This week in KC: Old Shawnee Days, Downtown Days Fest, Festa Italiana, KC Microbrews and BBQ Festival
Summer festivals
Thursday, June 2-Sunday, June 5, at multiple venues
The first unofficial weekend of summer will be overrun with festivals in the Kansas City area. There will be events north (Festa Italiana), south (Downtown Days Festival), east (Vaile Strawberry Festival) and west (Old Shawnee Days), as well as places in between (Kansas City Microbrews and BBQ Festival).
Old Shawnee Days, Thursday, June 2-Sunday, June 5, Shawnee Town. oldshawneedays.org
Downtown Days Festival, Friday, June 3-Sunday, June 5, Downtown Lee’s Summit. leessummitdowntowndays.com
Festa Italiana, Friday, June 3-Sunday, June 5, Zona Rosa. zonarosa.com
Kansas City Microbrews and BBQ Festival, Saturday, June 4, Kansas City Museum. kcbrewsandbbq.com
Vaile Strawberry Festival, Saturday, June 4, Vaile Mansion, Independence. vailemansion.org
“The Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire!”
Thursday, June 2, at Midland
Dan Howell and Phil Lester, British radio hosts turned YouTube stars, are now doing a stage show. But don’t expect your typical song-and-dance or standup-comedy stage show. “The Amazing Tour Is Not on Fire!” will include comedy sketches, audience interaction and whatever else Dan and Phil come up with.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2. Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. 816-283-9921. midlandkc.com. $35-$110.
Hospital Hill Run
Friday, June 3-Saturday, June 4, at Crown Center area
From an inaugural race that began with fewer than 100 runners, the Hospital Hill Run has evolved into a two-day affair at three distances with more than 5,000 runners. The 43rd edition will feature a 10K and half-marathon on Saturday morning after a 5K on Friday evening. Many competitors will double up and run both days.
UMKC School of Medicine 5K at 7 p.m. Friday, June 3; 10K and half-marathon at 7 a.m. Saturday, June 4. Crown Center area. hospitalhillrun.com. $45-$95.
Jazzoo
Friday, June 3, at Kansas City Zoo
As might be expected at a fundraiser for a zoo, the stars of the night will not be of the human variety. This event will celebrate the two koalas who are visiting for the summer. Among other highlights are special Jazzoo cocktails served at designated bars, entertainment on four stages and more than 65 restaurants serving tasty bites.
7:30 p.m. Friday, June 3. Kansas City Zoo. 816-513-5800. jazzookc.org. $175.
Kansas City Symphony
Friday, June 3-Sunday, June 5; Tuesday, June 7, and Wednesday, June 8, at Kauffman Center
Its season might be winding down, but the Symphony still will have possibly its busiest week of the year, with five performances over six days. First will be “Spring Fling: Ravel and Dvořák” times three. Then will come a Free Happy Hour concert and one of the Symphony’s “Classics Uncorked” performances.
“Spring Fling: Ravel and Dvořák.” 8 p.m. Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 5. $23-$92.
Free Happy Hour: “The Boulez/Cage Correspondence.” 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 7. Free; tickets required.
“Classics Uncorked: Morning, Noon & Night in Vienna.” 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8. $25-$30.
Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400. kcsymphony.org.
KCPrideFest
Friday, June 3-Sunday, June 5, at Berkley Riverfront Park
Country singer Ty Herndon and the Heartland Men’s Chorus will be among the live entertainment during KCPrideFest. Food trucks, vendors, health workshops, animal adoptions and volleyball will be other activities, as will a kids’ zone with an obstacle course and moonwalk.
6 p.m.-midnight Friday, June 3; noon-11 p.m. Saturday, June 4; noon-7 p.m. Sunday, June 5. Berkley Riverfront Park. 816-960-3400. gaypridekc.org. $5.
Prairie Village Art Show
Friday, June 3-Sunday, June 5, at Village Shops
More than 100 artists in a variety of media will display their works over three days. The show also will feature live music Friday night (Boogie Wonderland) and Saturday night (The Zeros), as well as a pancake breakfast Saturday morning.
5-8 p.m. Friday, June 3; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, June 4; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, June 5. Village Shops, Prairie Village. prairievillageshops.com. Free.
Quixotic
Saturday, June 4, at Kauffman Center
The local troupe Quixotic, which performs its unique fusion of sound, technology, contemporary dance and cirque arts at venues across the country, will present its new “Gravity of Center” show for its hometown fans. Get ready for a multisensory experience.
8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4. Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-994-7222. kauffmancenter.org. $29-$69.
Kathleen Parker
Monday, June 6, at Boulevard Brewing Co.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist will take part in a conversation led by Allan Katz, former ambassador to Portugal, at American Public Square’s first Evening at the Square fundraising event. Also slated are a game of political trivia, drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
6 p.m. Monday, June 6. Boulevard Brewing Co. americanpublicsquare.org/event/evening-at-the-square. $100.
Dave Chappelle
Wednesday, June 8, at Music Hall
It has been more than 10 years since Dave Chappelle walked away from his Comedy Central show and a $50 million contract, but he never stopped being funny. The 42-year-old comedian now lives on a farm in Ohio, keeps a mostly low profile and is selective about his appearances. Local fans will have two chances to see him perform, however.
7 and 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 8. Music Hall. ticketmaster.com. $65.
Sarah Silverman
Wednesday, June 8, at Uptown
With her little-girl voice (she voiced Vanellope in “Wreck-It Ralph”) and naughty-girl persona (she won an Emmy for an infamous video on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”), Sarah Silverman appears to have no boundaries as she takes on taboos that no other comic would consider addressing. And she usually gets away with it. Also appearing will be Lizz Winstead.
8 p.m. Wednesday, June 8. Uptown Theater. 816-753-8665. uptowntheater.com. $39.50-$69.50.
This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "This week in KC: Old Shawnee Days, Downtown Days Fest, Festa Italiana, KC Microbrews and BBQ Festival."