More family fun as another Kansas City area museum reopens from COVID-19 shutdown
After closing for months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City will be back in business Tuesdays through Fridays beginning June 23.
Visitors must purchase tickets online (at wonderscope.org) for specific time slots to allow social distancing. Hours will be 9 to 11 a.m. for members only, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. for everyone. Members’ admission is free, general admission is $6-$8.
The museum is still located at 5700 King St. in Shawnee but plans to move into its new, expanded space in the south Kansas City’s Red Bridge Shopping Center in the fall.
Another venue for children’s activities, the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm in Olathe (mahaffie.org), has reopened with limited activities. Days Out with Frank and Ella are scheduled to return 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 24 and 25, and Family Fun Nights will resume 6 to 8 p.m. June 25 ($2-$7).
As previously announced, Worlds of Fun opens on Monday, but until early July it’s only for season pass holders.
Here are five more in-person activities to consider for the next week:
▪ The John Wornall House and Alexander Majors House and Barn are open for self-guided tours ($5), with visitors limited to 10 at a time. Hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Wornall House and 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday-Sunday at the Majors House. wornallmajors.org.
▪ The Airline History Museum and the TWA Museum, separate operations at the Downtown Airport, have reopened with restrictions. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday at the Airline History Museum ($5-$10, 12 and under free) and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Saturday at the TWA Museum ($7-$10, 5 and under free). airlinehistory.org and twamuseum.com.
▪ Lenexa’s Movies in the Park have been transformed into a drive-in experience, with “Labyrinth” showing at dusk June 19 in the Lenexa Community Center parking lot. lenexa.com.
▪ Sky Smeed will give a live drive-in concert at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Lawrence, 7:30 p.m. June 21 ($20 per carload, up to six people). lawrenceartscenter.org.
▪ The National WWI Museum and Memorial will present its annual Taps at the Tower each evening at sunset, 8:45 p.m. June 21-27. theworldwar.org/visit/taps.
Here are five online ways you and your family can spend your coronavirus-induced stay-at-home time:
▪ Join the Fishin’ Magicians as they combine fractured fairy tales with magic, 10 a.m. June 18 and 4 p.m. June 22 through Mid-Continent Public Library, facebook.com/mcpl360.
▪ Author B.J. Hollars will discuss “Midwestern Strange: Hunting Monsters, Martians and the Weird in Flyover Country” with the Kansas City Public Library’s Kaite Stover, 6:30 p.m. June 18 at youtube.com/user/kclibrary.
▪ Ensemble Iberica will perform music from Spain, Cuba and Bolivia livestreamed from the Warwick Theater, 7 p.m. June 18 ($20). Register at eventbrite.com.
▪ Catch the Quarantine Cat Film Fest through the Liberty Hall Cinema in Lawrence, starting June 19 at catfest.vhx.tv.
▪ A live virtual reading will feature poets Courtney Faye Taylor, Glenn North and Jermaine Thompson, 7 p.m. June 20 at wisebloodbooksellers.com or facebook.com.
