Plenty of things to do to kick off summer season
If you can’t wait for summer to officially begin, you’ll have plenty of chances to get a head start in the next few weeks.
Outdoor activities are beginning to ramp up in the area, and there will also be plenty of indoor entertainment still going on.
Starlight Theatre, which held its first event of the season in April with a concert by Arcade Fire, will have another performances in May — rockers Queens of the Stone Age on May 13 — before shifting into high gear in June.
Art fairs will begin to sprout up, starting with ones in Brookside and Lawrence this weekend and in Lenexa on May 10.
Finally, you won’t have to wait until Memorial Day weekend to enjoy family-friendly festivals. The dog-centric Woofstock will be this weekend at Zona Rosa, with the Mission Family Festival and Turkey Creek Festival in Merriam on ensuing weekends.
, May 25, Union Station. kcsymphony.org. It’s hard to beat free music under the stars.
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival: “The Winter’s Tale,”June 17-July 6, Southmoreland Park. kcshakes.org. What better way to celebrate the Bard of Avon’s 450th birthday?
“Jesus Christ Superstar,”July 2, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com. Features an eclectic cast of rock, pop and R stars, including the Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten.
MORE EVENTS“White Sangria,” MeltingPot KC, May 1-18, Just Off Broadway Theatre. kcmeltingpot.com
“Love’s Labour’s Lost,”UMKC Theatre, May 2-11, Spencer Theatre. umkctheatre.org
Liberty Symphony Orchestra, May 3, Heritage Hall. libertysymphony.org
NewEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, May 3, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church. newear.org
2014 Young Playwrights Festival, May 4, the Coterie. thecoterie.org
Kansas City Symphony Chorus, May 4, Kauffman Center. kcsymphonychorus.org
“A Little Night Music,”Spinning Tree Theater, May 8-24, Off Center Theatre. spinningtreetheatre.com
Kansas City Ballet, “Cinderella,”May 9-18, Kauffman Center. kcballet.org
William Baker Festival Singers, Missouri Home Concert, May 9, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. festivalsingers.org
Brian Stokes Mitchell sings “Simply Broadway,”May 10, Kauffman Center. hjseries.org
Midwest Chamber Ensemble, “Ladies Night,”May 11, Prairie Baptist Church. midwestchamberensemble.org
Mother’s Day Concert by Brookside Brass,May 11, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org
William Baker Festival Singers,Kansas Home Concert, May 13, St. Agnes Catholic Church. festivalsingers.org
“Bob Bing,”May 15-June 22, Chestnut Fine Arts Center. chestnutfinearts.com
Kansas City Symphony, “Classics Uncorked: Women of Note(s),”May 15, Kauffman Center. kcsymphony.org
The 5 Browns,May 16, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org
Spire Chamber Ensemble and Baroque Orchestra,Frank Martin’s Mass, May 17, Trinity Lutheran Church; May 18, Visitation Church. spirechamberensemble.org
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement,”Church Basement Ladies, May 20-22, JCCC Polsky Theatre. jccc.edu/theseries
Trey McIntyre Project,dance company, May 22, Kauffman Center, Muriel Kauffman Theatre. hjseries.org
Kansas City Chorale, “The Concert for Double Chorus,”May 23, Redemptorist Church. kcchorale.org
“Rat Pack,”May 27-June 1, Kauffman Center, Muriel Kauffman Theatre. kansascity.broadway.com
Daniel Belcher, baritone,May 28, Gano Chapel. hjseries.org
“August: Osage County,”May 30-June 15, Barn Players Theatre. barnplayers.org
Kansas City Symphony, Stern Conducts Verdi’s “Requiem,”May 30-June 1, Kauffman Center. kcsymphony.org
Wylliams-Henry Contemporary Dance, “The Women of Dance,”May 30-31, White Recital Hall, wylliams-henry.org
Kansas City Women’s Chorus, “Excelsior (Ever Upward),”May 31, Folly Theater. follytheater.org
“By the Way, Meet Vera Stark,”June 4-29, Unicorn Theatre. unicorntheatre.org
“The King and I,”June 5-22, Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. metkc.org
Kansas City Symphony, Season Finale: Shostakovich, plus Yuja Wang Plays Rachmaninoff,June 6-8, Kauffman Center. kcsymphony.org
“Rhapsody in Gershwin,”June 6-July 6, Quality Hill Playhouse. qualityhillplayhouse.com
George Li, pianist,June 7, Folly Theater. hjseries.org
Ben Folds with the Kansas City Symphony,June 10, Kauffman Center. kcsymphony.org
“Cinderella,”June 10-28, H Block City Stage. tya.org
“The Wizard of Oz,”June 10-15, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
Ballet North, “Beauty and the Beast,”June 13-14. balletnorth.com
Heartland Men’s Chorus, “Vegas Baby,”June 13-15. follytheater.org
Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, “Great Wind Serenades by Dvorák and Mozart,”June 13, Unity Temple on the Plaza. kcchamberorchestra.org
“Lysistrata Jones,”June 13-July 12, Off Center Theatre. egadstheatre.com
Kansas City Symphony, Symphony in the Flint Hills,June 14, Rosalia Ranch, Butler County. symphonyintheflinthills.org
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,”June 17-Aug. 3, the Coterie. thecoterie.org
“We Will Rock You,”June 17-22, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
Kansas City Symphony, Recording Preview Concert: The Music of Adam Schoenberg,June 19, Kauffman Center. kcsymphony.org
“Smokey Joe’s Café,”June 19-Aug. 24, New Theatre Restaurant. newtheatre.com
“Legally Dead,”Mystery Train Theater, June 27-Aug. 16, multiple sites. kcmysterytrain.com
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,”July 8-13, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
“Amazing Grace,”July 10-Aug. 24, Chestnut Fine Arts Center. chestnutfinearts.com
“Monty Python’s Spamalot,”July 12-26, Lewis and Shirley White Theatre. jcckc.org
Summerfest,July 12-Aug. 3, White Recital Hall and Country Club Christian Church. summerfestkc.org
“Noises Off,”July 18-Aug. 3, Barn Players Theatre. barnplayers.org
“Sound of Music,”July 25-31, Starlight. kcstarlight.com
“South Pacific,”Musical Theater Heritage, Aug. 7-24, Off Center Theatre. mthkc.com
Barn Players Annual Benefit Concert, Aug. 15-17, Barn Players Theatre. barnplayers.org
VISUAL ARTLenexa Art Fair,May 10, Central Green at Lenexa City Center. lenexa.com/parks/festivals_artfair.html; There also will be wine and craft beer tasting.
Liberty Arts Squared,June 6-7, Liberty Square. libertyartssquared.org. Fine arts, crafts, literary arts, children’s art and live music all come together.
MORE EVENTSSpectrum Fantastic Art Live,May 9-11, Bartle Hall. spectrumfantasticart.com
“Penn Valley Park Plein Air,”May 10-July 25, Buttonwood Art Space. buttonwoodartspace.com
“Arabia Through Time: Exploring Its Rich Cultural History,”talk by archaeologist Sandra Olsen, May 15, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. nelson-atkins.org. Exhibit runs through July 6.
“Conversations — Marking 20 Years,”May 16-Sept. 21, Kemper Museum. kemperart.org
Third Friday Art Walk,May 16, Englewood Arts and Entertainment District. englewoodstation.com
“Benton in Black and White,”May 21-Nov. 16, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. nelson-atkins.org
Robert Morris’ “Glass Labyrinth” Opening Event,May 22, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. nelson-atkins.org
Prairie Village Art Show,May 30-June 1, Prairie Village Shops. pvkansas.com
Crossroads Conversations: Miki Baird and Garry Noland with Danny Orendorff,May 31, Kemper Museum. kemperart.org
Artist Talk: Jarrett Mellenbruch,June 6, Kemper Museum. kemperart.org
First Friday in the Crossroads,June 6, Crossroads Art District. kccrossroads.org
“Kansas City Flatfiles Exhibition,”June 8-Sept. 27, H Block Artspace. kcai.edu/artspace
“Caricature, Fashion and Fantasy,”June 18-Dec. 14, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. nelson-atkins.org
Third Friday Art Walk,June 20, Englewood Arts and Entertainment District. englewoodstation.com
Crossroads Conversations: Linda Lighton and Mark Southerland with Erin Dziedzic,June 21, Kemper Museum. kemperart.org
Spotlight Artist Presentation: On Location with Barry Anderson,June 27, Kemper Museum. kemperart.org
“Waggle Dance” by Kyla Strid,June 27-July 25, Lawrence Arts Center. lawrenceartscenter.org
Heartland Art Guild International Miniatures Art Show,June 30-Aug. 2, Miami County Historical Museum, Paola. paolachamber.org
First Friday in the Crossroads,July 4, Crossroads Art District. kccrossroads.org
“Tall Grass. Deep Water” by Chris Wolf Edmonds and Pam Sullivan,July 11-Aug. 23, Lawrence Arts Center. lawrenceartscenter.org
Art and Wine Stroll,July 12, Downtown Paola. paolatourism.org
Third Friday Art Walk,July 18, Englewood Arts and Entertainment District. englewoodstation.com
First Friday in the Crossroads,Aug. 1, Crossroads Art District. kccrossroads.org
Third Friday Art Walk,Aug. 15, Englewood Arts and Entertainment District. englewoodstation.com
“2nd Annual Art of the Fountains,”Sept. 5-26, Buttonwood Art Space. buttonwoodartspace.com
First Friday in the Crossroads,Sept. 5, Crossroads Art District. kccrossroads.org
Kansas City Chalk Walk Festival,Sept. 6-7, Crown Center Square. kcchalkandwalk.org
COMEDYTracy Morgan,May 18, Uptown. uptowntheater.com. Former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” star is on his own now.
Shawn and Marlon Wayans,July 11-13, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com. Who knows, maybe some of their other brothers will show up.
MORE EVENTSMike Smith,May 7-10, Stanford’s Comedy Club. stanfordscomedyclub.com
Reno Collier,May 8-11, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
Will C with Randy Burgard and Scott Shaffer,May 8, Kanza Hall. oneblocksouthkc.com
Katt Williams,May 9, Municipal Auditorium.
Lisa Lampanelli,May 9, Midland. midlandkc.com
Grand Stand Comedy Tour: Don DC Curry and Joe Torry,May 10, Gem Theater. americanjazzmuseum.com
James Johann,May 14-17, Stanford’s Comedy Club. stanfordscomedyclub.com
Mike Birbiglia,May 14, Midland. midlandkc.com
Damon Williams,May 15-18, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
Ron White,May 17, Midland. midlandkc.com
Jon Schieszer,May 21-25, Stanford’s Comedy Club. stanfordscomedyclub.com
Janet Williams,May 28-31, Stanford’s Comedy Club. stanfordscomedyclub.com
D.L. Hughley,May 30-June 1, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
Steve-O,June 5-7, stanfordscomedyclub.com
Ben Bailey,June 6-8, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
Colin Kane,June 12-14, stanfordscomedyclub.com
Mitch Fatel,June 12-15, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
Nice Peter,June 13, Granada. thegranada.com
Ali Wong,June 19-21, stanfordscomedyclub.com
Pablo Francisco,June 19-22, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
Eddie Izzard,June 20, Midland. midlandkc.com
Eddie Ifft,June 25-28, stanfordscomedyclub.com
Earthquake,June 27-29, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com
FAIRS AND FESTIVALSPICK THREEJiggle Jam Family Fest,May 24-25, Crown Center Square. kcjigglejam.com. More than 25 acts are scheduled to perform on multiple stages.
Dragon Boat Festival and Races,June 14, Brush Creek on Country Club Plaza. kcparks.org. There’s nothing else quite like this event in Kansas City.
Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival,Aug. 29-Sept. 1, Independence Square. santacaligon.com. You might need all three days to see and do everything.
MORE EVENTSMission Family Festival,May 10, Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center. missioncvb.org
HopFest,May 17, Well Bar Grill. waldowell.com
Turkey Creek Festival,May 17, Antioch Park, Merriam. merriam.org
Westport Roots Festival,May 24, Westport District. westportroots.com
Festa Italiana,May 30-June 1, Zona Rosa. zonarosa.com
Rockfest,May 31, Liberty Memorial. rockfestkc.com
Old Shawnee Days,June 5-8, Shawnee. oldshawneedays.org
Bluesfest,June 6-7, Oak Grove Park. gladstonechamber.com
Clara Brierly Festival of the Arts,June 6-8, Downtown Peculiar. downtownpeculiar.com
Downtown Days Streets Alive! Festival,June 6-8, Downtown Lee’s Summit. leessummitdowntowndays.com
Greek Festival,June 6-8, St. Dionysios Greek Orthodox Christian Church. stdionysios.org/festival/index.php
Sugar Creek Slavic Festival,June 6-7, Mike Onka Memorial Building grounds. slavicfest.com
Vaile Strawberry Festival, June 7, Vaile Mansion, Independence. vailemansion.org
Boulevardia,June 13-15, West Bottoms. boulevardia.com
Festival on the Trails,June 13-14, Downtown Gardner. festivalonthetrails.com
Juneteenth Parade and Celebration,June 13-14, Big 11 Lake, Kansas City, Kan. juneteenthkck.com
Parkville Jazz/Blues and Fine Arts Riverjam,June 13-14, English Landing Park. parkvilleriverjam.com
Scottish Highland Games,June 13-15, E.H. Young Park, Riverside. kcscottishgames.org
Conscious Living Festival,June 14, Evolving Magazine Conscious Living Center, Shawnee. evolvingmagazine.com
Crown Center Antique Festival, June 14-15, Crown Center Square. crowncenter.com/event-list/antique-festival-2014
Tonganoxie Days,June 14, Tonganoxie. tonganoxiedays.com
John Brown Jamboree and Music Festival,June 18-21, Osawatomie. osawatomieks.org
Fiesta Kansas City,June 20-22, Crown Center Square. fiestakansascity.com
Frontier Days,June 20-21, Edgerton. frontier-days.com
Jazz in the Woods,June 20-21, Corporate Woods, Overland Park. jazzinthewoods.com
Future Stages Festival,June 22, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org
Waterfest, June 27-29, Excelsior Springs. exspgschamber.com
Booms Blooms Festival,July 3, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org
Riverfest,July 4, Berkley Park. kcriverfest.com
Salute! A Festival of Wine and Food,July 10-12, Lawrence Holiday Inn. salutewinefest.com
Bingham-Waggoner Antique and Craft Fair,July 12, Bingham-Waggoner Estate. bwestate.org
Cass County Fair,July 15-20, Pleasant Hill. pleasanthill.com
KC Fringe Festival,July 17-27, multiple venues. kcfringe.org
Amelia Earhart Festival,July 18-19, Atchison. atchisonkansas.net
Miami County Fair and Rodeo,July 19-26, Paola. miamicountykansasfair.com
Platte County Fair,July 22-26, Platte County Fairgrounds, Tracy. plattecountyfair.com
Wyandotte County Fair,July 22-26, Wyandotte County Fairgrounds. wycofair.com
Johnson County Fair,July 28-Aug. 2, Gardner. jocokansasfair.com
Great Midwest Balloon Festival,Aug. 9-10, Kansas Speedway. midwestballoonfest.org
Festival of Butterflies,Aug. 1-3 and 8-10, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org
Ethnic Enrichment Festival,Aug. 15-17, Swope Park. kcparks.org
Sly’s Rock the Block,Aug. 16, Union Station. kcparks.org
Kansas City’s Big Picnic,Aug. 20, Nelson Atkins Sculpture Park and Theis Park. kcparks.org
Tiblow Days,Aug. 21-23, Downtown Bonner Springs. bsedwchamber.org
Lawrence Busker Festival,Aug. 22-24, Downtown Lawrence. lawrencebuskerfest.com
Roots Festival,Aug. 22-23, Paola Park Square, Paola, Kan. rootsfestival.org
BaconFest,Aug. 23, Union Station. baconfestkc.com
Kansas City Irish Fest,Aug. 29-31, Crown Center. kcirishfest.com
Kansas City Renaissance Festival,Aug. 30-Oct. 13, weekends, Labor Day and Columbus Day, Bonner Springs. kcrenfest.com
Spinach Festival,Sept. 6, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa. lenexa.com/parks/festivals_spinach.html
OTHER EVENTSPICK THREESalvation Army Civic Luncheon featuring Laura Bush,May 8, Sheraton Crown Center. salarmymokan.org. Former first lady will be keynote speaker.
Cirque du Soleil: “Varekai,”May 14-18, Sprint Center. sprintcenter.com. You don’t need to go to Las Vegas to see this performance.
Maya Angelou,June 10, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org. This is an opportunity to be inspired.
MORE EVENTS“Pushing the Limits With Cacti and Succulents in Cold Climates,”presentation by Leo Chance of Colorado Springs, Colo., May 6, Loose Park Garden Center.
Truman Birthday Celebration,May 8, Truman Library. trumanlibrary.org
Beth Hoffman for “Looking for Me: A Novel,”May 9, Unity Temple on the Plaza. rainydaybooks.com
Walk to Cure Arthritis,May 9, Worlds of Fun. arthritiswalkkc.org
Bonsai Society of Greater Kansas City’s Spring Exhibit,May 10-11, Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org
Fort Leavenworth Homes Tour,May 10, Fort Leavenworth. ffam.us
National Train Day celebration,May 10, Kansas City Northern Miniature Railroad, 5940 Waukomis. kcparks.org
Sprint Family Fun Days: Super Heroes!May 10, Kansas City Power Light District. powerandlightdistrict.com
United Nations Peacekeepers Round Table,May 10, Community of Christ Church Temple. trumanlibrary.org
Wings Over Weston,May 10, Weston Bend State Park. wingsoverweston.com
The First Ladies Man: Andy Och,May 11, Truman Library. trumanlibrary.org
“
Water: H2O = Life” Exhibition,May 12-July 13, Museum at Prairiefire. museumatpf.org
National Geographic Live with Paul Sereno, The Dinosaur Hunter,May 13, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org
Heart of America Concours d’Elegance,May 17, Crown Center Square. crowncenter.com
Kansas City WWI Memorial Trolley Tour,May 17, National World War I Museum. theworldwar.org
Shrine Rodeo and Demo Derby,May 22-24, Leavenworth County Fairgrounds, Tonganoxie. shrinerodeo.com
“Running with Bonnie Clyde: The Red Crown Symposium and Road Tour,”May 25, KC Improv. platteparks.com
“Super Kids Save the World,”May 24-Sept. 7, Crown Center Shops. crowncenter.com
The Ultimate Ladies Night: Attraction,May 24, Czar Bar. czarkc.com
Memorial Day Ceremony,May 26, National World War I Museum. theworldwar.org
An Evening of Mystery featuring: Alex Grecian, author of “The Devil’s Workshop,” and Will Thomas, author of “Fatal Enquiry,”May 28, Unity Temple on the Plaza. rainydaybooks.com
Just for Her Event,May 30-June 1, Overland Park Convention Center. justforherexpo.com
Kansas City Heart Walk,May 31, Sporting Park. heart.org/kc
Pistons ‘N’ Pin Ups Car Show,May 31, Cricket Wireless Amphitheater. cricketwirelessamp.com
Pooches on the Parkway,May 31, Wilbur Young Park, Blue Springs. bluespringsgov.com
Annual KC Celebration of Life,June 1, Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors’ Park. kcparks.org
Jim Butcher for “Skin Game,”June 1, Unity Temple on the Plaza. rainydaybooks.com
Jazzoo,June 6, Kansas City Zoo. jazzookc.org
Wornall/Majors House Museums Garden Tour,June 7, six garden spaces. wornallhouse.org
Maya Angelou,June 10, Kauffman Center. kauffmancenter.org
Jeff Shaara for “The Smoke at Dawn: A Novel of The Civil War,”June 17, Unity Temple on the Plaza. rainydaybooks.com
Graeme Simsion for “The Rosie Project,”This story was originally published April 30, 2014 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Plenty of things to do to kick off summer season."