2020 vision: The 20 biggest events around Kansas City this year (after the Chiefs)

With 2020 being a leap year, a Summer Olympics year and (egads!) a presidential election year, we all have something to look forward to. There are plenty of big local events to put on your 2020 calendar, too.

We will delight in an array of music, plays, sporting events and much more — including a major TV show based (loosely) on Kansas City’s gangster history.

Many 2020 events have yet to be announced, of course, especially concert tours. But the Sprint Center already has a veritable smorgasbord of music lined up that ranges from Cher and Elton John to Justin Bieber and Post Malone. Kauffman Stadium (Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe) and Arrowhead Stadium (Kenny Chesney) also have major dates on the concert scene.

Of course everyone knows about the playoff-bound Chiefs, whose postseason path will begin Jan. 12 at Arrowhead Stadium and just might lead tof a Super Bowl date Feb. 2 in Miami.

Beyond that huge start to the new year, we present 20 for ’20 — a list of 20 events to look forward to in 2020.

5 biggest concerts at Sprint Center

Post Malone

Feb. 5

Austin Richard Post, who was born in New York but grew up in Dallas, has become the biggest emerging star in hip-hop. His latest album, “Hollywood’s Bleeding,” spent a good chunk of 2019 at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. Swae Lee and Tyla Yaweh will open. sprintcenter.com/events/detail/post-malone

Cher

April 18

Wild wigs and wardrobes will be the order of the day when legendary pop singer Cher brings her show to the Sprint Center. Guitarist Nile Rodgers and the disco-funk band Chic will open. sprintcenter.com/events/detail/cher-1

The Canadian pop star who seems like he’s been around forever but is still only 25 gave the world (or at least his fans) a Christmas present by announcing a four-month 2020 tour that will kick off May 14 and include his concert at the Sprint Center, where he previously played in 2010, 2012 and 2016. sprintcenter.com

The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour is so big that it will make its second stop at the Sprint Center, having instantly sold out a Feb. 13, 2019, show. If Elton John really is retiring from touring, he’s going out with a bang. sprintcenter.com/events/detail/elton-john-2

Adam Levine has given up his gig as a judge on “The Voice” and will tour this summer with his three-time Grammy Award-winning band, Maroon 5. Meghan Trainor, who appeared as a guest artist on “The Voice” in December, will also perform. sprintcenter.com/events/detail/maroon-7

4 hits on the stage

“Come From Away” is based on events in the aftermath of 9/11, when 38 planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. Residents housed and fed 6,700 stranded travelers. It has become the longest-running Canadian musical in Broadway history. broadwayinkc.com

“Aladdin” began life as an animated Disney movie in 1992 but wasn’t turned into a stage musical for nearly 20 years. It opened on Broadway in 2014, winning one Tony Award. The musical includes four new songs and three songs written for the film but not used. broadwayinkc.com

The 28th season of the annual free outdoor stage festival will present “The Tempest,” with John Rensenhouse playing the protagonist, Prospero. First performed in 1611, “The Tempest” tells the story of an exiled ruler who uses magic to restore his daughter to power. kcshakes.org

A musical event for the entire family, “The SpongeBob Musical” is based on the Nickelodeon animated television series “SpongeBob SquarePants.” It premiered in June 2016 and opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in December 2017, earning 12 Tony Award nominations before closing after less than a year. kcstarligh

3 sporting events

As part of the 100-year celebration of the forming of the Negro Leagues at the Paseo YMCA, a Centennial Art Exhibition by artist Graig Kreindler will present 200 portraits of Negro League baseball greats. The exhibition will run through May 31, and the anniversary celebration will continue here and throughout the country throughout the year. nlbm.com

It seems to be Kansas and Iowa State against the rest of the Big 12 Conference men’s basketball teams at this annual event in what amounts to those two teams’ home away from home. The Cyclones have won four of the past six tournaments, including last year as the No. 5 seed. The Jayhawks won the other two. sprintcenter.com

With a new owner (John Sherman) and a new manager (Mike Matheny), the Royals will have a new feel in 2020 as they open their home schedule against the Seattle Mariners. But does that mean they will lose fewer than 100 games for the first time since 2017? mlb.com/royals

2 TBAs

Kansas City’s crime history — at least a fictionalized version of it — will be on display during the fourth season of the popular TV series “Fargo,” which will be set in the 1950s and will star Chris Rock. The plot will focus on a rivalry between two crime factions, one African American and one Italian. fxnetworks.com

After a yearlong closing for renovations paid by a $30 million capital campaign, the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum will reopen and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the man from Independence’s presidency. Improvements will include a new permanent exhibition and technology-based upgrades, but the Thomas Hart Benton mural will remain. trumanlibrary.org

1 Greatest of All Time

About 55 photographs of boxing champion Muhammad Ali, most of which were never published, will be on view in this exhibition. The photographs come from two in-depth assignments Gordon Parks, a native of Fort Scott, Kansas, shot for Life magazine. nelson-atkins.org

Plus 5 more big events

Cirque du Soleil combines its world-famous acrobatics with world-class ice skating for its new show, “Axel,” in which the title character is a would-be rock star who skates and sings with a band. sprintcenter.com

Commissioned by the Minnesota Opera in 2016, “The Shining” will conclude the Lyric Opera’s 2019-2020 season. It is based on the creepy Stephen King novel, following that story more closely than the Jack Nicholson movie from 1980. kcopera.org

Bishop Miege High School graduate Joyce DiDonato has become one of the world’s top opera stars and returns to the area regularly to perform for the home crowd. She will sing baroque music at this Harriman-Jewell Series event and will be joined by the Italian chamber orchestra Il Pomo d’Oro, performing on authentic period instruments. hjseries.org

Kansas City wasn’t on the original itinerary, but seven shows were added recently to the highly anticipated tour of aging rockers, and this show will now be the second stop. With Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. ticketmaster.com

Country star Kenny Chesney has played more times at Arrowhead than some NFL teams, with his concerts becoming an almost-annual event. Joining him this summer on the Chillaxification Tour will be Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion and Michael Franti & Spearhead. ticketmaster.com

Bonus 20 for 2020

Kansas City Symphony, “Ax Performs Beethoven,” Jan. 31-Feb. 2, Kauffman Center

Piano legend Emanuel Ax will perform Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto. kcsymphony.org

TEDxKC: Invisible, Feb. 5, Kauffman Center

Speakers will inform and inspire. tedxkc.org

“Blood, Sweat, and Tears” by Summer Wheat, Feb. 6-May 24, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

Oklahoma-born Summer Wheat’s colorful paintings show female figures as hunters, fishers and beekeepers. kemperart.org

Kansas City Symphony, “Zukerman Plays Beethoven’s Violin Concerto,” Feb. 7-9, Kauffman Center

Iconic violinist Pinchas Zukerman will join the symphony for Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. kcsymphony.org

Kansas City Ballet, “Swan Lake,” Feb. 14-23, Kauffman Center

The classic “Swan Lake” returns to Kansas City Ballet after breaking box office records in 2016. kcballet.org

Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston, March 7, Children’s Mercy Park

This will be the home opener for Sporting, which is coming off a rare disappointing season. sportingkc.com

Erik Larson, March 10, Unity Temple on the Plaza

Best-selling nonfiction author Erik Larson will appear for his new book, “The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz.” rainydaybooks.com

“Dancing With the Stars” Live, March 10, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland

Newly crowned champion Hannah Brown from “The Bachelorette” will be among the celebrities joining professional dancers. arvestbanktheatre.com

“The Bachelor” Live On Stage, March 12, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland

A hometown bachelor will be introduced to women from the audience for a chance at love, with favorites from past “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” seasons serving as hosts. arvestbanktheatre.com

Benjamin Grosvenor, March 20, Folly

The internationally acclaimed British classical pianist became the youngest-ever winner of the keyboard section of the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year Competition when he was 11 in 2004. chambermusic.org

Disney On Ice “Road Trip Adventures,” March 26-29, Sprint Center.

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and friends will skate their way to Disney destinations. sprintcenter.com

Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, April 6, Kauffman Center

The Boston Pops led by Keith Lockhart will celebrate composer John Williams’ legacy. hjseries.org

Michael Bolton with the Kansas City Symphony, April 24, Kauffman Center

Soulful Michael Bolton will perform his greatest hits, including “How Can We Be Lovers,” “When a Man Loves a Woman” and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.” kcsymphony.org

Kane Brown, May 9, Sprint Center

After performing in London, Paris, Berlin and elsewhere in Europe, country sensation Kane Brown will conclude his The Worldwide Beautiful tour in Kansas City. With Russell Dickerson and Chris Lane. sprintcenter.com

Oceans of Fun opening day, Memorial Day weekend (weather permitting)

Riptide Raceway, the longest mat racing water slide in the world, will debut. worldsoffun.com

“Menopause the Musical,” June 6, Kauffman Center

This musical parody is set to classic tunes from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. broadwayinkc.com

Ozzy Osbourne, June 26, Sprint Center

“The Prince of Darkness” still plays heavy metal at the age of 71. sprintcenter.com

The Black Crowes, Aug. 26, Providence Medical Center Amphitheater

Chris and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band’s debut album, “Shake Your Money Maker,” with their first live shows since 2013. providenceamp.com

Vampire Weekend, Sept. 29, Starlight

The band whose members met while enrolled at Columbia University in New York City is huge on the indie rock scene. kcstarlight.com

Blue Man Group, Oct. 2-4, Starlight

Three bald, blue men will provide music, laughs and more. kcstarlight.com

Big Slick Celebrity Weekend, June 5-6, Sprint Center, Kauffman Stadium, Pinstripes. bigslickkc.org

Boulevardia, June 19-20, Crown Center and Washington Square Park. boulevardia.com

KC Fringe Festival, TBA, multiple venues. kcfringe.org

Irish Fest, Sept. 4-6, Crown Center. kcirishfest.com

SantaCaliGon Days, Sept. 4-7, Independence Square. santacaligon.com

Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Sept. 5-Oct. 18, Bonner Springs. kcrenfest.com

Kansas City Air Show, Sept. 5-6, New Century AirCenter. kcairshow.org

American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Sept. 17-20, Kansas Speedway. americanroyal.com/bbq

Plaza Art Fair, Sept. 25-27, Country Club Plaza. plazaartfair.com

Plaza Lighting Ceremony, Nov. 26, Country Club Plaza. countryclubplaza.com

This story was originally published January 5, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "2020 vision: The 20 biggest events around Kansas City this year (after the Chiefs)."