Here are twelve things to do in KC this weekend, April 16—19 including Terri Lyne Carrington, Passport to India and Blue Man Group.
Nick Hmeljak & Open Channel
It’s not hard to find a jazz combo playing in bustling bars throughout Kansas City, but dedicated listening rooms are far and few between. Pianist and producer Eddie Moore wants to change that with his curated series, Jazz at The Q. This weekend, trumpeter Nick Hmeljak’s quintet Open Channel headlines the Quality Hill Playhouse lounge.
April 17. 6 pm. Quality Hill Playhouse.
Women’s Rugby Pacific Tour Series
Four of the world’s best women’s rugby teams—USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia—take the pitch at CPKC Stadium. The evening kicks off with Canada facing New Zealand, followed by a matchup between the U.S. and Australia. The double-header marks the second stop in the three-city Pacific Tour Series.
April 17. 5:15 pm and 8 pm. CPKC Stadium.
NASCAR Spring Weekend
NASCAR is zooming to KC for a high-octane weekend of stock car racing. The action kicks off Saturday with two races—the Kansas Lottery 300 and Tide 150—and culminates with the highly anticipated NASCAR Cup Series Race on Sunday afternoon.
April 18 & 19. Times vary. Kansas Speedway.
Terri Lyne Carrington: We Insist!
Trailblazing drummer Terri Lyne Carrington is taking her new band, Social Science, on the road. Carrington has shared the stage with legends from Dizzy Gillespie to Joni Mitchell and also served as the longtime drummer for jazz fusion icon Herbie Hancock. Expect selections from her latest album, Waiting Game.
April 18. 7:30 pm. Folly Theater.
Orchid Delirium
A stunning and vibrant display awaits at Powell Gardens’ Orchid Delirium. Originally launched in 2022, the annual indoor exhibit showcases hundreds of alternating blooms from the garden’s extensive collection. This year’s exhibit is inspired by the United States’ 250th anniversary,
March 5—April 19. Times vary. Powell Gardens.
Blue Man Group
In 1987, experimental performance ensemble Blue Man Group took flight. Nearly forty years later, the group—donning bald caps and a thick layer of face paint—still thrives on its theatrical absurdity. On its North American Tour, the ensemble will play classic songs and new works on custom instruments, including its signature xylophone-inspired PVC pipe tubulum.
April 17—19. Times vary. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
Earth Day at Lakeside Nature Center
Swope Park’s Lakeside Nature Center celebrates Earth Day with an all-ages wildlife event. The morning kicks off with a hike led by a naturalist—where walkers will explore the surrounding gardens, ponds and marshes—followed by puppet shows from the environmentally sustainable StoneLion Puppet Theatre, plus a chance to meet a North American opossum up close.
April 19. 10 am. Lakeside Nature Center.
Passport to India
At this free celebration of South and Southeast Asian culture, roam various stations throughout the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Activities include live music, dance and storytelling performances, artmaking for all ages, and interactive learning hubs tied to the museum’s expansive collection.
April 19. 10 am. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Moby Dick: A Sea Shanty
Music Theater Heritage brings a new sea shanty-filled spin on Herman Melville’s classic novel to the stage. Written and directed by the organization’s artistic director Tim Scott, the tale follows Captain Ahab’s frenzied, incessant voyage for the whale that took his leg, all narrated to the tune of sailor Ishmael’s maritime ballads. The production features musical direction by multi-instrumentalist Fritz Hutchison, a mainstay of the KC’s music scene.
March 26–April 19. Times vary. Main Stage at Crown Center.
Whiskey Dynamite
The electrifying show Whiskey Dynamite returns and is set to captivate audiences once again with explosive performances and an engaging cast. This interactive multimedia performance—self described as a “nonsensical neowestern cabaret”—blends acrobatics, immersive visuals and live music. The event is produced by KC’s own innovative performance art collective, Quixotic, to bring audiences a unique multi-sensory celebratory experience.
January 16—April 18. Times vary. The Grand Theater (at Crown Center).
The Princess Bride
Rooftop Cinema Club has officially reopened. Located at the corner of Broadway and 21st Street, the open-air movie theater is known for its skyline views in major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, London and more. Enjoy cocktails, mocktails and elevated bar-food bites alongside a showing of cult-classic The Princess Bride.
April 18. 8:30 pm. Rooftop Cinema Club.
“The World in Kansas City”
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art prepares for this summer’s 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.
