Things to do in Kansas City: Sept. 25 and beyond

Kansas City Yoga Festival

Even people who don’t know a Downward Dog pose from a handstand might be tempted by the inclusive offerings of the Kansas City Yoga Festival. Attendees with varying levels of expertise can choose among three seminars during each of three sessions on Saturday. Options include The Biomechanics of Stretch and Breath to Manage Stress, an examination of yoga twists and an introduction to Ashtanga yoga. Friday’s concert sets the tone. San Francisco’s MC Yogi, a musician who combines reggae, new age and electronic dance music designed to stimulate spiritual elevation, is among the performers.

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, and 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Bartle Hall. kansascityyogafestival.com. Friday’s concert is $35. Saturday’s session is $140. Festival passes are $160.

Sunflower Artfest

The Sunflower Artfest in De Soto may lack the urban glamor and the logistical magnitude of the previous weekend’s Plaza Art Fair, but it offers visitors a no less distinctive experience. Set in a newly reconstructed barn that was destroyed by a microburst in 2010, the three-day Sunflower Artfest features 24 artist booths, a plein air art competition, several food vendors and entertainment by eight sets of musicians. The opportunity to pick one of eight varieties of sunflowers in a nearby field in exchange for a $1 donation to the De Soto Rotary’s End Polio Now Project exemplifies the unique charm of the event.

5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, and noon Sunday, Sept. 28. De Soto. desotoartsks.org. Free.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Preservation Hall is far more than a mandatory stop on the itineraries of first-time visitors to New Orleans. After slipping into predicable routine, the musical collective associated with the French Quarter attraction has been revitalized in recent years. Under the guidance of bandleader Ben Jaffe, the touring band has eliminated all traces of mustiness from its fiery performances of traditional jazz. The charismatic clarinetist and vocalist Charlie Gabriel will be among the veteran musicians who will ensure that the band’s appearance at Harrah’s Casino is a lively celebration. Grand Marquis, a jump blues band from Kansas City, opens the show.

8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26. VooDoo Lounge at Harrah’s Casino. 800-653-8000. ticketmaster.com. $28-$58.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City, “La Traviata”

“Sing! Drink! Dance! Die.” The promotional tagline of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata” reflects the drama of one of the quintessential operatic works. The Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury, one of opera’s brightest young talents, stars as the ill-fated Violetta Valery in the romantic tragedy. The casting of El-Khoury lends the production additional international prominence. Scott Quinn, a tenor from Texas, plays the male lead of Alfredo Germont. The new staging of “La Traviata” is an ideal introduction to opera.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5. Muriel Kauffman Theatre. 816-471-7344. kcopera.org. $30-$155.

NHL exhibition: Dallas Stars vs. St. Louis Blues

In the months leading up to the opening of the Sprint Center in October 2007, hockey obsessives speculated that the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise might relocate to the new arena. It didn’t happen. Area hockey fans have had to content themselves with the play of the minor league team the Missouri Mavericks and an annual exhibition match between two NHL franchises. Saturday’s preseason contest between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues will allow fans to watch superstar defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and the accomplished forward Jamie Benn.

7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Sprint Center. 888-929-7849. sprintcenter.com. $18-$153.

Overland Park Fall Festival

Irish rock, vintage automobiles, fresh produce and a puppet show are among the attractions at the Overland Park Fall Festival. Split between the farmers market in downtown Overland Park and the nearby Santa Fe Commons Park, the daylong event commences with a 9 a.m. concert by the Overland Park Civic Band. A parade at 10 a.m. will be followed by entertainment on three stages including performances by the popular rock band The Elders and the volunteer classical ensemble the Overland Park Orchestra. A classic car show, a children’s pavilion and expanded offerings at the farmers market complement the event.

6:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Downtown Overland Park and Santa Fe Commons Park. 913-895-6000. opkansas.org. Free.

Fall Parade of Homes

If home ownership is an integral aspect of the American dream, the Fall Parade of Homes represents a sweet reverie. The 67th edition of the annual event allows access to 307 properties in seven counties. Presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, the event showcases properties that range in price from $150,000 to $1,400,000. The median price of the featured homes is $384,000. Guide books are available at each property.

Saturday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Oct. 12. Metropolitan Kansas City. 816-942-8800. kchba.org. Free.

Kansas City Pagan Pride Day

During the closing ritual of Kansas City Pagan Pride Day, organizers and attendees will “thank the gods and goddesses for their bounty.” People at the Merriam Marketplace will be provided with plenty of reasons to be grateful. The day begins with a ceremony in which participants will “rejoice in … community, charity, activism and education.” The festivities include African drumming, belly dancing, a performance by folk-rock artist Nicolette Page and a ritual at a shamanistic altar. There will also be vendors, crafts and activities for children.

10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Drive, Merriam. kcppd.com. Free.

Chiefs vs. New England

An extension of the weekend for millions of Americans and a bacchanalian celebration of hometown pride for fans in the host city, Monday Night Football is a cherished aspect of popular culture. Even with key players out with injuries and the team’s shaky prospects for the current season, Chiefs fans will almost certainly put their best feet forward on Monday. The matchup against the New England Patriot superstars, including quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski, will add to the excitement.

7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29. Arrowhead Stadium. 816-920-9400. kcchiefs.com. $65-$340.

B.B. King

When a review of B.B. King’s bumbling appearance in St. Louis went viral in April, people who hadn’t seen the blues legend in recent years learned what his loyal fans already knew. Performances by King, 89, aren’t what they used to be. The urgency of King’s singing and guitar playing have been significantly depleted, a condition that’s entirely understandable for man with a discography that began in 1949. Advocates rightly insist that it’s still a privilege to be in the great man’s presence. Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, a mother-and-son duo from Kansas City, open Wednesday’s concert.

8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. Midland theater. 816-283-9921. midlandkc.com. $35-$79.50.

This story was originally published September 24, 2014 at 2:00 AM with the headline "Things to do in Kansas City: Sept. 25 and beyond."