Unforgettable Experiences in Kansas City this Spring, Summer
Springtime is upon us at last, and with it a glorious opportunity to get back out there and explore Kansas City. With local temperatures nudging towards t-shirt weather, birdsong in the air, and the Super Bowl celebrations still ringing in our ears, let’s explore all the fine attractions our beautiful city has to offer. And with an exciting program of happenings – from world-class gigs to art exhibitions and film festivals – the only question is how do you decide what to do?
We put together a list of all that’s good and fun over the coming months, with helpful hints on how you can make the most out of the event scene in Kansas City with the help of some user-friendly tech platforms.
Let’s dive right in!
TAYLOR SWIFT – THE ERAS TOUR (JUL 7-8)
The queen of country-inflected art pop is bringing her hotly anticipated new tour to the Arrowhead Stadium in early July. The tour will feature hits – and more importantly looks – spanning Tay-Tay’s illustrious career, and is an unmissable event for anybody who loves great music and fun times. If you’ve already scored tickets, way to go! If you want to get the best out of the event, join the group on trending social platform IRL – where you can link up with fellow fans before the show, talk about your favorite moments, and share photos and memories when the concert is done.
KANSAS CITY FILM FESTIVAL (MAR 26-29)
This annual jamboree honoring the joys of independent cinema is back for its 27th year with a jam-packed lineup. Expect films and filmmakers from all over the world to descend on the city for screenings, talks, awards, masterclasses and parties, with venues all over town flinging open their doors to welcome all comers in celebration of the magic of film. This year the program includes over 120 films covering world cinema, comedies, female-made flicks and movies from Black voices. Stay updated on the festival schedule and find like-minded movie buffs on the active Facebook group.
KC ROYALS VS TORONTO BLUE JAYS BASEBALL GAME (APR 3-6)
Kansas City adores America’s favorite pastime. There’s even a whole museum downtown, devoted to the history of the Black leagues in the United States. Still, there’s absolutely zero substitute for actually heading down to the ballpark and experiencing the excitement for yourself. This April the Blue Jays from Toronto, Canada, will be in town for a few days in what promised to be an epic clash of teams and, indeed, nations. Connect with fellow local ball fans to talk tactics, share insights and laugh at quality memes on your local IRL groups, or get onto Meetup to see if any friends are in the stands that day.
KANSAS CITY’S FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK (APR 7, MAY 5, JUN 2)
The Crossroads district of downtown is, pretty much, where the cool kids hang out. Not only is it a mecca for artists, drawn by the ever-evolving street art scene and abundant galleries. But lately the most cutting-edge cuisine, popping nightlife and performance spaces are also increasingly clustered in the blocks surrounding 19th Street and Baltimore Avenue. On the first Friday of every month, the ‘art walk’ brings thousands out to the streets to take photos, catch shows and dine on awesome street food. See what’s popping next via the local IRL community, or on Facebook events.
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION (APR 22)
Kansas City proudly participates every year in this global celebration seeking to connect people with the wider cause of ecology. This year is no exception. The Kansas City Parks department is encouraging a big trash cleanup. Rightfully Sewn will be promoting responsible fashion with a clothes swap, while a team at the Kemper Library will be presenting their thoughts on sustainable living artistic communities. Premier Bowling and Recreation Center is hosting an event to support rhinos. VolunteerMatch can help you find opportunities – like tree planting – to get involved and give back to mother Earth.
As you can see, there’s a diverse array of things to do this coming spring and summer in Kansas City. Just remember before you head out to check on the social platforms – Facebook, IRL, VolunteerMatch – and make sure you’re making the most of them. Get connected, make friends, join the community, have fun – it’s what life is all about.
McClatchy newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
