This Week in Kansas City: Royals, First Friday light up the Fourth of July weekend
Kansas City Royals
Thursday, July 2, through July 9 at Kauffman Stadium
The lengthy homestand leading up to the All-Star Game will allow Royals fans to take stock of the team’s extraordinary run. The Royals’ outstanding record has proven that last season’s World Series appearance wasn’t a fluke. The team’s long-suffering supporters can feel confident that the renewed pride they feel in the Royals is entirely justified. The four games against division rivals the Minnesota Twins will likely have a playoff atmosphere. The Tampa Bay Rays have also played well in the first half of the season.
vs. Minnesota: 7:10 p.m. Thursday, July 2, 7:10 p.m. Friday, July 3, 6:15 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 1:10 p.m. Sunday, July 5.
vs. Tampa Bay: 7:10 p.m. Monday, July 6, 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, 7:10 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 1:10 p.m. Thursday, July 9.
Kauffman Stadium. 816-921-8000. kansascity.royals.mlb.com. $9-$473.
Kansas City T-Bones vs. Gary Southshore
Friday, July 3, through July 9 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark
The Royals aren’t merely the talk of Kansas City. The team’s tremendous turnaround has charmed baseball fans around the world. While bargain-priced tickets are available at Kauffman Stadium, many of the best seats sell for well over $100. The T-Bones, a team that plays in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball league, provides cost-conscious sports fans with an alternative. With all regular tickets priced at less than $20 and affordable concessions, the franchise offers “All-American fun for just a few bucks.” Fireworks follow the T-Bones games on Friday and Saturday.
vs. Gary: 7:05 p.m. Friday, July 3, 7:05 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 5:05 p.m. Sunday, July 5.
vs. Grand Prairie: 7:05 p.m. Monday, July 6, 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 7:05 p.m. Thursday, July 9.
CommunityAmerica Ballpark. 913-328-5618. tbonesbaseball.com. $6.50-$16.
First Friday
Friday, July 3, in the Crossroads Arts District
First Friday events transpire in the Crossroads District 12 times a year, but some editions of the monthly celebrations are more appealing than others. The eclectic festival of arts, culture and people-watching is best experienced in July. Many lighthearted revelers will congregate at the Crossroads Summer Block Party at the intersection of 19th and Wyandotte streets. It features performances by bands including the Phantastics and Monta at Odds. The Leedy-Voulkos Art Center’s exhibition of the work of fabric artist Sonie Joi Thompson-Ruffin is among the more contemplative offerings.
Friday, July 3. Crossroads Art District. 816-994-9325. kccrossroads.org. Most events are free.
FC Kansas City vs. Washington
Friday, July 3, at Swope Park Soccer Village
Locally based sports fans captivated by the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup games in Canada will want to take a break from watching television to catch a National Women’s Soccer League match in person Friday at the Swope Park Soccer Village. While a few of FC Kansas City’s top players including Becky Sauerbrunn are representing the United States in the World Cup, Friday’s match against the Washington Spirit should allow people who’ve only recently become infatuated with the sport to get a firsthand look at the exciting play of the sport’s professional athletes.
7 p.m. Friday, July 3. Swope Park Soccer Village. 855-4KC-GOAL. fckansascity.com. $11-$25.
Booms & Blooms Festival
Friday, July 3, at Powell Gardens
Delicate flowers and thunderous fireworks might not seem compatible, but the ongoing popularity of the Booms & Blooms Festival at Powell Gardens indicates that the unlikely pairing appeals to many holiday celebrants. A host of activities will precede the 9:30 p.m. fireworks display amid the botanical exhibitions at the site 42 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City. Children are encouraged to take a dip in the Fountain Garden. A tasting station will allow guests to enjoy the garden’s bounty. Entertainment will be provided by musical ensembles including the Lee’s Summit Symphony and students from the Sarah Haskins Vocal Studio.
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, July 3. Powell Gardens. 816-697-2600. powellgardens.org. $12. $10 for seniors. $5 for children 5-12.
Riverfest
Saturday, July 4, at Berkley Riverfront Park
Many people are content to spend the Fourth of July on a porch eating hot dogs and drinking cold beverages. Kansas Citians who prefer to revel in a public space amid a big crowd will feel at home at Riverfest on Saturday. The primary attraction of the sprawling festival at Berkley Riverfront Park is what’s billed as “the largest fireworks show in the Midwest.” In addition to plenty of beer, Riverfest is serving live music on two stages. Entertainers include the popular Kansas City rock group Not a Planet and a Journey tribute band. The $5 admission charge is waived for people who arrive from 4 to 5 p.m.
4-11 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Berkley Riverfront Park. 816-561-7555. kcriverfest.com. $5. Children 12 and under and free.
“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
Tuesday July 7-Sunday, July 12, at Starlight Theatre
Generations of Kansas Citians have enjoyed taking in musical productions at Starlight Theatre. This summer marks the 65th anniversary of the tradition. That’s one reason why the decidedly old-fashioned “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” is a welcome component of the summer season at the beautiful venue. The parents and grandparents of many members of the audiences for “Cinderella” experienced shows with similarly quaint sensibilities in the same space. Julie Andrews starred in the original version of the show that aired on television in 1957. Songs including the amusing “Stepsister’s Lament” have stood the test of time.
Tuesday, July 7-Sunday, July, 12. All shows at 8 p.m. 816-363-7827. kcstarlight.com. $12-$146.
311
Tuesday, July 7, at Crossroads KC
While 311 was formed in Omaha in 1988, the band has maintained a rabid base of fans in Kansas City who respond to 311 as if its members are hometown heroes. “Amber,” the band’s biggest hit, reflects much of 311’s appeal. The blue-eyed reggae song possesses sweet but goofy lyrics and a gentle sway that’s capable of acting as an aural sedative. Other 311 songs are more aggressive. The rapping, guitar riffing and turntable scratching of “Down” places the 1996 hit squarely in the nu-metal camp. The Green, a reggae band from Hawaii, opens the show. As with 311, the Green’s music is best appreciated at outdoor venues like Crossroads KC.
8 p.m. Tuesday, July 7. Crossroads KC. 785-749-3434. crossroadskc.com. $36.50-$82.
David Boaz for “The Libertarian Mind”
Tuesday, July 7, at the Central Library
Presidential candidate Rand Paul and his father, Ron Paul, have popularized many Libertarian principles. Their positions are often more clearly articulated by David Boaz, one of the most prominent spokesmen of the often-debated philosophy. “Newsweek” magazine published an essay by Boaz in April titled “Is Rand Paul a Real Libertarian?” (His conclusion: sort of.) Boaz will promote “The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom,” a “revised, updated, and retitled edition” of his influential 1997 book “Libertarianism: A Primer” at his appearance Tuesday at the Central Library.
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 7. Central Library branch of the Kansas City Public Library. 816-701-3400. kclibrary.org. Free.
This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "This Week in Kansas City: Royals, First Friday light up the Fourth of July weekend."