Out & About in the Midwest – April/May/June 2023

Get the most out of life in the Midwest and beyond with this curated collection of places to go and things to see.

It’s often said that Kansas City has more fountains than any city except Rome, and while that statement is difficult to substantiate, the city is absolutely justified in celebrating its watery wonders. From simple spouting statuary to choreographed torrents that spray above massive pools, more than 200 examples can be found across a metro area aptly known as the City of Fountains.

After a long winter, many come to life again on Fountain Day, an annual spring ritual, this year on April 14. Kansas City’s love affair with these aquatic artworks began in the late 1800s when landscape architect and urban planner George Kessler designed what’s now the oldest operating city-owned fountain.

More followed and have since come to define the city’s landscape with dolphins, Roman gods, seahorses, and myriad other bronze and stone figures. One of the most photographed, the Fountain in Mill Creek Park (pictured) with its 4 heroic horsemen, was built in Paris in 1910 and adorned a New York millionaire’s estate before arriving in Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza area in 1951.

The City of Fountains Foundation, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, provides details about many of the area’s fountains on their website for those who want to explore the iconic works.

Magnificent motorcars

Unlike the decorated eggs carefully hidden on Easter Sunday, the beauties that are part of the annual Concours d’Elegance that same day are displayed in plain sight. In its 60th year, the show will be held on April 9, at the Upper Muny parking lot in St. Louis’ Forest Park.

More than 500 entries are expected to join this celebration of cars, which recalls the early days of the automotive industry when many St. Louisans would don their Easter finery and converge on the park to enjoy the weather and show off their newfangled contraptions.

Vehicles must be at least 25 years old and in either original or restored-to-original condition to participate. You can walk among the cars from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and awards will be presented in the late afternoon. Organized by The Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri and sponsored in part by AAA, the show will take place rain or shine. Admission is free.

Step up to a different kind of plate at Bosse Field, southern Indiana’s historic baseball stadium, during the Evansville Food Truck Festival on May 28. Thousands of people converge on the legendary 1915 park for this yearly event to sample specialties from about 25 food trucks featuring nearly every type of cuisine imaginable.

A stage will welcome bands throughout the day, and you can shop for souvenirs and other wares. The event also lets you explore one of America’s oldest ballparks, which served as a filming location for the 1992 movie A League of Their Own. Early bird online pricing starts at $5.95; admission at the gate is $10. VIP tickets allow early entry. Some proceeds benefit area charities.

When you climb into an Aerie’s Alpine Coaster car in Grafton, anticipation builds as you peer down the winding slope and see the track turn sharply and then disappear into the forest. Within moments, you’re cruising through the trees, skimming along limestone outcroppings, and twisting around natural landscape formations at speeds of up to 28 mph.

Powered only by gravity, the state’s first such coaster follows the natural contours of a bluff perched above the Mississippi River. You can control your rate with a hand brake as you zip along 4,000 feet of stainless-steel track that includes 7 hairpin turns. At the end of the line, a cable system pulls you and your car up 875 feet, back to the starting point at Aerie’s Resort. Visit the website to check the 2-seat cars’ age, weight, and height restrictions.

For even more thrills, take a canopy tour via zip line. To get to the resort (the starting point for all of the attractions listed here), board the Grafton SkyTour, a ski lift–style ride with open chairs and enclosed gondolas. A SkyTour day pass is $10; single coaster rides are $18 for adults; zip-line tours start at $79.

For more places to go and things to see in the Midwest, check out our editor-curated list of the best fairs, festivals, events, and more.