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This event was FREE which is always a huge perk! All of KC's best food trucks were parked in front of Union Station to supply us with awesome dinner and drinks. Practically all of Kansas City was at this event; it was so much fun to people watch and enjoy the company of such a great city. I saw SO many people I knew from very aspect of my life.
The entire expansion of the Liberty Memorial hill area was full of blankets, and picnics, and families. You got the opportunity to sprawl out on the grass with thousands of people and listen to a free symphony concert. Once it became dark outside, the beautiful fireworks started.
The perfect way to spend Memorial Day; a must for anyone living in Kansas City.
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While the parking lot of Union Station is transformed into an orchestra pit and the street is a gathering space for food trucks, the lawn immediately North of the National World War I museum is arguably the city's largest picnic. We arrived around 4:00pm and there were already a number of people, but fortunately there was also still plenty of room to spread out. We laid out our blankets, cracked open a bottle of wine and munched on some snacks as we listened to the pre-show entertainment. A smart friend brought a washers set, so we took advantage of the space and played some lawn games. The rest of the time was spent just catching some rays and catching up with friends. A lovely afternoon.
As it gets later it gets VERY crowded, and then the show starts! Patriotic songs, guest performers and speeches. As the sun goes down, Union Station is lit up beautifully. With that grand old building in front, Liberty Memorial behind, and a backdrop of the KC skyline, it's a great reminder of what a beautiful city we really have. It's nice to slow down and just spend some time appreciating how lovely of a setting this in fact is.
The finale of the program is a performance of The 1812 Overture (complete with cannons!) and then a fantastic fireworks display. It really was a great night, and I got goosebumps well more than once. I would definitely be open to returning next summer.
Pro Tips: basically, remember anything you'd want for a picnic, including sunscreen, bugspray and activities. Also, do not even think of parking in the Union Station garage, unless you want to wait an hour at the end of the night to get out your car. Just park in the Crossroads and walk a couple of extra blocks. It's well worth it.
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Parking will be a nightmare in every direction. Just plan on walking a distance. Bring blankets or lawn chairs and prepare to enjoy an evening of music against one of the most iconic backdrops of the Kansas City skyline. Being a free event, it fills up with tons of people, but with the huge space is not crazy crowded. The symphony puts on an excellent show ending the night with a fantastic firework display.
This is a great yearly event for all walks of life. Bring a picnic, enjoy the food trucks lining the area, or stop and eat at one of the nearby restaurants on your way in or out. A great start to the summer!