If you are looking for something to do this weekend, Oct. 16-18, 2026, there is plenty happening close to home and across the Kansas City area, from pumpkins and Halloween attractions to the final weekend of the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, the Garmin Kansas City Marathon, opening weekend for the Kansas City Mavericks and one of the American Royal’s first major events at its new Kansas City, Kansas, campus.
Olathe residents do not have to travel far for fall activities. KC Pumpkin Patch is holding its Fall Festival Friday through Sunday, with more than 60 farm attractions and activities. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Nearby KC Wine Co. is also continuing its Ghouls Halloween Pop-Up Bar for adults 21 and older, with free admission, themed drinks and weekend entertainment. Friday includes $5 food and drink specials, Saturday has live music and Taylor Swift Music Bingo, and Sunday brings Wicked Trivia.
SPOOKTACULAR FALL FEST — OVERLAND PARK
Families can head to School of Rock Blue Valley, 11516 W. 135th St., from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, for a free Spooktacular Fall Fest hosted by the Steven Kohnle Agency, Farmers Insurance and Agape Events. The afternoon will include a bounce house, face painting, balloon artist, interactive bubble show, fire show, local vendors, food, giveaways and live music from School of Rock. Taco Via and cotton candy will also be available, and costumes are encouraged. Admission and the family activities are free, no tickets are required, and all ages are welcome.
ONE OF THE LAST OLATHE FARMERS MARKET WEEKENDS
Saturday is also one of the final opportunities of the season to visit the Olathe Farmers Market. The Saturday market continues through Oct. 24 at both Downtown Olathe, 219 W. Loula St., and Black Bob Park. The markets open at 7:30 a.m. and continue until vendors sell out, with produce, baked goods, flowers, plants and other regionally produced items.
KC MARATHON TAKES OVER THE CITY SATURDAY
One of the largest events anywhere in the metro this weekend happens early Saturday morning when thousands of runners hit the streets for the Garmin Kansas City Marathon.
The full marathon and half marathon begin at 7 a.m. at Frank A. Theis Park across from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The 10K follows at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K at 7:45 a.m. The courses take runners past many of Kansas City’s best-known landmarks and neighborhoods, including the National WWI Museum and Memorial, Union Station, the Kauffman Center, Country Club Plaza, Westport and 18th & Vine. Even if you are not running, expect road closures and traffic changes around the course Saturday morning.
FINAL WEEKEND FOR THE KANSAS CITY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
If you have been putting off a trip to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, this is the last weekend.
The festival closes its 2026 season Saturday and Sunday with Haunted Huzzah, a Halloween-themed finale featuring costumes, trick-or-treating and special seasonal activities. Among the scheduled events are pumpkin rolling, a witch-hat ring contest, pumpkin smashing and Quidditch. The festival in Bonner Springs is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.
AMERICAN ROYAL LIVESTOCK SHOW AT ITS NEW KANSAS HOME
Another major Kansas-side event continues this weekend at the American Royal’s new campus near Kansas Speedway.
The 127th American Royal Livestock Show runs through Oct. 25 and is among the first cornerstone events held at the organization’s new Kansas City, Kansas, facility. Saturday includes the Junior Premium Livestock Auction from 5 to 9:30 p.m., while livestock and meats judging events continue Sunday. The new campus is at 1899 American Royal Way, near State Avenue and 118th Street.
MAVERICKS OPEN THE HOCKEY SEASON AT HOME
Hockey is back at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence as the Kansas City Mavericks open the 2026-27 season with two home games against the Rapid City Rush.
Friday’s opener begins at 7:05 p.m. and includes Barn Party Night. The teams meet again Saturday at 6:05 p.m. Parking is free. The Mavericks enter the season after a 55-12-5 record last year, winning the ECHL regular-season championship and Western Conference title before advancing to the Kelly Cup Finals.
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD AT THE KAUFFMAN CENTER
For something indoors, the Kansas City Ballet opens its production of “The Wizard of Oz” this weekend at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Muriel Kauffman Theatre. The two-hour production follows Dorothy and Toto through Oz with elaborate scenery, costumes, projections and puppetry. Tickets range from $39 to $154.
HALLOWEEN TAKES OVER WORLDS OF FUN
Worlds of Fun is deep into Halloween season this weekend, with two very different experiences depending on the time of day.
The park’s family-oriented Tricks and Treats is scheduled Saturday and Sunday, while Halloween Haunt returns Friday and Saturday nights with haunted attractions and scare zones aimed at an older crowd. Both events are listed as part of the park’s weekend lineup.
DARK FOREST RETURNS TO POWELL GARDENS
Powell Gardens is offering a darker take on fall Friday and Saturday nights with Dark Forest, its nighttime Halloween experience through the gardens. The attraction returns Oct. 16-17 before additional dates later this month, with the gardens transformed after dark for a ticketed seasonal event.
BOTANICAL BREWFEST IN OVERLAND PARK
Adults looking for a Saturday afternoon outing closer to Olathe can head to the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens for Botanical Brewfest.
The event runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday and combines fall scenery with beer from local and regional breweries, live music, yard games and food vendors throughout the gardens. Proceeds support projects and programs at the Arboretum.
DOGTOBER FEST TAKES OVER BLUE SPRINGS SUNDAY
Dogs get their own festival Sunday at the 32nd annual Dogtober Fest at the Kemper Outdoor Education Center in Blue Springs.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is expected to bring thousands of dogs and their owners together for more than 90 vendor and rescue booths, costume contests, agility activities, demonstrations and games. Admission is free with a donation of dry or canned dog food for area animal shelters, although some activities carry an additional fee.
DARK FOREST TAKES OVER POWELL GARDENS
Powell Gardens turns considerably darker after sunset Friday and Saturday with Dark Forest, its nighttime Halloween experience. The seasonal attraction returns Oct. 16 and 17, transforming the gardens for an evening experience separate from regular daytime admission. Powell Gardens is in Kingsville, Missouri, about an hour from Olathe, making it one of the farther drives on the weekend list but an option for anyone looking for a larger Halloween outing.
With fall weather, Halloween season and several major regional events colliding on the same weekend, there is no shortage of choices. Families can stay in Olathe for pumpkins and the Farmers Market, sports fans can head to the Mavericks opener or watch the marathon, and anyone willing to make a short drive can find everything from Renaissance costumes and haunted attractions to ballet, beer tasting and thousands of dogs in costume.
Something Different Media Group
