KC events Oct. 18-24: Holiday Mart, Horror Fest, Glow at Powell Gardens, NASCAR

The Junior League of Kansas City’s four-day shopping extravaganza, which has raised nearly $11 million for community projects since 1988, will offer a few special treats this year. On Thursday, Oct. 18, there will be preferential shopping 9 a.m.-noon ($35) and a Happy Hour 4-8 p.m. ($15). Ladies Night Out will be 5-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19 ($50). And Holi-DIY will take place 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 ($50). 9 a.m.-noon and noon-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. Tickets are $8-$50 through jlkc.org.

Erika Baker and SqueezeBox Theatre will offer a unique event to get adults in the mood for Halloween. Kansas City Horror Fest will present 13 new, locally written plays, along with signature cocktails, creepy decorations, costume contests and more. The festival will cover four evenings, with the first seven plays on Night One, then the next six plays on Night Two. The pattern will repeat on Nights Three and Four. Tickets are $20-$35 through eventbrite.com/event/50708981930.

Visitors are welcome to wear their Halloween best to experience Powell Gardens’ fall display. The Grand Hall will contain a magical hangout for witches and wizards; a special event tent will offer music, cocktails, food trucks and children’s activities; and a mile-long walking path will feature jack-o-lantern displays and spooky surroundings. Hayrides will be available for an additional charge. 816-697-2600. Tickets are $5-$12 through powellgardens.org/events-exhibits/powell-gardens-festivals/glow.

Fellow Hickman Mills High School alums and Kansas City Repertory Theatre regulars Jake Walker and Rusty Sneary will star in KC Rep’s production of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” Walker, who has appeared in local productions ranging from “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at the Coterie to “Hamlet” for Kansas City Actors Theatre, will play George. Sneary, who has taken on several roles in KC Rep’s annual presentations of “A Christmas Carol,” will play simple-minded Lennie in the iconic story of two migrant workers in Depression-era California. Runs through Nov. 17. 816-235-2700. Tickets are $35-$63 through kcrep.org.

The Monster Energy Cup Series playoff field will be trimmed from 12 to eight drivers based on the results of the Hollywood Casino 400, which will cap a three-race weekend at Kansas Speedway. Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. were the leaders entering the playoffs, and all three have reached the round of 12. ARCA Racing Series Kansas 150, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19; Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300, 1:55 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20; Monster Energy Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400, 1:20 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. 866-460-7223. Tickets are $10-$129 through kansasspeedway.com.

This will be a rare chance to see professional theater without paying an arm and a leg — or anything for that matter. “Oracle of the Ozarks,” written by Scott Myers and directed by Jacqueline Gafford, is a drama about a female cattle rancher, her lawyer, a wanderer and a neighbor woman who encounter more than mystery on a stormy evening near a cave in the Ozarks. Runs through Nov. 3. wcakc.org. Free; donations accepted.

From tots to adults, everybody will have a bouncing good time at the City Market’s Bounce-tober Fest. Among the offerings: racing in a human hamster ball, jousting, playing ball against gravity, a fire rescue obstacle course, Disney’s “Frozen” playscape, a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and the Pirate’s Adventure Ship. Other activities will include music, games, a pumpkin-decorating contest and a beer garden. 816-842-1271. thecitymarket.org. Free; inflatables $3, with all-day passes $12.

Taking place at the new Uptown Market on the historic Independence Square, the Cultural and Heritage Festival will begin with a parade of flags and music from local composer and musician Dana Mengel and friends. The festival will feature local ethnic and cultural groups presenting music, dancing and storytelling, as well as local food vendors with offerings from around the globe. 816-325-7890. visitindependence.com/event/cultural-and-heritage-festival. Free.

The race has marathon in the title, but the vast majority of the expected 9,500 participants will run the half-marathon, 10K or 5K. All runners will enjoy the freebies: shirt, medal, downloadable race photos, food, beer, massages and music at the after-party. Fireworks will kick off the race, which tours some of the city’s favorite landmarks, including the National World War I Museum and Memorial, Country Club Plaza, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Westport and 18th & Vine. 816-474-4652. sportkc.org/marathon. Registration ($40-$120) closed online; available at Health & Fitness Expo, 3-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19.

Soprano Victoria Botero and her ensemble will join the Owen/Cox Dance Group to perform “Morena,” a world premiere dance performance featuring secular songs traditionally sung by Jewish, Muslim and Christian women. The music, which explores themes of love, family and loss, comes from the Sephardic, Arabic and Armenian tradition and has been passed from one woman to another since medieval times. Johnson County Community College. 816-533-5904. Tickets are $25 through owencoxdance.org.

Jack H. Cunningham’s “Women and War” tells the stories of American women during every conflict since World War I through letters and monologues. Based on historical facts, the play shares accounts of sacrifice, resolution and hope to honor those who persevered on the home front and in the battlefield. The production is presented in partnership with the Charlie Mike Theatre Company and Kansas City PBS “Veterans Coming Home.” J.C. Nichols Auditorium. 816-888-8100. theworldwar.org. Tickets are $10 through eventbrite.com/event/49097856009.

After suffering their first loss of the season, the Chiefs can get back on track in front of their second consecutive Sunday Night Football national TV audience. This game was moved from a noon kickoff because NBC wanted to again carry the Patrick Mahomes show in prime time. The Bengals also are coming off a loss, but they are no pushovers. They are tied for first place in the AFC North and have beaten the Chiefs the past four times the teams have met, most recently 36-21 in 2015. 816-920-9300. Tickets are $70-$290 through chiefs.com.

Conservatory Wind Bands, Oct. 18, Folly. conservatory.umkc.edu

Martin Hayes Quartet, Oct. 18, 1900 Building. 1900bldg.com

Vox Luminis, Oct. 18, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. chambermusic.org

Gohar Vardanyan, Oct. 19, Country Club Christian Church. kansascityguitarsociety.org

Donnie Baker, Oct. 19-20, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Booker T. Jones, Oct. 18, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Eden, Oct. 18, The Truman. follytheater.org

Fleetwood Mac, Oct. 18, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com

Seven Lions, Oct. 18, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Yonder Mountain String Band, Oct. 18, Madrid. madridtheatre.com

The Dead South with Split Lip Rayfield and The Mighty Pines, Oct. 19, CrossroadsKC. crossroadskc.com

Erykah Badu with CeeLo and Goodie Mob, Oct. 19, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com

Kansas, Oct. 19, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

Kieran Kane and Rayna Gellert, Oct. 19, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Kyle, Oct. 19, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

Machine Head, Oct. 19, The Truman. thetrumankc.com

Gregory Alan Isakov, Oct. 20, The Truman. thetrumankc.com

OK Go, Oct. 20, Yardley Hall. jccc.edu/theseries

4U: A Symphonic Celebration of Prince, Oct. 21, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

Eric Lindell, Oct. 23, Knuckleheads. knuckleheadskc.com

Amirah Sackett, Oct. 24, Lied Center. lied.ku.edu

Chanticleer, Oct. 24, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org

Lenexa Chili Challenge, Oct. 19-20, Old Town Lenexa. lenexa.com

Night of the Living Farm, Oct. 19-20 and 26-27, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. artsandrec-op.org/farmstead

Overland Park RV and Outdoor Show, Oct. 19-21, Overland Park Convention Center. rjpromotions.com/event/overland-park-rv-outdoor-show

Psychical Research Society Annual Psychic Fair, Oct. 19-21, Kansas National Guard Armory. prskc.org

Brew at the Zoo & Wine Too, Oct. 20, Kansas City Zoo. kansascityzoo.org

Pumpkins and Mums Fall Festival, Oct. 20, Hall of Waters Historic District, Excelsior Springs. visitexcelsior.com/fallfestival.html

Pumpkins on Parade, Oct. 20, Cave Springs. cavespring.org/2018-pumpkins-on-parade

Dogtober Fest, Oct. 21, Kemper Outdoor Education Center. makeyourdayhere.com

Jill Lepore for “These Truths: A History of the United States,” Oct. 18, Kansas City Public Library-Plaza Branch. kclibrary.org

Tish Jett for “Living Forever Chic: Frenchwomen’s Timeless Secrets for Everyday Elegance, Gracious Entertaining, and Enduring Allure,” Oct. 20, Nell Hill’s. rainydaybooks.com

B.A. Shapiro for “The Collector’s Apprentice,” Oct. 23, Unity Temple on the Plaza. rainydaybooks.com

Lakeside Speedway: World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, Oct. 19. lakesidespeedway.net

Keto Week: Carolyn Ketchum, 7 p.m. Oct. 17; Kristie Sullivan, 7 p.m. Oct. 18; Adam Nally, 7 p.m. Oct. 19. Half Price Books, 1002 Westport. brownpapertickets.com

Brew at the Zoo & Wine Too. 7-10 p.m. Oct. 20. $40-$50. Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Drive. kansascityzoo.org, 816-595-1234

KC Brew & Chew. Noon-10 p.m. Oct. 20. Free; except $25 for beer tasting, 2-7 p.m. Macken Park, Clark Ferguson Drive and Howell Street, North Kansas City. kcbrewandchew.com

Big Martini. Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18. $50. McCormick and Schmick’s, 448 W. 47th. hsgkc.org, 913-596-1000

Lenexa Chili Challenge. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 20. Free. Old Town Lenexa, Santa Fe Trail Drive and Pflumm Road, Lenexa. ci.lenexa.ks.us/parks

Boo ’n Brew. 2-7 p.m. Oct. 20. $15. Town Center Plaza, 5000 W. 119th, Leawood. towncenterplaza.com, 913-498-1111