Kansas City’s Lawn Party
Sunday, July 21, 2024 | 4–8 p.m.
 

In celebration of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park and National Parks and Recreation Month, the Nelson-Atkins teams up with Kansas City Parks and Recreation to host a massive bash on the museum’s south lawn. Fill up on local food trucks, partake in lawn games and activities, and bask in the summer vibes with a soundtrack by live musical performances.

Admission is free and people of all ages are welcome.


Stage Schedules

NELSON-ATKINS MUSIC STAGE SCHEDULE

DJ Joe: The Mad Scientist
4:30–5, 6-6:30, 7:30-8 p.m.│ Sculpture Park, West Side 

Radkey
5–6 p.m. │ Sculpture Park, West Side 

The Freedom Affair
6:30–7:30 p.m. │ Sculpture Park, West Side 

NELSON-ATKINS SMALL STAGE SCHEDULE

Storytime led by Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch
5 p.m. │ Sculpture Park, East Side 

Teen Open Mic
5:45–6:45 p.m. │ 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 SCHEDULE

Cowtown Country Club
4-5 p.m.│ Theis Park, Northwest Side 

Starlight Stars
5:30-6 p.m.│ Theis Park, Northwest Side 

Plein Air Quick Paint Judging and Awards
6:30-6:45 p.m.│ Theis Park, Northwest Side 

Back Alley Brass Band
7-8 p.m.│ Theis Park, Northwest Side 

FIRST SUNDAY CONCERTS STAGE SCHEDULE

Talking Backwards
5-5:30 p.m.│ Theis Park, Southeast Side 

St. George & the Dragons
6-7 p.m.│ Theis Park, Southeast Side 


Ongoing Activities 4–8 p.m. unless noted

One-by-One Community Portrait
2-6 p.m. | Bloch Lobby
Drop in to have your picture taken by photographer Tom Styrkowicz. Portraits will be displayed in the lobby as part of the One By One community portrait project.

Other One by One portrait sessions will be hosted in the lobby on July 19 (4-8 p.m.) and July 20 (11 a.m.-2 p.m.).

Artists Unplugged | Bloch Building, Gallery L8
Meet the artists featured in the exhibition A Layered Presence / Una presencia estratificada and get to know the stories and creative processes behind their works on view. 

Nelson-Atkins Membership Tent │ Sculpture Park, East Side
Drop by for an art activity with the museum’s membership team. Members, be sure to grab your free festival pin! 

Nelson-Atkins Archives Tent | Sculpture Park, Northeast Side
Explore the history of the Nelson-Atkins through rarely-seen objects from the museum’s past. 

KC Parks & Recreation Information Tents │ Theis Park 

The Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center Information Tent │ Sculpture Park, Northeast Side
Learn about the local discovery center’s mission, offerings, and opportunities.  

Missouri State Parks │ Sculpture Park, Northeast Side 

Plaza Area Council Information Tent │ Sculpture Park, Northeast Side
Learn about the nonprofit working to steward and sustain Kansas City’s historic Plaza district. 

KC & Museum Trivia
5-7 p.m. │ 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 with wings that really flap! 

Badminton Demonstration & Games │ Sculpture Park, Tapis Vert & Terraces 

Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch Summer Reading │ Sculpture Park, East Side 

Dog Photo Op & Dog Water Bowls │ Sculpture Park, East Side 

Art Course │ Sculpture Park, Terraces
Play miniature golf with nine holes designed by local artists inspired by masterpieces at the museum. Tickets required; $18 for general adults, $14 for adults who are museum members, $12 for children 4 to 12, free for children 3 and under. Reserve your tee time: nelson-atkins.org/art-course 

StoneLion Puppet Theatre │ Sculpture Park 

Plein Air Painting by participants in the Quick Paint Competition │ 4–6:30 p.m. (winners announced at 6:45 p.m.) │ Sculpture Park & Theis Park 

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 p.m. │ Theis Park 


Food and drinks Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard

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) 
  • Da Poke Wagon 
  • 451 Pizza 
  • Irvzilla
  • The Hungry Hatch 
  • I’ll Be Dogged 
  • Mattie’s Foods 
  • Jadabay’s Tasty Kitchen 
  • 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 
  • Ragusa’s Italian Café 
  • Ice Cream, courtesy of Russell Stover Chocolates 

Information

RESTROOMS & COOLING 
Indoor restrooms (with an accessible indoor route) will be available in the Bloch Building until 8 p.m. 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 p.m. 

SHARE THE LOVE
We want to see your party pics! Tag us and use #KCLawnParty and #KCParks when you share them on social. 

@NelsonAtkins
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art 

Shortly after the event, photos from Kansas City’s Lawn Party will be available to view and download on the museum’s Flickr account: flickr.com/nelson–atkins 

FOOD WASTE AND RECYLING
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, Hallmark Cards, Inc., and PNC Bank.

Thank you to our museum volunteers and members — the art and soul of the museum — whose support makes festivals like this possible. Learn more online: ArtAndSoulKC.org.


Save the Dates

Ethnic Enrichment Festival | Aug. 16-18, 2024 | Swope Park

Deaf Cultural Festival | Aug. 24 

Night/Shift | Oct. 24 

Día de Los Muertos Festival | Nov. 3
Festival altar on view Oct. 21-Nov. 4 

Teen Fashion Show | Dec. 15 


Lawn Party is sponsored by PNC and Hallmark Cards.