Halloween and Fall Things to Do in Kansas City This Weekend: October 2 to 4, 2026

The first weekend of October in Kansas City always feels like the starting gun for Halloween season. The porches on our street went from mums to skeletons basically overnight, my boys have asked approximately four hundred times if it is Halloween yet, and every pumpkin patch in the metro just flipped on its fall hours. If you are trying to figure out what to actually do with your crew this weekend, I rounded up the best spooky, sweet and fall festival plans for Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, 2026.

A quick note: times and prices can change, so always tap through to the event site before you load everyone into the car. And yes, I fully expect at least one of my kids to fall asleep in the wagon on the way out of somewhere.

Heads up, the product links in this post are affiliate links, which just means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share things I would actually use.

Quick picks for this weekend

• Best for little kids: Waldo Block Party on Saturday, plus PNC Family Fun Day at Power and Light
• Best fall festival: Weston Applefest or Louisburg Ciderfest
• Best spooky night out: The Beast or Edge of Hell in the West Bottoms
• Best date night: First Fridays in the Crossroads, then GloWild at the Zoo

1. Louisburg Cider Mill Ciderfest

Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Louisburg Cider Mill, 14730 K 68 Highway in Louisburg. Admission is free, and you pay for food and activities. Go early for the pancake breakfast (8 to 11 a.m. both days), then grab cider donuts, listen to bluegrass and let the kids hit the corn maze and wagon rides at the family farm. This is one of my favorite low key fall traditions, and the drive down is so pretty right now.

2. Weston Applefest

Saturday, October 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street in historic downtown Weston. Free to attend. There is a Saturday parade, live music, craft vendors and every apple treat you can imagine. Pair it with apple picking at Historic Weston Orchard and Vineyard (open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday) and you have a full fall day. My full list of apple orchards near Kansas City has more spots if Weston is packed.

3. Waldo Block Party

Saturday, October 3, 4 to 7 p.m. on Gregory Boulevard in Waldo. Free. Think carnival games, pumpkin painting, balloon artists, chili and desserts. This is the kind of easy, neighborhood event that is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, and you can be home in time for baths.

4. KC Oktoberfest at Crown Center

Friday, October 2 from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, October 3 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Crown Center Square, 2450 Grand Boulevard. Tickets are about $17 in advance or $20 at the gate, with drink tokens sold separately. German beer, Bavarian food, polka and family activities during the day. Saturday afternoon is the sweet spot if you have kids along.

5. Haunted houses in the West Bottoms

The Beast and The Edge of Hell are both open Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3. Tickets run about $40 each or $55 for a combo. These are intense, the real deal, and kids under 12 need a parent with them. Honestly, this is a grown ups only night for me. See my full guide to Kansas City haunted houses for tips on timing and which ones are worth the wait.

6. GloWild: Hidden Treasure at the Kansas City Zoo

Friday through Sunday, October 2 to 4, 6 to 10 p.m. at the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium. Tickets required. Glowing lantern scenes with shipwrecks, buried treasure and jungle landscapes. It is not spooky at all, which makes it a great evening option if your little ones are not into the scary stuff yet. Bring a cozy layer, it cools down fast after dark.

7. Pumpkin patches open this weekend

Almost every patch around town is in full swing. A few weekend hours to know:

• KC Pumpkin Patch at KC Wine Co., Olathe: Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with 60 plus farm attractions
• Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch, Liberty: Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a $4 grandparent discount October 3 and 4
• Johnson Farms, Belton: Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with u pick apples and pumpkins
• Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch, Kearney: open late, until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Here is my full guide to pumpkin patches near Kansas City, plus what to wear in the cutest pumpkin patch outfits.

8. More fall festivals around the metro

• Gladfest, Gladstone: Friday 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Free admission, carnival rides extra, and a Saturday morning parade.
• Missouri Town Fall Festival, Lee’s Summit: the 50th annual festival, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., $15 per car. 1800s crafts, music and games.
• Merriam Drive Live: Saturday 2 to 8 p.m. at Merriam Marketplace. Free music, food trucks, face painting and balloon art.
• Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bonner Springs: Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through October 18.

9. For the book lovers

Heartland Book Fest is free on Saturday, October 3 at the Central Library downtown, with author panels, workshops and local book vendors. The Lucky Rabbit Literature Festival runs Friday and Saturday too, celebrating children’s book creators.

10. Shopping and art

Vintage Market Days takes over the American Royal Friday through Sunday, and Crossroads First Fridays is Friday evening from about 5 to 9 p.m. Grab dinner in the Crossroads and make a night of it.

What I pack for a fall festival day

After many years of hauling small humans around pumpkin patches, here is what actually earns a spot in the car:

• A folding wagon that holds kids, pumpkins and the diaper bag all at once
• A waterproof picnic blanket for snack breaks on damp grass
• A big insulated tumbler for hot cider or coffee on the cold mornings
• Chelsea boots that can handle mud and still look cute in photos
• A quilted jacket for that 55 degree morning that turns into 75 by lunch

Plan the rest of your October

This is just one weekend, and October in KC is packed. Save my Kansas City Halloween events guide, my October 2026 things to do list and my Halloween activities for kids around the metro. Every Halloween idea on the blog lives on my Halloween hub, and you can find Thanksgiving and Christmas on Browse by Holiday.

Where are you headed this weekend? Tell me in the comments, I am always looking for a new favorite.

So glad you are here.
xo, Pam