Special to GUIDON

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Major League Baseball is bringing the All-Star Game to Kauffman Stadium this year, but before the players take the field, Kansas City will host a slew of events and activities for fans, spearheaded by the MLB All-Star FanFest this weekend.

FanFest events are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Monday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kansas City Convention Center. Now in its 22nd year, the MLB All-Star FanFest transforms host cities into interactive baseball theme parks and bills itself as the largest baseball fan event in the world with exhibits and activities designed for families and fans of all ages. This year’s MLB All-Star FanFest will feature interactive displays and seminars, autograph sessions with Kanas City Royals legends and Hall of Famers, memorabilia and more. All attractions are included with the price of admission.

Tickets to the All-Star FanFest are $30 for adults, $25 for children ages 12 and younger, seniors ages 65 and older, college students and military service members. Children 2 and younger get in free. Family discounts are also available. Tickets are available online at mlb.mlb.
com/mlb/events/all_star/y2012/fanfest_tickets.jsp.

Other activities celebrating
the All-Star Game include the following:

— The Grand Slam Fan Jam takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday just outside the convention center at Barney Allis Plaza. This event offers residents and visitors alike the opportunity to experience some of Kansas City’s unique flavors through food, local music, arts and crafts, a kid’s play area and fun activities for the whole family. Admission is free. For details, visit www.visitkc.com/events/event-details/index.aspx?id=30955.

— KC Baseball History Trolley Tours are scheduled at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday at the Crown Center. Tour-goers will pass the site of the Muehlebach and later, Municipal Stadium and KC’s many other historic baseball sites. Tickets are $30 and pre-registration is required. For details, visit www.kc
museum100.org and click on the “Events” link.

— The Baseball Fan Fest Weekend Concert featuring David Nail, who recently released his second album, “The Sound of a Million Dreams.” The concert takes place at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Kansas City Power & Light District and is open to the public. The show is for fans ages 21 and older. For details, visit www.powerand
lightdistrict.com.

— Taco Bell All-Star Sunday features a fun All-Star doubleheader Sunday at Kauffman Stadium as part of All-Star Summer. Events include the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game. Admission prices range from $50 to $100 per person. Check out www.visitkc.com/
events/event-details/index.aspx?
id=30620 for details.

— The MLB All-Star Game Charity 5K and Fun Run presented by Nike takes place Sunday in downtown Kansas City. Registration ranges from $15 to $35. Visit www.allstar5k-mlb.com/
home.do to register or form more info.

— Gatorade All-Star Workout Day featuring the State Farm Home Run Derby takes place at
7 p.m. Monday at Kauffman Stadium. Tickets start at $200 per person. For more information, visit mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/
y2012/all_star_tickets.jsp.

— The Free Home Run Derby Watch Party takes place at 7 p.m. Monday at the Kansas City Power and Light District. Fans can watch the action live for free. Visit www.powerandlightdistrict.com for more details. Fans ages 21 and older can stick around for a Baseball Fan Fest Weekend Concert featuring Little Big Town at 10 p.m.

The 2012 MLB All-Star Game begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Fans will fill the stadium and can also join several community watch parties at the Crown Center, Guadalupe Center, downtown Kansas City at 18th and Vine, Zona Rosa and the Kansas City Zoo.

For more information about these or other events in Kansas City, get online and point your browser to VisitKC.com.

(Editor’s note: Information from this story provided by the Missouri Division of Tourism, VisitKC.com and Major League Baseball.)