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Arts & Culture

Ethnic Events & Festivals

KC ranks No. 3 among the country’s 50 largest metro areas in the number of festivals, fairs and cultural gatherings per capita. -- Urban Institute

• American Indian Market and Heritage Festival
  This event features American Indian arts and crafts including silver jewelry, pottery and bead work. Indian tacos and roasted corn are among the many American Indian delicacies. Indian dancing, drumming and singing are always highlights of this festival, which will mark its fifth year in 2009.
• Cinco de Mayo |
  Kansas City celebrates the Mexican Independence Day through various events that span the entire city. Fiesta in the Heartland celebrates Cinco de Mayo with food, music and activities. Azteca Cinco de Mayo in Rosedale Park features genuine Folkloric and Brazilian dancing as well as a Children’s Parade, known as Desfi le de los Niños. To continue your celebration, visit any or all of Southwest Boulevard’s three traditional Mexican and Spanish restaurants: Ponak’s, Margarita’s and Café Sevilla.
• Ethnic Festival | eeckc.org
  People from all over the area flock to this festival each August for tastes of Japan, Brazil, Hawaii and dozens of other countries. Held at Swope Park, the Ethnic Festival features entertainment such as Irish and Scandinavian dance and music from East Asia.
• Festa Hispana | http://www.fiestahispanakc.com
  In concert with National Hispanic Month, this event honors the Hispanic culture in KC. For one weekend, streets are filled with salsa dancers, vendors and mariachi bands to show recognition and appreciation of hispanics. 
• Festa Italiana
  Festa Italiana is organized by the UNICO-KC, part of one of the largest Italian-American service organizations in the nation. Everyone loves Italian food, and this festival has plenty of it, plus cultural music and wine tastings.
• Irish Fest | kcirishfest.com
  This festival just keeps getting bigger and bigger—especially since its move from Brookside to Crown Center. Over the Labor Day weekend you’ll see a number of well-respected and popular Irish bands as well as performances by Irish dancers. And nothing says Irish more than Shepard’s Pie, so be sure to have one while you’re at the festival. Also coinciding with the festival is the Kansas City Feis, an annual Irish dance competition, held on the Saturday of each Labor Day weekend.
• Japan Festival | http://kcjapanfestival.com
  2007 will mark this festival’s 10th anniversary in Kansas City. During a weekend in the early fall, you can see the best of martial arts and taste delicious Japan cuisine. Don’t miss the tea ceremonies or the bonsai and origami workshops.
• Oktoberfest  
  Modeled after the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich, Kansas City’s annual Oktoberfest features authentic German music, food and crafts. The festival also features a mechanical carnival with more than a dozen rides and pumpkin decorating.
• Reggae by the River
  This annual event celebrates the best of Reggae music. Reggae by the River also features Reggae art and poetry. While this event is typically held in early June, you don’t want to miss the annual Bob Marley Roots Rock Reggae Music Festival held in August.
• Renaissance Festival | kcrenfest.com
  This festival is one of Kansas City’s longest festivals; typically open weekends from Labor Day to Columbus Day. Experience the joust, where knights in armor duel on horseback to win the Queen’s honor. Interact with more than 500 costumed characters and listen to the music of the dulcimer, mandolin and harp. Don’t miss exciting and daring shows like fire eating and comedy on one of 13 stages. Feast on food fit for a king such as giant turkey legs, roasted corn on the cob, Scotch eggs and chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick.
• Scottish Highland Games | kcscottishgames.org
  Enjoy bagpiping performances, authentic Scottish cuisine, Celtic merchandise vendors and the Scottish livestock display—complete with sheepdogs and Clydesdales. Live steel sword fights and the pipe an drum competition make this festival a must.