Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there are 98 sizzling summer nights. With the warm weather and late sunsets, it’s the perfect time to take most any activity outdoors. From just lingering on a lawn and gazing at the stars to eating al fresco and enjoying an outdoor performance or game of mini golf, we’ve got you covered. Here’s KC magazine’s bucket list of summer evening to-dos.
1. Art Course Mini Golf
A delightful treat, mini golf at the Nelson-Atkins’s Art Course is open until 9 pm on Thursdays and Fridays until September. Stroll beneath the lawn trees while experiencing “a creative interpretation of a work of art in the museum’s collection” across each of the course’s nine holes. Also, every Art Course ticket includes general admission to the Nelson-Atkins in case you need some air conditioning before your tee time. Snacks and adult beverages are available for purchase. For more information or to purchase tickets beforehand, visit nelson-atkins.org.
2. Arts in the Park
The two-day celebration of Kansas City’s creative community returns on June 13 and 14 to Macken Park in North Kansas City with live music, roaming performances and a lively beer garden. Additionally, the kids’ zone proclaims the inclusion of both bounce houses and a petting zoo in case the kiddos have some excess energy before bed. Arts in the Park also champions the next generation of creatives through its Youth Art and Entrepreneurship Program, giving young artists a platform to exhibit and sell their work. For more information on this free event, visit artsinthepark.org.
3. Backyard Movies
Located on the downtown strip in North Kansas City, Screenland Armour offers the Backyard Movie series, projected against their building from the parking lot. Bring your own chair, and grab popcorn and a drink from the concession stand inside. If you need to kill some time before sundown, you can always hit Mitch e Amaro or District Biskuits. The Screenland curation is always a treat, with past selections ranging from Dirty Dancing to Shrek to Mission Impossible. Find show listings and tickets at screenland.com.
4. Chicken N Pickle
With locations in North Kansas City and Overland Park, Chicken N Pickle remains one of the area’s most accessible options for outdoor evening activity (with adjacent cocktails, beer and food). If pickleball is not your jam, Chicken N Pickle offers a number of other yard games for a bit of friendly competition, such as cornhole, ping-pong, Battleship and Jenga. Book a court or make reservations at chickennpickle.com.
5. Johnson County Theatre in the Park
Outdoor performances return to the Theatre in Shawnee Mission Park this summer with James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Catch Me If You Can, My Fair Lady, and A Disney Double-Feature. You can bring your own chairs and blankets, but dedicated seating is available for an additional charge, too. Refreshments are available for purchase at each performance. For more information and a show schedule, visit theatreinthepark.org.
6. Juneteenth Jazz and Folk Festival
This year’s Kansas City Juneteenth Heritage Festival will be held on Saturday, June 21, in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. Spread across the district and running into the evening, the festival advertises local and national music acts, Black-owned vendors, and food trucks. Previous headliners have included Kelly Price, a nine-time Grammy Award-nominated R&B and gospel singer. For more information, a schedule of the lineup and VIP ticketing, check out juneteenthkc.com.
7. La Casa del Padel
Pronounced arguably either “pa-DELL” or “PA-del,” but never “paddle,” this racket sport is gaining momentum reminiscent of its more familiar cousin, pickleball. Founded by former Sporting KC players, La Casa del Padel in Overland Park is Kansas City’s first facility dedicated to Padel. La Casa del Padel works on a membership system, but they offer free-to-learn classes as well as private events on their outdoor courts. Find out more and book your visit at lacasa-delpadel.com.
8. Moonlight Yoga
Liberty Parks & Rec has partnered with Serenity on the Square to offer Moonlight Yoga at Stocksdale Park. The outdoor evening yoga class is a monthly benefit for the city’s off-leash dog park. Bring a mat or blanket and meet in the grass near the trail by the horseshoe arena. The event is free, but a tax-deductible donation (cash or check) for the Liberty Dog Park is always appreciated. Days and start times vary throughout the summer months. For more information, visit libertymissouri.gov.
9. Off the Wall
Screened on the rooftop of the beautiful Central Library downtown, the Kansas City Public Library’s Off the Wall series shows monthly movies during June, July, August and September. There’s always a yearly theme—previous series have featured cats, Nicholas Cage and Shakespeare-adjacent films. Bring your own seating and alcohol-free refreshments. The library opens at 8 pm, and the films start roughly at dusk. Parking at the library garage next door will be validated. For more information and listings, visit kclibrary.org.
10. Shakespeare in the Park
Returning to Southmoreland Park from June 17 to July 6, KC Shakes’ Heart of America Shakespeare Festival will be performing Love’s Labour’s Lost. General admission tickets are free, but seating is first-come, first-serve. Premium reserved seats and blanket spaces are available for a fee. Gates to the festival open at 6 pm on performance nights. Visitors are allowed to bring their own food and drink inside but are encouraged to support the free event with on-site purchases. For more information, visit kcshakes.org.
11. Tacos and Tequila Festival
The KCK Tacos and Tequila Festival will be at Legends Field on Saturday, June 21. When they say “tacos and tequila,” what they mean is a celebration of Mexican culture, featuring renowned hip-hop artists, craft margaritas, a tequila tasting lounge, street tacos, Lucha Libre wrestling, exotic cars, a beauty pageant and a salsa competition. Kansas City’s iteration of this national series will feature Nelly, Timbaland and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, among many others. For more information on this 21-and-over event, check out tacosandtequilafestival.com.
12. Taste of Kansas City
Returning for its third year, Taste of Kansas City aims to showcase the rich culinary diversity of the area with a Labor Day gathering at Harris Park. Expecting even more local retailers, food and entertainment than last year, Taste of Kansas City is a great way to get outside and try some new dishes from newcomers and old favorites. Or you can just go for the face painting and to get your picture taken with KC Wolf. For more information on this free event and a list of participating locations, check out kcroyaltouch.com.
13. Water Lantern Festival
KC’s Water Lantern Festival is a unique summer event that truly illuminates the summer night. On May 10 at Frank A. Theis Park (across the street from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art), festivalgoers can eat at food trucks, create paper lanterns and enjoy the spectacle. After jotting down your hopes and dreams on your lantern, they are launched on the park’s pond at dusk. The festival begins at 5:30 pm and ends at 9:30 pm. For ticket prices and more information, visit waterlanternfestival.com.
14. WeekEnder at Crown Center
Friday nights from July 11 to Aug. 1, folks are invited to kick off their weekends with local bands, food trucks and movies under the stars at Crown Center. These gatherings begin at 6 pm, with music and food until the movies begin at roughly 9 pm. Admission to the WeekEnder events is free, and visitors are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs (leave the pets and alcoholic beverages at home, though). For more information as well as listings and lineups, visit crowncenter.com.
