Kanrocksas Music Festival - August 5th and 6th - Kansas Speedway (Lincoln: camping, prices)

[aragx6]

^I think the fact that it's completely free really helps. It's 3/4 corporate sponsored, so they can spend $ on an epic fireworks display and acts like the Steve Miller Band and Maroon 5.

[xenokc]

For those who miss Reggae Fest, the big fest is gone but reggae is still alive in KC..

http://www.kcruf.com/

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by aragx6

I don't know if that's true -- They regularly get about a million people down there (give or take a couple hundred thousand either way based on weather).

And I know last year was one of the biggest since 2006 when they last did the air show.

It's pretty much always been the second largest 4th of July weekend event in the Midwest (after Chicago's Taste which is honestly so painfully overcrowded -- and overpriced -- as to be no fun).

Yea, they always say a million people go. I think that's always been a pretty high estimate and the fireworks tend to bring the biggest crowds. It's kinda of like they used to say that 500,000 people go to the plaza lighting when it's more like 20,000. It's still much bigger than anything KC puts on though and still a good event for St Louis.

KC's Celebration at the Station with the KC Symphony and fireworks over the Liberty Memorial has really blossomed into a first class event and gets about 50,000 people. After being used to that event in KC, we were extremely disappointed in the 4th of july fireworks and concert at the Washington Monument. KC's is actually a better event believe it or not.

[ykamom]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Yea, they always say a million people go. I think that's always been a pretty high estimate and the fireworks tend to bring the biggest crowds. It's kinda of like they used to say that 500,000 people go to the plaza lighting when it's more like 20,000. It's still much bigger than anything KC puts on though and still a good event for St Louis.

KC's Celebration at the Station with the KC Symphony and fireworks over the Liberty Memorial has really blossomed into a first class event and gets about 50,000 people. After being used to that event in KC, we were extremely disappointed in the 4th of july fireworks and concert at the Washington Monument. KC's is actually a better event believe it or not.

Well, I believe it, of course. Everything is better in KC. I haven't even moved there yet, and I know that.

See, I'm gettin' into the swing of this. Midwest, here I come.

[ykamom]

It's pretty much always been the second largest 4th of July weekend event in the Midwest (after Chicago's Taste which is honestly so painfully overcrowded -- and overpriced -- as to be no fun).[/quote]

Speaking of Taste, is there one in the KC area? In my experience that is a cool event, but often over crowded as you said.

The thing that surprises me is that there is no Firstnight celebration in the area. That is the best way to do New Years, especially for a family friendly environment. And a great way to showcase local music.

Someone needs to organize that for the future. Might be too late already for 2012.

While on the topic of music, does anyone know of independent music stores (either record or instruments) in the area. My son is so into playing and listening and recording now, he needs a place to ask questions and get advice. And he is into the Christian rock/rap scene. Any Christian bookstores that have music? I can google all this, but I always love the person to person input and recommendations I can get here.

[aragx6]

^ A new record store just opened on 39th Street West called Vinyl Renaissance. Haven't been in yet, but can tell from looking in that they have a lot of records.

And Taste of KC is May 15, 2011 but it's an adults-only event -- maybe there are others?
Kansas City Taste of KC

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Yea, they always say a million people go. I think that's always been a pretty high estimate and the fireworks tend to bring the biggest crowds. It's kinda of like they used to say that 500,000 people go to the plaza lighting when it's more like 20,000.

OK, sorry i know this has gone a bit off topic, but:

I actually think that, because it's a multi-day event, that helps them get closer to that number. And while you might be right that a million might be a stretch, realitsically from what I've seen it can't be much less.

Mardi Gras this past year had 250,000 people -- and I've been there when the weather was nicer and it got close to twice that. Soulard is a much smaller neighborhood (though the parade route is long), and it's only one day. With the combination of the parade, the air show, three or four big concerts and finally the fireworks each year, it doesn't seem that incredible to me that they'd hit close to a mil.

My point before was that I don't get the impression it's gotten any smaller in recent years ...

[xenokc]

double post

[ykamom]

Originally Posted by aragx6

^ A new record store just opened on 39th Street West called Vinyl Renaissance. Haven't been in yet, but can tell from looking in that they have a lot of records.

And Taste of KC is May 15, 2011 but it's an adults-only event -- maybe there are others?
Kansas City Taste of KC

Oh thanks. Yeah, that Taste is way different from what I am used to (more of an outdoor event with tents booths and music and a couple of dishes from each restaurant.)

Funny how the Vinyl thing is coming back, huh?

[xenokc]

Originally Posted by ykamom

Speaking of Taste, is there one in the KC area? In my experience that is a cool event, but often over crowded as you said.

There's an ethnic taste fest every summer in Swope Park - it's not too bad. Food from around the world but not as well represented as I'd like as it lacks some rep that are known to exist in KC. Feels more neighborhoody than a major organized event though, which is mo betta methinks.

I wish the NE Side would do an ethnic taste fest... that is the most diverse area in city. They need a pickmeup hood fest like that.

As far as largest events in KC - it was probably Spirit Fest, which supposedly drew up to 150K in a day. Is hard to say as crowd estimates for fests everywhere are way way overblown.

KC does some pretty good summer fests once in a while, a little more approachable than mega fests in other cities. Milwaukee is probably my favorite summer fest spot - they do it really well.