Here are eighteen things to do in KC this weekend, September 17—20 including Kansas City FilmFest International, La bohéme and New Dance Partners.
Kansas City FilmFest International
Kansas City FilmFest International returns for its 30th year, welcoming local and international filmmakers alike for approximately 100 feature-length films and shorts. A standout includes Sharon Leise’s Seized, an investigative documentary that follows the police raid of the rural Kansas newspaper Marion County Record and the stress-induced death of the publication’s 98-year-old co-owner that followed. The festival will also screen Robert Altman’s Kansas City, a local classic—largely filmed at Union Station and in the Jazz District—that debuted years ago.
Through a partnership with the Kansas City Film Office, viewers will also get a first look at previews from two unreleased films that were shot in KC: Tim Gagliardo’s Broken Ones, a legal thriller starring Terrence Howard and Kate Bosworth, and Mike Luciano’s dark comedy Transcending, a project written by KC native Raleigh Cain that features locals like Saturday Night Live alum Heidi Gardner and singer-songwriter Kevin Morby.
September 18–20. Times vary. AMC Ward Parkway.
Summit Fair Fall Festival
Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair makes its Lees Summit debut, bringing its curated makers market to Summit Fair. At this free festival, support local creatives and browse a wide range of handcrafted goods, autumn decor, artwork, treats and more.
September 19. 10 am. Summit Fair.
Kansas City Public Library Presents Twilight
View the vampire cult classic Twilight at this KC Public Library rooftop screening. The movie follows protagonist Bella Swan’s move to the Northwest to live with her father, where she learns about the secretive world of vampires and werewolves. There vampire Edward Cullen and werewolf Jacob Black fight for Swan’s mortal heart while a supernatural threat unfolds, putting Bella’s life in danger.
September 18. 8:45 pm. Kansas City Public Library — Central Library.
Hallmarket Art Festival
This local art fair showcases the work of Hallmark employees and retirees, spanning ceramics, photography, fine art and more. The free, all-ages festival offers a chance to interact with the artists and learn more about what they do outside of their 9-to-5s. The event also features live music, hands-on activities and local food vendors.
September 19. 10 am. Crown Center.
Robert Plant
The former Led Zeppelin lead singer, famous for such iconic songs as “Stairway to Heaven” and “Whole Lotta Love,” will perform alongside Suzi Dian in a band called Saving Grace. While Plant gained success through his rock and roll lyricism and performance style, his new music is inspired by traditional folk music. On tour, Saving Grace will be performing its debut self-titled album, featuring hits like “Everybody’s Song” and “Gospel Plough.”
September 19. 8 pm. Helzberg Hall.
Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents La bohéme
The Lyric Opera of Kansas City will open its season with the intimately tragic tale of La bohème. Composed by Giacomo Puccini, this Italian opera tells a story of love and loss on the streets of Paris in the 1830s. Mimi, a young seamstress, falls in love with Rodolfo the poet, and amid their tumultuous circumstances they are set for a devastating end.
September 19, 25 & 27. Times vary. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
Deaf Cultural Festival
The Nelson-Atkins’ Deaf Cultural Festival celebrates the history of art in the deaf and hard of hearing communities. For more than a decade, this annual festival has featured hands-on art activities, art from deaf and hard of hearing perspectives, and American Sign Language interpretations throughout museum areas.
September 19. 10 am. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Snap Space: The Distance Between
In M. Willie Garcia’s mixed media print installation The Distance Between at the Kansas City Artists Coalition, the printmaker explores what it means to live alongside the unknown. Garcia draws from science, science fiction and personal identity to explore space and invites viewers to reflect on their place within a universe that has been expanding for 13.8 billion years. As a printmaker, Garcia has worked throughout the Kansas City area and has had work featured abroad in the “Sumi-Fusion” Mokuhanga exhibition in Nara, Japan.
September 18—November 6. Times vary. Kansas City Artists Coalition.
Come From Away
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11, KCRep opens its 2026–27 season with a Tony Award-winning musical based on the terrorist attack. Come From Away, set in the Canadian town of Gander, follows the story of the 7,000 rerouted airline passengers and the small town’s outpouring of support.
September 1–20. Times vary. Spencer Theatre.
KC Live! Chiefs Watch Party
Power and Light is celebrating football season right with the city’s largest Chiefs watch party. With live DJs, giveaways, trivia and more, doors open two hours before kickoff, amping up the excitement as the Chiefs face off against the Indianapolis Colts.
September 20. 7:20 pm. KC Live!
New Dance Partners: The Ultimate Collaboration
New Dance Partners features four exciting world-premiere performances driven by the artistic synergy of choreographers all over KC. The Kansas City Ballet, Owen/Cox Dance Group, Störling Dance Theater and Regina Klenjoski Dance Company all come together in this annual two-day show featuring modern and contemporary performances.
September 18–19. 7:30 pm. Yardley Hall.
Terra Luna
Immerse yourself in the Overland Park Arboretum via a guided multimedia experience curated by none other than Quixotic Entertainment. Stroll through the gardens while taking in the live music, light displays and dancers in avant-garde costuming. Take time before you enter the magic of this futuristic event to enjoy food and beverage trucks at the Visitor Center.
September 10–12 & 17–19. Times vary. Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.
Songbird Sessions
Each Sunday evening through November, non-profit organization Manor Records spotlights KC musicians with concert series Songbird Sessions. This week features saxophonist Henry Scamurra.
September 20. 6 pm. ArtsKC.
Mobile Music Box
The Kansas City Symphony’s free, metro-wide outdoor concert series, Mobile Music Box, returns for the fall season. This weekend, the portable stage will make a stop at AdventHealth’s Lenexa campus as orchestra musicians deliver a chamber music performance.
September 20. 6:30 pm. AdventHealth Lenexa City Center.
Kansas City Underground Film Festival
The Kansas City Underground Film Festival showcases new, independent movies from both local and international filmmakers. The films come from all genres and are chosen for their thoughtful perspectives. Along with free screenings, the festival organizes Q&As and other educational programming.
September 11–19. Times vary. Charlotte Street Foundation.
Eureka Day
When this comical, satirical play made its Off-Broadway debut in 2019, no one anticipated how timely it would soon become. The Tony Award-winning play follows a mumps outbreak at Eureka Day School, moving the Board of Directors to reconsider its vaccination policy. It soon becomes apparent that, no matter the decision, not everyone will be satisfied with the new guidelines. This Kansas City Actors Theatre production stars Teisha M. Bankston, John Rensenhouse, and Cinnamon Schultz.
September 9–27. Times vary. City Stage Theatre (Union Station).
KC Renaissance Festival
Take a step back in time at Kansas City’s Renaissance Festival. The annual fair transports visitors to the Renaissance with cosplay, costumes and live entertainment such as jousting matches and folk music. There will be food and drinks, handmade goods and immersive activities throughout the festival, enhancing the creative and playful atmosphere.
September 5–October 18 (Saturdays and Sundays only). 633 N. 130th Street. Bonner Springs.
Kansas City Taco Festival
Feast on soft corn tortillas, marinated meats and fiery salsa at Kansas City Taco Festival. With more than 100 styles of tacos, the Power & Light District event also includes mariachi performances, margarita bars, lucha libre wrestling, a hot pepper eating contest and more.
September 19. 2 pm. KC Live!
