Here are twelve great things to do in KC this Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28, including: Cirque du Soleil’s new show, Corteo, and several festivals throughout KC and Kansas.
Cirque du Soleil: Corteo
The world’s largest and most popular circus performance group, Cirque du Soleil, fuses high-performance dance with acrobatics to bring their newest show, Corteo, to life. Corteo tells the story of the funeral of Mauro the Dream Clown, whose spirit awakens as he watches his circus troupe mourn his death. The show transforms into a dream sequence of memories of Mauro’s life that mixes tragedy with absurdity, bringing the audience into a theatrical world of wonderment.
May 25–28. Times vary. T-Mobile Center.
Manor Fest 5
Manor Fest 5 is a fundraising two-week long music festival in Lawrence & KC. The local KC Manor Fest is composed of thirty-two bands on eleven stages over four nights, as well as food provided by local favorites like Poio and Tacos Valentina. All profits from the event will help with their fundraising mission of releasing local artists’ music on physical platforms.
May 25–28. Times vary. Locations vary.
The Quiet Epidemic
This provocative new documentary, The Quiet Epidemic, is about chronic Lyme and tick-borne disease premiered at Hot Docs 2022 festival in Toronto to positive reviews and is making its premiere in KC. The film follows young patients’ search for answers which lands them in the middle of a vicious medical debate. What begins as a patient story evolves into an investigation into the history of Lyme disease.
May 25. 6:30 pm. Church of the Resurrection.
Lawrence Busker Festival
The Lawrence Busker Festival is an annual event of the area’s largest gathering of street performers. The four day festival features a wide variety of acts, including musicians, acrobats and magicians, as well as food vendors, a beer garden and childrens’ activities.
May 26–29. Times vary. Locations vary.
MELGES: The Wizard of Zenda
Former KCTV news anchor Anne Peterson serves as executive producer of this documentary, MELGES: The Wizard of Zenda, which tells the larger-than-life career of one of the greatest sailors in the history of the sport. This film shares the untold story of Buddy Melges, a fiercely competitive, but beloved sailor who had uncanny intuitive—some would say mystical—powers to feel the wind.
May 26. 7:30 pm. B&B Live (Shawnee).
Chicago
Rock band Chicago unsurprisingly formed in Chicago more than fifty years ago. Self-described as a “rock and roll band with horns,” the band’s sound combines elements of classical music, jazz, R&B, and pop, enduringly famous with hits like “Make Me Smile” and “If You Leave Right Now.”
May 26. 7 pm. Starlight Theatre.
Los Monarchs Festival Latino
Celebrate memorial weekend with music, dance and entertainment highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Latin America–the festival is the largest celebration of its kind in KC. The two-day festival features a diverse lineup of entertainment such as mariachi bands and DJs, as well as lucha libre wrestling, a lowriders car show, live graffiti artists, and a hand-rolled cigar bar. There will also be a kids zone with inflatables, face painting, clown shows and a playground, so there’s opportunities for fun for the whole family.
May 27–28. Times vary. Legends Field.
Fairy Tale Village
Classic children’s tales come to life in Fairy Tale Village at Crown Center this summer. The latest interactive play activity will provide free, cool indoor entertainment throughout the summer, featuring classic characters from Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, and more.
May 27—September 4. Crown Center.
The Flavors of Central Tour
Enjoy the flavor, culture and diversity that is on Central Avenue in KCK with The Flavors of Central Tour. More than forty authentic Latino restaurants exist along the Central Area corridor, and the tour invites all to try the various traditional dishes, drinks and desserts these businesses have to offer. There will be volunteers along the way to help guide participants and help answer any questions, but the tour is meant to be fun and self-guided. The day of food fun will end at La Placita Market, which will have live music and additional activities.
May 27. Registration begins at 9:30 am. Central Area corridor.
Art Garden KC
Free family and pet-friendly Art Garden KC Sundays are back for the summer season. Now at a new location, there will be a new Healing Garden & Game Garden to accompany the local vendor market, which includes over seventy local artists and makers, as well as live music, food trucks, yoga classes, yard games and kids’ activities.
May 28. 11 am- 4pm. Berkley Riverfront.
Bank of America Celebration at the Station
KC’s most iconic Memorial Day tradition returns with the Kansas City Symphony for Bank of America Celebration at the Station. The Symphony’s free concert event also includes more than twenty food trucks, live pre-concert entertainment and various vendors and booths. Music Director Michael Stern will lead the Kansas City Symphony in a concert featuring special guests The Resilient, a rock band primarily composed of severely wounded U.S. combat veterans. The grand finale will be a fireworks display set to live music from the symphony.
May 28. 5 pm. South Plaza of Union Station and the North Lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
DJ Sheppa & Friends
Part of the rooftop of the Crossroads Hotel summer concert series at Percheron, DJ Sheppa & friends are playing music to dance the night away to while enjoying cocktails and bites with a stunning view of KC. This concert is aptly named Persephone—a dance party honoring the goddess of spring. Percheron will be decorated for the occasion in floral and guests are encouraged to wear floral head wreaths and outfits for the occasion.
May 28. 6 pm. Percheron.
