Our Ultimate Kansas City Summer Bucket List 2023

When the temperatures rise and the patios start getting full, it can only mean one thing: it’s summer in Kansas City. The smell of barbeque gets stronger, the music gets louder, and the festivals give everyone something to see.

There are hundreds of things to do in the summer in Kansas City, so Union Station decided to make your planning easy. Whether you want to heat things up outside or find a fun place to cool off, Union Station has your ultimate Kansas City Summer bucket list.

5 Things to Do in KC to Get Outside

It’s hard to keep this part of our Kansas City Summer bucket list to just five things. But whether you’re a local or just taking a day trip, these are 5 things to do in the summer to truly enjoy our jewel of the Midwest. 

KC knows how to enjoy the great outdoors, so try to see how many of our recommendations you can experience this summer! 

5. Powell Gardens

By far one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of Kansas City is our famous botanical garden! Powell Gardens is a great place to take photos, learn about horticulture and conservation, or just take a day to relax outside with family and friends. So there’s no question why it’s one of our favorite stops on the Kansas City bucket list.

The gardens have rolling exhibits throughout the summer, so there’s something for everyone. Parents love to let their kids run wild at Fortopia. Horticulture enthusiasts enjoy one of the most diverse collections of plants in the nation. And everyone is sure to enjoy the events and classes they have throughout the season.

 4. Summer Sports Spectacles

Our Kansas City Summer bucket list is jam-packed with excitement. So for the most exciting sights and sounds of the season, see why KC is known for our die-hard sports fans.

In the Summer, the roar of the red kingdom is replaced with the sounds and smells of high-octane racing at Kansas Speedway. As one of the fastest tracks in NASCAR, the speedway is always a favorite for fans and drivers alike. For more good old-fashioned sports fun, just head across the road to Legends Field.

Kansas City has some of the deepest roots in America’s favorite pastime. World-famous players Jackie Robinson, Buck O’Neil, and Satchel Paige made baseball history with the Kansas City Monarchs. Take a walk in their cleats at the Negro Leagues Baseball Hall of Fame. Then watch the Monarchs continue to make history in the minor leagues under the lights.

On the other side of the river, the Royals defend the crown at Kauffman Stadium where thousands of fans pack the stands for the heartland’s favorite major league baseball team. Baseball isn’t the only great game to see in KC, the fastest-growing fanbase in the nation can be found right here in the soccer capital of the United States. Securing their spot as one of the top experiences on our Kansas City summer bucket list.

Football fans turn into futbol fans in the summer as the KC Sporting and Current hit the pitch. You’ll find the city sporting blue and teal at Children’s Mercy Park and soon, the largest women’s soccer stadium in the world! The Current isn’t the only reason KC is on the world’s radar. In 2026, Kansas City will host the World Cup and open our doors to the greatest players and fans on Earth.

3. Barbeque and Brews

Kansas City is internationally recognized as a sacred place for barbeque fans. So when the temps rise, our pitmasters turn up the heat. Throughout the summer the biggest names in barbeque go head-to-head to decide who serves up the most delicious meaty delicacies in Kansas City and you can taste them all! As pitmasters compete in mouth-watering competitions such as KC BBQ Fest and the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, the season comes to an exciting end with the famous American Royal World Series of Barbeque. 

Barbeque isn’t the only taste that KC is known for! After you get your fill of the meaty goodness our city is famous for, wash it down with a local frosty brew! Every Kansas City summer bucket list should include at least one experience to treat your taste buds! Which is why we love events like Boulevardia, Kansas City Brew Fest, and Strang Hall’s Beer Fest. So kick back with a  locally brewed cold one, listen to great music, and enjoy a day in the sun. 

2. Worlds of Fun

You can’t have a complete Kansas City Summer bucket list without visiting Worlds of Fun! With the most exciting thrill rides and some of the tastiest treats in the Midwest, Worlds of Fun is a destination for families and friends to come together and enjoy the summer in Kansas City together.

Young children can meet the Peanuts gang at Planet Snoopy. But the fun doesn’t stop there. As soon as they’re tall enough, strap in and hold on. With over 236 acres of rides and slides, Worlds of Fun has something for everyone to scream about! 

1. Celebration at the Station

Memorial Day is widely respected as the start of summer. At Union Station, we start the summer with a bang! Ask any citizen, and they’ll tell you that our Celebration at the Station makes their Kansas City summer bucket list every year.

Everything starts at 5 with food trucks and fun for the whole family in front of Union Station. As the sun sets, the Kansas City Symphony takes the stage. The symphony always gives an incredible performance including a fan favorite, the 1812 Overture featuring real cannon fire! To end the night with a bang, we celebrate with a fireworks display.   

5 Things to keep your cool

Kansas City has so many great reasons to get outside, but temperatures can sometimes be a little too hot to handle. Good thing our favorite city has a lot of cool options as well! Here are the 5 things to chill out on our Kansas City Summer bucket list.

5. River Market/Steamboat Arabia Museum

Shopping in the summer in Kansas City is always a treat. For locally loved artists and eats, the city market in the River Market district is the place to go! There you’ll find the best locally grown produce and vendors from all over KC. However, summer in the city can get steamy! So when you need to cool off, dive into the Steamboat Arabia Museum.

The Steamboat Arabia was thought to be lost after it hit a snag and sank in the Missouri River. Now, the museum houses the treasures it carried and tells the amazing story of one of the greatest treasure hunts in the United States! If you love history, this is a great place to cool your heels on a hot summer day.

4. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Every Kansas City Summer bucket list should include the Nelson Atkins Museum. Before the day heats up, you can enjoy the Donald J Hall Sculpture Park, tour the glass Labyrinth, and have fun at the mini golf art course!

When it gets too hot to handle, head inside to cool down. Inside you’ll find fine art for every taste. From architecture and modern art to contemporary photography, there’s something for everyone to love about the Nelson. One of our favorite things to do in the Summer is watching a movie on the lawn with Tivoli under the stars. But make sure to get your tickets quickly!

3. Oceans of Fun

For wet and wild rides, your Kansas City summer bucket list had better include Oceans of Fun! KC’s favorite way to beat the heat has something for everyone. From the calming current of the Caribbean Cooler to the wild waters of Hurricane Falls, you’re sure to find your favorite spot to chill out.

What really makes this park special is how inclusive it is! Parents can race their children down Riptide Raceway. But if adults want to get away from the squeals and splashes, they can swim up to the bar at Castaway Cove. Oceans of fun truly make summer fun for kids and kids at heart. Which is why it’s also one of our favorite summer activities for adults!

2. Drive-In Movies

Nothing says summer in the Midwest quite like a drive-in movie. Kansas City loves our history, so it’s only fitting that we have two historic drive-in theaters! There’s nothing like enjoying a great movie under the stars, so we have to include our famous drive-in theatres on our Kansas City Summer bucket list!

The B&B Twin Drive-in puts the double in double feature by giving you 2 screens for the price of 1! The Boulevard Theater in Overland Park is not only a historic KC landmark, but it’s also the first digital drive-in theater ever! No matter which one you decide to spend the evening at, you’re sure to be in for a magical movie experience under the summer stars.

1. Union Station

We admit it, we’re a little biased. But when you want to cool off inside a historic KC landmark with something for everyone, there’s no better place than Union Station. Science City is a great activity for kids in the summer, but what about the rest of the family?

For a cool way to spend the day, every Kansas City Summer bucket list should include Union Station. You can climb the stairs to learn our history in the Union Station Stories. Then stargaze like a pro in the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium. Finally, you can browse our latest exhibit, or catch a movie on the largest screen in Kansas City. No matter where you turn, Union Station has a great way to chill out on a summer day.

Summer fun at Union Station

If any of these ideas sound like fun, it’s time to get going! Plan your visit to Union Station and start completing your Kansas City Summer bucket list.