A Kansas City tradition. The 2025 Plaza Art Fair is right around the corner and we're diving into everything you need to know before heading to one of Kansas City's longest-standing annual events.

Need to know

When: Friday, Sept. 19–Sunday, Sept. 21 (times vary)
Where: Nine blocks of the Country Club Plaza — full map
Cost: Free entry
Parking: Free garages + nearby street parking — parking map

This is what the very first Plaza Art Fair looked like. It's grown a tad. | Photo by Country Club Plaza

History

Born out of the Great Depression in 1932, the Plaza Art Fair was created to lift spirits + support local artists. The very first show was staged on an empty lot (now Tiffany & Co.) with 90 artists selling pieces for as little as $1.

Fast forward to today: the Plaza Art Fair draws 250,000+ attendees, features 240 juried artists, and boasts three live music stages and 20+ restaurant booths. Now isn't that a pretty picture?

Here's just one of the amazing restaurant booths you can expect. | Photo by Country Club Plaza

Eat + drink

The art may draw you in, but the food + tunes will keep you there. Expect bites and sips from:

Cooper’s Hawk
Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue
Heritage (formerly BoLing's)
True Food Kitchen
Rye

Follow the music

Catch local, regional + national acts, including:

What we're really here for

It’s all about the stroll — weaving through stalls, swapping stories with artists, and soaking in KC’s creative spirit.

We recommend treating it like a Sotheby’s preview and browsing the artist directory ahead of time. Search by name, location, or medium to find the perfect piece for your wall (or mantle) before making a beeline day of.