Memorial Day Free Events and Activities in Kansas City 2018

Memorial Day 2018 in Kansas City offered a variety of free events and activities designed to honor military service members and provide community engagement opportunities. The National WWI Museum and Memorial served as the central hub for these observances, hosting a weekend-long series of programs that were accessible to the public at no cost. These initiatives ranged from educational research opportunities to patriotic concerts and ceremonial observances.

Museum Access and Research Opportunities

During Memorial Day weekend in 2018, the National WWI Museum and Memorial provided specific admission benefits for military personnel and the general public. From May 23 through May 26, admission to the museum and memorial was free for veterans and active duty military members. For the general public, general admission was offered at half price during this period. The facility operated from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily over the weekend.

A significant free offering available to all visitors was the World War I Research Stations. Located outside the Auditorium Lobby during museum hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), these stations provided public access to multiple genealogical and historical databases. Visitors could utilize resources including Fold3.com, Ancestry.com, the Museum and Memorial’s own online collections database, the American Battlefield Monuments Commission records, and the National Archives. This program allowed individuals to explore how the Great War affected their families through records and photographs.

Commemorative Displays and Crafts

The Museum and Memorial also hosted a poignant visual display called "Flags of Forgotten Soldiers." Situated on the Walkway Terrace near the Main Entrance from May 12 to May 27, this exhibit featured 140 U.S. flags. The display was intended to call attention to the fact that, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 140 veterans are lost to suicide every week, with a servicemember taking their own life approximately every 72 minutes.

For families seeking interactive activities, a "Craft Your Own Poppy" event was held on Sunday, May 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the J.C. Nichols Auditorium Lobby. This family-friendly craft experience allowed participants to create their own felt poppy pin or ornament to commemorate Memorial Day. All materials were provided free of charge to the public.

Patriotic Concerts and Community Festivals

One of the largest free events in the region was the Bank of America Celebration at the Station. Taking place on Sunday, May 26, this event kicked off at 3 p.m. on the North Lawn outside the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The Kansas City Symphony, conducted by Music Director Michael Stern, performed patriotic favorites. The event concluded with a fireworks display over the Liberty Memorial. Pre-concert activities included musical acts, food trucks, the Lee Jeans Family Zone, and the Honeywell Veterans Place, which provided services for veterans. The concert itself began at 8 p.m.

Ceremonies and Dedication Events

Formal Memorial Day observances took place on Monday, May 27. A Memorial Day Ceremony was held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Memorial Courtyard outside the museum. This formal public program included remarks from dignitaries and musical performances. Following the ceremony, Kansas City native and Nashville recording artist Casi Joy, known from NBC’s "The Voice," hosted a meet and greet and fan signing event in the Memorial Courtyard from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.

At noon on May 27, a bell-tolling ceremony was conducted. The bell used in this ceremony was historically significant; it was originally located at a federal building in downtown Kansas City and was rung daily by the Daughters of the American Revolution during U.S. involvement in WWI (1917-1918). It had also been tolled 11 times at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1926, during the dedication of the Liberty Memorial.

Later that day, at 2 p.m., a Walk of Honor Dedication Ceremony took place inside the museum in the J.C. Nichols Auditorium. More than 100 new Walk of Honor granite bricks were dedicated during this event, which also featured musical performances by Casi Joy. The Walk of Honor is divided into sections for World War I veterans, veterans of any military service, and civilian friends or family.

Supporting Events and Local Activities

A fundraising pancake breakfast was held on Monday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. inside the museum at the Over There Café. While not free, the meals were priced at $11 for adults and $6 for children (12 and under) and included a beverage. Proceeds benefited the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

Outside of the museum activities, other free community events were available in Kansas City. The Kansas City Zoo offered extended summer hours starting Saturday, May 26, opening at 8 a.m. daily. Visitors could explore the new Stingray Bay exhibit, which featured a touch pool for cownose and southern stingrays and white-spotted bamboo sharks. While zoo admission was not free, the extended hours and new exhibit were highlighted as family-friendly activities for the holiday weekend.

Conclusion

The Memorial Day observances in Kansas City in 2018 centered heavily on the National WWI Museum and Memorial, which provided a robust schedule of free events. These included military admission benefits, educational research access, commemorative crafts, visual displays honoring fallen soldiers, and large-scale patriotic ceremonies. Community engagement was further supported by free public concerts and fireworks displays, alongside specific fundraisers and local zoo activities.