By David Markham
Cooler temperatures and colorful fall leaves are right around the corner, so it’s time to start planning some third- and fourth-quarter fun!
JCPRD’s September through December season of programming is getting under way soon. This season includes more than 500 programs being offered by JCPRD through the final four months of 2026 and beyond.
These programs can be found online at JCPRD.com, and registrations are now being taken. A handful of the new season’s offerings have already filled, so browse and register today for your best choice of programs!
Highlights include a number of special events and activities such as:
September
- Sept. 3 – Lunch & Learn – Local Food 101 (Ages 50 & Older) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Sept. 5 – Overnight Fishing Saturday (All Ages) Lexington Lake Park
- Sept. 12 – TimberRidge Adventure Race (All Ages) Kill Creek Park
- Sept. 12 – Johnson County Museum Free Day (All Ages) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Sept. 12 – Lanesfield Historic Site Visiting Hours (All Ages)
- Sept. 18 through Nov. 21 – Fall Group Hayrides (All Ages) by appointment only, Oak Ridge Parklands in Shawnee Mission Park
- Sept. 25 – Pumpkin Patch Family Bingo (All Ages) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Sept. 29 – Bonus Bingo (Ages 50 & Older) Matt Ross Community Center
October
- Oct. 3 – Public Hayride (All Ages) Oak Ridge Parklands in Shawnee Mission Park
- Oct. 3-4, 9-11, & 15-18 – Theatre in the Park presents “Dracula – A Comedy of Terrors” indoors at The Black Box Theatre (Rated PG-17) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Oct. 7 – Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration (All Ages) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Oct. 9 – Geocaching: Fall Harvest Geocaching (All Ages) Antioch Park
- Oct. 9 – Gary L. Haller Memorial Golf Tournament (Ages 18 & Older) Tomahawk Hills Golf Course
- Oct. 10 – Halloween: Fablewood Forest (Ages 8 & Under with adult) Ernie Miller Park
- Oct. 10 – Public Hayride (All Ages), Oak Ridge Parklands in Shawnee Mission Park
- Oct. 10 – Lanesfield Historic Site Visiting Hours (All Ages)
- Oct. 13 – New Horizons Band Concert (All Ages) White Recital Hall, University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Oct. 16 – Family Fun: Gram and Gramp Camp (Ages 5-12 & 50 & Older) Meadowbrook Park
- Oct. 17 – Cars in the Park (All Ages) Theatre in the Park
- Oct. 17 – Public Hayride (All Ages), Oak Ridge Parklands in Shawnee Mission Park
- Oct. 22 – Games: Chili Bingo (Ages 50 & Older) Roeland Park Community Center
- Oct. 23 – JCPRD JamBOOree (Ages 14 & Under) New Century Fieldhouse
- Oct. 24 – Public Hayride (All Ages) Oak Ridge Parklands in Shawnee Mission Park
- Oct. 24 – Halloween: Haunted Tales Variety Show (Adults and Ages 8 & Older) Ernie Miller Park
- Oct. 28 – Lunch & Learn – Lyda Conley (Ages 50 & Older) LongHouse Visitor Center
- Oct. 30 – Mah Jongg Halloween Party (Ages 50 & Older) Roeland Park Community Center
- Oct. 30 – Creepy Crawly Halloween Party (Ages 2-5 with Adult) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Oct. 31 – Mildale Farm Fall Fest (All Ages)
- Oct. 31 – Lanesfield Historic Site Fall Open House (All Ages)
- Oct. 31 – Public Hayride (All Ages) Oak Ridge Parklands in Shawnee Mission Park
November
- Nov. 6 – The Hunt at Meadowbrook Park (All Ages)
- Nov. 7 – Public Hayride (All Ages) Oak Ridge Parklands in Shawnee Mission Park
- Nov. 10 – Veterans Breakfast (All Ages) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Nov. 12 – Reveal Event – Johnson County Poster Project 2026 (All Ages) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Nov. 13 – Night at the Museum – Scout Edition (Ages 6-12) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Nov. 14 – Lanesfield Historic Site Visiting Hours (All Ages)
- Nov. 14 – Public Hayride (All Ages) Oak Ridge Parklands in Shawnee Mission Park
- Nov. 18 – JCPRD’s Holiday Tree Lighting (All Ages) John Barkley Plaza in Shawnee Mission Park
- Nov. 19 – Detecting Early-Stage Lung Cancer (Ages 50 & Older) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Nov. 20 – Turkey Wobble (Ages 2-5 with Adult) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Nov. 21 – Public Hayride (All Ages) Oak Ridge Parklands in Shawnee Mission Park
- Nov. 25 – Johnson County Museum Free Day (All Ages) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center – FREE
December
- Dec. 1 – Games: Winter Tiles Mah Jongg Classic (Ages 50 & Older) New Century Fieldhouse
- Dec. 4 – Brain Battle Royale (Ages 50 & Older) Mill Creek Activity Center
- Dec. 4 – Night at the Museum – Scout Edition (Ages 6-12) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Dec. 5 – Woodland Tales with Santa Claus (All Ages) Ernie Miller Nature Center
- Dec. 5 – Cram the Cruiser (All Ages) Shawnee Mission Park, Thomas S. Stoll Park, and Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse parking lot
- Dec. 5-6, 12-13, & 19-23 – Theatre in the Park presents “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” indoors at The Black Box Theatre, (Rated PG) Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center
- Dec. 9 – Holiday Event: Jingle Mingle (Ages 50 & Older) LongHouse Visitor Center
- Dec. 11 – Snow Much Fun Bingo (All Ages) New Century Fieldhouse
- Dec. 12 – Christmas Concert and Visiting Hours (All Ages) Lanesfield Historic Site
- Dec. 13 – Yule Log Celebration (All Ages) TimberRidge Adventure Center
- Dec. 15 – Planetarium – 10 Theories of Alien Life (Ages 50 & Older) LongHouse Visitor Center
- Dec. 18 – Frosty Fun Family Bingo (All Ages) Roeland Park Community Center
- Dec. 18 – Snow Much Fun (Ages 2-5 with Adult) Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse
- Dec. 19 – Winter Solstice Celebration (All Ages) Ernie Miller Park
- Dec. 26 through Jan. 31 – Christmas Tree Recycling (All Ages) Theatre in the Park, Heritage Park, Kill Creek Park, and Big Bull Creek parks
- Dec. 31 – Ring in the New Year (Ages 50 & Older) Roeland Park Community Center
September through December program offerings range from arts and crafts to sports to nature activities and include leagues, classes, homeschool offerings, seminars, workshops, and trips. Included are programs for infants through senior adults.
50 Plus Travel programs continue to be very popular. Trips in the new season include Extended Travel with upcoming trips to: Iceland; Hawaii; Croatia, Slovenia and the Adriatic Coast; Kenya and Tanzania; and Mackinac Island; and Day Travel to Joplin, Mo. & Route 66; Baldwin City; Pittsburg, Kan.; Kansas City’s Union Station; and more.
JCPRD continues to offer virtual programs, including several youth computer-related offerings, and 50 Plus offerings, which include gardening, exercise, and programs about Alzheimer’s and dementia.
With cooler temperatures, fall and winter are also a great time to get out and explore JCPRD’s trails and parks.
To keep up on the latest happenings at JCPRD, like our Facebook page, and / or subscribe to our free newsletters.
