We’d appreciate it if things cooled down literally in Kansas City—and the forecasts, as of now, are encouraging—but the events calendar? Keep heating up, baby.
Here are the top events in Kansas City this weekend.
KC Sunflower Festival
August 9-11 (and ongoing)
It’s hard to comprehend the beauty of a sunflower field until you’ve stood in the middle of one, the sun’s rays seemingly charging the petals around you solely for your amusement. Head to the KC Pumpkin Patch in Olathe this weekend for KC Sunflower Fest. There’s the sunflower field, of course, and farm activities galore. For an adult’s day out, consider popping over to the Patch’s property mate, KC Wine Co.
Pre-sale tickets are available now for a little over $16. If you miss it, don’t worry—it runs for the next three weekends.
Pickleball, pickleball, pickleball
August 9-11
Kansas City is a pickleball city this weekend—well, more than normal. From Thursday through Sunday, you can attend PickleCon at the Kansas City Convention Center. It has tournaments, camps, and dozens of vendors.
Across the state line, the Professional Pickleball Association hosts the PPA Tour Selkirk Kansas City Open from Wednesday to Sunday at Kansas City Elite Tennis and Wellness. On neighboring courts with the pros, amateurs will compete for the Kansas State Championships. Oh, and on August 6 and 7, they can train with PPA pros at the PPA Tour 2-Day Camp.
While amateur registration is closed, spectator tickets are still available. If you want to learn more about the PPA Tour and Kansas State Championship events, read our preview.
St. Louis Cardinals at Kansas City Royals
August 9-10
The Royals’ cross-state rivals come to town for a two-game series under the lights this weekend. As usual, Cardinal fans are coming with them—and out of their nests in Kansas City. Both teams are in playoff contention, which should add some atmosphere to the already spirited I-70 Series.
The teams clash Friday at 7:10 p.m. and Saturday at 6:10 p.m. Both should be a blast, so for many, the choice will come down to special promotions. Saturday is Mizzou night—nothing brings us all together like Mizzou, right? Right?!—and Friday, well, take five guesses.
Did you guess “Shaquille O’Neal, as DIESEL, will DJ an on-field EDM concert after the game?” If so, lucky guess. The NBA Hall of Famer will throw out the first pitch, too.
Trouble in Mind
August 10-11 (and ongoing)
Trouble in Mind, a comedy-drama tackling racism in theater, premiered in 1955, but with an ending playwright Alice Childress didn’t have in mind. A white producer had threatened to cancel the show if she didn’t write a happier ending, according to Roundabout Theatre Company. Not wanting to derail production, Childress relented—but as the play eyed a 1957 Broadway debut, big-wigs continued to badger Childress with orders to tone down the play’s message. Ultimately, she stood firm, and it wasn’t until 2021 that the original play, with its original ending, premiered on Broadway.
You can watch it performed by Kansas City Actors Theatre at Union Station’s City Stage Theatre this weekend, starting with a Friday preview show and with official shows running the next two nights. Then catch it Wednesdays through Sundays until August 25.
Among the stars are John Rensenhouse and Chioma Anywanwu, who shared the stage in last month’s production of Julius Caesar by Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. (Here’s our review, if you missed that.)
India Fest
August 11
On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., experience Indian culture at the Overland Park Convention Center. With a theme of “One Community, Many Stories: Celebrating Diversity, Building Unity,” India Fest 2024 will highlight India’s cuisine, music, dancing, and more. There will be a fashion show, henna tattoos, and several vendor booths. Admission and parking are free.