This weekend in Kansas City: The Rolling Stones, Maker Faire, Crawfish Festival, KC LGBT Film Festival and Waterfest
Out Here Now: KC LGBT Film Festival
Thursday-July 2 at the Tivoli
Diversity reigns at the 16th annual Out Here Now, which celebrates the cinematic work of the LGBT community. This year’s fest promises documentaries, retro efforts, horror flicks and the debut of a transgender romantic comedy. Established at the Tivoli Cinemas in Westport, Out Here Now originally patterned itself after San Francisco’s acclaimed Frameline Film Festival. It soon acquired a national reputation among filmgoers, premiering such efforts as the Oscar-winning drama “Beginners,” the rock musical “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and last year’s doc “Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine.”
Thursday, June 25-July 2. Tivoli Cinemas, 4050 Pennsylvania. 816-561-5222. OutHereNow.com. See website for schedule and ticket prices.
Crawfish Festival
Friday at City Market
While the actual difference between crawfish, crayfish and crawdads is still up for regional debate, in Kansas City the preferred title is indicated by the Crawfish Festival. For this gathering of food and tunes, Jazz — A Louisiana Kitchen will shell out a menu that features hot boiled crawfish, red beans and rice, seafood gumbo and jambalaya. City Market mainstays Beignet and the Bite will also supply Cajun fare. Crustacean-shakin’ tunes will be provided by the Bon Ton Soul Accordion Band and the MGDs.
6-11 p.m. Friday, June 26. City Market. 816-842-1271. thecitymarket.org. $15 (food, beverage and parking not included).
Waterfest
Friday through Sunday in Excelsior Springs
It might be the only water-themed festival held at an airport, but this unusual pairing has thrived for 34 years straight in Excelsior Springs. Of course, Waterfest is designed to celebrate the city’s mineral water heritage. Over the span of three family-friendly days, visitors can indulge in a variety of arts, entertainment and water-related games. Highlights include a talent show; trolley tour; doughnut-eating contest; KC Zoo animal exhibit; custom car, hot rod and truck show; fireworks, and live music by Shotgun & Lace.
2-9 p.m. Friday, June 26, 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, June 27, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Excelsior Springs Memorial Airport. 816-630-6161. exspgschamber.com. Free.
“Whad’Ya Know?” live broadcast
Saturday at the Carlsen Center
“The Sage of Wisconsin,” better known as Michael Feldman, brings his nationally distributed radio show to Kansas City for a special live broadcast. “Whad’Ya Know” incites contestants to take part in a two-hour quiz show that’s also part local celebrity interview and general comedic tomfoolery. Feldman’s array of guests include barbecue expert Doug Worgul, Overland Park mayor Carl Gerlach and National Spelling Bee winner Vanya Shivashankar. Perhaps she’ll explain to Feldman how to properly spell “What do you.”
10 a.m. Saturday, June 27. The Carlsen Center’s Yardley Hall, Johnson County Community College. 913-469-4445. jccc.edu. $25-$75.
Volkerfest
Saturday in Roanoke Park
One of Kansas City’s most scenic parks serves as the setting for Volkerfest, a showcase of the arts and entertainment scenes found in the Volker, Hyde Park, Crossroads, midtown and downtown neighborhoods. Visitors can find live painting and sculpture demonstrations. Clothing, photography, pottery and massages are available for purchase. The musical lineup includes Scotty Stanton and Friends, Ernest James and Susan Brewington, Scarlett Town, Blue 88, No True Scotsman and My Oh My!
3-9 p.m. Saturday, June 27. Roanoke Park. 816-513-7500. volkerfest.com. Free.
Nanobrew Festival
Saturday at Stockyards Brewing Co.
On the cosmic scale of beer-making, nanobrew falls under microbrew in terms of batch size. It’s also the name given to the sixth annual Nanobrew Festival, a public get-together dedicated to local homebrewing. Patrons receive a souvenir glass and tickets to an assortment of food trucks parked at the event. Admission allows unlimited tastings of nearly 100 beers. It’s good for what ales you, as they say. (Must be 21 to attend.)
2-6 p.m. Saturday, June 27. Stockyards Brewing Co. (in parking lot next to the former Golden Ox restaurant in the West Bottoms). kcnanobrews.com. $30.
Briarcliff Music Festival
Saturday in the Village at Briarcliff
Located 5 miles north of downtown, the Village at Briarcliff provides a self-contained locale that’s perfect to host a festival. While music remains a big part of this shindig, it’s loaded with everything from hula-hooping demos to performance art to celebrity emcees. Headliners include the vintage pop of Victor & Penny and the Loose Change Orchestra and Celtic rockers the Elders. All proceeds raised from raffle items go to New House, a shelter for abused women, and KC Pet Project, which finds homes for homeless pets.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 27. The Village at Briarcliff, U.S. 169 and Briarcliff Parkway. 816-741-8540. briarcliffvillagekc.com. Free.
The Rolling Stones with Ed Sheeran
Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium
No one will ever accuse the Rolling Stones of being slackers. Now in their 53rd year of playing live, the London band embarks on the “Zip Code Tour” of 15 North American cities — and KC is again on that lucky roster. Heck, the Stones have probably played Arrowhead more times than the New Orleans Saints. Audiences get to sing along to their favorite Stones tunes while watching the real Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ron Wood and whoever is playing bass for them these days right before their very eyes. Apparently, you can always get what you want.
8 p.m. Saturday, June 27. Arrowhead Stadium. 816-920-9300. ticketmaster.com. $35.50-$346.
Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado
Saturday at Sporting Park
One of the 10 founding teams in Major League Soccer, the Colorado Rapids last won the Cup in 2010. Things are looking less optimistic this season for the gang from Denver (technically Commerce City). So come watch third-place Sporting Kansas City take on the lowest-ranked team in the conference. No nutty promotional items or wacky mascots needed. Just good, solid soccer courtesy of Kansas City’s other great team.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 27. Sporting Park. 913-387-3400. sportingkc.com. $20-$275.
Maker Faire
Saturday and Sunday at Union Station
The spirit of American ingenuity is revived and flaunted at the Maker Faire. The gathering offers an opportunity for inventors, scientists, hackers and artists to show off their respective creative gizmos. Stuff on display at this family-friendly event includes rockets, bicycles, alternative energy vehicles, sustainable living items and, of course, robots! The event is sponsored by Make magazine, which has put on similar events around the country for almost a decade.
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Union Station. 816-460-2020. makerfairekc.com. $7-$65.
Art of the Car Concours
Sunday at the Kansas City Art Institute
“Concours” is a French term describing a “competition of elegance” specifically in reference to fancy cars. That meaning also applies to Art of the Car Concours, a benefit for the Kansas City Art Institute scholarship fund. More than 200 vintage and special interest vehicles, including motorcycles and pedal cars, will be showcased in an informal setting. No judging is involved, other than personal comments and the general coveting that accompanies looking at such beauties. This year’s special feature centers on historic concept/dream cars from major manufacturers.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Kansas City Art Institute. 816-531-2711. artofthecarconcours.com. $20-$125.
Future Stages Festival
Sunday at the Kauffman Center
Georgia O’Keeffe said, “To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage.” A way to foster such courage is available at the Future Stages Festival. The event invites families to experience presentations by a trio of the city’s finest arts practitioners: the Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera. An extension of the Kauffman Center’s Open Doors Spotlight on Youth, the performances are showcased on the stages of Helzberg Hall and Muriel Kauffman Theatre and an exterior stage overlooking the south lawn.
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-924-7222. kauffmancenter.org. Free.
“Pippin”
Tuesday-July 5 at Starlight Theatre
Since its Broadway debut in 1972, “Pippin” has lingered as a somewhat underappreciated musical. Now the multiple Tony Award-winner composed by Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked”) is enjoying both a popular and critical revival. Bolstered by acrobatics, costumes and catchy tunes (“Magic to Do,” in particular), the production tells the story of a young prince and his circuitous journey toward enlightenment.
8 p.m. Tuesday, June 30-July 5. Starlight Theatre. 816-363-7827. kcstarlight.com. $12-$140.
“Emmet Gowin: Photographs”
Wednesday-Nov. 8 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Known for the poetry of his stark, intimate portraits, Emmet Gowin showcases his distinguished work in “Photographs.” The Virginia native first caught the attention of the art world in the early 1970s via images of wife Edith and her extended family. Though Edith remained a key subject, his work expanded to include everything from ravaged landscapes to nocturnal moths. Gowin went on to teach photography at Princeton for decades.
Opens Wednesday, July 1 (see website for gallery hours). Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. 816-751-1278. nelson-atkins.org. Free.
This story was originally published June 24, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "This weekend in Kansas City: The Rolling Stones, Maker Faire, Crawfish Festival, KC LGBT Film Festival and Waterfest."