This Week in KC: Irish fest, Renaissance Fest, WWE Raw and more

If this were a regular-season game, it would be the hottest ticket in town. But for both teams’ fourth and final exhibition game? Not so much. The biggest goal for both teams probably will be to avoid injuries, and neither team is likely to play its star players much, if at all. Still, it is a professional football game and fans’ last chance to see the Chiefs play before their season opener Sept. 11 at Arrowhead against San Diego. 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1. Arrowhead Stadium. 816-920-9300. chiefs.com. $35-$295.

This is one birthday party you don’t want to miss. The Kauffman Center will present live performances on three stages by local bands as well as by resident companies such as the Kansas City Ballet Second Company, Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s New Resident and Young Artists and members of the Kansas City Symphony. There also will be lawn games, a cake-decorating contest and fireworks. 5-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2. Kauffman Center. 816-994-7222. kauffmancenter.org/bravokc. Free.

Considering nearly 10 percent of Kansas City’s population is of Irish descent, it’s not surprising that the Irish Fest has become one of the area’s most popular events. In its 12th year, it also has become one the nation’s best-attended Irish festivals. Nine stages will feature musical acts from around the country as well as children’s acts, comedy and other performances. Irish food, clothing, jewelry and art will be available at dozens of booths on the grounds. 5-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 3-4. Crown Center. kcirishfest.com. $10 Friday, $12 advance single day, $18 single day at gate, $5 children, $30 three-day pass.

After a horrible July, the Royals turned things around in August and got back into the playoff race. The Tigers are one of the teams they’re battling, so this is a big series for both teams. Fans have other reasons to attend Saturday: The first 20,000 will receive a Salvador Perez bobblehead, and it will also be Bacon Day at the K. 7:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2; 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3; 1:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4. Kauffman Stadium. 800-676-9257. kansascity.royals.mlb.com. $23-$122.

If you haven’t seen the T-Bones play this season, this will be your last chance. The minor-league baseball team will conclude its season with four games against the Canaries. Both teams are in last place in their divisions of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, so neither will make the playoffs. These games will be for pride. 7:05 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Sept. 2-4; 1:05 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5. CommunityAmerica Ballpark. 913-328-2255. tbonesbaseball.com. $6.50-$16.

This festival celebrating the origins of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails is spread over four days, and it might take all four for a person to check out the more than 500 vendor booths. In addition to arts and crafts there will be a carnival, bingo, square dancing and musical acts such as Amanda Fish, Damien Gunn and tribute bands to the Eagles, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Journey and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Noon-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 3-4; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday Sept. 5. Independence Square. santacaligon.com. Free.

Storms caused the postponement of this Independence Day bash from July 2, and Powell Gardens opted to hold the celebration on the next available holiday weekend. There will still be food, children’s activities and fireworks for the pre-Labor Day party, but the Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society Show will replace the planned daylilies display. Blues singer/songwriter Kelley Hunt will highlight the musical entertainment, which will also include the American Legion Band Ensemble. 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 3. Powell Gardens. 816-697-2600. powellgardens.org/booms. $5-$12.

Entering its 40th year, the KC Renaissance Festival is still going strong. Yes, this event has been around since 1977, and it was ranked one of the “Top 10 Renaissance Festivals and Fairs in the USA” in 2014 by Top Events USA. In addition to what has become the traditional jousting, magic, crafts, food and other entertainment will be new activities such as chocolate-and-mead tasting and an escape room. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends plus Labor Day and Columbus Day, Saturday, Sept. 3, through Oct. 16. 633 N. 130th, Bonner Springs. 913-721-2110. kcrenfest.com. Adults $18.95, children $10.50; season pass $55-$89.95.

The Kansas City Symphony bookends the summer with free outdoor concerts, the first of which was the immensely popular Celebration at the Station on Memorial Day weekend. Pops in the Park celebrates Labor Day with a program of movie music and classics. This will also be the debut of the Symphony’s new assistant conductor, Jason Seber. 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5. Theatre in the Park, Shawnee Mission Park. 816-471-1100. kcsymphony.org. Free.

Once upon a time, pro wrestlers had colorful names that said something about them and brought a sense of adventure to the sport — The Rock, Edge, Triple H, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, The Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Now a WWE card sounds like the lineup of a law firm: Owens, Rollins and Jericho. In any case, those are the names of some of the wrestlers who are touted for the Sprint Center’s upcoming WWE Raw show that will be televised live on USA. 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5. Sprint Center. 816-949-7000. sprintcenter.com. $15-$105.

Kansas City Actors Theatre will present one of America’s most iconic dramas written by one of America’s most iconic playwrights. Tennessee Williams grew up in St. Louis and attended the University of Missouri, but this play is set in Mississippi, where he was born. It follows the travails of Blanche DuBois, who moves in with her married sister, Stella, and her brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 (through Sept. 25). H&R Block City Stage Theater, Union Station. 816-361-5228. kcactors.org. $15-$30.

In the opening production of its 2016-17 season, Unicorn Theatre turns to a sock puppet for inspiration. The star of the show is Tyrone, a crude creation of an introverted teenager who shocks the world of a Christian puppet club in Texas. The play was produced on Broadway in 2015, receiving five Tony Award nominations, including one for best play. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 (through Oct. 2). Unicorn Theatre. 816-531-7529. unicorntheatre.org. $30-$40.

This story was originally published August 31, 2016 at 8:00 AM with the headline "This Week in KC: Irish fest, Renaissance Fest, WWE Raw and more."