Mon, Sat, Sun 10am–5pm; Thu–Fri 10am–9pm; closed Tue–Wed
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art · Kansas City
The Nelson-Atkins holds more than 5,000 years of art and is free every day for everyone. Check in at the door or reserve a free timed entry online before you go. The museum is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays and stays open until 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays. The garage on Oak Street costs $20; the KC Streetcar has an art museum stop.
Verified Oct 28 · nelson-atkins.org
Catch: Free check-in required (in person or online)
Galleries Mon–Fri 10am–5pm and second Saturdays 10am–2pm; arboretum daily 5am–11pm
The Linda Hall Library · Kansas City
The Linda Hall science library's exhibition Alchemy of Knowledge shows rare first editions by Galileo, Newton and others, an alchemist's workshop and a dragon sculpture made with Kansas City Art Institute students. Outside, a 14-acre arboretum holds 300+ trees and is open to the public 5am–11pm. Free parking in the library lot.
Monday–Saturday 9am–4pm; closed Sundays and holidays
Wyandotte County Historical Museum · Kansas City
The county history museum traces Wyandotte County from the Kansas City Hopewell people to modern times, with short-term exhibits in its auditorium and a research collection (archives by appointment). Admission is free. Open Monday through Saturday.
Kansas City's contemporary art museum is free, including its special exhibitions and community programs. Current shows include Barbara Takenaga: Awestruck. Open Wednesday through Sunday, with late hours until 9pm on Thursdays. Free street parking is plentiful around the museum.
Kansas City's original outdoor ice rink opens its season with free skating, coffee and hot chocolate from 6 to 9am. The page doesn't say whether skate rental is included, so bring your own skates to be safe or ask at the rink.
Harry S Truman National Historic Site · Independence
Tour the home Harry and Bess Truman lived in. Tours are free but need a ticket from the visitor center (223 N. Main St.), issued the same day, first come, first served, for groups of up to 8. Across the street, the first floor of the Noland Home has exhibits on Truman's life. Open Wednesday through Sunday.
Verified Oct 28 · National Park Service
Catch: Free same-day ticket from the visitor center; tours limited to 8
Spencer Art Reference Library (Bloch Building, 2nd floor), The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art · Kansas City
A drop-in program in the Nelson-Atkins' Spencer Art Reference Library that shows rare books and manuscripts from its Special Collections, from early photography to Hokusai's manga and artist books. Each conversation lasts about 10 minutes. Free, no registration: drop in any time from 1:30 to 3pm. The library is on the 2nd floor of the Bloch Building.
National WWI Museum and Memorial (Auditorium) · Kansas City
Dr. Sean Kalic explains how technology in the First and Second Boer Wars shattered illusions of 19th-century empire and forced British military reform. Free with RSVP, in the museum auditorium or online.
Charlotte Street studio resident Lisa Maione walks through her favorite works on view at Kemper Museum, focusing on Barbara Takenaga: Awestruck, and how they connect to her own practice. Free; seating is limited.
Verified Oct 28 · kemperart.org
Catch: Free registration required; seating is limited
Bloch Building, Level 1 (near Thou Mayest), The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art · Kansas City
A low-key reading night at the Nelson-Atkins: bring a book (or borrow one of the library's), read alongside other guests for 30 minutes, then break for guided prompts and small-group conversation, and repeat. Food and drinks are sold on site. Free, with registration on the museum's site.
Rising Phoenix Breathwork leads a free slow-flow breathing session meant to calm stress, on the Green Street plaza in Downtown Lee's Summit (moves to the lawn if weather or numbers require).
Verified Oct 28 · cityofls.net
Catch: Free registration (link on the city's event page)
A Kansas City tradition for more than 50 years: one of the largest Christmas trees in the nation lights up on Crown Center Square, with the youth Chorus KC, remarks from Mayor Lucas and a fireworks finale. Free admission. All season, nightly tree lighting shows follow on Fridays and Saturdays (6, 7 and 8pm) and Sundays (6pm).
Verified Oct 28 · crowncenter.com
No catch
Classes & fitnessFree (worth about $15)Happening now
Central Resource Library (Logan Conference Room) · Overland Park
A friendly meetup for English language learners to practice speaking, listening and everyday conversation while meeting new people. All levels welcome; no registration listed for the in-person group.
Fridays–Sundays Nov 27–Dec 20: Fri–Sat noon–9pm, Sun noon–7pm
Crown Center Square · Kansas City
Crown Center Square turns into a Hallmark-movie town square on weekends. Free to everyone: the Christmas Market, festive food stalls (food is sold), photo spots, and the Hallmark Holiday Light Show that lights the 100-foot Mayor's Christmas Tree (Fri–Sat 6, 7 and 8pm; Sun 6pm). The Light Walk and the sessions with Hallmark stars need paid tickets.
Mid-Continent Public Library's do-it-yourself Memory Lab has equipment to digitize VHS tapes, 8mm and Super 8 film, audio cassettes, camcorder tapes, photos, slides, negatives and documents. Lab access is free; book a three-hour slot to guarantee a station (walk-ins welcome if one is open).
Verified Oct 28 · mymcpl.org
Catch: Appointment recommended (walk-ins only if a station is free)
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art (JCCC) · Overland Park
Johnson County Community College's 41,000-square-foot contemporary art museum has 10 major galleries, the Oppenheimer Collection and hundreds of works by international, national and regional artists on view in the museum and around campus. Admission and parking are free. Call 913-469-3000 for hours.
Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden · Kansas City
A tranquil European-style garden with perennial beds, fountains, stone walls and bronze sculptures by Tom Corbin, with annual displays changed at least four times a year. Admission and parking are free and it's open year-round. No dogs (except service animals), bikes or portrait photo sessions.
Verified Oct 28 · kauffman.org
No catch
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