KC weekend packed with festivals: Old Settlers, Spinach, Greek, more. And Janelle Monáe

Dan Kelly
·4 min read
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Johnson County Old Settlers in downtown Olathe will highlight a busy weekend of fairs and festivals in the area.

Old Settlers includes a carnival, arts and crafts, ice cream social and live music as well as a parade (10 a.m. Sept. 9) billed as the largest in Kansas. Musical headliners will be Rock Gods at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and Lonestar at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9.

Hours will be noon-10 p.m. Sept. 7, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 8 and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 9. The event is free (except for the carnival). More information at johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com.

Baklava is among the many foods on the menu for the Greek Festival that will run Sept. 8-10 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
Baklava is among the many foods on the menu for the Greek Festival that will run Sept. 8-10 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.

More festivals

▪ Kansas City Underground Film Festival, opens 7 p.m. Sept. 7; runs through Sept. 16, Charlotte Street Foundation (free; reservations requested). kcundergroundfilmfest.com.

▪ Kansas State Fair, opens 11 a.m. Sept. 8; runs through Sept. 17, Hutchinson ($4-$10). kansasstatefair.com.

▪ Art Westport, 3-9 p.m. Sept. 8, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 9, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 10, Westport District (free). westportkcmo.com.

▪ Briarfest, 3:30-10:30 p.m. Sept. 8, noon-10:30 p.m. Sept. 9, Macken Park, North Kansas City (free; VIP $70, sampling $45). bbpakc.com.

▪ Grain Valley Fair, 4-10 p.m. Sept. 8, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 9, downtown Grain Valley and Grain Valley Community Center (free except for carnival). grainvalleyfair.org.

▪ Belton Fall Festival, 5-10 p.m. Sept. 8, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 9, Main Street, Belton (free). belton.org.

▪ Greek Festival, 6-10 p.m. Sept. 8, noon-10 p.m. Sept. 9, noon-4 p.m. Sept. 10, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church (food prices vary). greekfoodfest.org.

▪ Jesse James Festival, 6 p.m. Sept. 8, 8 a.m. Sept. 9 and 15-17, Kearney (free except for carnival, demolition derby and rodeo). jessejamesfestival.com.

▪ Spinach Festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 9, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park (free). lenexa.com.

▪ Festival of the Trails, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 9, downtown Raytown and Rice-Tremonti Home (free). raytown.mo.us.

▪ Kansas City Cigar Festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 9, Diebel’s roof ($55-$280). kccigarfestival.com.

▪ Independence Uncorked, noon-6 p.m. Sept. 9, Bingham-Waggoner Estate ($35-$45). independenceuncorked.com.

▪ Prairie Village Jazz Festival, 3-10 p.m. Sept. 9, Harmon Park ($5, under 18 free). pvkansas.com.

▪ Fiesta on the Square, 5-9 p.m. Sept. 9, Linden Square, Gladstone. lindensquare.info.

▪ Celebrate Ameri’kana Music & Arts Festival, 1-8 p.m. Sept. 10, The Concourse Park (free; VIP $50). amerikana.tv.

Chris Toledo of Los Angeles has installed a Miniature Art Museum, with two wings and five galleries, at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. It will open to the public Sept. 9.
Chris Toledo of Los Angeles has installed a Miniature Art Museum, with two wings and five galleries, at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures. It will open to the public Sept. 9.

More entertainment

▪ The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures’ latest commission, the Miniature Art Museum by Los Angeles artist Chris Toledo, will open Sept. 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily except Tuesdays ($5-$10). toyandminiaturemuseum.org.

▪ City in Motion Dance Theater and other area dance groups will take part in Dance in the Park at Roanoke Park, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9 (free). cityinmotion.org.

▪ The Kansas City Theater Pipe Organ will present the silent movie “Peter Pan” with live accompaniment at the Music Hall, 2 p.m. Sept. 10 (free). kctpo.org.

▪ A preview screening and a panel discussion of Ken Burns’ “The American Buffalo,” which will run Sept. 16-17 on PBS, will take place at the Folly, 6 p.m. Sept. 11 (free). follytheater.org.

Morgan Fairchild, who starred in “Don’t Dress for Dinner” last year at the New Theatre and Restaurant, will return for “Always a Bridesmaid” opening Sept. 13.
Morgan Fairchild, who starred in “Don’t Dress for Dinner” last year at the New Theatre and Restaurant, will return for “Always a Bridesmaid” opening Sept. 13.

Theater

▪ “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812,” Fishtank Theatre, opens 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7; runs through Oct. 1, Black Box ($22.50-$65). fishtanktheatre.com.

▪ “Tick, Tick … Boom,” Barn Players, opens 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8; runs through Sept. 17, Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center ($18-$22). thebarnplayers.org.

▪ “Always a Bridesmaid” starring Morgan Fairchild, opens 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13; runs through Nov. 19, New Theatre and Restaurant ($48.25-$71.25). newtheatre.com.

▪ “Skeleton Crew,” Kansas City Actors Theatre, opens 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13; runs through Oct. 1, City Stage ($20-$48). kcactors.org.

Janelle Monáe will perform in her hometown Sept. 9 at the Midland.
Janelle Monáe will perform in her hometown Sept. 9 at the Midland.

Music

▪ Eslabón Armado, 8 p.m. Sept. 8, Midland ($59-$149). midlandkc.com.

▪ Opus 76 Quartet, “Music of Regency,” 2 and 5 p.m. Sept. 9, Polsky Theatre ($12-$35). jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center/events.

▪ Muddy River Music Festival, 4-11 p.m. Sept. 9, Atchison ($15-$25). visitatchison.com.

▪ Pianist Mahani Teave, 7 p.m. Sept. 9, Folly (free). hjseries.org.

▪ Janelle Monáe, 8 p.m. Sept. 9, Midland ($41.50-$91.50). midlandkc.com.

▪ Gregory Porter, 7 p.m. Sept. 10, Kauffman Center ($47-$97). kauffmancenter.org.

▪ Caamp, 8 p.m. Sept. 12, Midland ($32.50-$85). midlandkc.com.

▪ Joy Oladokun, 8 p.m. Sept. 12, The Truman ($20-$40). thetrumankc.com.

▪ Jai Wolf with Evan Giia and Myrne, 8 p.m. Sept. 13, The Truman ($20-$60). thetrumankc.com.