Ways to celebrate America 250, other events in Kansas City this weekend 

America’s 250^th birthday will be celebrated this weekend and the Kansas City-area has several festivities planned, including fireworks, World Cup watch parties, free admission to the Museum of BBQ and more.

Fireworks

Liberty, Missouri

Liberty Fest will be celebrated Friday at the Capitol Federal Sports Complex from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Visitors must purchase a parking pass for $10 to help manage the event’s capacity and can be purchased at the Liberty Chamber Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The festival will have a balloon artist, face painting, glitter tattoos, inflatables, food trucks and more. A fireworks show will begin at 10 p.m.

Downtown Kansas City

The National WWI Museum is hosting the Stars and Stripes Picnic Saturday, which is Kansas City’s official 4^th of July celebration. Not only is this year America’s 250^th birthday, it’s also the museum’s 100^th anniversary.

Visitors can attend the FIFA Fan Festival, which is on the WWI Museum’s grounds, to view fireworks starting at 9:40 p.m. or view them from Penn Valley Park. Some food vendors will be in Penn Valley Park between 3 and 10 p.m.

Tickets for FIFA Fan Festival are free but limited based on the event’s capacity. Car and foot traffic is expected to be heavy in the area so guests are asked to plan accordingly.

Gladstone, Missouri

Gladstone Freedom Fest will be celebrated Saturday, July 4^th beginning at 11 a.m. at Happy Rock Park. Gladstone leaders say this year’s celebration will be the largest the city has ever seen with food vendors, activities, live music, fireworks and more.

Visitors can enjoy an exhibition of The Great American Kites starting at 11 a.m., a skydiving demonstration at 6 p.m. and an ice cream eating competition at 8 p.m. Country music star Eddie Montgomery will perform at 8:30 p.m. and the performance will be followed by a firework show.

More

Several other places in the Kansas City-area will be showing fireworks Thursday through Saturday, and a list of them can be found here and here.

Futbol Friday, Lee’s Summit

Soccer fans can enjoy a family festival on Green Street in Lee’s Summit, Missouri Friday. The watch party begins at 5 p.m. and the other activities begin at 6 p.m.

This week’s Futbol Friday is themed “Stars, Stripes & Soccer Nights” and attendees can watch Argentina face off with Cabo Verde on the big screen at 5 p.m. and watch the Colombia vs. Ghana match, which will be played in Kansas City, at 8:30 p.m.

The festival will have live music, local food trucks, games and activities for kids, a bubble party and crafts.

Activities will go until 10 p.m. and admission is free.

Museum of BBQ

Kansas City’s Museum of BBQ is offering free admission and a complimentary smoked rib from Burnt End Barbeque to the first 100 visitors on Friday to celebrate Henry Perry Day.

Henry Perry was originally from Tennessee, but he began selling smoked meats in Kansas City in 1908. His popularity helped establish Kansas City as a barbecue destination and is widely considered the “Father of Kansas City barbecue.”

July 3 was declared Henry Perry Day by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas in 2020. The date coincides with a community barbecue where Perry served over 1,000 people in Kansas City. To celebrate this year, Kansas City-based pork brand Prairie Fresh has donated one day of ticket costs to sponsor free admission to the museum for everyone, which is usually $10 per person.

Perry’s granddaughter and founder of the Henry Perry Foundation, Bernetta McKindra, will be at the museum sharing stories about her grandfather. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features the history of American barbecue.

World Cup stadium tours

World Cup fans can get an insider experience of Arrowhead – also known as Kansas City Stadium – through special behind the scenes tours from July 1 to July 11. Stadium tours last 90 minutes to two hours and give visitors exclusive access to locker rooms, media zones, premium areas and iconic pitch points.

Expert tour guides will share insider stories, operation insights and deeper details of what hosting the FIFA World Cup looks like for Kansas City. Tickets for the tours cost $89.66 but even out to roughly $100 after tax and added fees. Children 4 years old and younger don’t need a ticket to enjoy the tour.