Here are 10 things to do this weekend in Kansas City, October 7-8 including Farm Fest at Common Ground, an E-Bike Petting Zoo, Un-Dumpster Day, the Kaw Valley Farm Tour, and more. It’s a great weekend to get out in the community.
1.Farm Fest at Common Ground
Farm Fest at Common Ground is a free, family-friendly block party held on-farm at KC Farm School’s 14-acre urban farm. The community celebration and block party features an impressive lineup of local music, vendors, makers, resources, and growers. Activities will include free food, farm tours, bounce houses, giant jenga, face painting, a cardboard village, chalk art, pumpkins, photo opportunities, and more.
October 7, 2 – 6 p.m. at KC Farm School Common Ground, 2443 S. 42nd St., Kansas City, KS
2.E-Bike Petting Zoo
At the E-Bike Petting Zoo, here’s your chance to meet e-bike owners, ask questions, and take test rides. A growing number of people in the Kansas City region are discovering that e-bikes are an efficient, convenient and fun way to get around.
WAY TO GO, in collaboration with BikeWalkKC and MARC, are hosting the e-bike petting zoo at the Brookside Farmers Market. Whether you’re e-bike curious or a die-hard e-bike enthusiast, all are welcome to attend this free event.
October 7, 9 – 11 a.m. at 6425 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO
3.Kaw Valley Farm Tour
At the Kaw Valley Farm Tour, open skies, valleys and 38 farms make the annual tour through the Kaw Valley an easy retreat from the city. Tickets are $10 per car and can be used both tour days. To make the most of the tour, select your route ahead of time. Download the tour map.
October 7-8, times vary by day, in northeast Kansas.
4.Un-Dumpster Day
Un-Dumpster Day is perfect if it’s time to get rid of extra stuff at home, round up your unwanted — but still usable — household items, electronics and clothing, and donate everything to charities. Re.Use.Full, a website that connects your used items with non-profit organizations that can rehome them hosts regular un-dumpster events. The event will also include free paper shredding, tire disposal, and glass recycling.
October 7, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at GEHA Field, 1 Arrowhead Dr. in Kansas City, MO at Gate 3, lot L.
5.West Bottoms Eco Market
West Bottoms Eco Market is a monthly, pop-up vendor marketplace taking place in the West Bottoms on the first Saturday of every month. The market showcases local Kansas City business owners, makers, and artists making eco-friendly, sustainable choices in their business practices. The event is hosted by Hera, a group creating intentional gatherings that re-imagine the ways we connect to ourselves, the earth, and each other.
October 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at 1105 Hickory St., Kansas City, MO
6.Scarecrow Trail and Pumpkin Village
Scarecrow Trail and Pumpkin Village at Powell Gardens is perfect for fall family fun. The Scarecrow Trail features 24 scarecrows from the Conservatory to the Children’s Garden. Once you arrive in the Children’s Garden, you will be in the pumpkin village, complete with a gourd maze, pumpkin house, and hayrides on Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. There will also be fall-themed crafts and activities in the Education Building.
October 4-15 at Powell Gardens, 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, MO
7.Wild Edibles: May the Forage be With You
Wild Edibles: May the Forage be With You is a free class. Fall is the finest time to forage for fruits of the forest. Join the Missouri Department of Conservation for an exploration off fall’s harvest table of wild mushrooms, hickory nuts, walnuts, and forest fruits like pawpaws, persimmons and wild grapes. There will be taste tests and a few wild recipes to sample.
October 7, 1 – 2 p.m. at Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO
8. Philip Heying on his exhibit, Survey of Elemental Gratitude
The first-ever Heartland Book Festival will take place this weekend at the Central Library in downtown Kansas City with music, authors, books, activities, food, and more. Hear from photographer and author Philip Heying about his current exhibit about the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie on display at the library. In 2022, Heying was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for his photography project that explores the potent complexities of the culture and essential prairie environment.
October 7, 4 p.m. at Central Library, Grand Reading Room, 14 West 10th Street Kansas City, MO
9.Walktober at Swope Park
During Walktober, walk, ride, or run a different KC Parks or Jackson County trail on Sundays in October. Commemorative Walktober buttons, designed by artist Liz Vargas, will be available for the first 200 participants at each location. This week’s event is at Swope Park, Kansas City’s largest park, and one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.
October 8, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Swope Park, 4177 Pavilion Rd., Kansas City, MO
10. Farmers Markets
Summer has gone, but local farmers markets are going strong with seasonal produce and goodies, and fall-inspired events. Find a farmers market near you with Greenability’s 2023 Guide to Farmers Markets.
Featured photo: Zee Underscore, the emcee for the popular Farm Fest at Common Ground event. By Keith Kennedy.