It’s a good time to be a Kansas Citian. Just a preview of this weekend: KC Fringe is coming back for its 20th year, a Disney classic will complete its run at the Starlight, and some of the city’s best breweries will converge on Strang Hall. Let’s get into it.
KC Fringe Films
July 12-14
Get ready—the sprawling KC Fringe festival starts Friday and doesn’t stop until the 28th. The festival spotlights creativity at its least restricted, and everything you see—be it a film, a performance, or visual art—will be a conversation piece.
The first weekend is devoted to films. All are showing between July 12 and 14 at the Stray Cat Film Center. Find the lineup in our KC Fringe Week 1 Preview.
For the festival’s visual art, stop into the galleries in Union Station’s Grand Hall (July 13-27) and Gael’s Public House & Sports (now through July 31).
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
July 12-14
Ariel is back at the Starlight for the first time since 2017, and she still wants to be part of your world. If you don’t get a chance to see the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid during the week (it starts Tuesday), make it a weekend activity. No matter how old you are, it’s sure to be a dazzling display of sight and sound.
Grownups can make a Swope Park afternoon of it on the 12th by attending Friday Flamingle: Christmas in July, an adults-only event with food and activities at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
WeekEnder
July 12
Friday kicks off four weeks of movies, music, and munchies at Crown Center. This week’s WeekEnder features the Damian Gunn Band at 6 p.m., a screening of The Addams Family (2019) at 9, and food and beverages all night.
Entry is free, as is parking in the Pershing and Shops garages between 6 p.m. and midnight.
Strang Hall Beer Fest 2024
July 13
Strang Hall in Overland Park is hosting its fourth-ever Beer Fest at 2 p.m. on Saturday. For $55, you can sample beers from 16 local brewing companies, including Casual Animal, Vine Street, and old faithful, Boulevard. Your designated driver can get in for $10. From 5:30 to 6:30, your wristband will get you 20 percent off all food, and after that, you can settle in for some live music.
The Great Car Show
July 14
Big ol’ field, big ol’ monument, big ol’ car show. That’s nice. Bring Dad to The Great Car Show at the National WWI Museum and Memorial on Sunday.
The show goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it’s $5 for adults and $2 for kids. Roscoe from the Kansas City Automotive Museum says there will be all sorts of interesting cars there, including a ’59 Corvette, a ’69 Karmann Ghia, and a 1910 Maytag (made by the same guy who founded the Maytag Washing Machine Company).