Kansas City’s Lawn Party
Jul 20, 2025
4:00 pm
–
8:00 pm
Free
Museum admission includes entry to Kansas City’s Lawn Party
Kansas City is invited to a massive bash on the Nelson-Atkins lawn.
Soak in the summer vibes at Kansas City’s Lawn Party! We’re once again partnering with Kansas City Parks and Recreation to host a free evening of live music, food trucks, art activities, mini golf, and (of course!) lawn games. Festivities stretch from the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park to Brush Creek in Theis Park.
Please note: no grills, stakes, or tenting at this event. Pets must be on leashes.
Schedule
The festival schedule is subject to change.
Nelson-Atkins Music Stage
DJ Joe: The Mad Scientist
4–4:30 pm│ Sculpture Park, West Side
Honky Tonk Angels
4:30–5 pm, 6–6:30 pm| Sculpture Park, West Side
Matchsellers
5–6 pm, 6:30–7 pm│ Sculpture Park, West Side
Friendly Thieves
7–8 pm │ Sculpture Park, West Side
Nelson-Atkins Small Stage
Storytime led by Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch
5–5:30 pm | Sculpture ark, East Side
Teen Open Mic
5:30–7 pm │ Sculpture Park, East Side
Teens are invited to present musical, spoken word, or comedic performances on stage. Drop-ins, groups, and musical instruments are welcome.
KC Parks Stage
Cowtown Country Club
4-5 pm│ Theis Park, Northwest Side
Sumner Academy Drumline
5:30-6 pm│ Theis Park, Northwest Side
Plein Air Quick Paint Judging and Awards
6:30-6:45 pm│ Theis Park, Northwest Side
Back Alley Brass Band
7-8 pm│ Theis Park, Northwest Side
Make Music KC Stage
David Luther
5-5:30 pm│ Theis Park, Southeast Side
Jass
6-7 pm│ Theis Park, Southeast Side
Ongoing Activities
(4–8 pm unless noted otherwise)
The special exhibition Survival of the Fittest is open until 5 pm.
Art Course
Last tee time: 7 pm │ Terraces, South Lawn, Sculpture Park
Play miniature golf with nine art-inspired holes designed by local artists. Reservations are required. Learn more about Art Course.
Shuttlecock Restoration Tent | Sculpture Park, Northwest Side
Learn more about important conservation treatments for an iconic Shuttlecock sculpture and how you can get involved.
KC Parks & Recreation Information Tents│ Theis Park
Missouri State Parks │ Sculpture Park, Northeast Side
Sporting Kansas City Tent |Sculpture Park, Northeast Side
Win free Sporting Kansas City Swag and a chance to win free tickets.
Nelson-Atkins Archives Tent | Sculpture Park, Northeast Side
Explore the history of the Nelson-Atkins through rarely-seen objects from the museum’s past.
The Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center Information Tent │ Sculpture Park, Northeast Side
Learn about the local discovery center’s mission, offerings, and opportunities.
Plein Air Painting by participants in the Quick Paint Competition │ 4–6:30 pm│ Sculpture Park & Theis Park
Winners will be announced at 6:45 pm
Badminton Demonstration & Games │ Sculpture Park, South Side
StoneLion Puppet Theatre│Sculpture Park
Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch Summer Reading │ Sculpture Park, East Side
KC & Museum Trivia
5-7 pm │ Sculpture Park, East Side
Drop by to participate in a trivia game created and led by the museum’s Teen Council. Participants vie for an exclusive pin-on button designed by the council.
Art Activity Tent │ Sculpture Park, East Side
Design your own bird sculpture that creates a bird call, then compete in a bird call competition with your creation, on the hour, every hour from 4-8 pm.
Giant bubbles, stilt walker, and hula hoopers│ Theis Park
Imagination Playground │ Theis Park
Lawn games courtesy of KC Parks Athletics │ Theis Park
Kansas City Juggling Club │ Theis Park
Musication Station by Make Music KC │ 4-6 pm │ Theis Park
The Village KC chalk artists │ 4-6 pm │ Theis Park Wheeler Amphitheatre
Food and Drinks
Choose from a variety of local food trucks and suppliers stationed along Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard. (List subject to change.)
- Drinking water, courtesy of KC Water Services
- Beer and wine, courtesy of the Ethnic Enrichment Commission
- The Country Club Bank Terrace Snack Bar (located Sculpture Park, Terraces)
- 451 Pizza
- Irvzilla
- The Hungry Hatch
- Sweet Peaches Cobblers
- Neon Palm Ice
- Smoke n Seoul
- Kona Ice, West Jackson County
- One More Scoop
- PAB’s Mobile Treats
- La Hamburguesa Loca
- Taste of Brazil
- Mad Greek Travelling Taverna
- Sugar Skull Grill
- Melt Box Ice Cream
Restrooms and cooling
Indoor restrooms (with an accessible indoor route) will be available in the Bloch Building until 8 pm. Portable restrooms (including an accessible restroom) will be available in Theis Park. Areas to temporarily cool down will be located in the Bloch Building Lobby and Noguchi Court until 8 pm.
Food Waste and Recycling
Help make the Lawn Party even greener! Give your trash new life by taking it to the waste reduction station located near the food and beverage trucks. KC Parks Ambassadors will help you sort your food scraps and recyclables, so they don’t end up in the landfill.
Thank you
This program is generously supported by the Hall Family Foundation and Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Thank you to our museum volunteers and members — the art and soul of the museum — whose support makes festivals like this possible.
Share the love
We want to see your party pics! Tag us on Instagram or Facebook and use #KCLawnParty and #KCParks.
Save the Dates
Ethnic Enrichment Festival | Aug. 15–17 | Swope Park
Deaf Cultural Festival | Sept. 13
Night/Shift | Oct. 9
Día de Los Muertos Festival | Nov. 2
Festival altar on view Oct. 27– Nov. 10
Teen Fashion Show | Dec. 14
