Things to do in Kansas City during Memorial Day Weekend 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Memorial Day is here, and Kansas City is buzzing. Whether you want to recognize the holiday or soak up the sun, there are multiple events to attend.

Here’s a look at some of the things you can take in during the weekend across the city.

National WWI Museum

The National WWI Museum will have several events for Memorial Day weekend that people can attend.

Veterans and active military personnel will have free admission to the museum from May 26-29, while the general public will receive half-price admission during those dates as well.

There will also be photographic war memorial called Remember Our Fallen that honors U.S. military fallen from the Global War on Terrorism from May 25-29. It’s free to the public.

There will be a Memorial Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday on the courtyard, and the Bell Tolling Ceremony will take place at noon Monday. At 11:30 a.m. Frederick Hodges will have a free 30-minute piano performance.

Find more Memorial Day events at the WWI Memorial here.

Celebration at the Station

Kansas City’s annual Celebration at the Station will be taking place next weekend at Union Station and the National WWI Museum on Sunday, May 28.

It will include a performance from the Kansas City Symphony along with food trucks and live entertainment. The event starts at 5 p.m. and the symphony will perform at 8 p.m. with a performance from the rock band, The Resilient.

The event will conclude with a massive firework display.

Union Station

Union Station will also be hosting another event. There will be a Spider-Man exhibition called Spiderman: Beyond Amazing – The Exhibition on May 26.

The event is brought to you by Marvel and Disney Entertainment and includes the history and impact of the beloved superhero throughout the years.

You can also go to Science City, a family-friendly interactive science center with a multitude of activities and exhibits.

Worlds/Oceans of Fun

You can bask in the sun and enjoy and adventurous time at Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun throughout the weekend.

The newly, highly anticipated Zambezi Zinger has unfortunately delayed its opening, but the park will still have plenty of fun for the holiday weekend.

Oceans of Fun officially opens for the season on May 27 and will include a new ride that is the world’s longest mat-racing water slide called the Riptide Raceway.

Los Monarchs Festival Latino

The first Monarchs Festival Latino kicks off at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas Memorial Day Weekend.

The festival includes food, drinks, live music, Mexican wrestlers, a low riders car show, artists, and a hand rolled cigar bar.

The festival includes a carnival and all kinds of family fun.

Tickets start at $20 online.

Sporting events

The Royals will also be in town during the weekend if you want to catch a baseball game. They will be hosting the Washington Nationals in a three-game series from May 26-28.

They will also include a Family-4 Pack deal for the game on May 28.

Sporting KC and the KC Current will both have soccer matches throughout the weekend at Children’s Mercy Park.

The Current will host the Houston Dash on Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m. Sporting KC face off against the Portland Timbers on Sunday, May 28 at 2 p.m.

Parkville Carnival

The Parkville Old Towne Market is hosting its annual Memorial Day weekend carnival in downtown Parkville, featuring rides, games and food.

The carnival will be held in the downtown parking lot and will be open 6-10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There will be $25 wristbands available for all the rides.

The Parkville Farmers Market will also be open from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday in the south parking lot.