Missouri to celebrate tax-free weekend, discounted entry at several Kansas City museums

This weekend will see several special deals in Kansas City, including Missouri’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, when families can do their school shopping tax-free, as well as discounted entry opportunities at local museums.

Missouri’s tax-free weekend

Missouri’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday takes place this weekend from Friday to Sunday. During the holiday, qualifying items such as clothing, school supplies, computers and more are exempt from sales tax.

Tax-free clothing includes items worn to school, along with diapers and cloth that could be used to make clothing. Watches, watchbands, handbags, scarves and jewelry are not included on the tax-free list.

School supplies include standard items such as textbooks, backpacks, crayons, art supplies, but do not include radios, headphones, sporting equipment, office equipment or furniture.

Personal computers such as laptops, desktops and tower computer systems can also be purchased tax-free. Accessories such as display monitors, motherboards, microphones, memory modules and more are also eligible.

For items to qualify for the sales tax exemption, they must not exceed the following individual prices:

• Clothing: $100 or less  

• School supplies: $50 or less  

• Computer software: $350 or less  

• Personal computers and display accessories: $1,500 or less  

• Graphing calculators: $150 or less  

Although it is located in Kansas City, Kansas, and therefore is not eligible for Missouri’s tax-free weekend, Tanger Outlets at Legends will hold a back-to-school bash on the lawn Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. with live music from a DJ, family activities and more.

WWI Museum specials

Kansas City’s National WWI Museum and Memorial will have several special offers this weekend, including discounted admission for certain groups and a Winnie-the-Pooh Day celebration.

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, the museum launched a pricing special Aug. 1 and will offer $10 combo tickets to residents of Jackson, Clay, Cass and Platte counties in Missouri, along with Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties in Kansas.

“For 100 years, this community has shown up for us,” WWI Museum President and CEO Matthew Naylor said. “This discount is a small way to thank our neighbors for a century of support.”

The special ticket, discounted from the original combo ticket price of $26.50, includes access to the Main Gallery, special exhibits and the Liberty Memorial Tower. The offer continues through Dec. 30, and visitors must present proof of residency with a valid ID. One ticket is available per valid ID, except for children.

The WWI Museum is also celebrating Scout Day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All Scouts and Scout leaders can purchase general admission tickets for $5. Special exhibits and the Memorial Tower are not included in general admission, and Scouts must be in uniform to receive the discount.

Also on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the museum will celebrate Winnie-the-Pooh’s 100th birthday. Visitors can enjoy activities, a storytime performance and a talk by the Kansas City Public Library about Pooh’s impact on contemporary literature for free with an RSVP, although online RSVPs are no longer available.

Attendees can also join a Winnie-the-Pooh-themed 30-minute guided tour of the museum’s Main Gallery with the purchase of a general admission ticket, which costs $19.50. Children’s tours begin at 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., and an adult tour begins at 12:30 p.m.

Free admission to The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures in Kansas City is offering free admission Sunday.

The museum features toys dating back to the 1690s, including dollhouses, games and gaming consoles, along with handiwork from miniature artists such as tools, structures, paintings and more.

The museum offers free admission on the second Sunday of every month. General admission is typically $12, with discounts available for seniors, military members, students and children.

(Image credit: Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash)