Tiki Tidings
Now- Dec. 31
Regular Christmas-themed pop-up pubs are fine and all, but wouldn’t it be better with a Tiki twist? That’s the idea behind Sippin’ Santa at Julep, which opened Nov. 25 and runs through New Years Eve. Julep has been transformed with Polynesian decor and is serving cocktails developed by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, a Tiki revivalist whose book Beachbum Berry’s Grog Log has a cult following among the Hawaiian shirt set. Among the drinks are the Kris Kringle Colada and the Christmas Eve Destruction, plus the shareable rum punch bowl served in a hot tub. The festive glassware is available for purchase if you’re working on your Zombie recipe at your home hutch.
GO: Sippin’ Santa at Julep, 4141 Pennsylvania Ave., KCMO. Through Dec. 31.
Jurassic World Live
Nov. 29-Dec. 1
Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., KCMO
A forty-foot Tyrannosaurus so lifelike you can smell the Triceratops on its breath comes to the Sprint Center as part of the high-tech cast of this original story.
Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
Dec. 1, 1 pm
Arrowhead Stadium, 1 Arrowhead Drive, KCMO
December brings the Chiefs a slate of pivotal home games against divisional rivals, starting with this matchup against Chucky Gruden’s resurgent Raiders.
Kim Petras
Dec. 1, 8 pm
The Truman, 601 E. Truman Road, KCMO
The newest prodigy of electropop, Kim Petras has a voice big enough to shine over her music’s party-ready production. Her first Kansas City show caps a prolific year that included two albums and collaborations with Charli XCX and Slayyyter.
TubaChristmas
Dec. 2 & 6, noon
Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., KCMO
So many tubas. Big tubas, little tubas. Tubas played by world-class tubists, tubas played by beginners. All playing Christmas songs during your lunch hour. So many tubas.
Bernhardt/Hamlet
Dec. 4-29
Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main St., KCMO
Over a century ago, French actress Sarah Bernhardt used her star power to play Shakespeare’s male leads. Theresa Rebeck, creator of the TV series Smash, chronicles how she did it in the comedy Bernhardt/Hamlet.
The Nutcracker
Dec. 5-24
Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., KCMO
The Kansas City Ballet’s grand production of the Christmas classic remains a must-see holiday event with exquisite costumes and sets.
Handel’s Messiah
Dec. 6-8
Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., KCMO
Catch the Kauffman’s other Christmas tradition in its other theater: a nearly two hundred-strong performance of the Messiah by the Kansas City Symphony Chorus.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Dec. 7, 3 & 8 pm
Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., KCMO
Christmas-themed prog rock act Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings its military-grade arsenal of pyrotechnics and lasers to the Sprint Center to shred some holiday classics.
Village of Vale
Dec. 9, 7 pm
Spencer Theatre, 4949 Cherry St., KCMO
It’s a treat for an already well-formed show to come to KCRep’s Monday Night Playwright Series. For one night only, Village of Vale, a fantasy musical following a traveler and the villagers she meets, will be the town’s hottest show.
Bobby Rush
Dec. 13, 8:30 pm
Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester Ave., KCMO
Elvis didn’t call it a blue Christmas for nothing — but blues innovator Bobby Rush will make you feel like he invented the phrase when his full band puts blue notes on holiday hits.
UMKC vs. KU
Dec. 14, 4 pm
Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., KCMO
It’ll be one more year until the Jayhawks play Mizzou to end the spat that started when the Tigers leveled up to the most prestigious collegiate athletic conference, the SEC.
With the traditional Border War game on ice for another year, Bill Self’s squad will instead battle the UMKC Kangaroos.
Tech N9ne
Dec. 14, 7 pm
Silverstein Eye Centers Arena, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway, Independence
Tech N9ne brings the usual suspects — rapper Krizz Kaliko and singer Mackenzie Nicole, among others — together for a charity concert.
Blackalicious
Dec. 14, 8 pm
recordBar, 1520 Grand Blvd., KCMO
Before “Alphabet Aerobics” became a meme, the Blackalicious duo won critical raves for their sophisticated wordplay. This tour marks the 20th anniversary of their classic debut, Nia.
A Magical Cirque Christmas
Dec. 17, 8 pm
Music Hall, 301 W. 13th St., KCMO
This Cirque du Soleil spinoff combines a classic holiday soundtrack with the company’s signature style of acrobatics and illusions.
Symphony Christmas Festival
Dec. 20-23
Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., KCMO
The Kauffman Center wraps the Symphony, the Symphony Chorus and even a handbell ensemble together in one pretty box and puts a bow on top.
Kwanzaa: Ujima
Dec. 26-31, 6 pm
Gem Theater, 1615 E. 18th St., KCMO
Every night brings something new at the historic 18th & Vine District’s flagship Kwanzaa celebration. Peruse local vendors at an African market before community organizations present performances and speakers.
Chris Tucker
Dec. 27, 8 pm
Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway, KCMO
Before Friday and Rush Hour, Chris Tucker was a star on HBO’s generation-defining standup series Def Comedy Jam.
NYE Live!
Dec. 31, 8 pm
KC Live, 13 Grand Blvd., KCMO
Power & Light, with its skyscrapers and neon signage, is Kansas City’s own Times Square and therefore the place to be on New Year’s Eve.
Black Party
Dec. 31, 8 pm
Studio Dan Meiners, 2500 W. Pennway St., KCMO
Get your ticket first, then pick out your outfit for the one of city’s most exclusive New Year’s Eve parties.
Making Movies
Dec. 31, 9 pm
The Truman, 601 E. Truman Road, KCMO
Local Latin rock band Making Movies has created one of the city’s more interesting New Year’s Eve celebrations, playing an influential record front to back. This year, it’s The Clash’s Combat Rock, which includes “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Rock the Casbah.”
