Your guide to Kansas City’s official Fourth of July fireworks show over Liberty Memorial

Joseph Hernandez
·4 min read

Happy Fourth of July, Kansas City.

Tons of celebrations, fireworks and more will light up the sky throughout the city over the next few days.

The biggest celebration occurs right in front of Union Station at the Stars and Stripes Picnic at the National WWI Museum and Memorial on Tuesday.

Over 60,000 people showed up last year, and the museum expects a similar turnout this year.

Billed as Kansas City’s official Independence Day celebration, the event features more than 20 food trucks, a craft fair and fireworks over the Liberty Memorial.

The south lawn of the museum and memorial opens at 3 p.m. The fireworks will start around 9:40 p.m. and will run until around 10 p.m.

The event is rain or shine, and if you can’t make it in person, you can watch the display on KCTV5 at 9 p.m. It will also be on 94.9 FM radio with an official soundtrack starting at 9:40 p.m.

The museum and memorial’s u-drive is closed all day for the event, along with these street closures:

  • Memorial Drive (on the south side of the grounds) will be closed between Main Street and Wyandotte Street.

  • Wyandotte Street will be closed north of 29th Street.

  • All parking for museum guests will be closed starting at noon. Guests are encouraged to park in alternate lots at Union Station or take the streetcar.

  • Kessler Street (on the west side of the grounds) will be closed between Wyandotte Street and Pershing Road beginning at noon.

All vehicles parked on Kessler Street and the west visitor lot must move their cars by 5 p.m. or risk being towed.

PERFORMERS

Casi Joy is the celebration’s headliner. Born in Kansas City, Joy later moved to Nashville and has shared the stage with prominent country singers like Chris Jansen, Montgomery Gentry, Maren Morris, Keith Urban, Carly Pearce, Easton Corbin, Dustin Lynch and LOCASH. She takes the stage around 8 p.m.

Other performing acts throughout the day include Kadesh Flow, All Night Trio, Marching Cobras, One Night Stand and the KC Irish Dance Company.

What’s the food situation?

You can bring your own food to enjoy on the lawn and have a picnic. Alcohol is allowed.

You’ll also have the chance to shop from these local food trucks scattered across the museum and memorial grounds:

  • Boss Dogs

  • Coco Loco Grill

  • Da Poke Wagon

  • Hungry Hatch

  • Jack’s Kettle Corn

  • KC Fooditude

  • KC Whip and Company

  • One More Scoop

  • PH Coffee

  • Ragusa’s KC

  • Scimeca’s Italian Sausages

  • Taco Bar KC

  • Taste of Kansas City BBQ

  • The BBQ Shack

  • The Melt Truck

  • Tina’s Trucks

  • Twisted Taters

  • Ying’s Thai Food

  • The Waffler

  • Taste of Aloha

  • Sicilian Sal’s

  • Kona Ice

  • La Hamburguesa Loca

  • Cheesy Street

  • Muffin Top Bakery

  • Hawaiian Ice

WHERE CAN YOU PARK?

In anticipation of large crowds, the museum and memorial recommends parking farther away and taking the streetcar to the Union Station stop. The streetcar operates from 7 a.m. to midnight on the holiday.

Limited ADA parking is available at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City at 1 Memorial Drive. It’s first come, first served, and the entrance is by Wyandotte Street.

Paid parking is available for $20 at Union Station and at these garages:

  • Pershing Garage — Enter at 25th Street and Grand Boulevard’s east side or Pershing Road and McGee Street.

  • Retail Garage — Enter at 25th Street and Grand Boulevard’s west side.

  • South lots — Enter at 27th Street and Warwick Trafficway

WHERE ELSE CAN PEOPLE WATCH FIREWORKS IN KANSAS CITY?

Plenty of Fourth of July fireworks shows are happening around town. Here are a few more options to check out:

  • Worlds of Fun’s “50 Nights of Fire” runs through the holiday. The park opens at 11 a.m. and the 5-minute-long fireworks and drone show starts at 10 p.m.

  • Overland Park’s “Star Spangled Spectacular” takes place at Corporate Woods at 9711 W. 109th St. Food trucks and concerts start at 5 p.m., and the fireworks begin at 10 p.m.

  • Fort Leavenworth’s annual 4th of July celebration starts at 6 p.m. at Merritt Lake. The fireworks start at dusk, following a salute to the Union at 8 p.m.

  • Leawood’s “Celebration in the Park” brings live music, kid-friendly activities and tons of fireworks starting at 6 p.m. to Leawood City Park at 10601 Lee Blvd. The fireworks start at around 9:45 p.m.