Kansas City’s entertainment districts are growing every single day. This town is booming with arts, entertainment and award-winning restaurants. You can always find a good time if you’re looking for it, and there’s no better way to experience Kansas City’s diverse culture than at the Midtown events put on throughout the year.
Midtown is a bit ambiguous, geographically speaking. It encompasses several districts and neighborhoods. Nobody is completely sure where it ends and begins. Does it include the Crossroads? Does it go south past The Plaza, or east all the way to Troost? We can’t say for sure. But, we can say that there are Midtown events all over in every season that are worth attending — and restaurants worth checking out while you’re there.
These are a few of the most popular annual Midtown events and festivals:
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Kansas City has a rich Irish heritage, and nobody parties harder celebrating it than the people of Westport. The St. Patrick’s Day parade on Broadway marches through the heart of Midtown each year. It’s accompanied by street food, entertainers and art. Grab a Guinness at a local sports bar like Ale House and take in the green-clad festivities with thousands of others.
KC Restaurant Week
Hundreds of local restaurants participate in this annual event, and some of the best restaurants in the whole city are on The Plaza and in Westport. Eateries like Gram and Dun, Char Bar and many more are terrific options. During Restaurant Week, you can find special lunch and dinner menus offering two- to four-course meals for discounted rates. A portion of all sales go to a local nonprofit organization.
The Plaza Art Fair
This is one of the most attended Midtown events of the year. Tens of thousands of folks visit the Plaza Art Fair over a weekend in September. There are visual artists, live performances and restaurant booths set up all over the Plaza. It’s a great display of the creativity Kansas City has to offer, and an example of how KC is transforming into a lively, entertaining city.
Garmin Kansas City Marathon
You don’t have to run a marathon to participate. There are also the 5K, 10K and half marathon races you can run (or walk). Deemed the “Best Marathon in Missouri,” the Kansas City Marathon takes runners through many Kansas City neighborhoods including the Country Club Plaza, Waldo, Westport, 18th & Vine and more!
There are so many more events around this area that are worth checking out. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it at Midtown events.
We’ve broken down the rest of these events by district. Check out our complete guides to Midtown events in The Plaza and Westport.