guides

30+ October Festivals & Unique Events Around Johnson County, Kansas

By Gail Keller - Publisher Macaroni Kid JoCo September 27, 2018

October is one of the best months in JoCo. Share this list with your friends and get out and have some fun! Check out our online calendar for tons of other ideas too.


Every Weekend - Kansas City Renaissance Festival
thru Oct. 15   Bonner Springs, Kansas
 
Daily Armored Jousting

7 Themed Weekends

20 Stages of Live Entertainment

200 Artisan Booths for Endless Shopping

Food, Drinks, & More!

Open Weekends September 1 – October 14
Plus Labor Day and Columbus Day. 10 am to 7 pm
Daily Sept. 28 - Oct. 31 Pumpkin Hollow at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Overland Park, Kansas
Horse-drawn wagon rides, corn maze, hay pyramid, hay slide and instead of sand, play in a corn box. Plus-- everyone gets to take home a pumpkin of their choice!
Mon-Fri 10 am - 3 pm; Sat-Sun 10 am - 4 pm through Oct. 31st.
$8 - General Admission $7 - Friends of the Farmstead members (limit of 7 tickets) $2/person Farmstead admission fee applies.
Oct. 4 - 2018 Fairfax Festival at Kaw Point
Kansas City, Kansas
The festival includes Live Music, Beer and Wine Garden, Raffle, Historic Boat Rides on the Kaw & Missouri River, a Lawn Game Tournament, Re-enactment of the Lewis and Clark expedition and B-25 Bomber History.
Thu. 3:30-6:30 pm

Oct 5 - FREE Family Fun Night at Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center
Mission, Kansas
In addition to the already great family activities that the center has every day, we will include a family movie, open swimming, arts & crafts, and the Indoor Playground (0-6). Ages 10 and under must be with an adult.
5-8 pm
FREE

Oct. 6 & 7 - FREE Admission Weekend at the Arboretum
Overland Park, Kansas
Admission to the Arboretum is free all weekend
8 am - 5 pm
FREE

Oct 6 - Young Eagles Rally FREE Flights at GMA 
Gardner, Kansas
FREE flights for students! The Vintage Aircraft Association Chapter 16 is hosting a Young Eagles event on Saturday, October 6th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Gardner Municipal Airport. Chapter members will be offering general aviation (GA) rides to students ages 8 through 17. Students will have the opportunity to experience the world from a new perspective, learn about the different parts and functions of an airplane, and learn what a future in aviation could look like for them! Pre-register
Sat. 8 am - 12 pm
FREE

Oct. 6 -Scarecrow Festival
Shawnee, Kansas
Check out scarecrows designed by various local businesses along Johnson Drive in front of Shawnee City Hall. Pumpkin painting, build your own scarecrow and other activities for the kids. Baking contest (adult and youth) for best pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie and fruit pie.
Sat 9 am - 4 pm
FREE Admission

Oct. 6 - Greater KC Japan Festival
Overland Park, Kansas
Cultural festival featuring live performances, exhibits, martial arts, food, refreshments, workshops, shopping and more!
Sat. 10 am - 7 pm
In advance: $15 adults, $5 children ages 5-13, children under 5 are free. $2 more at the door.

Oct. 6 - Merriam Drive Live
Merriam, Kansas
Downtown Merriam will transform into a street and lawn party full of music on two stages with live music throughout the day, food trucks, adult beverages, select crafters, Merriam Farmers' Market vendors and more. Yard games, youth activities, face painting, balloons, touch-a-truck and more!
Sat. 10 am - 5 pm
FREE Admission

Oct. 6 -Family Fun Day at Goldfish Swim School
Overland Park, Kansas



Join Goldfish and Macaroni Kid for our Family Fun Day! Enjoy some amazing family fun including crafts, snacks, two-hour open swim, photo opp with Bubbles the mascot, raffle prizes and a goody bag for the first 25 families who reserve a family pass! Register in advance at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3621980
$5/family

Oct. 6 - Bonner Springs Festival of the Arts, Crafts & Music
Bonner Springs, Kansas
Come enjoy Kansas City area fine arts, custom crafts, music, performances, food, and more in support of the Bonner Springs Arts Alliance
9 am - 4 pm
Free admission

Oct. 6 - Harvest Fest & Food Truck Crawl at Riverfest Park
De Soto, Kansas
The event will feature a Food Truck Crawl, craft fair, vendor booths, pumpkin patch, hayrides, trick-or-treat, adult costume contest, live music and more!
Sat. 3-9 pm

Oct. 6 & 7 - Kaw Valley Farm Tour
Lawrence, Kansas
Map your tour route and visit diverse family farms that are open to the public this weekend.
Sat. 9 am - 6 pm
Sun. 10 am - 5 pm
$10/carload for the weekend

Oct. 6 & 7 - 39th Apple Festival
Topeka, Kansas
Arts & crafts, heritage food, quilt show, handcar rides, petting zoo, live music, and more
Sat. 10 am - 5 pm
$10/2-day, $5/1-day in advance. $7 at the gate. Children 5 and under FREE

Oct. 6 & 7 - Ciderfest and Craft Fair at Louisburg Cider Mill
Louisburg, Kansas
Pony rides, inflatable slide, cider and donut-making, live music and craft booths
8 am - 6 pm
The Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch area $10 admission, children 3 and under are free.

Oct. 11, 12 & 13 - Cemetery Tours at Olathe Memorial Cemetery
Olathe, Kansas
Mahaffie Fall Cemetery Tours take place at the Olathe Memorial Cemetery. The theme is Ladies of Olathe.
Tours last approximately one hour.
Tour times are: 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Each tour is limited to 30 participants.
Tours are recommended for ages 5 & over.
Thursday night is Scout night. All Scouts are encouraged to attend and receive a special Cemetery Tour patch.
Tickets are $6/person ages 5 & up.

Oct. 12 - Into the Night Fall Festival at Ironwoods Park
Leawood, Kansas

Hayrides, Petting Zoo, Crafts, Games, Activities, Face Painting, Balloon Artists, Fortune Telling, and Refreshments.
Entertainers include: Dino O’Dell, Mad Science, Vida Dance Company, and Moon Pie Band.
Fri. 5:30-8:30 pm
$10/carload

Oct. 12, 13 & 14 - Fall Festival at the Shawnee Indian Mission
Fairway, Kansas
Annual festival with music, local vendors, Living History, crafts, children's games, food trucks, and performances.
Fri. 6-9 pm
Sat. & Sun. 10 am - 5 pm
$2 suggested donation

Oct. 13 -  International Lineman Rodeo at Ag Hall of Fame
Bonner Springs, Kansas
 

5000+ Lineman from all over the country compete in pole-climbing and other events

Oct. 13 - Cops 'N Bobbers Fishing Derby at Cedar Lake Park
Olathe, Kansas


Kids will enjoy outdoor fishing fun with police officers while building strong bonds of respect for each other and the environment. Fishing supplies will be provided while supplies last.
Sat. 10 am - 12 pm

Oct. 13 - Prairiefire Oktoberfest
Overland Park, Kansas
Pumpkin decorating, petting zoos, live music, face painting, balloons, pie eating, bier gartens, art, bounce houses and MORE!
Free admission

Oct, 13 - Botanical Brewfest at the Arboretum
Overland Park, Kansas
ADULTS ONLY 21+
Craft beers, live music, food, games and fun!
Sat. 4-8 pm
VIP $75, Members $70. General admission $50 and Members $45. A limited number of tickets are available. No refunds. Tickets at the gate are $85 VIP and $60 General admission.

Oct. 19 & 20 - Night of the Living Farm at Deanna Rose
Overland Park, Kansas


Mad science experiments
Fairy Princess party
Fortune teller
Flashlight scavenger hunt
Haunted horse-drawn hayride
Non-scary hayride
Tractor-pulled wagon ride (for little trick-or-treaters)
Marshmallow roast
Halloween dancing stage
Concessions and more!  Join us after dark when lanterns and jack O'lanterns will light the way. There are plenty of scary and non-scary activities for the whole family.
Fri. & Sat. 6-9 pm
$10, $9 for Friends of the Farmstead members (limit 7); Children under 2 Free

Oct. 19 - The Lenexa Chili Challenge
Lenexa, Kansas
~200 teams compete
Friday 6-10 pm: Enjoy live music, fireworks at 8 pm weather permitting
Saturday 10 am - 3 pm: live music, stage performances, food samples while they last starting at 10 am, children's arts and crafts, Kids Kornbread contest, and Hot Pepper Eating contest.
Fri. 6-10 pm
Sat. 10 am - 3 pm
Free admission

Oct. 19, 20 & 21 - Overland Park RV & Outdoor Show at the Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas
Tons of RV's, campers and Boats for sale. Over 100,000 sq. feet of hunting, fishing, outfitters, and camping exhibits.
Friday, October 19 – 1 to 7 pm
Saturday, October 20 – 10 am to 7 pm
Sunday, October 21 – 11 am to 4 pm
Adults $9.00, Youth 16 & under free!

Oct. 20 - Cars in the Park at Theatre in the Park
Shawnee, Kansas
Shine up your car, truck, motorcycle, or specialty vehicle for the seventh annual Cars in the Park car show! Admission is free for spectators, and food concessions will be available.
Sat. 10 am - 2:30 pm

Oct. 20 - Fall Family Picnic at R Park
Roeland Park, Kansas
Live entertainment, food trucks, pumpkin painting, yard games, pie-eating and more! The 1st 100 attendees will receive a FREE FOOD voucher for the food trucks! Dogs on leash are permitted.
Sat. 12 - 3 pm
FREE admission

Oct. 20 - Family Fall Festival at Blue Valley Rec
Overland Park, Kansas
Ages 9 and under with family
First 500 kids registered to receive a free treat bucket and a pumpkin worthy of decorating.
Families welcome!
Carnival Games | Clowns | Face Painting
Horse-Drawn Hayrides | Huge Kites
Inflatables | Petting Zoo
Free Belfonte Ice Cream
Bring non-perishable food items or cleaning products to benefit the Blue Valley Multiservice Center.
Sat. 1-4 pm
$5/$6NR (Ages 9 and under with adult)

Oct. 20 - Halloween Happenings at the Merriam Marketplace
Merriam, Kansas
Families with children 10 and under
“Working in my Halloween Lab late one night, when my eyes beheld an eerie sight, and suddenly to my surprise, he did the mash, it caught on in a flash, he did the monster mash.” Let’s celebrate Halloween early with a monster mash party in Merriam. Halloween fun will include: 9-hole mini golf course, quarterback blitz inflatable, games, costume contest and a special appearance by Shawnee Mission North Repertory Theatre.
Sat. 2 - 3:30 pm
Free

Oct. 20, 21, 26 & 27 - Night of the Living Farm at Deanna Rose
Overland Park, Kansas
Tractor-pulled wagon ride (for little trick-or-treaters)
Marshmallow roast
Halloween dancing stage
Concessions and more!  Join us after dark when lanterns and jack O'lanterns will light the way. There are plenty of scary and non-scary activities for the whole family.
Fri. & Sat. 6-9 pm
$10, $9 for Friends of the Farmstead members (limit 7); Children under 2 Free

Oct. 26, 27 & 28 - JoCo Home + Remodeling Show at the Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas



DIY presentation, live workshops, designer rooms exhibit, vendors, home improvement and remodeling experts and more
Fri. & Sat. 10 am - 9 pm
Sun. 10 am - 6 pm
Adults (at the door) $10.00 Adults (Online only) $8.00 Children Ages 12 & Under FREE

Oct. 27 - Mildale Farm Fall Festival
Edgerton, Kansas
Bring the family and spend the day exploring the Mildale Farm property and enjoy a number of fall activities. We'll have cider and hot cocoa and a large pumpkin patch. A tractor-drawn hayride will take visitors to a fire circle in the south-central portion of the Mildale site, where they can roast marshmallows and enjoy storytelling. Catch-and-release fishing within the 158-acre area will also be offered, so bring your own bait and tackle. While District fishing permits have been waived for this event, Kansas residents ages 16 to 74 and nonresidents 16 and older need to have a Kansas state fishing license. Crafts, hayrides, petting zoo and more!
Sat. 9 am - 2 pm
Free


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