The Plaza is a special experience on any day. The unique architecture, abundance of shops, walkable streets and friendly faces make it one of the most recognized and visited destinations in Kansas City. Stop by on any sunny Saturday and the number of people perusing the storefronts will make this apparent.
It’s always a good time. But, when there are Kansas City Plaza events happening, it ramps up even more. Plaza Kansas City events are a perfect time to experience everything the district has to offer. The businesses and restaurants in the area bring their A-game, and thousands more people flock to the City of Fountains than on any other day.
Laugh, see the sites, meet new people, shop for deals and eat great food; that’s what you can do during Kansas City Plaza events. And when it comes to that last item, there’s no better place than Parkway Social Kitchen.
Parkway is invested in the Plaza community, and we’re present at all of the Plaza Kansas City events. Whether it’s special deals at the bar or a pop-up booth on the street, you can find us serving food and creating conversation during Kansas City’s best events.
The Plaza Lighting Ceremony
The Plaza Lighting Ceremony is the best way to kick off the Christmas season in Kansas City. This annual tradition has been running for nearly 90 years, and it’s the most popular of all the Kansas City Plaza events.
The ceremony begins on Thanksgiving at 5 p.m. It’s different each year, but there are typically performers and other entertainment before the lighting at 7. Once the sun has gone down, the switch is flipped and the Plaza comes to life. More than 200,000 Christmas lights strung along every building in the district light up, with each peak highlighting the architectural distinctness of the Plaza. Fireworks follow and dazzle the crowd.
Thousands of KC residents pack the Plaza for the lighting ceremony. Many stores and restaurants will shift hours and create specials for the Kansas City Plaza event. Find out what Parkway will be doing during the lighting ceremony, and plan your evening accordingly!
The Plaza Art Fair
If you’re a resident of the Kansas City area or are planning a trip to visit KC, you can’t miss the Plaza Art Fair. This annual Kansas City Plaza event stacks up against any other art festival in the country. Crowds of more than 250,000 people visit the Plaza from Friday to Sunday to see over 200 artists, take in the Plaza shops and experience fine dining.
Along with the artists and musicians, the Plaza Art Fair includes more than 20 restaurant booths. It’s a one-stop shop for Kansas City’s best eats. You can count on finding Parkway’s booth in the mix. After being awarded the prize of best booth for the 2018 Plaza Art Fair, we’re sure you won’t want to miss out on seeing Parkway during this Plaza Kansas City event.
WaterFire
WaterFire is a truly unique visual arts festival, and one of the only places you can see it is at this Kansas City Plaza event. Brush Creek, which winds east and west through the south end of the Plaza, becomes a stage for a spectacular series of performances — most involving live fire in some way. It’s the perfect way to spend a cool Saturday evening in October.
You’ll find Parkway one block west of the main performance area, overlooking Brush Creek from our location on the corner of Jefferson St. and Ward Parkway. Whether you’re looking for a hot plate to warm up from the chilly October night or a drink to finish off a great evening at this Kansas City Plaza event, we’ll take care of you. Come see what Parkway is up to during WaterFire.
The Plaza 10K
The Plaza 10K is a chance to be active for a great cause. You can join thousands of other runners for this annual Kansas City Plaza event that benefits Saint Luke’s Home Health and Hospice. The Plaza 10K is the largest 10K in Missouri or Kansas, with the course snaking east and west across the Plaza district, following Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. and Swope Parkway. It’s a scenic route through Kansas City’s prettiest neighborhood.
There are refreshments and food after the race ends. If you have children who want to be involved, there’s a kids’ run following the main event. This is a great outing for the whole family. As always, Parkway will be present for this Kansas City Plaza event. Find out what you can expect from Parkway, and we hope you’ll plan on stopping in before or after the race.
See You at a Kansas City Plaza Event
No matter which Kansas City Plaza event sounds best to you, you’re sure to have a great time. Come to one or all of these festivals, and stop by Parkway when you do. If you’re planning your day and want to make sure you’ll have a seat during these busy events, you can call in or make a reservation online.
We’ll see you soon.