Here are thirteen great things to do in Kansas City this weekend, June 13-16, including: Say Anything, Monster Jam, Boulevardia and Breakaway.
Mini Golf At The Museum
It’s back! A summer highlight, Art Course offers an artist-designed mini-golf adventure within the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Every Friday through Sunday, you can play nine unique holes, each offering a creative spin on a masterpiece from the museum’s collection.
May 16–August 25. Regular museum hours Thursday–Monday. Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.
Disney100: The Exhibition
Featuring over 250 artifacts, props, and costumes, Disney100: The Exhibition gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Disney’s most popular characters, films and shows. KC is one of the first three cities to host the North American tour of this special, historic exhibit.
May 24–November 30. Bank of America Gallery at Union Station.
Coffee Club At Central Park
Parents can take a break to caffeinate with Brew Haha Coffee House and enjoy the fresh air in Central Park while the kids play at the playground, splash fountain and more every Thursday morning during summer. Pop-ups and activities change weekly. This week is a dance party with kid’s musician DJ Miles, activities by White Farmhouse Flower Truck, MCPL mobile library with free books for kids & teens and Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro selling treats.
June 13. 9-11 am. Central Park (Zona Rosa).
An Evening with Ari Shapiro
Ari Shapiro has been a beloved reporter for NPR for over two decades. In this special presentation in honor of the library’s 150th anniversary, Shapiro discusses his work and the power of stories and storytelling to foster connection. His presentation will be preceded by a reception with Ensemble Ibérica featuring Beau Bledsoe, Amado Espinoza, and Ezgi Karakus, performing music from around the world. Food and drinks will also be provided.
Jun 13. Reception, 6 pm. Show at 7 pm. Central Library, Kirk Hall.
Niko Moon
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights is back for the summer season, bringing renowned country artists every Thursday to KC Live! in P&L. This week, chart-topping country artist Niko Moon performs, whose breakout as a solo act in 2019 earned him mainstream success, collaborating with musicians like Avicii and Pitbull.
June 13. 6 pm. KC Live!
Say Anything
LA-based rock band Say Anything rose to prominence in the early 2000s, in the height of the new wave of emo-rock that would define a generation of millennials. The Max Bemis-fronted band is on a 20th anniversary tour for the band’s most iconic album …Is A Real Boy. Say Anything is joined by openers folk-punk band AJJ and rock band Greet Death.
June 13. 6:30 pm. Uptown Theater.
Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony
Kansas City Symphony Presents Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony with conductor Michael Stern. Gustav Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony is one of his greatest and most emotional works. Soprano Joelle Harvey and mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor, along with the chorus and symphony, create a transcendent show. Mahler considered “Resurrection” his personal favorite of his symphonies and it took him seven years to complete. With moments of tenderness to extravagant displays of power, this symphony illustrates the ups and downs of the journey of life.
June 14 & 15. 8 pm. June 16. 2 pm. Helzberg Hall.
Boulevardia
The annual Boulevardia Festival is hosted at Crown Center by Boulevard Brewing Company and as usual, this three-day festival will have ongoing live music—with Milky Chance headlining on June 14. Along with a weekend of entertainment, the festival will have a makers market, food and craft beer vendors. Bonus: Boulevardia’s roller skating party.
June 14 & 15. Crown Center.
Breakaway
The national touring Breakaway Festival returns to KC for the third year in a row, bringing some of the biggest names in electronic dance music, along with festival favorites like silent disco, food trucks, outdoor bars and other fun summertime activities.
Breakaway originated in Columbus, Ohio, and co-founder Adam Lynn says the cities are comparable—expanding the festival to KC was a no-brainer. “We don’t have a Coachella or Lollapalooza, so why don’t we have something really cool like this? Breakaway is more of a smaller, homegrown exciting event. We just wanted to bring something here for our friends and the local community. There will definitely be an act that you want to see playing at all times,” Lynn says. “We try to really tap into the local community as well and curate a little food village of good local cuisines. It’s become a national festival, but we’re keeping it cool and localized.”
The festival includes dozens of performances by national music festival artists Tiësto and Two Friends as well as local DJs.
June 14 & 15. Azura Amphitheater.
STOMP
International percussion sensation STOMP is an eight-member troupe that uses everything but conventional percussion instruments—matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps—to fill the stage with unexpected rhythms.
June 14–16. 8 pm. Starlight Theatre.
Big Shoal Vintage Auto Show
The Big Shoal Vintage Auto Show, which is free and open to the public, hosts an array of pre-1980s automobiles, local food trucks and a vintage attire contest with a super secret prize.
June 15. 11 am–3 pm. Atkins-Johnson Farm.
Monster Jam
Sometimes you want to go to the opera. Sometimes you just need to watch oversized Matchbox cars tumble over each other in the dirt. And that’s okay. Life is about balance. This year, there will also be a Monster Jam Pit Party held beforehand where fans can see the massive trucks up close, meet their favorite drivers and crews, get autographs and take pictures. Other activities include the sandbox play area, inflatable slides, Spin Master remote control truck course, coloring and temporary tattoo station and photo ops.
June 15. 7 pm (Pit Party 2-5:30 pm). GEHA field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Summer Outdoor Movies In The Park
Zona Rosa will be showing both new movies and classic flicks in their free, family-friendly outdoor movie nights all summer long. Grab a blanket or lawn chair and find a spot in North Park (the green space South of Dillard’s). This Saturday’s movie is Wonka.
June 15. 8:45 pm. Zona Rosa.
The Heart Of America Shakespeare Festival
Neighbors of Southmoreland Park, next to the Nelson and KC Art Institute, will tell you they know it’s summer when they see the outdoor theater scaffolding go up in the park. This year, the festival will present Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The summer Shakespeare performances start June 11, but run weekends through the end of June.
June 11–30. Weekends. Gates open 6 pm, show at 8 pm. Southmoreland Park.
