farm where much of the legend actually occurred. (816) 792-7691  

Old Shawnee Day: Shawnee, Kansas pays tribute to its role in the opening of the West with a parade, booths, crafts, contests and entertainment centered around Old Shawnee Town, a reconstructed 1800s village. (913) 268-8772  

Taste of Kansas City: Food festival celebrating the wonderful flavors of Kansas City. Sample specialties from over 40 KC restaurants, shop at one of the largest Midwest arts and craft shows and enjoy local, regional and national entertainment at Shawnee Mission Park. (913) 268-0333  

Tour of Ponds: The National Pond Society sponsors a tour of 40 water gardens in the Kansas City area, ranging from small secret garden ponds to large elaborate water gardens. (816) 822-1253  

Trinity Hospital Hill Run: Kansas City's oldest race annually attracts over 4,500 participants. The 13.1 mile half-marathon and an 8K run are considered one of the top 25 races, according to Runner's Work Magazine. (816) 274-3196  

Valley Fancy Faire Strawberry Festival: The fabulous Vaile DeWitt mansion in Independence hosts a typical Victorian affair featuring croquet, flea market and strawberry delights. (816) 252-9098  

Wyandotte County Fair: The sight of an old-fashioned country fair comes alive at Wyandotte County Park, including a livestock show, rodeo and carnival. (913) 788-7898  

The Water Sports Spectacular: A multi-day family event featuring: The American Performance Series Powerboat Racing, Expos, Air Shows, Skydiving, Car & Truck Shows and wild animal exhibits at Smithville Lake. (816) 453-7999  

September

Art Westport: Westport hosts over 100 area artists and craftsmen in a historic outdoor setting. (816) 931-3440  

Barbecue Blaze Off: State Championship Barbecue Contest - Sponsored by the blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department. Professional and amateurs compete in the following categories; beef brisket, pork, porkribs, poultry sausage and buffalo wings. (816) 228-0137  

Blue Springs Fall Fun Fest: Blue Springs Community festival featuring a parade, arts and crafts and booths by local organizations.   Boulevard Brewfest: Kansas City's boulevard brewery celebrates Kansas City traditions of great music, food and brewing. (816) 474-7095  

Fiesta Hispana: Kansas City's Hispanic community holds a spectacular, colorful weekend festival celebrating Hispanic culture in the heart of downtown Kansas City. (816) 765-1992  

Grecian Festival: Kansas City's Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church celebrates Greek culture with authentic Grecian food, music, dances and shops. (816) 942-2727  

Grinter House Applefest: The antebellum Grinter House stages a fun-filled harvest celebration with apples as the main course. (913) 299-0373  

Heart of America Quilt Show: Beautifully crafted, handmade quilts, wall hangings, fashions and holiday decoration made by members of the Quilters Guild of Grater Kansas City comprise this week long show at Crown Center. (816) 274-8444  

Hyde Park Historic Homes Tour: This restored Westport neighborhood hosts an open house to boost its accomplishments, architecture and community. (816) 561-4762  

Jesse James Festival: Kearney, MO is the site for this three-day event, including a festival tent, arts and crafts tent, rodeo, parade, car show, period re-enactments, mud volleyball tournament, country/western entertainment, gospel music and a Kids rodeo. (816) 635-4229  

Johnson County Old Settlers: Celebrated since1898, this festival fills downtown Olathe, Kansas with three evenings of music, entertainment, carnival rides, a parade, an antique auto show and a flower show. (9130 782-0613  

Lenexa Spinach Festival: Arts and crafts, spinach specialties and fun for all ages make this community celebration memorable. (913) 541-8592  

National BMX Gold Cup East Championship: Riders age 5 and up compete at the Blue Springs BMX Race Track. Contact Harry Diehl, Track Operations (816) 229-1389  

Pig Pickin', Chicken Lickin' Feast: Enjoy a great dinner of roast pig, smoked chicken and other wonderful food with live music and entertainment at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate in Independence, Missouri. (816) 461-3491  

Plaza Art Fair: For over five decades the County Club Plaza has been transformed into an outdoor art gallery featuring juried competition from national artists. The weekend extravaganza draws thousands to enjoy the artwork, food and the fun. (816) 753-7667  

Renaissance Festival: A 16th Century English marketplace comes to life for six weekends amid a beautiful wooded setting. A small sampling of the entertainment includes fair damsels, jousting knights, sorcerers, artisans, craftsmen, dancers, musicians, jesters, royalty and many more all in authentic and colorful costumes. (816) 561-8005  

Santa-Cali-Gon Days: Independence opened the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails, and celebrates this heritage with continuous activities on Independence Square. (816) 252-4745  

Spirit Festival: A festival that celebrates Kansas City's arts, culture, entertainment, food, spirit of volunteerism and all things that are uniquely Kansas City. (816) 471-3378  

October

American Royal BBQ Contest: The largest BBQ contest of the year is held at the American Royal Complex. Cookers compete in six meat categories and sauce competition. Also includes music, a "bones art" exhibit and clog dance competition. (816) 221-980   

Excelsior Springs Waterfest: Town-wide fun day features arts & crafts show, carnival, petting zoo, health fair and live entertainment in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. (816) 637-6161  

Fall Festival: The Shawnee Indian Methodist Mission celebrates its heyday with Native American foods, crafts and entertainment from the mid-1800s. (913) 262-0867  

The Kid's Fair: A family fun and educational extravaganza featuring hundreds of hands-on activities, local and national entertainment, and cartoon characters can be found at Bartle Hall. (913) 345-2228  

Lenexa Chili Challenge: Over 60 teams participate in this annual fall event. You can be the judge as you enjoy free samples and vote fir the "people's choice." Live band and spicy games. (913) 541-0209  

Lee's Summit Octoberfest: Festival, art fair, carnival rides and special attractions featuring a mum garden, pumpkin patch and beer garden. (816) 524-2424  

Missouri Town 1855 Festival - Arts, Crafts & Music: Set in a village of historic buildings, this event offers a wonderful display of mid-19th century crafts, music and entertainment along with skill contests food. (816 ) 795-8200 ext. 260  

Worlds of Fun Octoberfest Celebration: During the park's annual ethnic celebration, the grounds are transformed into an international festival complete with ethnic entertainment and original international cuisine. (816) 454-4545  

November

American Royal Livestock, Horse Show and Rodeo: Since 1899, the American Royal has attracted competitors from across the nation to take part in one of Kansas City's most famous traditions. The worlds' largest combined show also features a grand parade and western art show. (816) 221-9800  

Black Expo USA: consumer fair connecting small minority and majority businesses and corporations with consumers. Held in Bartle Hall, this exposition features fashion shows, seminars, entertainment and exhibits. (816) 363-5353  

Ararat Shrine Circus: Municipal Auditorium is the place to find lions, tigers, bears and clowns. (816)-923-1975     November- 10-13

Country Club Plaza Lighting ceremony: With the flip of a switch, over 50 miles of multi-colored bulbs illuminate the Country Club Plaza district as nearly 200,000 spectators applaud the start of the holiday season. (816) 753-0100  

Handel's Messiah: This magical performance by the independence Messiah Choir takes place at the RLDS Auditorium. (816) 521-3051  

Independence Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: Harry Trumans' home town of Independence, MO kicks off its holiday season with a tree lighting ceremony and other holiday actives in independence square. (816) 252-0608  

Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting: The Mayor's Christmas tree towers above Crown Center Square and is illuminated following an evening of pageantry. (816) 274-8444    

December

"A Christmas Carol": The Missouri Repertory Theater stages an elaborate production of the Dicken's classic. (816) 235-2700  

Christmas at Claybrook: Candle light tour through the Claybrook home in Kearney, Missouri. Features 1850s Christmas traditions. (816) 635-6065  

Disney on Ice: Disney characters come to life at the special ice capades performance at Kemper Arena. (816) 274-1900  

Dickens Holiday Fair: Take a trip to Christmas Past when Missouri Repertory Theater transforms downtown's Exhibition Hall into the bustling Victorian London immortalized by Charles Dickens. (816) 235-2700  

Golden Harvest Basketball Tournament: Four-team, two-day men's college basketball tournament held at Kamper Arena. (816) 421-2255  

Kansas City Symphony Holiday Concert: The Music Hall is the setting for a free Christmas Eve concert performed by the Kansas City Symphony. (816) 471-0400  

Missouri Town 1855 Christmas Open House: Return to the pioneer days to experience the charm of Christmas time activities and preparations that your great grandparents loved as children. (816) 795-8200 ext. 260  

"Nutcracker": The State Ballet of Missouri casts its spell over young and old with its presentation of the holiday tradition. (816) 2235-2700  

Santa's Express: Kids love to take a hayride to the train depot, visit with Santa and take a free ride on the Santa Express mini train at the Agricultural Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, KS. (913) 721-1075