We’re coming up on a big weekend for Kansas City. Playoff football, the finale of KC Restaurant Week—those alone are enough to fill a weekend, but somehow, there’s even more going on.
Kansas City Tattoo Expo 2025
Jan. 17-19
Need some ink? Stop in to the Kansas City Tattoo Expo at the Marriott downtown this weekend. The organizers—who tour the country bringing body art to the masses—promise up to 100 tattoo artists and piercers offering a cornucopia of styles.
Tickets (which are $25 for a day pass or $40 for a weekend pass) are only available at the door, and each day, all grown-up attendees are eligible to win a free tattoo.
Beyond the Classroom Experience: The Frybread Man
Jan. 18
Here’s a chance to learn something new—and eat it, too. On Saturday at 2 p.m., author Kimberly Tanskanen will read her book The Frybread Man—originally told by her father—at the Shawnee Indian Mission. Afterward, kids and adults alike can buy the book, sample the sweet Indigenous treat, and learn more about Indigenous culture.
KCCA 2025 Lunar New Year Festival
Jan. 18
For heightened cultural entertainment, consider spending the latter half of Saturday at Johnson County Community College’s Midwest Trust Center. It’s hosting the KCCA 2025 Lunar New Year Festival, an early celebration of the Chinese holiday (which is on Jan. 29 this year), and it’ll include on-stage performances and a host of activities.
It starts with a free-to-watch talent show from 3 to 5 in the Polsky Theatre. During the show (and for an hour after), you can pop in to the lobby for DIY craft booths and cultural showcases. The only ticketed portion of the event is at 7, when opera singers, dragon and lion dancers, musicians and more take the stage. They’re $20 for adults, $15 for kids three and up, and free for kids two and below.
Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan
Jan. 18
Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan hardly need an introduction. They’re two of the most successful comedians in the world, their acts are generally family friendly, and their arena tour stops at T-Mobile Center on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. They’ll both perform individual stand-up sets, and there’s always an opener, too. Grab tickets here.
Beer Chili Cook Off at Lotawana Brewing Company
Jan. 19
It’s hard to think of a better way to end the weekend. Lotawana Brewing Company, which is less than a mile from the lake, is hosting a beer and chili cook off. There are four categories: best beer/chili pairing, best regional flavor, most unique, and best overall taste. If you want to enter, just bring your chili (and, if you’re a home brewer, your beer). If you want to eat, just head to the brewery and sample away.