Your guide to the Fourth of July around Kansas City: Fireworks, live music & more fun
Want to celebrate Independence Day but fireworks aren’t your thing? You’ll have plenty of options throughout the area over the long holiday weekend.
Many celebrations will present top-flight musical acts, highlighted by local country star Casi Joy at the Stars and Stripes Picnic on July 4 at the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
Billed as Kansas City’s official Independence Day celebration, the Stars and Stripes Picnic also will feature more than 20 food trucks, a craft fair and, of course, fireworks over the Liberty Memorial. Festivities will begin at 3 p.m.
Live music at other area Fourth of July festivities will include Credence Revived, Osawatomie City Lake (July 1); KC Groove Therapy, Kearney Amphitheater (July 3); Lost Wax Band, Liberty Fest (July 3); Amanda Fish Band, Overland Park Star Spangled Spectacular (July 4); The KC All Stars, Leawood City Park (July 4); and Jameson Rodgers, Gardner (July 4).
Most area events will be on July 3 or 4, but with the holiday falling on a Tuesday, there will be celebrations each of the previous four days.
The Bonner Blast in Bonner Springs will kick off things June 29, with Shawnee and Kansas City, Kansas, among the cities celebrating Independence Day on June 30, followed by Blue Springs and Independence on July 1.
Parades and children’s activities will be staples of many events throughout the area. Other non-fireworks highlights will include a skydiving exhibition at Liberty Fest (July 3), pony rides at Village Fest in Prairie Village (July 4) and vintage baseball at Mahaffies’ Independence Day Celebration (July 1).
And if you want to challenge yourself and take on the heat, several road races are scheduled.
Events listed are free unless noted.
Fireworks and more
Bonner Springs
Bonner Blast, Kelly Murphy Park, 5 p.m. June 29. bonnersprings.org.
Shawnee
Parked!, Stump Park, 5:30 p.m. June 30. shawnee-ks.com.
Raymore
Spirit of America Celebration, Recreation Park, 7 p.m. June 30. raymore.com.
Lansing
Independence Days, Towne Center, 3 p.m. July 1. lansingks.org.
Weston
Jaycees Annual July 4th Celebration, West Platte High School, 4 p.m. July 1. visitplatte.com.
Osawatomie
Lights on the Lake, Osawatomie City Lake, 5 p.m. July 1; $22; under 12 free. osawatomielotl.com.
Independence
Independence Day Fireworks Celebration, Mormon Visitors Center, 5:30 p.m. July 1. ci.independence.mo.us.
Blue Springs
Red, White & Blue Springs, Blue Springs South High School, 6 p.m. July 1. bluespringsgov.com.
Edgerton
Community Picnic and Fireworks Show, Martin Creek Park, 5 p.m. July 3. edgertonks.org.
Kearney
Fireworks Celebration, Kearney Amphitheater, 5:30 p.m. July 3. kearneyamphitheater.com.
Lee’s Summit
Legacy Blast, Legacy Park, 6 p.m. July 3. cityofls.net.
Liberty
Liberty Fest, Capitol Federal Sports Complex, 6 p.m. July 3; parking $10. thelibertyfest.com.
Bluhawk
Red, White & Bluhawk, 7:30 p.m. July 3. bluhawk.com.
Parkville
Parkville 4th of July Celebration, Downtown Parkville, 11 a.m. July 4 (parade 10 a.m.). parkvillemo.org.
Worlds of Fun
4th of July Celebration and 50 Nights of Fire, 11 a.m. July 4; $29.99-$44.99. worldsoffun.com.
National WWI Museum and Memorial
Stars and Stripes Picnic, 3 p.m. July 4. theworldwar.org.
Gardner
Independence Day Festival, Celebration Park, 5 p.m. July 4. gardnerkansas.gov.
Louisburg
Freedom Festival, Lewis-Young Park, 5 p.m. July 4. miamicountyks.org.
Overland Park
Star Spangled Spectacular, Corporate Woods Founders’ Park, 5 p.m. July 4. opkansas.org.
Fort Leavenworth
Fourth of July Celebration, Merritt Lake, 6 p.m. July 4. leavenworth.armymwr.com.
Leawood
Celebration in the Park, City Park, 6 p.m. July 4. leawood.org.
Stilwell
Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks, 5 p.m. July 4. stilwellcommunity.org.
DeSoto
Fourth of July Celebration, Riverfest Park, 7 p.m. July 4. desotoks.us.
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm
Family Fun Nights: 1860s Fireworks, 6 p.m. July 6 (parade, 7 p.m.). mahaffie.org.
Fireworks only
Kansas City, Kansas
Fireworks in the Park, Pierson Park, 9:45 p.m. June 30. turnerrecreation.org.
Smithville
Fireworks Show, Smith’s Fork Park, 9 p.m. July 1. smithvillechamber.org.
Paola
Fireworks Spectacular, Lake Miola, dusk July 3. miamicountyks.org.
Bishop Miege High School
Northeast Johnson County Fireworks Display, 9:45 p.m. July 3. fairwaykansas.org.
Olathe
College Boulevard Activity Center, 9:45 p.m. July 4. olatheks.gov.
Other events
Merriam
Flags 4 Freedom, Merriam Marketplace, 7 a.m. July 1-8. merriam.org.
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm
Mahaffies’ Independence Day Celebration, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 1; $5-$9. mahaffie.org.
KC Live! Block
Red, White and Boombox, 3 p.m. July 1. powerandlightdistrict.com.
Overland Park
Stars & Stripes 5K, Prairiefire, 7:30 a.m. July 2; $31-$35 ($12-$15 for kids fun run). starsandstripes5k.com.
Shawnee Indian Mission
Old Fashioned Picnic, 6 p.m. July 3. shawneeindianmission.org/picnic.
Lenexa
Freedom Run, Old Town Lenexa, 7 a.m. July 4; $33-$38. lenexa.com.
Ward Parkway Center
Four on the Fourth run/walk, 7:10 a.m. July 4; $40-$49 ($15-$18 for kids fun run). wardparkwayfouronthefourth.com.
Prairie Village
Village Fest, Harmon Park and Municipal Campus, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. July 4. pvkansas.com.
Lake Winnebago
4th of July 5K and Kids Fun Run, Arrowhead Yacht Club, 7:30 a.m. July 4; $20-$25. runsignup.com.
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
Independence Day at the Farm, 9 a.m.-noon July 4; $5. opkansas.org.
Missouri Town
Independence Day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 4 (parade, noon); $4-$8. makeyourdayhere.com.
Lenexa
Community Days Parade, Old Town Lenexa, 10 a.m. July 4. lenexa.com.
Platte City
Platte City 4th of July, Main Street, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 4. plattecitymo.com.
Legends Field
Sioux Falls Canaries vs. Kansas City Monarchs, 1 p.m. July 4; $8-$60 (Two for One Tuesday). monarchsbaseball.com.
