Hey KC Friends!

We're writing this week's Scoop from the road! Right now, we're on the ultimate family roller coaster adventure. We started at King's Island in Ohio over the weekend, and now we're staying near Cedar Point – one of the best coaster parks in the world!

Yesterday, we hit Put-in-Bay Island. Today and tomorrow, we’re spending at Cedar Point. On the way home, we plan to go to Six Flags in St. Louis and finish up at Worlds of Fun when we get back to KC. The kids are having a blast, and honestly, so are we!

Even though we're out chasing thrills in other cities, we couldn't leave you hanging without your weekly KC happenings. We've still got all the local events and fun stuff you need to know about right here at home.

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FAMILY & KID-FRIENDLY EVENTS

Waterfest in Excelsior Springs
📅 WHEN: June 27-28, 2025
📍 WHERE: Broadway - Downtown Excelsior Springs
💫 ABOUT: Waterfest is Excelsior’s annual summertime celebration with activities for the entire family. Now in its 42nd year, Waterfest’s two-day schedule is full of free events such as live music on the main stage, a Waterfest parade, hot air balloon rides sponsored by Remax of Excelsior Springs and fireworks. There’s a kids’ activities area full of inflatable slides, obstacle courses and more. Waterfest also features a beer garden, car show, bike show, quilt show and so much more. 

Stroll up and down Broadway and take in the fun with over 100 booths showcasing arts, crafts, clothing, novelties, and gifts. Enjoy a wide variety of festival food and drink all day long. Learn of our mineral water history at the Friends of the Wells booth space, inside the Hall of Waters and at the Excelsior Springs Museum. 

Drawing thousands of residents and tourists, Waterfest is Excelsior’s largest celebration, earning the Best Festival designation in the Community of Excellence Awards two years in a row. Save the date, invite friends and family, and plan to celebrate with us during Waterfest on June 27 & 28, 2025.
🎟️ COST: Free
🔗 LINK: https://exspgschamber.com/community/waterfest/

A Year With Frog and Toad
📅 WHEN: Through Aug 3rd, showtimes vary - see website
📍 WHERE:
💫 ABOUT: Well-loved characters hop from the page to the stage in A Year with Frog and Toad, the Tony Award-nominated musical following two great friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad – through four, fun-filled seasons. Part vaudeville, part make-believe, all charm, A Year with Frog and Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures, weathering all seasons. The jazzy upbeat score bubbles with melody and wit; an inventive, exuberant, and enchanting musical for the whole family. (I saw this recently with our daughter, and she loved it!)
🎟️ COST: Adults $21.75, Children $17.75
🔗 LINK: https://thecoterie.org/2024-2025-season/a-year-with-frog-and-toad/

Movie Night On The Lawn At The Legends - The Wild Robot
📅 WHEN: June 28th, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 WHERE: The lawn at Legends Outlets: 1865 Village West Pkwy
Kansas City, KS 64111
💫 ABOUT: Bring the family, pack some blankets, and order carryout from one of our many eateries. Full bar service will be available to purchase inside Yard House, or you can grab a drink at Dave & Buster’s mobile bar to enjoy on The Lawn.

 The Wild Robot

After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.
🎟️ COST: Free with Zoo Admission
🔗 LINK: https://legendsshopping.com/event/movie-night-on-the-lawn-the-wild-robot/

Magical Garden Party With Stone Lion Puppet Theater
📅 WHEN: Sunday, June 29th, 2025, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
📍 WHERE: The Museum of Kansas City - 3218 Gladstone Boulevard Kansas City, MO 64123)
💫 ABOUT: The Museum’s 85th Anniversary celebration continues with a special event in partnership with StoneLion Puppet Theatre! The Museum opened to the public on May 5, 1940.

Join us on Sunday, June 29 as we transform the east lawn into a Magical Garden Party for all to explore. Guests will enjoy photo ops with a giant Dragon and Phoenix puppet, a Fairy Hunt with fun prizes, a roving magical puppet of fairies, dragons, elves, mermaids, and dancing mushrooms.

Kids and adults will interact with a Fairy Bubble Ring, wand and crown making art stations will be sprinkled throughout the lawn. Kids will enjoy free facepainting.

Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic (no alcohol, please), blankets, and lawn chairs. Costumes are also encouraged, so dress up like your favorite fairies, wizards and magical creatures!

Purchase sweet treats from the following food trucks:

Snow & Roast
Fairway Creamery

Elixir on the Lawn will be selling cocktails, beer, wine, lemonade, and water bottles.
No cash, please.

Things to note:

· This event is intended for children 4 y/o+

· Expect this experience to last 1.5 to 2 hours

· Wear comfortable shoes

· Bathrooms are located downstairs inside the museum

· The Museum is open from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., Admission is Free

· Rain Date will be Sunday, July 13

*Pay What You Like means that a fee is required to attend this program, but the amount you pay is at your discretion.
🎟️ COST: Tickets required, pay what you like
🔗 LINK: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/magical-garden-party-with-stonelion-puppet-theater-tickets-1341080069589?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

FREE & LOW-COST EVENTS

The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle
📅 WHEN: Friday, June 27, 2025 | 04:30 PM - 11:00 PM

Saturday, June 28, 2025 | 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM
📍 WHERE: Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, 8801 Greenway Ln., Lenexa, KS, 66215
💫 ABOUT: Each year, hundreds of pitmasters fire up their smokers and compete in the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle — the largest barbeque competition in Kansas. Officially declared the Kansas State Championship by Governor John Carlin in 1984, this legendary event has become a must-attend for BBQ enthusiasts.

Hosted and organized by Lenexa Parks & Recreation and sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, the BBQ Battle has grown significantly since its start in 1982. What began with just 12 teams, 12 judges and no prize money now draws 150–200 teams, with the grand champion taking home $3,000 and bragging rights for the year.
🎟️ COST: Friday: $5 cash admission, kids 12 & under - free. Saturday - Free
🔗 LINK: https://www.lenexa.com/Events-Activities/Festivals-Special-Events/Great-Lenexa-BBQ-Battle

2nd Annual Lee’s Summit Jazz Festival
📅 WHEN: June 28th, 2025 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
📍 WHERE: Bridge Space Lee’s Summit 210 SW Market Street
Lee's Summit, MO 64063
💫 ABOUT: Start your summer with the sounds of jazz at the Lee’s Summit Jazz Festival—an all-day celebration of live music, food, and local flavor happening Saturday, June 28th from 12PM to 8PM at Bridge Space in Downtown Lee’s Summit. Enjoy 7 incredible jazz performances throughout the day, from smooth solos to big band energy, all in a vibrant outdoor setting. Explore a lineup of delicious food trucks, artisan vendors, and community tents while soaking in the rhythm and energy of the festival. Whether you’re here for the music, the eats, or the atmosphere, this is your chance to enjoy summer in full swing—jazz style.
🎟️ COST: $20
🔗 LINK: https://downtownls.org/event/the-2nd-annual-lees-summit-jazz-festival/

Free Friday Concert In The Park At Zona Rosa - The Zeros
📅 WHEN: Friday, June 27, 6:30PM - 8:30PM
📍 WHERE: Central Park at Zona Rosa (green space next to Bravo Italian Cucina)
💫 ABOUT: Bring a chair, blanket and friends and enjoy FREE concerts in Zona Rosa’s Central Park this summer. Schedule listed on the website. Come early for and get dinner at any of our restaurants. A spot on Bravo’s patio is the perfect place to hear the music.
🎟️ COST: FREE; no registration required
🔗 LINK: https://www.zonarosa.com/events/events/friday-summer-concerts-in-the-park-2025/

Fourth Fridays In Downtown Olathe
📅 WHEN: The fourth Friday of the month during the summer
📍 WHERE: Johnson County Square, Olathe KS
💫 ABOUT: Get ready to experience Downtown Olathe like never before at Fourth Fridays! Each month, we bring the streets to life with incredible live music, mouth-watering food trucks, unique local vendors, and community!

Last year, we went all out to make Fourth Fridays bigger and better, doubling the vendors and nearly tripling our food truck lineup—and this year, we’re raising the bar even higher! Expect returning favorite bands and new sounds to get you dancing, plus a lineup of can’t-miss food, drinks, and surprises around every corner. 

Mark your calendars, grab your friends, and don’t miss out on the best night of the month in Olathe!
🎟️ COST: Free
🔗 LINK: https://fourthfridays.olathe.org/

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

That’s it for this week!

Thanks for reading! We’ll be headed back to KC at the end of the week, and I’m probably going to be excited to go back to work and get a rest from vacation! 😃 

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