Kansas City things to do: Monster Jam, Willie Nelson, the launch of festival season

Dan Kelly
·3 min read

Festival season swings into gear this weekend with events throughout the region, including two in the downtown area.

The Kansas City AAPI Festival will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Columbus Square Park, and the Kansas City Folk Festival will bring music and the arts to Washington Square Park.

Here are the details:

▪ Kansas City AAPI Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 20, Columbus Square Park (free). eventbrite.com.

▪ Kansas City Folk Festival, noon-8 p.m. May 20, Washington Square Park (free). kansascityfolkfestival.org.

Washington Square Park, which is a venue for the annual Kansas City Irish Fest, will be the site of the Kansas City Folk Festival on May 20.
Washington Square Park, which is a venue for the annual Kansas City Irish Fest, will be the site of the Kansas City Folk Festival on May 20.

Also:

▪ Turkey Creek Festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 20, Antioch Park (free). merriam.org/tcf.

▪ Weston WineFest, noon-7 p.m. May 20, Downtown Weston ($35). westonmo.com.

▪ Wettest Block Party, 1:30-11 p.m. May 20, West Bottoms ($15-$20). eventbrite.com.

Check back on Sunday, where we’ll have guide to festivals and much more for summer 2023.

More entertainment

▪ Kansas City Public Theatre will present the world premiere of “Tipton” at the Charlotte Street Foundation, 7:30 p.m. May 18-22 (free; reserved seats, $20). kcpublictheatre.org.

▪ The acrobats of Afrique en Cirque will perform “Cirque Kalabante” at Yardley Hall, 7 p.m. May 19 ($14-$42). jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center/events.

▪ “Piece of My Heart: Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell and Jimi Hendrix” will feature the music of three greats at the Ruby Room of MTH Theater at Crown Center, 7:30 p.m. May 19-20 and 22 ($45-$51). musictheaterheritage.com.

▪ The musical “Tootsie,” based on the 1982 movie, will come to Starlight Theatre, 8 p.m. May 19-21 ($15-$100). kcstarlight.com.

▪ Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Megalodon and other big trucks with big tires will compete in Monster Jam at Arrowhead, 7 p.m. May 20 ($15-$55). monsterjam.com.

▪ Bioengineer and research diver Kakani Katija will make a presentation at the Kauffman Center as part of National Geographic Live Presents, 7:30 p.m. May 23 ($33.50-$68.50). kauffmancenter.org.

▪ Kansas City Actors Theatre will stage “Little Women,” based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, at City Stage Theatre in Union Station, opens 7:30 p.m. May 24; runs through June 11 ($20-$48). kcactors.org.

Country legend Willie Nelson, who recently turned 90, will play May 20 at Azura Amphitheater.
Country legend Willie Nelson, who recently turned 90, will play May 20 at Azura Amphitheater.

Music

▪ NLE Choppa, 8 p.m. May 18, Uptown ($61.99-$302). uptowntheater.com.

▪ Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest, 6 p.m. May 19 and 5 p.m. May 20, Linden Square ($5 suggested donation). gladstonechamber.com/bluesfest.

▪ Kansas City Symphony, “The Princess Bride” in Concert, 7 p.m. May 19, 8 p.m. May 19-20, 3 p.m. May 21, Kauffman Center ($52-$112). kcsymphony.org.

▪ Mid America Freedom Band, 7:30 p.m. May 19, Folly ($13). freedomband.com.

▪ Thomas Rhett with Cole Swindell and Nate Smith, 7:30 p.m. May 19, T-Mobile Center ($29.50-$109.50). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ Willie Nelson & Family, 5:30 p.m. May 20, Azura Amphitheater ($34.50-$147.50). azuraamp.com.

▪ Billy Currington with Kylie Morgan, 7 p.m. May 20, KC Live! ($35-$85). powerandlightdistrict.com.

▪ “Jazz & Jackie: A Musical Salute to Jackie Robinson,” 8 p.m. May 20, Gem Theater ($35-$75). eventbrite.com.

▪ Viola player Jordan Bak, 7 p.m. May 21, Folly (free). hjseries.org.

▪ Making Movies with Stranded in the City, 7:30 p.m. May 21, Knuckleheads ($27.50). knuckleheadskc.com.

▪ Ricardo Arjona, 8 p.m. May 22, T-Mobile Center ($63.49-$253.49). t-mobilecenter.com.