Fun @ Shawnee Mission Park

The Fun List for Shawnee Mission Park located at 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee, KS  66219.

{I’m sure I have missed something.  If I have, feel free to leave it in the comment section!}

SMP map

Let’s start with the Lake.  Fishing, boating, sail boarding, canoeing, pedal boating, kayaking, paddle boarding.  Check out the marina for rentals of just about everything listed above – if you don’t have your own!  The marina opens May 30th and stays open daily until August 7th.   From August 7th – September 4th, the marina is open just on the weekends.  Last day is Labor Day – September 5th.  Plenty of time to get summer fun in!

Archery range.  Permit required for anyone over the age of 12.  If you are under 12, you must be accompanied by an adult who has been issued a District Archery Range Permit.

Acres of off leash dog area.  Bring your pup along for the day to roam freely in a 53-acrea play area!   Open daily during regular park hours.  The off leash area is closed on Tuesday and Thursday from 5am – 9am for regular maintenance.

Disc golf course:  18 hole, 54 par course open to the public.  Fun times for beginners and experts!

Trails for mountain biking and hiking.  This probably goes without saying!  But lots of trails in the park!  You could spend the day just exploring the great outdoors.  Pack a backpack and bring lots of water.

Picnic and playground areas.  Before you head to the park, make sure to pack a picnic lunch.    Plenty of areas to eat and let the little ones burn off some of that energy!

Permits required:  fishing, boating, archery, metal detecting, model rocket, remote controlled vehicles and boats.  Most can be purchased at the Visitor’s Center, located right inside the park entrance.

And just in case you thought I forgot a couple of park destinations ….   The beach and observation deck will be closed for 2017 for repairs & construction.  Also, too much to cover about Theater in the Park here – stay tuned! 🙂

Are there any hidden treasures inside Shawnee Mission Park that you like to do with your family?  Please share!

Celebrate 4th of July in Kansas City!

fireworks

How do you celebrate Independence Day?  Family, fun, barbeque, parades, carnivals, and, of course … FIREWORKS!  Here is your {almost} complete list of  firework displays on both sides of the state line!

Kansas:

Village Fest in Prairie Village

Star Spangled Spectacular at Corporate Woods {FIREWORKS!}

4th of July Celebration at Leawood City Park {FIREWORKS!}

Lenexa Community Days Parade

Fort Leavenworth 4th of July Celebration {FIREWORKS!}

Gardner’s 4th of July Celebration {FIREWORKS!}

City of Olathe 4th of July Celebration {FIREWORKS!}

Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks Downtown Stilwell {FIREWORKS!}

City of De Soto’s Annual 4th of July Celebration at Riverfest Park {FIREWORKS!}

T-Bones v. Canaries {FIREWORKS – after the game!}

Missouri:

KC Riverfest {FIREWORKS!}

Parkville July 4th Celebration {FIREWORKS!}

Raymore’s Spirit of America Celebration {FIREWORKS!}

Celebrate 4th of July at Longview Lake {FIREWORKS!}

Independence Day Celebration in Gladstone {FIREWORKS!}

Celebrate America at World’s of Fun {FIREWORKS!}

Liberty4thfest {FIREWORKS!}

Smithville Lake {FIREWORKS!}

Red, White &  Blue Springs {FIREWORKS!}

What are your plans?

 

Shatto Family Day at the Farm

shatto

June 21, 2014 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

Fun activities for everyone:

Take a tour the farm.

Pet the baby calves.

Milk a cow.

Learn how the milk is processed.

If the weather is cooperating … Enjoy a hay ride.

Enjoy free snacks (while supplies last!)

Prizes & Games!!!

Taste a sample of Shatto products.

Take a look in their retail store.

Sit back and enjoy the country setting.

Click here for more information!

Shatto Farm is located …

9406 N. Hwy 33, Osborn MO 64474.

The farm is on Highway 33, 4 miles south of US 36 and 6 miles north of Missouri 116, accessible from both I-35 and I-29.

Busker Festival at the City Market

This is a busker …

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A street performer who practices their craft in public places, for gratuities.

 

Celebrate buskers at the City Market!

Saturday, June 21, 2014

8:00am – 1:00pm

Come on down to enjoy the “fresh, free, freaky, fun entertainment!”

Musicians, unicycling, juggling, fire twirling, aerial arts, stilt walkers, musicians, dancers, comedy, circus acts, balloon twisting, magicians, and more!!!

All performers are local!

 

 

Future Stages at Kauffman Center {FREE event} Sunday, June 22, 2014

Future Stages Festival

Kauffman Center

Sunday, June 22, 2014

12:00pm – 5:00pm

Free event!

The Future Stages Festival  is an opportunity to experience a range of community performance on stage at the Kauffman Center and to enjoy interactive arts activities.

List of performances

5 Star Jazz Band (North Kansas City, MO)
City in Motion Children’s Dance Theater (Kansas City, MO)
Dr. Jan Kraybill (Independence, MO)
Global Rhythm Project of the Music/Arts Institute (Independence, MO)
The GRAMMY Museum’s Music Revolution Project (Metro-wide)
Heart of America Youth Ballet (Lee’s Summit, MO)
Kansas Bluegrass Association “Treblemakers” (Wichita, KS)
Kansas City Ballet’s ROAD Program Interactive Dance Class with Sean Duus & Ken Lovern (Kansas City, MO)
Kansas City Symphony Chamber Ensemble (Kansas City, MO)
Kansas City Young Audiences Community School of the Arts Dance Students (Kansas City, MO)
Lawrence Children’s Choir (Lawrence, KS)
Legacy School of the Arts (Olathe, KS)
Lucia Aerial Performing Arts (Leawood, KS)
The Metropolitan Strings Academy’s “Advanced Chamber Strings Orchestra” (Olathe, KS)
Miller Marley Entertainers (Overland Park, KS)
O’Riada Manning Academy of Irish Dance (Shawnee, KS)
Ottawa Suzuki Strings (Ottawa, KS)
Quixotic School of Performing Arts (Kansas City, MO)
Rock School KC (Olathe, KS)
Sinag-tala Performing Arts Troupe of Greater Kansas City (Overland Park, KS)
StoneLion Puppet Theatre (Kansas City, MO)
Soundz of Africa Dance Ensemble (Kansas City, MO)
Voices of Change- Young Men’s Choir (Kansas City, KS)
Starlight STARS of Tomorrow (Kansas City, MO)

List of activities

American Institute of Architects Kansas City – Learn how architects were involved in the design of Kauffman Center and participate in a design arts drawing project.
The GRAMMY Museum – Learn about GRAMMY Museum programs here in KC and get hands on to create your own instrument.
Kansas City Kite Club – Kite displays and kite making activity by the Kansas City Kite Club.
Kansas City Symphony’s Instrument Petting Zoo: Discover orchestral instruments through the Symphony’s Instrument Petting Zoo where kids can touch and play instruments under the guidance of Symphony staff and volunteers. Open from 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Prop-a-palooza: Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s Prop Master, Debbie Morgan, will give an insider’s look at how props are made! Learn how to make your own prop during presentations at 12:30, 1:45, 3:00 and 4:15 p.m.
Perform and Play with Lyric Opera of Kansas City: Learn to be an opera star with interactive theater games, vocal exercises and more! Classes at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Mattie Rhodes Center: Join Mattie Rhodes staff and volunteers to create Mexican Tissue Paper Flowers and learn about other cultural arts activities.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Participate in a visual arts activity in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park.

 

This is a free event, but you do need to register.  Register here.

 

Celebrate National Trails Day this Saturday (June 7th) at Johnson County Parks!

sm park

A Day in the Park is here!  Celebrate National Trails Day at Johnson County Parks & Trails on June 7th, 2014!

FREE beach and boating fun at Shawnee Mission and Kill Creek Parks

10a-6p:  Free admission to Shawnee Mission Beach

10a-7p:  Free pedal boat and canoe rentals at Shawnee Mission Park Marina

12p-6p:  Free admission to Kill Creek Beach

1p-5p:  Free pedal boat & canoe rentals at Kill Creek Park Marina

Fun activities planned for Shawnee Mission Park

9a-12p:  Paws in the Park – It’s a canine water party at the Shawnee Mission Park Beach

10a-2p:  Free GPS unit check-out for Geocaching on the North Shore and Steamway trails

10a-2p:  Wildlife presentations by Ernie Miller Nature Center staff at the marina

12p-2p:  Meet the Park Police and explore the patrol car at the marina

11a-2p:  Food & drink concessions available for purchase at the Shelter #3

12p-2p:  Free sailboat rides and demonstrations by the JOCO Sailing Society

June 7th & June 8th … enjoy fishing, boating, and archery without a permit in all Johnson County Parks where these activities are located!

Kansas City Summer Fun, Take 1 ~ Fun in Nature!

collage

We’ve been cooped up all winter long … and part of spring!  It’s time to get outside and enjoy the wonderful landscape of Kansas City!  Places to enjoy:

Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Powell Gardens,

Kauffman Memorial Gardens

Loose Park

Firefly Forest

Meadowmere Park’s Brumble’s Forest

Lakeside Nature Center

Ernie Miller Nature Center

Prairie Oak Nature Center at Ironwood Park

 

Kansas City Bucket List for Saturday, May 17, 2014

Kansas City Bucket List for Saturday, May 17, 2014

Fun events for the whole family!

8:30 AM   Fishing Derby at the Rotary Park in Blue Springs  FREE!

9:00 AM   Johnson County K-State Research And Extension Master Gardener Public Garden Tour

9:00 AM   Lee’s Summit Big Truck & Equipment Show at Lee’s Summit City Hal   FREE!

9:30 AM   Kids Fishing Derby at Legacy Park Lake in Lee’s Summit

10:00 AM  Turkey Creek Festival Fun Kids Activities!  FREE!

10:00 AM  Scavenger Saturdays At The Kemper Museum of Art   FREE!

10:00 AM  Endangered Species Day at the Kansas City Zoo

10:00 AM  Confederate Spring Muster at Shoal Creek Living History Museum   FREE!

10:00 AM  Rendezvous At The Museum: Family Fun Day At National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence, MO  FREE!

1:00 PM    Art + Family = FUN at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

1:30 PM    R.E.A.D. To A Dog Program at the Olathe Public Library  FREE!

1:30 PM    Kids Team Up For Art at the Kansas City Public Library {North East Branch and the Southeast Branch}  FREE!

7:00 PM    Marillac Night With The T-Bones

11:00 PM  Overnight Fishing At Shawnee Mission Park

KC Northern Railroad

Thomas Hart Benton Display

FREE Craft Project At Lakeshore Learning ~ Catch of the Day! Kids get to make a great  fish craft they make & play with!

Winston Churchill: The Artist

Belton Train Rides

The Discovery Of King Tut

Kansas City Bucket List through the week {May 12th – May 16th}

Toddle Time @ Matt Ross Community Center~ 8101 Marty St,  Overland Park, KS

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM every Tue & Wed ~  Kids ages 5 and under ~ $1 members, $2 non-members, adults free ~ punch passes available

Free Family Movie – The Wizard of Oz at Indian Creek Branch Library

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM ~ Tuesday, May 13th ~ Free event but space is limited ~ tickets will be handed out 30 minutes before movie starts

Pop ‘n Play at the JoCo Museum ~ 6305 Lackman Road, Shawnee, KS

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM ~ good for children ages 9 mos – 3 years ~ $1 per child (members free) ~ 3 children per adult max.

Movie in the Park {MARY POPPINS!} at Electric Park ~ 93rd St & Loiret Blvd, Lenexa, KS

7:30 PM – 10:00 PM ~ May 16th {rain date is May 17th} ~ FREE event for the entire family!

Toddler Time @ Sky Zone ~ 6495 Quivira Rd, Shawnee, KS

Tuesday & Friday 9:30 am – 11am ~ $7 per toddler to jump

Creative Story Time at Ceramic Cafe ~ 9425 Mission Road, Leawood, KS  66206

Tuesdays {starts at 11am}, Fridays {starts at 10:30am}