46 Fun Summer Activities for Kids in Kansas City (& Things to Do)
Summer is long and sometimes it’s hard to find fun summer activities for kids. Finding things to do is easy in the beginning. You have tons of activities planned (it seems) and then as summer continues, the motivation seems to fade a tad.
…help.
So, we gathered the best & most fun summer activities for kids throughout the summer. Whether you are looking for cheap summer activities, things for toddlers, activities for preschoolers, or a place to drop off your middle schooler for a night of fun, find the perfect things to do with your fam. Check it out:
If you are looking for summer camps to fill your summer schedule, check out the best summer camps for kids in Kansas City!
Do you have a child with special needs? We have your summer covered too in this guide for amazing camps that are designed specifically for families with special needs.
Or, get on the iFamilyKC scoop list so you don’t miss a thing! You can also find current coupons in Kansas City in iFamilyKC’s monthly issue.
46 Fun Summer Activities for Kids in Kansas City (& Fun Things to Do):
Play at Loose Park (or Other Kansas City Parks)
There is also Meadowbrook Park, which features a giant playground.
Explore the full guide to Kansas City Parks to find a fun outdoor play area near you.
Pick your own Berries at U-pick farms
Find a U-pick farm near you for a fun summer activity with snacking involved…yum.
Summer Reading Programs at Local Libraries
There are TONS of summer activities & summer reading programs for kids happening all summer long at Mid-Continent Public Libraries. Check out the full list of events and activities on their website; they update it regularly with new events!
Go Camping!
Family camping trip! Check out Places to Camp Near Kansas City. There are fun places to camp all around Kansas City – 29 places to be exact.
Bike Ride with Your Family
There are 19 family-friendly bike trails around Kansas City. Grab your bikes and get active together!
Head Out to Fun Fishing Spots
Find places to fish in Kansas & Missouri – no matter where you are there’s a fun spot close by!
Explore a Cave: Cave Springs
There is a small cave at this park in Raytown, in addition to some other fun features. Check out the nature & learn more about the park!
Burn Some Energy During Play Time
Urban Air in Lenexa and Overland Park are great places to spend the hot summer days. Save big by getting a membership and jump all year long. Another great option for families is Superkidz Club!
Visit the College Basketball Experience
Get the whole family in the game at one of KC’s coolest museums. The College Basketball Experience is full of history, hands-on exploration and so much more. Plus, our readers can save $2 with our ad.
Hit the Cables at KC Watersports
You and your family can learn to wakeboard this summer. KC Watersports offers lessons, camps and open rides all summer long.
Learn to Ride a Horse
Our friends at Sunset Trails and Stables go beyond taking care of horses. They offer lessons, camps, beginner horsemanship and more. Save $10 with this coupon!
See the Alpacas
For a super fun and unique experience this summer, visit YaYa’s Alpaca Farm. They house some of the cutest little friends around.
Visit Science City
Open all year round- Science City offers a variety of hands-on activities and things to explore. Kids can ride a bike 30 ft. in the air or dig for dinosaur bones. ring your kids to Science City this Summer for a day full of fun!
Explore the WW1 Museum
Hands-on History is every Saturday at 11 am. The kid’s activity is open to the public to handle REAL World War 1 artifacts. You can also explore the museum daily. Included in Museum admission is a ticket to climb the top of the Liberty Memorial Tower.
SUMMER HOURS-
Daily, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Create a Masterpiece at Ceramic Cafe
There are in-studio options and take-home options available!
The Ceramic Cafe studio is open all summer long for your kids to create unique works of art. They always welcome walk-ins and artists of all ages, so all families are welcome to stop in. Their staff will help you choose the perfect ceramic piece, and provide the supplies to help you create a masterpiece of your own. Paint your pottery piece or create a beautiful work of glass in the awesome pottery studio. The process to paint, glaze, and fire the piece takes about a week.
Paint at Paint Glaze & Fire
Bring the kids to Paint, Glaze, & Fire Ceramic Studio to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art to take home. Your kids can choose a blank ceramic piece to make their own! Save $5 with our ad too.
Learning 2 Fly
Enroll your child in aerial fitness classes this summer to keep them active while they have fun. There are classes for all ages and skill levels. Check it out now…it may be your new favorite thing!
TasteBuds Kitchen Cooking Classes
There are too many cooking classes to choose from. You’ll have to take them all!
Take Family Pictures
There are tons of awesome places around Kansas City for a great photo background. Check out the Best 33 Places in KC for Family Photos.
Have a Staycation in Kansas City!
Visit the Animals at the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium
Come visit animals from polar bears to monkeys to lions or stop by their brand new aquarium! Buy your tickets beforehand so you can skip the ticket lines. Kids 3-5 can join the Critter Club too! Each week the educational group highlights an animal topic with crafts, animal encounters, a brief science/animal lesson, and more fun. Every session includes a carousel ride too.
Open year-round
| Weekdays | 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Weekends | 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
This activity is included in The POGO Pass Kansas City 25 kids activities for less than $50! Purchase a POGO Pass for ONLY $49.99 with code ifamilykc. This is a steal and very budget friendly.
Bring the Kids to Deanna Rose Farmstead
The farmstead has playgrounds, petting zoos, farm animals, fun summer activities for kids, and more!
Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun
Visit the park all summer long and enjoy all the rides, food, games, and more.
Teach your Kid Swim Lessons
No matter your child’s experience with swimming, it is important to continue to expose them to water through regular lessons. Water safety is important throughout the year, but extra care must be taken in the summer. To learn more, check out water safety tips from Aqua-Tots.
Nelson-Atkins Museum or Take a Summer Art Class
Your family can come to explore the museum’s artwork or take a summer art class. Check out the many fun summer activities happening at the Nelson- Atkins this summer! Kansas City’s Big Picnic will also be held at The Nelson-Atkins on July 21st. You definitely don’t want to miss that!
Come Create Artistic Masterpieces at Kaleidoscope
Hallmark welcomes all families to come to create artwork of all kinds for FREE, using their leftover art supplies. Your kids can make wax art, use clay, & so much more during play hours. Check out the website for more details on specific hours. 🙂
Hold a Successful Garage Sale or Lemonade Stand!
This may not be the best activity right now…but you can always have a lemonade stand for your family!
Go to a Monarchs Game
Your family can enjoy a Monarchs baseball game for as little as $15 per ticket. If you are looking for a cheap summer activity your whole family can enjoy- this is perfect. Check out the summer baseball schedule for game details. You can buy your tickets online, by phone, or in person.
Swim at Summit Waves.
Swim for 11 a day or $95 pass for a full summer of swimming. They even host special family fun nights and movie nights.
Bounce at SkyZone
Get the kids tired and ready for naps after a day full of bouncing at Sky Zone. There are many activities for kids to enjoy like basketball, foam pits, dodgeball, & more! Find Sky Zone trampoline parks in Lee’s Summit and Kansas City!
Oxford Schoolhouse at Ironwoods Park
Oxford School is one of the oldest schools in the state of Kansas. The school was moved from its original location at 135th and Mission Road in March 2003 for families to come & explore the history at Ironwoods Park.
You can schedule a fun educational program for kids any day of the week! The fee is $3/child but includes a lot of fun. A costumed teacher will lead the kids in:
- Hands-on experience sitting in old-fashioned desks, writing on slates.
- Discussions on life a century ago.
- Using historic material and McGuffey’s readers.
- Playing period-specific games.
- Making a historic craft
FREE Kids Night Out at Mahaffie Stage Coach
Family Fun Nights offer historic-themed summer activities for kids every Thursday evening in June and July. For activity tickets, you only pay $1. This is a fantastic cheap summer activity for kids to enjoy throughout the summer.
They also offer The Frankie & Ella program on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in June and July. Visitors of all ages will experience childhood in the 1860s & 1870s. Cool right?
ScreenPLAY at B&B Theatres:
The Lee’s Summit 16. Shawnee 18, Liberty Cinema 12, and Overland Park 16 Theaters are dedicated to helping families with small children feel comfortable at the movie theater. These locations provide theaters with play gyms inside for your young child to play before the movie!
…It’s genius right?
Theaters have a screen-side play area for toddlers and a full-size climbing playground for kids. B&B Theaters invites guests to arrive 20 minutes before showtime for fun and play, while music and other entertainment are onscreen. After the twenty-minute play block is over, guests will take their seats and the lights will go down for a kid-friendly feature. Younger movie lovers (recommended age 2-8) can enjoy B&B like never before. 🙂
For more ways to save money while having fun, check out the Deals, Discount Codes & Money Saving Tips in KC.
We found things to do…
- Purchase a The POGO Pass Kansas City 25 kids activities for less than $50! Purchase a POGO Pass for ONLY $49.99 with code ifamilykc. This is a steal.
- Find an Open Gym & Open Play around KC.
- Join a Summer Movie Program or See a Movie in the Park
- Shop Local at Kansas City Farmers Markets
- Plan Family Game Night
- The 4th of July is a highlight of the Summer. Find Fireworks Displays, Parades & More!
- Play on these fun, free educational websites for kids.
- Take a weekend trip from Kansas City with your family, like a road trip to St. Louis
- Go out to eat! Kids eat FREE at these places in Kansas City
- Play on these Free & Fun Educational Websites for Kids
Did you find a fun activity for the kids? We hope we helped make summer a little smoother this year.
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From our family to yours, iFamilyKC
