Your guide to Kansas City’s Fourth of July celebration & fireworks at Liberty Memorial
The annual Fourth of July fireworks display and festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City begins at 3 p.m. Thursday — and plenty of attractions await locals and out-of-town visitors alike.
The fireworks display is scheduled to begin at 9:35 p.m., with forecasts predicting perfect conditions: clear skies, no rain and temperatures in the high 70s.
While some other celebrations around the metro have announced rain delays or rescheduled their shows entirely, the Stars & Stripes Picnic is set to go ahead as planned.
Here’s everything you need to know about admission, parking, attractions and facilities at the event.
When and where is the Liberty Memorial celebration?
The Stars & Stripes Picnic will be held at the Liberty Memorial in central Kansas City, just south of Union Station. Its street address is 2 Memorial Drive.
The festival starts at 3 p.m. and wraps up after the fireworks show after dusk. The event is free to attend and has six entrances: one along Main Street to the east of the memorial, one just off Kessler Road to the west of the memorial, and four more along Memorial Drive near the south entrances to the memorial.
Parking will be difficult near the event, as both long driveways typically used for museum parking will be occupied with vendors and food trucks. Organizers recommend taking the bus or KC Streetcar to the Union Station area and walking up the hill to the celebration. You can also park for $20 at either the Crown Center or Union Station lots nearby.
Limited ADA parking is available at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City at 1 Memorial Drive, just south of the event. This parking is first come, first served.
What security measures are in place for the event?
A security officer for the WWI Museum stated that security will not be searching bags as visitors enter the event. Around 40 to 50 security personnel will be on site, from several groups including the Kansas City Police Department, museum security staff and private security officers.
The officer added that while the open carry of firearms is technically allowed, they are not recommended at the event. In Kansas City, firearm owners must have a concealed-carry permit issued by the state of Missouri in order to carry firearms openly within city limits.
A security tent and two first aid tents will also be on site at the festival.
What attractions will visitors find at the event?
The Stars and Stripes Picnic will feature a local makers’ market organized by the Strawberry Swing, henna and face painting, food trucks including ice cream and shaved ice, live music, a climbing wall and a flyover during the National Anthem.
The festival stage, located near the museum entrance, will feature a variety of acts throughout the event. Here’s the schedule of performances:
3 p.m.: DJ Boogie D of Power 105.1, a local hip hop and R&B radio station
4:15 p.m.: Live music by GoodFoot
5:40 p.m.: Traditional Mexican folk dances by Grupo Folklórico Alma Tapatía
6:15 p.m.: Live music by Montage
6:45 p.m.: National Anthem sung by Amari Lewis and flyover
6:55 p.m.: Live music by Montage
8:05 p.m.: Live music by Lost Wax
9:35 p.m.: Fireworks display
What amenities will be available at the celebration?
Portable restrooms will be located around the event space, including ADA accessible facilities, but the WWI Museum will be closed during the event. That also means there will be no running water or indoor spaces with air conditioning available to attendees.
Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and drinks into the event, and there will be alcohol for sale to those age 21 and over. Dogs are also allowed into the festival, but must be kept on leashes.
What do you want to know about big events in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
