June is the month for Juneteenth and for LGBTQ+ Pride. Festivals to kick off both celebrations happen this weekend. And if there’s a budding performer in the house, there’s a festival just for them!
PrideFest Block Party
June 6
Kick off KC PrideFest weekend at Ulah + Luna’s Pride Block Party on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be pop ups, games, music, drinks, bites, and entertainment, all in front of the Woodside Village shop.
Juneteenth Jazz and Blues Festival
June 8
It’s the first annual fundraiser for the Banneker School Restoration Foundation project to restore one of the schools built in 1885 for the education of African American children. The festival is free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine at English Landing Park on Saturday from 3 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Bring your own chairs and enjoy food and drink provided by local vendors. Four bands ranging from classic jazz to zydeco will entertain the crowd.
KC PrideFest & Parade
June 7, 8, 9
Kaleidoscope: Colors of Community. Kansas City’s biggest Pride celebration spans three days at Theis Park with a robust line-up of vendor booths and tables featuring food, crafts, art, and education, plus live entertainment on multiple stages throughout the park. The weekend is put on by Kansas City Pride Alliance and comes to a crescendo at 11 a.m. on June 8, when the 2024 KC Pride Parade begins in Westport. kcpridealliance.org
2024 Future Stages Festival
June 9
It’s the 11th annual celebration spotlighting hundreds of Kansas City-area youth performers as they take the stage to showcase their talent. Additional family-friendly arts activities will be hosted on the south lawn and indoors at Brandmeyer Hall. It’s free and open to the public from noon to 5:00 p.m. More details at kauffmancenter.org/futurestages.