Blake Shelton coming to KC (at the drive-in). Here’s your weekend entertainment guide
As COVID-19 cases rise in the area, so do cancellations and postponements of live events.
Among the latest victims were the Johnson County Fair (July 26-Aug. 1), the Plaza Art Fair (Sept. 25-27) and the Cher concert (Oct. 2) at the T-Mobile Center.
But just as most events shut down, the Royals will open their shortened, coronavirus-delayed season and NASCAR racing will make a stop in Kansas City.
The Royals begin their 60-game season July 24-26 with a three-game series at Cleveland. Kansas Speedway will play host to four races, highlighted by the NASCAR Cup Series Super Start Batteries 400 at 6:30 p.m. July 23 and followed by the lower-tier ARCA, truck and Xfinity races July 24 and 25.
Neither the baseball nor the auto racing will allow spectators, but they will be televised. Moreover, KC Live! will hold Royals watch parties; tables costing $115-$265 can be reserved at eventbrite.com.
Another live-but-not-in-person event this weekend will be a concert by Blake Shelton with Gwen Stefani and Trace Adkins, shown at drive-in theaters around the country, including the B&B Theatres Twin Drive-In in Independence. It will start at 9 p.m. July 25; admission is $114.99 per carload (up to six people) at universe.com.
Other fully live events recently canceled: the state fairs in Missouri (Aug. 13-23) and Kansas (Sept. 11-20), UNICO Microbrew Festival (Aug. 1), Missouri Wine & Jazz Festival (Aug. 8-9), Parkville Days (Aug. 21-23), De Soto Days Festival (Sept. 3-5), Art Westport (Sept. 11-13), Independence Uncorked (Sept. 12), Brookside Art Annual (Sept. 18-20) and Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest (Sept. 25-27).
Here are five more in-person activities to consider for the next week:
▪ Black Restaurant Week will offer prix-fixe menu options from participating local restaurants starting at $10, July 24-Aug. 2. blackrestaurantweeks.com.
▪ Powell Gardens’ annual Festival of Butterflies runs July 24 through Aug. 9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ($5-$12; members free). Masks required indoors and on Visitor Center Terrace; online reservations encouraged. powellgardens.org.
▪ Theatre in the Park at the amphitheater in Shawnee Mission Park has canceled its entire summer season of stage plays but is presenting movies, with audiences limited to 300. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” will show at 8:30 p.m. July 24 ($1; more if you can; online ticket purchases encouraged). theatreinthepark.org.
▪ Members of the Plain Ol’ A’s Ford Model A Car Club will share their knowledge as you check under the hoods of a 1927 Nash sedan, 1928 Chevrolet sedan and 1929 Ford Model AA truck, noon-1:30 p.m. at Shawnee Town 1929 (free with regular admission, $3-$5). Admissions limited to 45 at a time; masks required. shawneetown.org.
▪ Country music artist Craig Campbell will perform on the rooftop at Chicken N Pickle in North Kansas City in a fundraiser for Dream Factory of Greater Kansas City, 7 p.m. July 28 ($20). eventbrite.com.
Here are six online ways you and your family can spend your coronavirus-induced stay-at-home time:
▪ Links to the 35 shows of the virtual KC Fringe Festival will remain active through 11:59 p.m. July 26 ($5-$10; all-access pass $200). kcfringe.org.
▪ Author Kate Greene will discuss her new book, “Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars: Space, Exploration, and Life on Earth” during a livestream event, 7 p.m. July 23 at mymcpl.org. More information, rainydaybooks.com.
▪ Georgia’s Chicken Run benefiting Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead has gone virtual. Runners can participate in the family fun run any time between July 24 and July 30, although registration is closed. arfop.donorshops.com.
▪ The Kansas City Symphony will present principal harp Katherine Siochi as part of its #StreamingSaturday Concerts, 6 p.m. July 25 at facebook.com.
▪ The world premiere of a new translation of Molière’s “The Miser” will take place at 7 p.m. July 26 (free). The reading by local actors featuring Walter Coppage in the title role is presented by KC Molière: 400 in 2022. Register at eventbrite.com; more information, kcmoliere400in2022.com.
▪ The Heartland Chamber Music Festival, which has been shortened from nine days to four and shifted to online, will include a concert by the Parker Quartet along with other concerts and events, July 27-31 (available to subscribers during the festival and 15 days after it concludes). Subscription $50 at heartlandchambermusic.org.
