Here are ten things to do in KC this weekend, November 20—23 including Samara Joy, Rob Riggle and A Christmas Carol.
Zona Rosa Holiday Lighting Ceremony
Come celebrate the start of the holiday season with the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Zona Rosa, presented by Saint Luke’s North Hospital, North Park. To keep the festive spirit alive, there will be live music performances, jingle bell giveaways, food trucks and an appearance by Santa and other beloved holiday figures. Plus, the shopping center’s ice skating rink is officially open for the season.
November 22. 4 pm. Zona Rosa.
Samara Joy
Grammy Award-winning, awe-inspiring vocalist Samara Joy returns to the Folly Theater. Her last KC performance in 2023 sold out this historic venue, following the acclaimed release of her sophomore album, Linger Awhile. At just 25, Joy is already well established as a legend in her own right, often likened to jazz giants of decades past like Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald.
November 22. 7:30 pm. Folly Theater.
Rob Riggle Presents Grit, Spit and Never Quit
As part of Rainy Day Books’ 50th anniversary events, Rob Riggle comes to KC to talk about his new book, Grit, Spit, and Never Quit: A Marine’s Guide to Comedy and Life. A Marine veteran with credits ranging from The Hangover to The Daily Show, Riggle will share stories from his career in comedy and service.
November 21. 7 pm. Unity Temple on the Plaza.
& Juliet
“O happy dagger, / This is thy sheath”—except the blade never falls. Instead, Juliet drops the dagger, picks up a pen and rewrites her famously tragic ending in Shakespeare’s classic tale. Presented by Broadway Across America at the Kansas City Music Hall, & Juliet shows what happens when Juliet steps beyond others’ expectations, leaving Verona for Paris to claim a second chance at life on her own terms. Featuring pop hits like “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar” and “I Want It That Way,” this musical is a fun, empowering twist on a timeless story.
November 18–23. Kansas City Music Hall.
A Christmas Carol
As always, KCRep welcomes the holiday season with one of Kansas City’s most cherished annual productions, A Christmas Carol. But this year’s show carries a special significance. After more than 1,100 performances since 2000, Gary Neal Johnson will take his final bow as Ebenezer Scrooge. Honoring both the tradition and the man who has been its beating heart for more than two decades, this Charles Dickens classic is the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit.
November 22–December 27. Spencer Theatre.
Festival of Lights
The only thing more beautiful than Powell Gardens in the spring is the botanical garden in the winter, shining with holiday lights. The Festival of Lights is a great opportunity to appreciate the garden’s landscape and architecture while ushering in the holiday spirit. Attendees may enjoy other attractions such as winter plants like poinsettias, local artwork, opportunities to visit Santa and even workshops on how to make holiday decorations and special musical performances.
November 20—January 3. Powell Gardens.
Titanic: An Immersive Voyage
At Titanic: An Immersive Voyage, step aboard this famed and fateful 1912 expedition. The exhibit pairs over 200 artifacts with 3D visuals, life-sized replicas and immersive video.
November 8—April 19. Times vary. Union Station.
Raven Halfmoon
Building on the Kemper Museum’s legacy of visionary commissions, the museum will present a solo exhibition by artist and Native American Raven Halfmoon. Known for her monumental ceramic sculptures, Halfmoon has emerged as a leading artistic voice. Born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma, Halfmoon’s influences range from ancient Indigenous pottery, Moai monoliths and elements of Western culture, such as cowboy hats. For this exhibition, she explores the various cultural histories that make up Kansas City.
November 14–April 19, 2026. Times vary. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
Hello, Dolly!
Hello, Dolly! says hello to KC. The White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center presents this musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s play The Matchmaker, following the bold and charming Dolly Gallagher Levi as she heads to Yonkers, New York, to find a match for the single and wealthy Horace Vandergelder. Revived on Broadway four times and staged around the globe, the show’s memorable music, dance, humor and heart continue to resonate with audiences.
November 1–23. Times vary. The White Theatre at The J.
Magic Valley Community Theatre’s Little Women
If you’re looking for something new, Magic Valley Community Theatre’s Little Women makes its world premiere this fall at the Unicorn Theatre. After a workshop last year with Clubbed Thumb and Concord Theatricals in NYC, the final version of this play is ready for the stage. A play within a play, the story follows the actors playing the March sisters on closing night of Little Women, but the real drama is happening offstage, where personal chaos unfolds as they scramble to make their dreams come true and perform the play at “nationals” in Rochester. It might just have you wondering what’s going on behind the scenes of the show you’re watching.
November 12–December 7. Times vary. Unicorn Theatre.
