Many events have been canceled or been postponed due to COVID-19. Please visit https://www.merriam.org/944/COVID---19-Updates for all Merriam-wide event and meeting cancellations, updates and news.
January 7-27: "The Beauty Among Us" Tim Murphy Art Gallery at the Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St.
This exhibit features works by June Fiola and Gloria Gale. The gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
February 4-27: Movement. Color. Form. Geometry: Abstracts from the Heartland
Tim Murphy Art Gallery at the Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St. Enjoy works by artists Catherine Kirkland and Carol Tinklepaugh at the February exhibit. The art gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
February 6: Daddy Daughter Under the Sea Swim Party
Merriam Community Center - 6040 Slater Street 6:30-8:00 p.m. Join us for the annual daddy daughter event--an under the sea swim party! Channel your inner mermaid and join a fun evening of swimming at the MCC indoor pool. Each daughter will receive a special treat to take home! Masks required when not in the water. Pre-registration required at the link below. $10 pp.
March 6-27: 25th Annual Heartland Artist Exhibition
Tim Murphy Art Gallery at the Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St.
Join us for the 25th Annual National Heartland Artist Exhibition at the Tim Murphy Art Gallery, Merriam's largest art show of the year. This national show draws artists from all over the United States. On Saturday, March 6, enjoy outstanding art, live music, hors d’oeuvres and beverages from 5-7 p.m. with the awards ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m. The art gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
March 27: Brunch with the Bunny
Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St.
10-11:30 a.m. The Easter Bunny will be in Merriam for physically distant photos, story time with the Johnson County Library, and the ever popular egg hunt. Masks required. This event is FREE.
April 1 - May 1: Senior's Spring Fling
Tim Murphy Art Gallery at the Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St. Enjoy works by artists from the Senior Arts Council. The art gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
May 1: Merriam Farmers' Market Opens
Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Drive Saturdays, May 1 -Sept 25 (7:00am-1:00pm)
Garden staples, home-baked goods and other local finds are all on display at the Merriam Marketplace in downtown Merriam. This favorite regional market is a great place to grab fresh fruits and veggies for your evening dinner or to stock-up for winter preserving. Enjoy weekly entertainment or take a quick stroll along the connecting Turkey Creek Streamway Trail. Click here for the market details.
May 6-29: Perception of Place
Tim Murphy Art Gallery at the Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St. Enjoy this monthly exhibit featuring works by artists Randall Bennett, Robert Klausing and Gregory Larson. The art gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
May 15: Turkey Creek Festival
Antioch Park, 6501 Antioch Road
Merriam's Turkey Creek Festival is the place for family fun on the third Saturday each May. From kids' activities to plenty of carnival-inspired eats, a wide assortment of vendor booths, live music, paddle boats and much more, Antioch Park will be bustling with tons to see and do from 10am-4pm. For extra Turkey Creek Fun, join the 5K taking place in downtown Merriam at 8:00am, then head over to the park for the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast and festival fun.
June 3-26: "Light & Shadow"
Tim Murphy Art Gallery at the Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater Street Enjoy the works of Ric Cummings and Catharine Deever at this month's exhibit. The art gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
June 11: Party in Your Park
Quail Creek Park, 7025 Grandview Ave.
The first of three Party in Your Park events for summer, 2021 will be held at Merriam's Quail Creek Park. Pack up your lawn chairs or blanket, sunscreen and bug spray and head out for a fun Friday evening meeting new people, listening to a local band and enjoying an outdoor meal with friends! Kids will love the inflatables and playground too.
July 1-31: "Life Perspective of Two Women" Tim Murphy Art Gallery at the Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St.
Enjoy this month's exhibit featuring the works of artists Pat Jessee and Carol Rubsam. The art gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
July 9: Party in Your Park
Campbell Park, 9674 W. 61st Street Party in Your Park #2 will take place at Campbell Park, known for our town's founder, David Gee Campbell. Take a break and come out for this fun evening outing with friends, neighbors and guests while you enjoy food, music and activities for the kids from 6:30-8:30pm.
August 3: Party in Your Park + National Night Out
Waterfall Park, 5191 Merriam Drive Party in Your Park #3 will take place at Waterfall Park, known for the its prominent water feature and home to the third public art installation, "Hmmm..." Take a break and come out for this fun evening outing with friends, neighbors and guests while you enjoy food, music and activities for the kids from 6-8pm.
August 7: Cruise Night
Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Drive Shine up that snazzy car or truck and head to downtown Merriam for the 2021 Cruise Night. Just a few weeks shy of the annual Turkey Creek Car & Motorcycle show, this evening is set aside for cruisin' Merriam and showing off your wheels. Enjoy meeting other car enthusiasts, live music and plenty of miles up and down Merriam Drive from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
August 5-28: "Heartland Creations" Tim Murphy Art Gallery, 6040 Slater Street (Merriam Community Center) Enjoy the works of artists from the Heartland Art Guild at the August TMAG exhibit. The gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
September 11: Turkey Creek Car & Motocycle Show
Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Drive
Held rain or shine on the second Saturday each September, the Turkey Creek show is one of the most popular in the region featuring all classes of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Join the fun at this free spectator event from 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. featuring area food trucks, music, entrant awards and plenty of beautiful, shiny vehicles lining Merriam Drive and the Merriam Marketplace. Click here for more information.
September 2 - October 2: "Abstract Diversity"
Tim Murphy Art Gallery, 6040 Slater (Merriam Community Center) Enjoy the works of artists Bill Eickhorst, Bob Mathews and Kyle Sellery at this month's TMAG exhibit. The gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
October 2: Merriam Drive Live
Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Drive
Live local musicians, a beer garden, kids activities, vendors and more take over Merriam Drive for this day-long music festival in downtown Merriam. Click here to learn more!
October 7-30: "A Moment in Time" Tim Murphy Art Gallery, 6040 Slater (Merriam Community Center) Enjoy the works of artists Laura Hewit, Geoffrey Ristau and Sylvia Augustus at this month's TMAG exhibit. The gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
October 23: Halloween Happening
Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater St. Gather your ghosts and witches in costume and bring them over to the Merriam Marketplace for an afternoon Halloween event in downtown Merriam. Your trick-or-treaters will enjoy Halloween games, crafts, story time and a photo booth, in addition to the annual parade and costume contest. Event runs from 2:00-3:30pm--be there or be scared!
November 4-27: "Visual Voyages"
Tim Murphy Art Gallery, 6040 Slater (Merriam Community Center) Enjoy the works of artists Laura Hewit, Geoffrey Ristau and Sylvia Augustus at this month's TMAG exhibit. The gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
December 2 - January 1: High School Visual Arts Competition
Tim Murphy Art Gallery, 6040 Slater (Merriam Community Center) This juried art show features works by high school students across the Kansas City region. The gallery is free and open to the public during regular business hours.
December 3: Mayor's Holiday Lighting
6040 Slater (Merriam Community Center) Get your holiday jingle on with Santa Claus and the Mayor. Join in this annual tradition of lighting the tree and spending time with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
December 4: Breakfast with Santa
Merriam Community Center, 6040 Slater No long lines or crowds at the mall--join us for breakfast with Santa, a favorite Merriam tradition. The morning is full of holiday fun, story time with the Johnson County Library, face-painting, elf crafts and a visit with Ho-Ho himself! 9-10:30 a.m. Learn more here!