Juneteenth Heritage Festival
Last year, June 19 was officially recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorating the end of slavery in the US. This year, Kansas City’s 18th and Vine District is expecting more than ten thousand people to attend its Juneteenth heritage festival, which will be themed “United We Stand.” The festival will host over two hundred retail and food vendors, a kids zone with things like giant puppets and face painting, live music from The Rude Boys and others, an outdoor skating rink and talks from important KC figures. This year, Paseo to Truman will be blocked off for the festival, encompassing the entire Jazz District and several city blocks.
Saturday, June 18. Noon–9 pm. 18th and Vine District, KCMO.
Kip Moore
With the sweaty, sticky mess that the KC Live! crowd becomes on those wild Hot Country Nights, Kip Moore’s low, gravelly voice will be much appreciated. Since his release of “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck” in 2011, he’s been a reigning force in country music—which is great for those country-music lovers looking to put on their cowboy boots and grab a cold beer on a Thursday night.
Thursday, June 16. 5 pm. KC Live!
The Kansas City Canaries
The Kansas City Canaries are a dance troupe dedicated to preserving the traditions of jazz-era chorus girls. They’ve recently performed with the KC jazz orchestra at the Kauffman Center and on this night will perform at Nighthawk, the club below the Hotel Kansas City.
Saturday, June 18. 9 pm. Nighthawk.
Boulevardia
The two-day street festival is back, featuring a stacked musical lineup including Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Dashboard Confessional, and brews from both local and national favorites like 4 Hands and Lagunitas.
Friday, June 17, 4 pm. Saturday, June 18, 11 am. Crown Center.
Pride Bar Crawl
The fifth annual pride crawl starts at John’s Big Deck and continues to favorites like Grinder’s and Lifted Spirits Distillery which feature special deals for the crawl, before finishing at Double Tap with a late-night afterparty.
Saturday, June 18, 4 pm. John’s Big Deck.
Monster Jam
Come see larger and louder-than-life monster trucks roll over and around each other at KC’s beloved GEHA field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Saturday, June 18, 7 pm. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Lunchtime Lecture: Lavender 101 at Powell Gardens
Cultivate a love for lavender at Powell Gardens’ Lavender 101 Lunchtime Lecture. Members receive a 10% discount on this ninety-minute class about everyone’s favorite herb-based essential oil. Given in partnership with Shelti Farms, the class will give tips on growing lavender successfully and taste samples of lavender used as a culinary herb. Included in the price is a boxed lunch and drink.
Saturday, June 18. 11:30 am-1 pm. Powell Gardens.
Night Market in Shawnee
Downtown Shawnee’s famous night markets, also known as Moonlight Markets, will be hosted every third Thursday evening through October. You can shop for fresh veggies and local goods from market vendors while enjoying live music and cold beer—without the hot summer sun beating down on you and your produce.
June 16, July 21, August 18. Downtown Shawnee.
Clay County Juneteenth BBQ Contest
Join the Clay County African American Legacy (CCAAL) for its annual two-day Juneteenth celebration in downtown Liberty. The event runs Friday and Saturday this week, with the BBQ competition held by the Kansas City Barbeque Society on Saturday. The Clay County Juneteenth festival will also feature blues and jazz music, and a special dedication of the African American Legacy Memorial at Fairview New Hope Cemetery.
Saturday, June 18. Downtown Liberty.
Tivoli Under the Stars
Tivoli Under the Stars is back for its second season, meeting every Friday night to screen a different film. Each ticket purchase includes an eight-foot “pod” of dedicated Nelson Atkins lawn that seats up to four people (five if the fifth is a child under three years old), movie tickets for four, museum admission for four, and garage parking for two cars. Food and drink are available from the Walking Snack Bar. Curated by Jerry Harrington, Tivoli Under the Stars is committed to continuing the legacy of Tivoli Cinema in a new outdoor setting.
Friday, June 10-Friday, July 29. Showtimes vary. The Nelson-Atkins. See more info here.
Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow
Starting this Friday Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow, a new and haunting exhibition highlighting the decades between emancipation and the age of Jim Crow, will be on display at the National WWI Museum. The exhibit comes from the New-York Historical Society and has been enhanced by items from the WWI Museum’s collection. “This exhibition is important and relevant especially in light of the Buffalo shooting last week,” Karis Erwin says. “It’s disturbing, and we want people to sit with that and think.”
Through Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. The Wiley Gallery at the National WWI Museum and Memorial.