2025 Heart of America
Hot Dog Festival

Featured Acts

Eric Benét

Silk

Rose Royce

Larry Dodson

Jeanette Harris

Tom Browne

We’re GRILLIN’ & GROOVIN’ again at the 2025 Heart of America Hotdog Festival, presented by Hy-Vee, 3:00 pm-11:00 pm, Saturday, August 9th in the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District.

Don’t miss a sizzling musical lineup featuring Silk & Eric Benét with live band concert performances by: Jeanette Harris, Tom Browne, Rose Royce, and Larry Dodson.

The event features live entertainment, your favorite ballpark foods, local food trucks and more.
Created by the NLBM in 2013, the Hotdog Festival celebrates the historical connection between our national pastime and the All-America hotdog! Proceeds benefit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM).

Festival gates will open at 3:00 pm with performances beginning at 3:30 pm.

Advanced General Admission Tickets

(now through July 25)

General Admission
Tickets

(after July 25th and day of Festival)

Child Tickets

Tickets can be purchased the day of the festival. Children must be accompanied by an Adult with a paid admission.) – (6-12 yrs of age)

VIP Tickets

(limited number of tickets available)
Includes:

  • premium VIP seating
  • festival gift
  • 2 complimentary hotdog
  • 2 complimentary cocktails
  • 1 complimentary bottle of water
  • access to VIP Bar and restrooms

*VIP Experience Tickets WILL NOT BE SOLD THE DAY OF THE FESTIVAL

Service fees are not included.

All ticket sales are final. No refunds or rain checks on the day of the event. The event will NOT be rescheduled .

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

The Great Seal of Missouri featuring two bears, a shield with various symbols, a starry background, and the motto "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" within a circular border.
The Evergy logo features three angled bars in green, blue, and gray next to the word "evergy" in dark blue lowercase letters.
Hill’s logo with a red and blue square design, a white swoosh, and the word "Hill’s" in black text underneath.
The Oscar Mayer logo features bold red text with a yellow and red border on a white background, slightly angled.
Text logo reading "HOT 103 JAMZ!" in bold, pink, brushstroke-style lettering on a transparent background.

All ticket sales are final. No refunds or rain checks on the day of the event. The event will NOT be rescheduled .

FAQ

This event, through food sales, is a major fundraiser for the NLBM. We will provide a delicious variety of Hot Dogs, snacks and specialty offerings, along with water, soda, and adult beverages (must be 21 to order alcohol). There are NO FREE food offerings or give-away promotions for food at the festival.

The main entrance will be on the east side of Paseo near 18th Street. There will be a designated lane for advanced ticket holders to enter the festival faster. Once you enter the festival, there is NO reentry except in cases in extreme emergency situations.

All activities are scheduled outdoors in a secure fenced area on Paseo Blvd bordered by east 18th Street (south) and Truman Road (north). The perimeter was established for event ticket holders only.

Lawn chairs can be brought into the festival grounds. Please be mindful that umbrellas are not allowed inside the festival.

Although this is an outdoor environment, smoking is not allowed under festival tents and will be discouraged on the festival grounds per instructions from the KCFD-Fire Marshall.

Children must be accompanied AT ALL TIMES by an adult while on the festival grounds.

Please note signage for no parking areas. Vehicles may be ticketed and towed. There are no reserved parking spaces. Additional details at a later time will be provided.

Please refer to the vendor application forms below.

PLEASE PRINT ALL ONLINE TICKET RECIEPTS TO EXCHANGE FOR SECURE FESTIVAL WRISTBANDS AT THE ENTRANCE. Please be prepared to show proof of purchase.

This is a rain or shine event, scheduled for August 3rd, 2025. No refunds or rainchecks on the day of the event. The event will not be rescheduled.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum will be open for its regular hours 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Museums at 18th & Vine complex will close at 5:00 pm.

Outside food, drinks, coolers or large cooler bags, and outside alcohol are prohibited from being brought onto the festival grounds. Food and drinks will be sold at the festival. Also, please do not bring tents or canopies, and umbrellas.

Only assistive animals (as well as those part of any entertainment) are allowed on the festival grounds.

Portable restroom facilities and hand washing stations will be available on the festival grounds.

The festival grounds and parking areas will be patrolled by uniformed members of the Kansas City Police department and contracted private security. A security checkpoint will be placed at each entrance to the festival. All patrons must pass through the security checkpoints. No concealed or open carry weapons of any kind will be allowed on the festival grounds. Please secure any other items in the trunk of your car.

The festival grounds and parking areas will be patrolled by uniformed members of the Kansas City Police department and contracted private security. A security checkpoint will be placed at each entrance to the festival. All patrons must pass through the security checkpoints. No concealed or open carry weapons of any kind will be allowed on the festival grounds. Please secure any other items in the trunk of your car.

– One-gallon clear zip-seal bag (Ziploc® bag or similar).
– Small clutch bags that do not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″, with or without a handle or strap, may be carried into the festival along with one of the clear bag options.
– An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.
– No hand sanitizer will be allowed. All outside drinks and bottles will be asked to be thrown away at the main entrance gates before entry into the festival.

Vendor Opportunities

Send all completed Food Vendor and Retail Vendor applications to Cathie Moss at cmoss@nlbm.com. Please note all approved applications must be coordinated directly with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. No third-party vendors will be accepted. Submitting an application doesn’t guarantee approval.