Waldo is an old-school neighborhood. The cottage-style homes lining the streets set the tone — this is a relaxed, friendly area. The neighborhood markets and grocery stores, restaurants, bars and coffee shops are a part of the neighborhood, woven in with the homes instead of set apart in a commercial area.
Waldo is a place where people still walk to pick up groceries and grab dinner, where neighbors know each other. It may not be as popular as Brookside or as trafficked as the Plaza, but that’s a part of the charm, too. All of this taken together makes it a good place to be, and there’s no better way to experience it than the Waldo upcoming events this year.
Waldo’s upcoming events are a chance to visit the neighborhood or, if you already live there, get to know your neighbors and the businesses that line your streets. There’s so much to do and eat — this guide to Waldo upcoming events will cover it all.
Waldo Upcoming Events
You can find Waldo upcoming events every week at the restaurants, businesses and venues that line Wornall, Holmes and the other major streets cutting through the community. There’s a lot of fun to be had at KC Bier Co.’s anniversary parties and Boru Asian Eatery’s birthday celebrations.
But for now, we’re going to focus on the big Waldo upcoming events and festivals that you can find each year. Here are several events that you should add to your calendar:
Waldo Week
An ambiguous yet vital element to a growing neighborhood is civic pride. Residents should be proud of their little borough. What better way to engender neighborhood pride than Waldo Week — a week-long festival with the sole purpose of celebrating the neighborhood? Add this to your Waldo upcoming events calendar if you want to enjoy discounted merchandise and food, parties and more. Waldo Week is an annual event, typically in February. It’s one of the best opportunities to get to know the neighborhood better.
Fall Festival
You can fill up an entire September weekend visiting the many fall festivals around Kansas City. Add Waldo’s Fall Festival to your list for this upcoming year. The Fall Festival is a free, family-friendly celebration with kids’ rides, games, food trucks, music, retail vendors and more. Cozy up in your favorite sweater and come out for a good time in this lovely neighborhood.
Small Business Saturday
American consumers have made one point increasingly clear in recent years: we want local. There are plenty of reasons why. Spending money at local businesses has a greater impact on the neighborhood’s economy. Local business owners are more likely to donate to local charities. There’s a good chance you might know the employee or owner you interact with. Whatever you reasons, Small Business Saturday in Waldo is the perfect day to support businesses in your community.
The Trolley Run
This is a great Waldo upcoming event for dedicated runners and novice athletes. The Trolley Run is a downhill, four-mile track that runs through Waldo, Brookside and the Plaza. The run benefits the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired — a great local organization. When you finish, the “After-Bash” on the Plaza is a big party with food, games and entertainment.
Restaurants Near Waldo Upcoming Events
Whether you’re planning on attending Waldo upcoming events or not, you should head to this neighborhood to find some of the best restaurants in Kansas City. It’s incredible how much good food is packed into this little area. We can’t cover them all, but here are some (of the many) great restaurants in Waldo:
- Waldo Pizza: This historic hidden gem in the heart of Waldo’s Wornall Road business strip is the perfect place to grab a slice of pizza. Whatever Waldo upcoming event you are in the area for, you should stop at Waldo Pizza for a meal. It’s consistently rated among the best pizza in the whole city.
- Boru Asian Eatery: Ramen? That thing college kids eat instead of real food? For a long time, that was the stereotype. But that misses the history and culinary style of ramen entirely. This dish can be made with expertise and true craftsmanship. That’s what you’ll experience at Boru Asian Eatery in Waldo. If you’re new to the trend of upscale Ramen houses, this is a great place to start.
- Kokoro Maki House: Waldo’s diversity is notable, and this authentic Japanese and Korean kitchen highlights what the neighborhood has to offer. If you drive into Waldo on 75th Street, Kokoro Maki House is one of the first things you’ll see. Stop in for delicious sushi during one of the Waldo upcoming events.
- KC Bier Co.: KC Bier Co. is to Waldo what Boulevard Brewing Company is to the greater Kansas City area. It is a staple and a piece of the neighborhood’s identity — serving hearty German brews alongside pretzels and bratwurst. On a nice day, KC Bier Co.’s patio is one of the best in the city.
There are many more restaurants in Waldo that you can (and should!) try, but that’s enough for now. Get out to the Fall Festival or Waldo Week and enjoy this Kansas City neighborhood.