Lenexa's annual Spinach Festival returns Sept. 12 with free admission, the World's Largest Spinach Salad and more than 80 craft vendors at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park.

The festival runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park, located at 87th Street Parkway and Lackman Road. The event draws roughly 8,000 people each year, according to the City of Lenexa's event page.

The Lenexa Historical Society will serve the World's Largest Spinach Salad starting at 10 a.m. at the Food Court. Spinach cooking demonstrations begin at 10 a.m. at the Lion's Memorial Shelter, with additional sessions at 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Visitors can test their own recipes at the Spinach Dip Showdown, running 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Grand Pavilion. Festival guests taste and vote on entries in two categories: Best Cold Spinach Dip and Best Hot Spinach Dip.

A separate Spinach Recipe Contest accepts entries at the Lion's Memorial Shelter between noon and 1 p.m. Judging starts at 1:30 p.m., with the top winner in each of four categories taking home $100. Free samples of contest entries will be available around 3:30 p.m.

Food vendors include the Lenexa Historical Society's Wimpy Burgers and spinach balls, The Good Lemon Drink Co.'s specialty spinach lemonade, Eat Schmidt's spinach artichoke dip and Echo City Concessions' spinach and green apple cotton candy.

All food vendor spaces are full for 2026.

Beyond food, the festival features live music, history talks at the 125th Shelter covering Historic Trails, the Jefferson Highway and the Interurban Railroad, and Popeye and Olive Oyl character appearances from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event traces its roots to 1982, when the Lenexa Historical Society launched it as an arts-and-crafts gathering. It added a spinach focus the following year, a nod to the city's 1930s reputation as the Spinach Capital of the World. Bruce Daniel, president of the historical society, told Kansas City Magazine in a 2019 feature that the community keeps the tradition alive because residents take pride in their city, calling it "one of the reasons the festivals are always so successful."

On-site parking is limited. Free satellite parking is available at the Lenexa Place Business Park at 95th Street and Lackman Road, with free shuttles running roughly every 10 minutes throughout the day. Limited handicapped parking is available at the Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center lot at 8801 Greenway Lane.

The festival is presented by Lenexa Parks & Recreation and AdventHealth. For more information, residents can call (913) 477-7170 or visit lenexa.com.

Upcoming community events: Residents can find a full calendar of Lenexa festivals and activities at lenexa.com.