Kearney, Missouri is located in Clay County about 15 minutes north of Kansas City and has a population of 8,381. Each September, the city hosts an annual festival celebrating its distinction as the birthplace of outlaw Jesse James. The James farm with the original house and Jesse James’s burial site are a popular tourist attraction. The Kearney School District serves about 3,500 families in Kearney and northern Clay County.
With the Labor Day holiday coming, it is exciting to have Kearney's Labor Day Races back! The Optimist Club of Kearney has been conducting the races for over 50 plus years on Labor Day starting at 10:00 a.m. The festivities are on Washington Street right in front of city hall. There are all types of fun races for kiddos to participate in. Tricycle, bicycle, sack races, three-legged races, and of course the hilarious egg toss. Even adults are let in on all the fun! If you don't have a child to bring, come on out to watch and cheer the kids on. Guaranteed it will be a highlight of your holiday weekend.