This week in Kansas City: Juneteenth kickoff, Big Slick, Margaret Cho, multiple fairs
As June kicks off, so do Juneteenth-related events in the Kansas City area.
The JuneteenthKC Parade, with more than 100 entries expected, will traverse the streets of the 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District beginning at noon June 1. Pre-parade events will run 11-11:45 a.m. at 18th and Vine. More information at juneteenthkc.com.
Also, the grand opening of the Zhou B Art Center in the reclaimed Crispus Attucks School will start at 6 p.m. June 1. Tickets ($100) and more information at zhoubartcenterkc.com.
Finally, the second Juneteenth Film Festival will be held June 4-26 at the Screenland Armour Theater, opening with “Underneath: Children of the Sun” at 7 p.m. June 4 and “The Pistol,” a documentary about local gangster Kenneth Rayford, at 6:30 (sold out) and 8:30 June 5. Tickets ($13) at screenland.com. More information at facebook.com/uffkc.
More entertainment
▪ The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library will present the exhibition “Upset! Harry Truman and the 1948 Campaign,” opening reception 10 a.m. May 30; runs through Feb. 1; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday (included in admission, $5-$12). trumanlibrary.gov.
▪ Melting Pot Theatre will produce “The Search for Anno Domini MMXXI-I-VI” by Peter Ukpokodu at the Just Off Broadway Theatre, 7:30 p.m. May 30-June 1, 2 p.m. June 2 ($17.25-$27.50). kcmeltingpot.com.
▪ Theatre in the Park will open its outdoor season at Shawnee Mission Park with “Bye Bye Birdie,” 8:30 p.m. May 31-June 2 and June 5-8 ($7-$10). theatreinthepark.org.
▪ Big Slick Celebrity Weekend, benefiting Children’s Mercy Hospital and with hosts Heidi Gardner, David Koechner, Eric Stonestreet, Paul Rudd, Rob Riggle and Jason Sudeikis, will include a softball game at Kauffman Stadium (5 p.m. May 31, $35-$175) and a party and show at the T-Mobile Center (8 p.m. June 1, $75-$375). bigslickkc.org.
▪ Acclaimed comedian Margaret Cho will come to the Comedy Club of Kansas City, 7 and 9:30 p.m. May 31-June 1, 7 p.m. June 2 ($37-$47). thecomedyclubkc.com.
Fairs and festivals
▪ Enchanted Faire, 9 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m. May 31-June 1, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 2, Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens ($12). artsandrec-op.org.
▪ Festa Italiana, 5-11 p.m. May 31, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. June 1, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 2, Zona Rosa (free). zonarosa.com.
▪ Art on the Side, Liberty Art Fest, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. June 1, downtown Liberty (free). libertyartontheside.com.
▪ Strawberry Festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 1, Vaile Mansion (free). vailemansion.org.
▪ Global Neighbors and Flavors Fest, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. June 1, Lenexa Public Market (free). lenexapublicmarket.com.
▪ Tacos and Tequila Festival featuring T-Pain, Ashanti and more, 2 p.m. June 1, Legends Field ($99-$199). kctacosandtequila.com.
Classical music and dance
▪ Kansas City Symphony, “Joshua Bell and Ravel,” 8 p.m. May 31-June 1, 2 p.m. June 2, Kauffman Center ($29-$115). kcsymphony.org.
▪ Te Deum, “Sacred Banquet,” 7:30 p.m. June 1, Village Presbyterian Church, and 4 p.m. June 2, Visitation Church ($20-$25). te-deum.org.
▪ Kansas City Chorale, 2 p.m. June 2, National WWI Museum and Memorial Southeast Lawn (free). theworldwar.org.
▪ Kinnor Philharmonic, Summer Concert, 3 p.m. June 2, White Theatre ($18-$38). thejkc.org.
More music
▪ John Depew and the Mandolin Orchestra of Kansas City, 7 p.m. May 31, Greenwood Social Hall ($20). greenwoodsocialhall.com.
▪ Jacob Collier with Emily King, 7:30 p.m. May 31, Music Hall ($39.50-$79.50). jacobcollier.com.
▪ Los Tigres del Norte, 8:30 p.m. May 31, Midland ($49-$179). midlandkc.com.
▪ Kansas City Hip Hop Week, June 1-8, multiple venues (times and prices vary). kchiphopweek.com.
▪ Weston Roots Music Festival, noon-8 p.m. June 1, Weston ($30). westonmo.com.
▪ Tinashe with Blue Hawaii, 6 p.m. June 1, KC Live! ($32-$72) powerandlightdistrict.com.
▪ Little River Band, 8:30 p.m. June 1, Ameristar ($55-$75). ameristarkansascity.com.
▪ First Sundays featuring The Swallowtails, The Billy Bats with Jason Vivone and Timbers, 1-4 p.m. June 2, Theis Park (free). kcparks.org.
▪ Phase Fest featuring Yellowcard, Boys Like Girls, Bayside and more, 1 p.m. June 2, Legends Field ($69-$129). notjustaphasefest.com.
▪ Brit Floyd, 7:30 p.m. June 2, Midland ($45-$79.50). midlandkc.com.
▪ George Clinton, 8 p.m. June 4, Uptown ($35-$138). uptowntheater.com.
▪ Sarah Jarosz, 8 p.m. June 4, Knuckleheads (sold out). knuckleheadskc.com.
▪ Lucy, 7 p.m. June 5, Gem ($50-$200). leopresents.com.
▪ Noah Kahan with Ryan Beatty, 8 p.m. June 5, Azura Amphitheater ($299.50; limited availability). azuraamp.com.
▪ James Taylor and His All-Star Band, 8 p.m. June 5, Starlight (sold out). kcstarlight.com.
Recently announced
▪ Thirty Seconds to Mars, July 23, Azura Amphitheater. azuraamp.com
▪ Marco Antonio Solís, Aug. 31, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com
