Summer has arrived, and it’s the perfect time to explore the vibrant cultural arts scene in the Kansas City metro area and beyond! From immersive art installations to natural history exhibits and summer camps for the kids to concerts featuring some of the best musicians in town, there’s something for everyone. So gather your friends and family and dive into fun this summer!
The Midwest Trust Center Announces Light Up the Lawn Concerts!
Featuring some of the best musicians in Kansas City. See The Elders (August 15), Beth Watts Nelson and Kelly Hunt (August 22), and Back Alley Brass Band (August 29) live on the lawn outside the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at JCCC. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets for this free concert series! No reservations required. Music starts at 8:30 p.m.
Stop by The Salon for Possible Futures This Summer
Amy Kligman’s Salon is an installation within the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art that takes the familiar shape of a living room. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in the space and use it as an outlet for whatever thoughts and conversations may come. Its goal is to act as a portal for a better collective future, fostering dialogue and collective dreaming. Check out our calendar for upcoming events within that space!
Summer Camp at The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures
In “Art of the Imagination Summer Camp: Beyond the Galaxies,” campers are invited to go on a hero’s journey and soar beyond the galaxies. Artists and Museum Educators at The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures will facilitate the ride. The Nostalgia Awakens: Retro Kenner Star Wars Action Figure Toyswill inspire universe and character building to blast off! Sign up today; Summer Camp runs from Monday, July 14 through Friday, July 18 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Historic Artworks in “the First City of Kansas”
Leavenworth houses some of its favorite artworks in historic attractions. The C.W. Parker Carousel Museum preserves unique treasures made by “the Carnival King of Kansas,” including a fully restored 1913 “carry-us-all” still in operation today. Visitors of the Carroll Mansion Museum marvel at Victorian-era stained glass, furnishings and photography. Explore 200 years of military history with the Circle of Firsts, a statue garden found on neighboring Fort Leavenworth.
Lawrence Summer of Fun Pass
Sign up for FREE to enjoy the Lawrence Summer of Fun Pass! This pass offers unmistakable summer experiences, coupons or giveaways and fun for all ages. By signing up for the pass, visiting locations, and using coupons, you can earn points for entries in the ultimate Lawrence Weekend Getaway sweepstakes or other prizes. Want more inspiration to plan a weekend getaway in Lawrence? Visit our website to start exploring or order our new visitors guide, featuring the best of Lawrence during the day and at night.
Curiosity starts here at the KU Natural History Museum
Discover Earth’s incredible biodiversity this summer at the KU Natural History Museum. Explore four floors of interactive exhibits, including the historic Panorama, fossils, live snakes and insects, a paleo garden, and more! Located in the heart of the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, the museum offers free discovery guides and cool indoor fun for all ages. Admission is based on a suggested donation of $7 for adults and $4 for children.
Spend the Summer with Frog & Toad at The Coterie
A Year with Frog and Toad hops from the page to the stage this summer at The Coterie! Based on the popular Frog and Toad book series originally written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel, this Tony Award-nominated musical follows two great friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad – through four, fun-filled seasons. Part vaudeville, part make-believe, all charm, Frog and Toad tells the story of an unlikely friendship that weathers all seasons.
Explore the mystical and magical with Summerfest Concerts this July
This summer, Summerfest invites you to step beyond the visible and into the imaginative. Our 2025 season explores the mystical and magical, yet still deeply human, through chamber music that casts spells, chases clouds, invokes memories and bids poignant farewells. Whether you’re discovering rarely heard works or revisiting favorites in new light, these four weeks promise a rich journey into music’s power to enchant, inspire and transform. For more information and tickets: summerfestkc.org.
Summer Dusk FREE Concerts 2025
Join us for our outside summer concerts at the Colonnade Building, north of the Concourse Fountain. The largest Front Porch concert in KC. Third Fridays of the month from June to August, featuring: Cody Wyoming & the Rhinestoners (June 20), Greg Klyma (July 18) and So It Goes Irish Band (August 15).
Wedding Traditions Take Center Stage in New Exhibit
Step back in time with “The White Wedding: A New Postwar Tradition,” the Johnson County Museum’s newest exhibition! Discover how the classic American wedding took shape after WWII through stunning gowns, photos, and keepsakes from the museum’s collection. Set amid the 1950s All-Electric House, this nostalgic exhibit reveals how love, culture, and tradition came together to create the “white wedding” we know today. Open now through October 11.
Spend Your Day the Kansas City Way!
Crown Center is your summer scene for family fun, food, and entertainment. Join us for WeekEnder, Friday nights from July 11–August 1, for live music, food trucks, and free outdoor movies under the stars. Then come back for the Kansas City Irish Fest (August 29–31) for a three-day celebration of Celtic music, culture and craic. From weekend festivals to daily adventures, our summer calendar is bursting with reasons to return.
Experience Art Without Limits at KC Fringe Festival
Step into a world of fearless creativity at the KC Fringe Festival July 13-28! From cutting-edge performances to. Experience cutting-edge theatre, boundary-pushing art, bold performances, original films, and unexpected creations from local, regional and national artists. Whether you’re a first-timer or a Fringe fan, there’s something for everyone to explore and enjoy.