Union Station’s Kansas City Fall Bucket List

Cooler mornings, crunchy leaves, and great events are all around Kansas City in the fall. With so many things to do every season in our jewel of the Midwest, finding time for everything can be difficult. To give you the inside track, Union Station is sharing our Kansas City fall bucket list. We’re sure there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this beautiful season of change.

Fall in KC Means…

Before we get into all the things to do in KC, let’s paint a picture of the fall around the city of fountains. Whether you’re a native or just passing through, fall is a special time for everyone in Kansas City.

It’s Football Weather

Cooler temperatures are a plus anywhere. After surviving some of the hottest days in history, even the mid-80s feel like a nice break! The very first thing on everyone’s Kansas City fall bucket list should be to get outside and enjoy one of the most wonderful seasons in the Midwest! 

Around local neighborhoods, you’ll hear kids excited to start the school year, see decorations go up for trick-or-treaters, and smell the barbeque as locals savor the final days before winter. We always recommend a walk around Jacob Loose Park or one of KC’s other beautiful outdoor spaces.

You’ll notice more tailgates and block parties in those neighborhoods as well! Football season kicks off in KC with a bang. In 2023, Patrick Mahomes leads the Chiefs as they defend their NFL champion status. Hot off the heels of the NFL Draft at Union Station, the entire Chiefs squad is primed and ready for the next championship parade as they fight for their right to party in 2024. It’s not hard to tell when you’re in the Red Kingdom on gameday. To join the sea of red, we recommend Rally House, the Crown Center shops, or Made in KC to support local makers! 

Sights, Sounds, and More!

Gameday at Arrowhead is always a hot ticket. But no Kansas City bucket list is complete without seeing a concert under the stars on a cool Autumn night. The biggest stars are on stage across Kansas City from The Truman to Starlight Theatre, so there’s never a bad ticket! With concerts like Taylor Swift, Guns N’ Roses, and so many other great acts, there’s a seat for everyone to enjoy the best concerts of fall in KC!

Concerts like Guns N’ Roses are full of great throwbacks. But how about a throwback to the medieval times? The KC Renaissance Festival is a locally loved tradition that starts on Labor Day weekend and goes ‘til the wee hours of fall in mid-October. There you can watch authentic jousting, eat like a king, and even meet one! Couples can renew their vows, kids can learn about history, and everyone is sure to enjoy seeing the dark ages in a new light! 

A Season of Many Changes

Recently you may have noticed that our city is under more construction than usual! As KC gears up to host the 2026 World Cup, many improvements are happening in our communities and the infrastructure that connects us! Union Station is witnessing this first-hand as the KC streetcar improvements continue into Midtown, Westport, the Art Museum District, the Plaza, and UMKC. New jewels to the KC skyline include the Pennway Point Ferris Wheel, the South Loop Project, and the world’s first women’s professional sports stadium. Here are our top 10 items to check off your Kansas City fall bucket list.

5 Bucket List Items for Families

From Science City to Worlds of Fun, Kansas City has many amazing experiences that only get better in the fall! Family-friendly is Kansas City’s middle name in any season, but as the frost returns, cool nights and warm days make fall one of the best times for kids—and kids at heart.

1. Your Patio, or Mine?

Locals will let you know that patio hangs are a tradition around here. So before anything else on your Kansas City fall bucket list, scope out your favorite patio to enjoy the beauty and comfort only KC can offer. We recommend Electric Park, Blue Sushi and Sake, and Percheron for the best views of the KC skyline and the best food and drinks our city has to offer.

2. Go Around the World 

Speaking of food and fun, no fall Kansas City bucket list is complete without experiencing the diverse cultures that call our city home. At the Ethnic Enrichment Festival, you can grab some traditional curry from India, see a K-Pop show, and wash it all down with an authentic pineapple drink from Laos. 

There are so many authentic experiences and passionate volunteers that power this family-favorite event. Seeing the power of positive connections through diverse communities is what makes this event one of our faves in the fall!

3. Art Abound in KC

Some of the world’s best artists call Kansas City home. So don’t miss your chance to get to know them! Art festivals like Art Westport and the Plaza Art Fair are great events for the whole family to discover something they love and support local makers. Between events, locals enjoy a crisp Autumn day with some mini golf at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, or browse our locally owned shops to be a patron of the arts every day!

4. Louisburg Ciderfest

Make the trek out to Louisburg Cider Mill to get the tastes of fall that make KC famous. Tour the cider mill, sip the freshest apple cider in the Midwest, and enjoy an old-fashioned day of fun on the farm! Every weekend is packed, so make sure to hydrate and get a few dollars in cash before you hit the road!

5. Weston Red Barn Farm

There’s something magical about a farm in the fall. Weston Red Barn Farm is a family favorite Kansas City fall bucket list item for kids of all ages. Kick off the day with a cider donut, let the kids run wild in the barnyard, and enjoy a crisp fall day while making your way through the corn maze! No matter what you fill your day with, you’re sure to make memories that last a lifetime during your day on the farm.

5 Bucket List Items for Adults.

Petting zoos, art, and patios are all great things to add to any Kansas City fall bucket list. But KC has plenty of adult-friendly fun in the fall as well! You’ll find great drinks and fun year-round in KC. But there’s just something in the air around fall that gets KC outside before the temps really cool down. Here are a few of our favorites to check off your bucket list.

1. Brew at the Zoo

There has never been a better time to go to the zoo! In 2023, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium introduced the world to Sobela Ocean Aquarium, their largest addition to date! Brew at the Zoo is an annual event that brings the best craft brewers in KC to the zoo for a fun, informal tasting event while enjoying a day at the zoo. If the state-of-the-art aquarium isn’t cool enough for you, crack a cold one during Brew at the Zoo for a wild time with KC’s favorite animals.

2. KC Wine Co. Fall Events

For more ways to walk on the wild side, KC Wine Co. has you covered! Oktober Fest KC is hosted by KC Wine Co. at the KC pumpkin patch in September—and this isn’t your typical hayride! Ziplines, adult tricycles, and, yes, the pumpkin patch are all open to adults 21 and up!

3. Halloween Haunt at Worlds of Fun

When the sun goes down, the ghouls come out at Worlds of Fun. Starting in September, KC’s favorite theme park stays open on select days for Halloween Haunt! Special events, drinks, and haunted houses give chills to go with the thrills you’ll find on rides like the Patriot and Zambezi Zinger. Halloween haunts the park until midnight every weekend leading up to October 31st. So head to Worlds of Fun for a scary, fun time this fall!

4. Haunted Houses in KC: For Fun and for Real!

Kansas City is a hub for history. From Civil War battlegrounds to some of the most spine-tingling haunted houses in the US, KC is a premiere destination for paranormal research. Sites like the Sallie House and the Shoal Creek Living History Museum are well-known throughout the US for their documented history and alleged active hauntings. What better way to spend the spooky season than getting to know the history behind the ghosts that call KC home?

5. KCFW X Union Station

KC’s hottest designers descend on Union Station for one night only in September to celebrate Kansas City Fashion Week. The show starts at 6 PM, and the models hit the runway at 7. We’ve also got the inside scoop on all the designers making a splash in the city of fountains! Learn more about this event in our exclusive blog.

Bonus

We couldn’t just leave you with just 10 things! Scheduling your event at Union Station is a great way to celebrate a wedding, birthday, or a great company event! Book your event this fall—or any season—and enjoy all of our wonderful amenities under one historic roof. Just contact our office or book your event online.

Fall in Love With KC!

As the leaves change, so does our beloved city. From the bustling metro to the back roads, there is something for everyone to enjoy on this Kansas City fall bucket list. So what are you waiting for? See why locals and tourists alike fall in love every autumn with KC. Start your journey by visiting Union Station for iconic events and amazing attractions—like our KC Rail Experience—in one historic landmark!