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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