How to celebrate Valentine’s Day in KC? Let us count the ways, starting this weekend

Dan Kelly
·5 min read
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Valentine’s Day is still days away, but local celebrations will begin this weekend. Among the many events are concerts, a road race and a romantic movie.

Here is a sampling:

▪ Park International Center for Music, Orchestra Valentine Concert, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9, Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel (free with reservation). icm.park.edu.

▪ Sweetheart Run 5K and 10K, 9 a.m. Feb. 10, 9000 W. 137th, Overland Park ($32-$40). kcsweetheartrun.com.

▪ Valentine’s Stoplight Party, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10, Englewood Arts Center ($15). englewoodarts.art.

▪ Kiss & Tail, 6 p.m. Feb. 10, Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium ($50-$150). kansascityzoo.org.

▪ Sweetheart Skate, 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 13, Line Creek Community Center ($8). kcparks.org.

▪ A Valentine’s Day Movie Experience: “Top Hat,” 4 and 7 p.m. Feb. 14, Aztec Shawnee Theater ($8; packages $25-$40). aztecshawnee.com.

▪ Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, “Music from the Heart!” dinner and concert, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 14, The Magnolia ($85-$100). kcchamberorchestra.org.

Poet Jericho Brown will be the keynote speaker Feb. 8 at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference and Bookfair, which will draw hundreds of writers and educators to the Kansas City Convention Center this weekend. File photo
Poet Jericho Brown will be the keynote speaker Feb. 8 at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference and Bookfair, which will draw hundreds of writers and educators to the Kansas City Convention Center this weekend. File photo

More entertainment

▪ Julie Vick, author of “Babies Don’t Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?)” will head a panel discussion of “Women Aren’t Funny” at the Kansas City Library downtown location, 6 p.m. Feb. 8 (free). kclibrary.org.

▪ Poet Jericho Brown will give the keynote address at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference and Bookfair at the Kansas City Convention Center, 8 p.m. Feb. 8 (event runs through Feb. 10; costs vary). awpwriter.org.

▪ Robert Pinsky, the first U.S. poet laureate to serve three terms, will appear at the 1900 Building, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 (with Irish musician Martin Hayes, $60) and 1 p.m. Feb. 10 ($20-$45). 1900bldg.com.

▪ Youngsters will be able to take a trip down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City at “Journey to Oz” at the Crown Center Showplace, runs Feb. 10-May 5 (free; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sundays). crowncenter.com.

▪ Comedian Nate Bargatze, called “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up” by The Atlantic magazine, will perform at the T-Mobile Center, 3 and 7 p.m. Feb. 10 ($39.75-$99.75). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ Terry Hayes, author of the huge bestseller “I Am Pilgrim,” will appear at Unity Temple on the Plaza for his new novel, “The Year of the Locust,” 7 p.m. Feb. 13 ($35; includes book). rainydaybooks.com.

Crown Center will offer the free interactive exhibit “Journey to Oz” starting Feb. 10. Crown Center
Crown Center will offer the free interactive exhibit “Journey to Oz” starting Feb. 10. Crown Center

Theater

▪ “Let’s Get It On: The Music of Marvin Gaye & Gladys Knight,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8-9, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, Ruby Room, MTH Theater at Crown Center ($51). musictheaterheritage.com.

▪ “The Session,” Melting Pot Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8-9, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14-17, Just Off Broadway Theatre ($17.25-$27.50). kcmeltingpot.com.

▪ “Young Playwrights Live!” Spinning Tree Theatre, 7 p.m. Feb. 9-10, 2 p.m. Feb. 11, Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center ($10-$20). spinningtreetheatre.com.

▪ “Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience,” PNC Broadway in Kansas City, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, Kauffman Center ($56-$116). broadwayinkc.com.

▪ “Little Women the Musical,” 4 and 8 p.m. Feb. 10, Yardley Hall ($5-$115). jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center.

▪ “Nina Simone: Four Women,” Kansas City Repertory Theatre, opens 7 p.m. Feb. 13; runs through March 3, Copaken Stage ($35-$65). kcrep.org.

Alexis Roston will play the title character in the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s production of “Nina Simone: Four Women” running Feb. 13-March 3. Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Alexis Roston will play the title character in the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s production of “Nina Simone: Four Women” running Feb. 13-March 3. Kansas City Repertory Theatre

Music

▪ Kansas City Symphony, “The Goonies” in Concert, 7 p.m. Feb. 8-10, Kauffman Center ($40-$97). kcsymphony.org.

▪ Neck Deep with Drain, Bearings and Higher Power, 7 p.m. Feb. 9, The Truman ($39.50-$75). thetrumankc.com.

▪ Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, “Conversations featuring Lisa Henry,” 8 p.m. Feb. 9, 2 p.m. Feb. 10, Folly ($20-$100). kcjo.org.

▪ Morris Day and The Time, 8 p.m. Feb. 9, Uptown ($45-$129.50). uptowntheater.com.

▪ Crosses, 8 p.m. Feb. 10, Midland ($39.50-$45). midlandkc.com.

▪ Lettuce, 8 p.m. Feb. 10, Liberty Hall ($37-$67). libertyhall.net.

▪ Kansas City Symphony, “Legend of the Northern Lights” in Concert, 2 p.m. Feb. 11, Kauffman Center (sold out). kcsymphony.org.

▪ Living Colour with Radkey, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, Knuckleheads ($35). knuckleheadskc.com.

▪ Pantera with Lamb of God, 7 p.m. Feb. 13, T-Mobile Center ($24.50-$194.50). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ Pianist Jeremy Denk, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, Folly ($34-$44). chambermusic.org.

Newly announced

▪ Postponed: Playboi Carti with Destroy Lonely, Ken Carson and Homixide Gang, Feb. 14, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

▪ Dethklok, April 16, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

▪ Home Free, April 27, Ameristar. ameristarkansascity.com

▪ Marca MP, May 18, Midland. midlandkc.com

▪ Tab Benoit with Larry McCray, June 7, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

▪ Danielle Nicole Band, June 29, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

▪ The Beach Boys, July 14, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

▪ Luke Bryan, Aug. 15, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com

▪ Creed with 3 Doors Down and Mammoth WVH, Nov. 6, T-Mobile Center. t-mobilecenter.com