Entertainment

Kansas City’s weekend festivals to celebrate butterflies, reggae, lanterns and more

The Water Lantern Festival will light up the evening waters at Theis Park on July 23.
The Water Lantern Festival will light up the evening waters at Theis Park on July 23. Water Lantern Festival

The Reggae Music and Jerk Festival this weekend at Berkley Riverfront Park will be about more than reggae and jerk.

The three-day event will feature an array of music, with 20 bands scheduled to perform, as well as artistic performances, food and craft vendors. Gates will be open 5-11:30 p.m. July 22, noon-11:30 p.m. July 23, noon-9 p.m. July 24. Tickets ($15; three-day pass $30) and more information available at friendsofreggae.com.

The Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens will begin July 21 and run through Aug. 7.
The Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens will begin July 21 and run through Aug. 7. File photo by Rich Sugg rsugg@kcstar.com

More festivals

▪ The Festival of Butterflies, returning to Powell Gardens for its 25th year, will highlight the butterflies and moths of Madagascar, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. July 21-Aug. 7 ($6-$12). powellgardens.org.

▪ Live music, international food, games and crafts will be part of Grand Carnivale at Worlds of Fun, 5-9 p.m. July 23; runs through Aug. 7 ($39.99-$65). worldsoffun.com.

▪ Personalized floating lanterns will be the draw at the Water Lantern Festival, which also will offer music and food trucks at Theis Park, 6-10 p.m. July 23 ($11.99-$55.99). waterlanternfestival.com.

Country and pop singer Maren Morris will perform at Starlight on July 21.
Country and pop singer Maren Morris will perform at Starlight on July 21. Allen J. Schaben File photo

More music

▪ Animal Collective with Spirit of the Beehive, 8 p.m. July 21, The Truman ($33-$38). thetrumankc.com.

▪ Maren Morris, 8 p.m. July 21, Starlight ($29.75-$109.75). kcstarlight.com.

Missouri native Sheryl Crow, who appeared at the Big Slick party June 25 at the T-Mobile Center, will return for a sold-out concert July 21 at GrindersKC.
Missouri native Sheryl Crow, who appeared at the Big Slick party June 25 at the T-Mobile Center, will return for a sold-out concert July 21 at GrindersKC. Reed Hoffmann Special to The Star

▪ Sheryl Crow, 8 p.m. July 21, GrindersKC (sold out). grinderskc.com.

▪ Josh Groban, 7 p.m. July 22, Starlight ($35-$199.50). kcstarlight.com.

Crooner Josh Groban will perform July 22 at Starlight.
Crooner Josh Groban will perform July 22 at Starlight. Eric McCandless CBS

▪ Keller Williams and Bluegrass Galore, 5 p.m. July 23, Knuckleheads ($27.50-$47.50). knuckleheadskc.com.

▪ Mike. with Skeez, 8 p.m. July 26, The Truman ($35-$70). thetrumankc.com.

▪ Deana Carter, 8 p.m. July 27, Knuckleheads ($35-$55). knuckleheadskc.com.

▪ Little Feat, 8 p.m. July 27, Uptown ($39-$264). uptowntheater.com.

▪ The Shins with Joseph, 8 p.m. July 27, Midland ($29.99-$69.99). midlandkc.com.

John Mulaney will bring his comedy act to Starlight on July 23.
John Mulaney will bring his comedy act to Starlight on July 23. Roy Rochlin TNS

More entertainment

▪ Kansas City Actors Theatre will present Agatha Christie’s “Spider Web” at Avila University’s Goppert Theater, opens 7:30 p.m. July 22; runs through July 31 ($30-$47). kcactors.org.

▪ Emmy Award-winning comedian John Mulaney will perform at Starlight, 8 p.m. July 23 ($39.50-$149.50). kcstarlight.com.

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Profile Image of Dan Kelly
Dan Kelly
The Kansas City Star
Dan Kelly has been covering entertainment and arts news at The Star since 2009. He previously worked at the Columbia Daily Tribune, The Miami Herald and The Louisville Courier-Journal. He also was on the University of Missouri School of Journalism faculty for six years, and he has written two books, most recently “The Girl with the Agate Eyes: The Untold Story of Mattie Howard, Kansas City’s Queen of the Underworld.”
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