Fireworks, festivals, music: Guide to Memorial Day weekend events in Kansas City

Dan Kelly
·3 min read

Celebration at the Station, the free Memorial Day weekend tradition at Union Station featuring the Kansas City Symphony, will come with a twist May 28.

The Resilient, a rock band composed primarily of severely wounded U.S. combat veterans, will perform works by Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen and more. As always, the symphony will provide a program of patriotic music.

The concert (airing live on Kansas City PBS) will begin at 8 p.m. and festivities begin at 5 p.m., including food trucks, pre-concert entertainment, vendors and the concluding fireworks. More information at kcsymphony.org.

Across the street at the National WWI Museum and Memorial will mark the entire holiday weekend, May 26-29, with half-price admission ($5-$9) for the public and free admission for veterans and active-duty military. Activities at the museum will include World War I research stations, a helicopter display and a vintage military vehicle display, with a Memorial Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. May 29. More information at theworldwar.org.

“Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing — The Exhibition” will bring original art, interactive displays and more to Union Station starting May 26.
“Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing — The Exhibition” will bring original art, interactive displays and more to Union Station starting May 26.

More entertainment

▪ Kids can explore specially designed forts during Fortopia at Powell Gardens, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, May 25-Sept. 4 (included with admission, $5-$12). powellgardens.org.

▪ Cirque du Soleil, the world’s most famous performance company, will bring “Corteo” to the T-Mobile Center, 7:30 p.m. May 25-26, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. May 27, 1 p.m. May 28 ($49-$159). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ Naka-Kon at the Overland Park Convention Center will celebrate anime, manga, cosplay and more, 4-8 p.m. May 26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 28 ($10-$70). naka-kon.com.

▪ “Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing — The Exhibition” at Union Station will tell the superhero’s story through original art, interactive displays and more, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 26-Oct. 1 ($10-$24). unionstation.org.

▪ Fairy Tale Village will bring classic children’s tales to life at the Crown Center Showplace, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. holidays, May 27-Sept. 4 (free). crowncenter.com.

▪ PNC Broadway in Kansas City will present “Disney’s Aladdin” at the Music Hall, 7:30 p.m. May 30-June 2, 2 and 7:30 p.m. June 3, 1 and 6 p.m. June 4 ($35-$125). broadwayinkc.com.

Marcus M. Martin plays the Genie in the touring stage version of “Disney’s Aladdin,” which will run May 30-June 4 at the Music Hall.
Marcus M. Martin plays the Genie in the touring stage version of “Disney’s Aladdin,” which will run May 30-June 4 at the Music Hall.

Festivals

▪ Lawrence Busker Festival, 5 p.m. May 26, 1 p.m. May 27-28, 12:15 p.m. May 29, Downtown Lawrence (free). lawrencebuskerfest.com.

▪ Island Fest, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. May 27, Pharaoh Cinema, Independence (free). visitindependence.com.

▪ Flavors of Central Tour, 10:30 a.m. May 27, Bethany Park and Central Avenue, KCK ($35-$45). theflavorsofcentraltour.com.

▪ Community Block Party, 1-5 p.m. May 27, Charlotte Street Campus (free). charlottestreet.org.

▪ Los Monarchs Festival Latino, 3:30 p.m. May 27-28, Legends Field ($20-$140). maxfunlive.com/latino-festival-event.

More music

▪ The Mavericks, 8 p.m. May 25-26, 8:30 p.m. May 27, Knuckleheads ($49.50-$74.50). knuckleheadskc.com.

▪ Chicago, 7 p.m. May 26, Starlight ($39.50-$129.50). kcstarlight.com.

▪ Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, 7 p.m. May 26, Grinders KC ($45-$201). grinderskc.com.

▪ Dance to the Fiddle: A Celebration of Midwest Fiddling, 6:30 p.m. May 27, Manheim Gardens (free). eventbrite.com.