This week in KC: Join 250,000 of your closest friends at this Kansas City tradition

Dan Kelly
·5 min read

Even if you don’t know Rembrandt from Renoir or Bosch from Botticelli, you probably can find something to like at the Plaza Art Fair this weekend.

In addition to paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, jewelry and more by about 240 artists from across North America, the 92nd annual event will offer three stages for live music, 16 restaurant booths and children’s activities. Among the dozens of musical acts will be local favorites such as Eboni Fondren, The Phantastics, The Stolen Winnebagos, The Zeros and Big Time Grain Company.

The free event annually attracts more than 250,000 visitors to the Country Club Plaza. Hours will be 5-10 p.m. Sept. 22, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 23 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 24. More information at plazaartfair.com.

More fairs and festivals

▪ Liberty Fall Festival, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 22, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 23, noon-4 p.m. Sept. 24, Liberty Square (free, except for carnival). libertyfallfest.com.

▪ Camp Leavenworth festival, 5-9 p.m. Sept. 22, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 23, downtown Leavenworth (free). campleavenworth.com.

▪ Oktoberfest, 5-11 p.m. Sept. 22, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 23, noon-4 p.m. Sept. 24 (carnival only), downtown Lee’s Summit (free, except for carnival). lsoktoberfest.com.

▪ Great Grillers Blues & BBQ, open to public 6-10 p.m. Sept. 22, Shawnee Town 1929 (free). shawneegreatgrillers.com.

▪ Ciderfest, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 23 and 30, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, Louisburg Cider Mill (free). louisburgcidermill.com.

▪ Hallmarket, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 23, Crown Center Square (free). crowncenter.com.

▪ Harvest Festival, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 23, Shoal Creek Living History Museum ($5). shoalcreeklivinghistorymuseum.com.

▪ PeaceWorks KC Local Art Fair, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 24, Theis Park (free). peaceworkskc.org.

▪ Kawsmouth River Carnival, 3-7 p.m. Sept. 23, Kaw Point Boat Ramp (free). eventbrite.com.

▪ Oktoberfest Live!, 3-7 p.m. Sept. 23, KC Live! ($10) powerandlightdistrict.com.

▪ Deaf Cultural Festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 24, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (free). nelson-atkins.org.

The Edge of Hell, along with fellow West Bottoms haunted houses The Beast and Macabre Cinema, will open Sept. 22.
The Edge of Hell, along with fellow West Bottoms haunted houses The Beast and Macabre Cinema, will open Sept. 22.

More entertainment

▪ Comedian Bert Kriescher, who gained fame when Rolling Stone magazine recognized his partying skills while he attended Florida State University, will perform at the T-Mobile Center, 7 p.m. Sept. 21 ($44.75-$140). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ The acclaimed haunted houses in the West Bottoms will open, with The Beast and The Edge of Hell running Sept. 22-Nov. 11 and Macabre Cinema running Sept. 22-Oct. 31; Thursday-Saturday through October, Friday-Saturday in November, also Oct. 22, 29-31 ($35-$65, combos $60-$150). fullmoonprod.com.

▪ The locally made movie “Vengeful” will premiere at the Gem Theater, with cast and crew on hand, 7 p.m. Sept. 22 ($20). eventbrite.com.

This house at 8540 N. Booth Ave. is among 337 houses throughout the area that will be open to the public Sept. 23-Oct. 8 as part of the annual Fall Parade of Homes.
This house at 8540 N. Booth Ave. is among 337 houses throughout the area that will be open to the public Sept. 23-Oct. 8 as part of the annual Fall Parade of Homes.

▪ The annual Fall Parade of Homes will offer 337 houses throughout the area for public viewing, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 23-Oct. 8 (free). kchba.org.

▪ Prominent author Walter Isaacson will appear at the Kauffman Center for his new book, “Elon Musk”; with author and journalist David Von Drehle, 7 p.m. Sept. 25 ($49-$79). kauffmancenter.org.

▪ Cast members of the comic TV show “Whose Live Anyway?” will bring their humor to the Midland, 8 p.m. Sept. 27 ($49.50-$59.50). midlandkc.com.

Walter Isaacson, who wrote bestselling biographies of Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein and others, will appear Sept. 25 at the Kauffman Center for “Elon Musk.”
Walter Isaacson, who wrote bestselling biographies of Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein and others, will appear Sept. 25 at the Kauffman Center for “Elon Musk.”

Classical music and dance

▪ Pianist Mikhail Voskresensky, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22, 1900 Building ($10-$30). icm.park.edu.

▪ Kansas City Symphony, “The Music of Led Zeppelin,” 8 p.m. Sept. 22, Kauffman Center ($64-$109). https://tickets.kcsymphony.org/ledzeppelin.

▪ Bach Aria Soloists, BAS at the Park, 12:30 p.m. Sept. 23, Loose Park Rose Garden (sold out). bachariasoloists.com.

▪ Opus 76 Quartet, “Schubert, Beethoven and Schumann,” 6:45 p.m. Sept. 23, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church ($30-$50). opus76.org.

▪ Aizuri Quartet, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23, 1900 Building ($44). chambermusic.org.

▪ Lyric Opera of Kansas City will open its 2023-24 season at the Kauffman Center with “Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci,” 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23 and 29, 2 p.m. Oct. 1 ($38-$216). kcopera.org.

▪ KU Symphony Orchestra with violinst Blake Pouliot, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26, Lied Center ($14-$25). lied.ku.edu.

▪ Opus 76 Quartet, “Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro,” 6:45 and 8:30 p.m. Sept. 27, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception ($30-$60). opus76.org.

More music

▪ “Broadway on the Plains” Benefit Concert featuring Angel Reda and Kaitlyn Davidson, 7 p.m. Sept. 21, Fiorella’s Event Center (sold out). redafoundation.org.

▪ Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, 7 p.m. Sept. 21, Kauffman Center ($47). kauffmancenter.org.

▪ Three Days Grace and Chevelle, 7 p.m. Sept. 21, Starlight ($29.50-$69.50). kcstarlight.com.

▪ David Cook, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 21, Knuckleheads ($30-$50). knuckleheadskc.com.

▪ Carin Leon, 8 p.m. Sept. 22, T-Mobile Center ($49.50-$250). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, 8 p.m. Sept. 22, Uptown ($252). uptowntheater.com.

▪ “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” Live in Concert, 8 p.m. Sept. 22, Yardley Hall ($12-$55). jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center.

▪ Guns N’ Roses with Alice in Chains, 6 p.m. Sept. 23, Kauffman Stadium ($25-$149.50). mlb.com/royals.

▪ Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, “In the Key of KC” featuring Eboni Fondren, 8 p.m. Sept. 23, Kauffman Center ($20-$72). kcjo.org.

▪ Avenged Sevenfold with Kim Dracula and Falling in Reverse, 7 p.m. Sept. 26, T-Mobile Center ($34.50-$124.50). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ $uicideboy$ with Ghostemane, City Morgue, Sematary and Ramirez, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27, T-Mobile Center ($44.95-$144.95). t-mobilecenter.com.