Summer’s finally here, and it’s time to sample some of the best cultural arts experiences of the season in the Kansas City metro – great live music, contemporary art exhibitions, exciting zoo adventures, moving theatrical performances, unforgettable fundraisers, fascinating lectures and more. Invite family and friends to join you this summer and have some fun!
The Midwest Trust Center Announces Light Up the Lawn Concerts!
Featuring some of the best musicians in Kansas City. See Mariachi Estrella KC Aug. 16, The Freedom Affair Aug. 23 and Marty Bush Aug. 30 live on the lawn outside the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at JCCC. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets for this free concert series! No reservations required. Music starts at 8:30 p.m.
Misha Kligman: The Luminous and The Given
Stop by the Nerman Museum through Sep. 1 to view The Luminous and The Given. This exhibition features paintings by Misha Kligman made over the past five years. In this body of work, driven in large part by mystical encounters with nature, Kligman presents visions tangled with premonitions, while dreams and reality collide to reveal the luminous in the given.
Enjoy family fun at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium!
The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium offers family fun daily, year-round. Home to nearly 10,000 animals, representing over 400 species, it’s always a new adventure! Your membership includes unlimited visits to the Zoo for 12 months, plus discounts on food and beverage purchases, retail and select events. Friends of the Zoo members also receive reduced admission to more than 150+ partner zoos and aquariums across the country, perfect for any summer vacations.
KCAT’s 20th Anniversary Season Continues This Summer at Union Station
Season 20 at Kansas City Actors Theatre continues this summer at the City Stage in Union Station! From August 7 – 25 comes TROUBLE IN MIND, a funny and moving comedy-drama following an experienced Black stage actress through the first days of rehearsal for a new play, starring Lynn King and John Rensenhouse. From September 11 – 29, the classic murder-mystery-that-goes-awry DIAL M FOR MURDER, starring Elise Poehling, Darren Kennedy, and Hillary Clemens.
Sabor de España! | Taste of Spain Fundraiser Picnic
Savor the sounds and tastes of Spain at this festive Picnic Fundraiser for Ensemble Ibérica on June 30 at 5 p.m. Indulge in culinary delights like sangria, tapas, and traditional paella cooked over an open fire. Enjoy flamenco dancers, musicians, a live auction and the chance to win a spot at our Destination Concert in Turkey. You don’t want to miss this unforgettable celebration! Event hosted by Pete and Julie Walker Browne at 3711 Jarboe, KCMO.
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum Is “World Class”
Get ready for a cinematic experience of some of the most dramatic chapters of world history, from the Great War to WWII and the Cold War, to the creation of the State of Israel, Civil Rights advancements, the extreme makeover of The White House and, of course, Truman’s Whistle Stop campaign and 1948 victory. Hailed as “the new standard for presidential libraries,” the all-new museum is a can’t miss for all ages.
Englewood Arts – Where Art Lives
Visit Englewood Arts this summer! Join us for 3rd Friday Art Walks this summer featuring the inaugural Artist in Residence exhibition Everywhere – Here, glass blowing demonstrations, open mic, vendors and more! Englewood Arts offers classes in glass blowing & ceramics, plus live model drawing sessions. Interested in live music? EA hosts local bands each week. Check out the event page for more information.
Portraits of Childhood: Black Dolls from the Deborah Neff Collection
A showcase of 135 handmade Black Dolls dating from 1850-1940, along with 60 period photographs and paintings. Visitors are invited to respond to this exhibition thoughtfully and critically by visiting The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, participating in workshops and facilitated conversations and attending public lectures. The exhibition, supported in part by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund and the Hall Family Foundation, opens on June 29.
Summerfest Concerts invites you to their 32nd season this July!
As a culture, we are obsessed with time. We declare a stitch in time saves nine even while we kill time, we finish things in the nick of time and we realize that time is of the essence since we live on borrowed time. With all this talk of time, it is no wonder we feel so hurried and harried in our daily lives. Join Summerfest as we offer a respite from the speed of our lives.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory On Stage at The Coterie
World-famous Willy Wonka is opening his marvelous and mysterious chocolate factory… but only to a lucky few! Join Charlie, Violet, Augustus, Veruca, and Mike Teavee as they embark on a mesmerizing joyride through a world of color and confections beyond their wildest dreams. Based on Roald Dahl’s cherished novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features songs from the magical musical movie, including “Candy Man,” “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” and “Pure Imagination.”