Craft Shows & Fairs in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City has built a craft and artisan market calendar that runs for virtually the entire year. The Plaza Art Fair is one of the longest-running art festivals in the United States. The Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair rotates through iconic KC venues monthly. The Crossroads First Fridays Street Market brings 100+ local makers to the Crossroads Arts District on the first Friday of each month from April through October.
Upcoming events in Kansas City, MO
Live listings with their sources. Always confirm details with the organizer.
For a Midwestern city, that is an unusual amount of craft event consistency.
Kansas City's Craft Show Scene
The Plaza Art Fair is the centerpiece. Held for more than 90 years, the event fills nine city blocks of Country Club Plaza with 240 juried artists and draws a crowd of over 250,000 over a September weekend. Three live music stages and 25+ restaurant booths integrate the event into the Plaza's Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
The Plaza Art Fair has earned a national reputation for both its curation and its patrons — collectors travel specifically for this weekend. It is Kansas City's unofficial welcome to fall.
The Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair takes the opposite approach. Instead of one big annual event, it runs monthly pop-ups at rotating significant KC venues:
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Union Station Kansas City
- The Wornall/Majors Museum
- Powell Gardens (Kingsville, MO)
Established in 2011 and named one of the Top 35 Indie Craft Fairs in the World, the Swing offers a highly curated mix of handmade vendors, vintage goods, food trucks, and local live music. Kids' craft activities are included. The rotating venues keep the experience fresh even for regulars.
Crossroads First Fridays Street Market runs on the first Friday of each month from April through October — 5pm to 9pm — in the Art Alleys between Baltimore and Wyandotte, from 18th Street to Southwest Boulevard, in the Crossroads Arts District. Art Garden KC and the Crossroads Community Association produce this event with 100+ local artists and makers alongside live music and food trucks.The Crossroads is also Kansas City's gallery heartland — dozens of galleries open their doors on First Friday evenings. Craft market browsing is one element of a broader arts walk.
The River Market Farmers Market at the City Market (20 E 5th Street) provides a weekend constant: handmade crafts alongside produce and specialty foods, on Saturdays year-round and on Sundays from March through December.
Country Fairs & County Events Near Kansas City
Kansas City sits in Jackson County. The Jackson County Fair serves the metro's agricultural heritage. Clay County (Liberty, MO, north of KC) and Platte County (Platte City, MO, northwest) both have county fair traditions.
The Kansas side adds more: Johnson County, KS and Wyandotte County, KS hold fairs accessible to Missouri-side residents. The Prairie Village Art Show in Prairie Village, KS (~12 miles southwest) is a strong complement to the Missouri-side Plaza Art Fair circuit.
Kansas City's bi-state character is worth noting. Many residents don't distinguish between Missouri and Kansas for craft event purposes — an event in Overland Park, KS is as accessible as one in Lee's Summit, MO.
Best Times to Visit Kansas City for Craft Events
September is the peak. The Plaza Art Fair weekend transforms Country Club Plaza into the city's most photographed public event. Plan accommodations well in advance if you're traveling for it. May and June bring spring editions of the Strawberry Swing and full opening of outdoor market season. Weather is ideal for KC outdoor events — warm but not the intense heat that settles in July and August. November and December see Strawberry Swing's annual Holiday Swing (held at J. Rieger & Co. in December 2024, and at Alexander Majors Barn and The Guild in 2025). The City Market farmers market stays open on weekends, and Crossroads galleries still open on First Fridays. Every month — Crossroads galleries open on the first Friday of every month, and the Art Alleys street market adds artist vendors from April through October.Nearby Cities for Craft Shows
Kansas City's bi-state metro creates a large craft event catchment area.
- Columbia, MO — ~130 miles E on I-70; Orr Street Farmers & Artisans Market; mid-Missouri university town
- Springfield, MO — ~160 miles SE; Ozark Empire Fair; Ozark Craft Festival; Queen City of the Ozarks
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best craft shows in Kansas City, MO?
The Plaza Art Fair (Country Club Plaza, September) and the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair (monthly rotating venues) are the most recognized. For regular access, Crossroads First Fridays (first Friday monthly; street market April–October) and the River Market City Market farmers market (Saturdays year-round, Sundays March–December) provide consistent options. Check thestrawberryswing.com for current Strawberry Swing dates and locations — the rotating-venue format means each edition is different.
When do craft shows happen in Kansas City?
Plaza Art Fair is in September. Strawberry Swing runs monthly (check their site for current venues). Crossroads First Fridays is the first Friday of the month, with the 5–9pm street market running April through October. The City Market farmers market in the River Market runs Saturdays year-round and Sundays from March through December. For trip planning, September (Plaza Art Fair) and November–December (holiday Strawberry Swing editions) are the peak periods.
Are there country fairs near Kansas City?
Jackson County, Clay County, and Platte County run county fairs accessible from the KC metro. Johnson County and Wyandotte County (Kansas side) also have fair traditions. The Missouri State Fair in Sedalia (~90 miles east, mid-August) draws Kansas City area visitors.
Is there a handmade market scene in Kansas City?
One of the Midwest's strongest for a city its size. The Strawberry Swing's international recognition is the most visible indicator. Crossroads Arts District year-round gallery and maker culture, Art Garden KC's event production, River Market artisan vendors, and the Kansas City Artists Coalition's community support create genuine depth.
Find Events in Kansas City
CraftShow Events lists craft shows, artisan markets, handmade fairs, and county fair events across the Kansas City metro. Search by date — whether that's the next Strawberry Swing pop-up, a Crossroads First Friday, or the Plaza Art Fair in September.