The Free Fan Festival in KC: What to Expect and How to Do It With Kids
If you have been here a while, you know free things to do in Kansas City are my love language. So when I found out the FIFA Fan Festival is free and running all summer, I basically started planning our visits immediately. It is the kind of big, buzzy, once in a generation event that is actually doable with kids, if you go in with a little bit of a plan. Here is what to expect and how to make it fun instead of frantic.
What the Fan Festival actually is
The FIFA Fan Festival takes over the south lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, which is already one of the prettiest spots in the city. It runs for 18 days, from June 11 through July 11. There is a giant video board, around 45 feet wide, showing the matches, plus live music, local food vendors, and a big celebratory crowd from all over the world. They even built a 65 foot tall heart shaped entrance, which my kids will absolutely want a picture in front of.
It is free, but read this part
Admission is free, which is the best news. The catch is you need to register for a general admission pass ahead of time, and entry is first come first served once they reach capacity. So a free pass gets you in line, not guaranteed in the gate, especially on big match days. My advice, grab your passes early and treat the most popular matches like you would any sold out event. There is also a park and ride option being set up, which is a lifesaver if you are not trying to fight for parking with a toddler in tow.
How to do it with kids without losing it
Here is my honest, been there strategy. Go earlier in the day or on a less hyped match when the crowd is lighter. Little kids and packed capacity crowds are not a great mix. Bring a stroller if your kids are small, both for naps and for hauling your stuff, and stake out a spot with some shade because that lawn gets full sun.
Pack the snacks even though there is food there. About 60 percent of the vendors are local, which is genuinely cool and worth trying, but a hungry kid will not wait in a food line gracefully. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and a small activity or two for the inevitable lull. And my golden rule, leave before the meltdown, not during it. A great 90 minutes beats a miserable four hours every time.
Bonus, they have Dog Days
If your family includes a very good dog, there are special Dog Days events on a few Sundays during the festival. Check the schedule before you go since the details can change, but it is a sweet touch and my kids would lose their minds in the best way.
The takeaway
The Fan Festival is the rare summer outing that is free, genuinely exciting, and flexible enough to work around nap schedules and short attention spans. Go in with low pressure and a snack bag, soak up the energy for as long as it is fun, and head home proud that you showed your kids something this big right here in their own city.
Are you taking the kids to the Fan Festival? Tell me which match you are aiming for in the comments so I can plan around the calm days too.
So glad you are here. Pam
