Visit Independence, MO

06/09/2025

Visit Independence and discover the beauty of the historic Independence Square while sipping your favorite drink!

The Independence Square association is hosting the 15th annual Wine, Brew & Spirits this weekend! Explore the history of the square while dipping into multiple tasting locations, including:
☑ 3 Trails Brewing
☑ The Sentinel Room
☑Walnut Creek Winery
☑ St. James Winery
☑ Musket Cellars & Winery
☑ Dutzel's Catering
☑ Headquarters Winery
☑ Baltimore Bend
☑ Jowler Cree
☑ 1832 Distilling
☑ Coffee at the Delaware
☑ DeLaney Vineyard & Winery
☑ Luna Umbra Winery

📍 When: Saturday, June 14
Time: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
📍 Tickets start at $25
VIP Tickets: $45

General admission check-in begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 6:30 p.m. at 113 W. Lexington Avenue (street level of the Courthouse Exchange restaurant).

Whether it's date night or girls' night - this will be a fun night in Independence!

https://www.facebook.com/events/3993742320909782/

06/06/2025

A weekend full of sweet activities in Independence! Grab your umbrella (just in case) and check out the fun, family-friendly activities listed below.👇

🍅The Farmers Market will be open from 8am-1pm at the Independence Uptown Market. We have 39 seasonal vendors including produce, meat, herbs, spices, breads, tamales, flowers, and crafts! Grab your shopping list and support local farmers and vendors with your weekday dinners.
👉Location: 211 W. Truman Road, Independence, MO

🏛️Enjoy a free Independence Living History Tour offered by The Independence Squaree. This wagon-covered tour takes you around the historic downtown square, including the courthouse. Afterwards head to the National Frontier Trails Museum for more pioneer history.
📍 Time: Choose a time between 10am-2pm
👉Location: Corner of Liberty & Maple
📍 National Frontier Trails Museum Hours: 10am-6pm
👉Location: 416 W. Maple Avenue (Inside the Truman Memorial Building)

🍓Vaile Victorian Society of the Vaile Mansion is hosting the Strawberry Festival from 9am-4pm. This is such a popular event! Food and craft vendors will be there. Tours of the mansion will be available for purchase. If you haven't toured this historic treasure we highly recommend you do.
👉Location: 1500 N. Liberty St., Independence, MO

Enjoy these family-friendly events and experience what Independence has to offer tomorrow (June 7).

05/30/2025

Welcome (or welcome back) to Community of Christ visitors!

While you're here for World Conference, come check out all that Independence has to offer.
✅ Restaurants
✅ Museums
✅ Entertainment
✅ Shops and so much more!

Whether you're a repeat or a first-time visitor, there's something new for you to discover in Independence.
Looking for ideas? 👉 independencemo.gov/visitorsguide2025

05/28/2025

We love celebrating all our Great American Stories - and we're proud to host 🌊 Island Fest 816!

This weekend, the event marked 23 years of honoring Pacific culture and the Polynesian Island people, including those from Hawai'i, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, and New Zealand.

The excitement was palpable on the Independence Square 🏝, and this FOX4 News Kansas City story highlights the importance and diverse history of our citizens. Thanks for spotlighting our Midwest Chapter of the National Pacific Islander Education Network

05/27/2025

It's one of the most popular events of the summer in Independence - the Strawberry Festival at the Vaile Mansion! 🍓🍓

This annual tradition is a berry-filled day the whole family will love! Here's what to expect (in addition to strawberry treats) - dozens of craft, food, antiques, and plant vendors, and live music.

Join us on Saturday, June 7th, from 9 AM - 4 PM for the 2025 Strawberry Festival at the Vaile Mansion and Arboretum.

- Admission to the festival grounds is FREE.
- Mansion Tours: Adults $10.00 | Children $5.00
- Shuttle service is available from William Chrisman High School.

🔗 More information: vailemansion.org
Vaile Victorian Society of the Vaile Mansion

05/26/2025

Visit Independence and enjoy American history through music and dance! 💃

The American Rhythm Folk Ensemble - Utah will perform Saturday night (May 31) at the Truman Memorial Building.

This group is excited to return to Independence and we are excited to have them! 👇Check out the pics below to see their incredible shows!

📍 When: Saturday, May 31
📍 Time: 7pm
📍 Where: Truman Memorial Building
416 W. Maple Avenue, Independence, MO

All are free to attend the hour-long show!

The National Frontier Trails Museum will stay open until 6:45 Saturday night to greet guests and answer any questions about the five trails or exhibits in the museum.

Come and enjoy the museum and then a night of dance at the Truman Memorial Building.

05/21/2025

Trace your family tree when you !

Independence is home to one of the largest genealogy resource centers in the nation! 📚

The Midwest Genealogy Center offers several ways for families to learn about their history and preserve their stories for generations to come.

▪ Traditional material collections
▪ Database and classes to explore a specific heritage
▪ Memory Lab to transform VHS tapes or photo negatives into digital copies
▪ A recording center to orally record your family history

The center is offering several summer events to help families discover more about their history. Check out their events to see which one lines up with your family tree research!

Insider tip 💡: If you want to orally record your family history, you can check out the "Tell Me a Story" kit and record it at your home.

05/15/2025

05/14/2025

It's time to put your cookie decorating skills to work! 🍪

The Bingham-Waggoner Historical Society and the City of Independence Historic Preservation Division are hosting a "Design Your Own Historic Building Cookie" event.

You can use their historic images and preservation success stories for inspiration.

Decorating is free. It is first come, first serve for all ages.

📍 When: Saturday, May 17
📍 Time: 10am-Noon
📍 Where: Bingham-Waggoner Mansion & Estate, 313 West Pacific Avenue, Independence, MO

Free tours of the property will be offered for everyone who designs a cookie. If you haven't toured the Bingham Waggoner Estate, this is a prime time to do so!

https://www.facebook.com/share/18fcCW8LHB/

05/09/2025

Celebrate our 33rd U.S. President and explore the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum when you .

This is a bucket-list experience in our opinion. 😁

If you haven't been to the museum in a couple of years - we highly recommend coming back. The museum underwent a massive renovation a few years ago.

The museum is now an immersive, cinematic experience taking visitor's through Truman's life from boyhood, to the White House, and back home to Independence.

🥹 You can even read the love letters he sent to Bess while they were apart. ❤️

Around every corner you have a cinematic experience waiting for you including:
👉Truman's experience with WWI and the Cold War
🌎 A 14-foot interactive globe exploring the difficulties of peace during WWII
🟥 Interactive games uncovering government disloyalty during the Red Scare

📍 Hours for the museum:
Monday-Saturday 9am5pm

Insider Tip 💡: Truman worked at the museum for nearly 10 years writing his memoirs, filming documentaries, and adding to the library's collection. Make sure to check out where his office was located on the premise.

05/07/2025

🚂Pack your bags and head to Independence, MO this weekend as two historic railroad attractions team up for .

The Missouri Model Railroad Museum and the Chicago & Alton Depot are planning an extraordinary day filled with train fun and history! Both attractions offer kids of all ages a great way to learn about trains and the railroad industry.

▪️ Date: Saturday, May 10
▪️ Time: 10am-4pm
▪️ Location: 312 W. Pacific Avenue

Events include:
👉Children's DIY Flowerpot Project
👉Tours of the iconic Chicago & Alton Depot
👉Magic Show
👉Train & railroad memorabilia
👉Strong Cakes - Mobile Comfort Food / Bakery will be on site starting at noon.

The two historic attractions are right next door to each other and share a parking lot. Admission is required for the Missouri Model Railroad Museum.

and discover the trails to rails history that shaped our great American story.