Here are ten things to do in KC this weekend, June 25—28 including Secret Rhythm Society, The Wiz and Great Lenexa BBQ Battle.
FIFA Fan Festival
After months of buzz (and construction), the World Cup has finally arrived in Kansas City. If you couldn’t get your hands on tickets to a match, FIFA Fan Festival is hosting watch parties across the month-long festivities—complete with live music, food and drink. Held downtown on the lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, headliners include Flo Rida, Cimafunk and KC’s own Tech N9ne, as well as an extensive lineup of local talents like Hailes, Brass and Boujee, Making Movies and Hembree. Admission is free, but passes must be reserved ahead of time.
June 11—July 11. Times and dates vary. National WWI Museum and Memorial.
Secret Rhythm Society
Set in an underground speakeasy, this new Quixotic production transports audiences to KC’s Jazz Age. Secret Rhythm Society’s multifaceted cast includes jazz singers, tap dancers, aerialists and more for an immersive show at a fitting venue—the Folly Theater. Also known as the Grand Lady of 12th Street, this historic venue got its start as a burlesque house over a century ago.
June 26-July 18. Times Vary. Folly Theater.
Great Lenexa BBQ Battle
The designated Kansas State Championship returns to Lenexa for its 42nd annual cook-off. From backyard hobbyists to professional pitmasters, this competition features approximately 150 teams smoking ribs, briskets and more. Friday night is open to the public as a festival with music, plenty of barbecue and kids activities. On Saturday, the focus shifts to the competition, but visitors are still welcome to stroll the park to take in the sights and smells of the contest.
June 26 & 27. Times vary. Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park.
Chris Hazelton Quartet
Organist Chris Hazelton says he wants to show audiences that “mainstream jazz can still have a nice groove” and, with his soulful renditions of standards, he does just that. In the West Bottoms, Hazelton is joined by some of KC’s best: Vibraphonist Peter Schlamb, saxophonist Brett Jackson and drummer John Kizilarmut. Admission is free.
June 25. 7 pm. The Ship.
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival
Since 1990, Heart of American Shakespeare Festival has brought the Bard’s work to KC audiences for free on the lawn of Southmoreland Park. This year, the festival presents one of the playwright’s most famous and frequently adapted works, Macbeth. Pack a blanket or lawn chairs for this five-act tragedy, which is Shakespeare’s shortest.
June 16–July 5, Tuesdays–Sundays. 8 pm. Southmoreland Park.
FIFA World Cup: Austria vs. Algeria
KC hosts its third match of the World Cup, welcoming Austria and Algeria. With three points each, both teams currently stand in the middle of the Group J table, though Austria has a superior goal differential.
June 27. 9 pm. Kansas City Stadium (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium).
The Wiz
Ease on down the road to Music Theater Heritage’s production of The Wiz. When this interpretation of The Wizard of Oz made its Broadway debut in 1974, it took home seven Tony awards and was soon followed by a film adaptation starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Reimagined through the lens of the Black American experience, The Wiz follows Dorothy—a teacher in Harlem—as she’s transported into a fantastical, urbanized Oz. With hits like “You Can’t Win” and “Home,” she picks up a few friends on her journey back to Manhattan.
June 11–July 5. Times vary. Grand Theater at Crown Center.
“The World in Kansas City”
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art celebrates the KC World Cup matches with its latest exhibition, “The World in Kansas City.” Representative not only of the global event but also of KC as a multicultural hub, the exhibit features a diverse array of artists with ties to the region. Curator Jessica S. Hong says the display aims to showcase “how we all belong to a shared, complicated and nuanced social and cultural fabric.”
March 6–August 9. Times vary. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
Mini Golf At The Museum
It’s back! Art Course offers an artist-designed mini-golf adventure within the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Play nine unique holes, each offering a creative spin on a masterpiece from the museum’s collection.
April 10—October 25. Times vary. Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.
Coffee Club At Central Park
Each Thursday morning throughout the summer, families can enjoy the fresh air in Zona Rosa’s Central Park while the kids play at the playground and splash fountain, along with rotating pop-ups and activities. This week, the series kicks off with a giveaway and a visit from Mid-Continent Library’s book mobile.
May 28—July 30. 9 am. Central Park (Zona Rosa).
