On a budget this summer? You can catch these concerts & shows for free or cheap
The summer concert and performance calendar is filled around Kansas City, and many of the city’s outdoor venues are booked with local talent ready to put on a show.
Even if you are not looking to pay big bucks for a headliner at outdoor venues like Starlight Theatre or Grinders, there’s still plenty to check out on a budget.
All around the city are free and cheap concerts and events that anyone can sit back and enjoy. Bring a lawn chair, set up a picnic and enjoy these shows around Kansas City this summer for $15 or less.
MOBILE MUSIC BOX
The Kansas City Symphony’s “Mobile Music Box” is returning for the summer weather, bringing free concerts to different locations around the metro. Concerts have already been announced, and more will be revealed throughout the summer:
- 6 p.m. May 27: Loose Park, 5200 Pennsylvania Ave.
- 7 p.m. June 1: AdventHealth South Overland Park, 7820 W. 165th St., Overland Park
6:30 p.m. June 2: Kansas City Kansas Public Library South Branch, 3104 Strong Ave., KCK
6 p.m. June 3: Westwood Park, 47th Street and State Line Road
- 6:30 p.m. June 4: Westbrooke Church, 9777 Antioch Road, Overland Park
- 6 p.m. June 5: Lea McKeigan Park, 120 NE Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit
- 6 p.m. June 8: Kirkwood Greenspace, 4901 Central St.
- 6 p.m. June 10: Heritage Park, 16000 Pflumm Road, Olathe
- 6:30 p.m. June 11: Blue Springs Rotary Park, 600 NW Vesper St., Blue Springs
- 6:30 p.m. June 13: BluHawk Development, 7951 W. 160th St., Overland Park
- 6 p.m. June 17: The Inclusive Playground at Shawnee Mission, 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee
- 6:30 p.m. June 18: Lake Olathe, 475 S. Ward Cliff Drive, Olathe
- 6 p.m. June 22: Sullivan Square, 710 High St., Baldwin City
KANSAS CITY MUSEUM
The Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd., is hosting summer concerts on the east lawn starting on June 13 and every second Friday of the summer months. Bring your picnics and lawn chairs and enjoy the shows. All shows run from 7 to 9 p.m., and the gates open at 6:30 p.m.
- June 13: KC Hussy Band
- July 11: Knobtown Skiffle Band
- Aug. 8: Brass Rewind Band
- Sept. 12: Mariachi Estrella KC
It’s $7 for visitors ages 13 and up in advance and $10 at the door. Kids ages 12 and under are free as long as an adult accompanies them. Dogs and cats are also welcome to join the party.
POWER & LIGHT DISTRICT
The Power & Light District’s KC Live! Block hosts concerts every week this summer. These performances are free:
Friday, May 23: Fast Times
Saturday, May 24: The Outtakes
Friday, May 30: Mikey Needleman Band
Saturday, May 31: Mudflap Mafia
Hot Country Nights also returns to the outdoor venue every Thursday for the summer, and these concerts are free for guests over the age of 21, while visitors under 21 will have to pay a cover:
June 5: Chase Matthew
June 12: Joe Nichols
June 26: Bryan Martin
July 10: Ole 60
July 31: Corey Kent
Aug. 7: Randy Rogers Band
Aug. 14: Aaron Watson
Prices for cover at these shows haven’t been announced, according to a spokesperson with the Power & Light District.
FUTURE STAGES FESTIVAL
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts hosts the free Future Stages Festival on Sunday, June 15, from noon to 5 p.m. at 1601 Broadway Blvd. The community festival showcases hundreds of Kansas City-based youth performers.
Performances are happening inside Helzberg Hall, Muriel Kauffman Theatre and on the outdoor stage. Find out which local bands and schools are performing online.
Tickets are not required, but visitors can RSVP to receive updates.
HEART OF AMERICA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival returns to Southmoreland Park, 4600 Oak St., right by the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, from June 17 to July 6. The 2025 performance is “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” a romantic comedy about four men finding love with four women who moved into their town.
The event is free to attend, but they do accept donations from visitors. Guests can also get reserved seating for $25 on Sunday through Thursday performances or $35 for performances on Friday and Saturday shows.
The gates open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. You can visit the schedule, click on your preferred date and reserve your seats there.
RAYTOWN LIVE!
Raytown’s summer concert series, Raytown Live! brings live music to the Greenspace, 10009 E. 62nd St., across from the Raytown Mid-Continent Public throughout the summer. At 7 p.m. every second Saturday of the summer months, Library, visitors can see a free concert and eat from local food trucks.
These bands are performing in Raytown this summer:
- June 14: The Supermatics
- July 12: Leevetown Band
- Aug. 9: Flashback
- Sept. 13: Hard at Play
ZONA ROSA
Summer concerts in the park return to Northland shopping center Zona Rosa in 2025. Every Friday starting June 6, see a free show by a local artist in Central Park, 8731 N. Stoddard Ave. right next to Bravo Italian Cucina. Each performance is scheduled to go from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
June 6: Perpetual Change
June 13: Joshua Tree
June 20: Big Time Grain Company with Dylan Gerard
June 27: The Zeroes
July 11: Right on Red
July 18: Stolen Winnebagos
July 25: KC Rukus
JAMMIN’ ON THE GREEN
Shawnee Town Museum, 11501 W. 57th St., hosts free concerts one Wednesday of each month, and they provide snacks and water bottles. You’re encouraged to bring your own chairs, since picnic tables and benches are limited.
The performances run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and include:
- May 28: Vine Street Rumble Jazz Orchestra
- June 24: Grand Marquis
July 23: Betse & Clarke String Band
Aug. 27: AnnaLee and the Lucky So & So’s
Sept. 24: Kansas City Ukesters
LENEXA CONCERT SERIES
Enjoy free concerts in Sar-Ko Park’s grand pavilion in Lenexa. From 5 to 6:30 p.m. on select Sundays, enjoy performances from artists of all genres, including:
May 26: Old Sound
June 1: Big Rick Soul Band
June 8: Trio Aztlan and Friends
June 15: Shining Star KC
Sept. 14: Flashback KC
Sept. 21: Rex Hobart and The Honky Tonk Standards
LENEXA PUBLIC MARKET
The Lenexa Public Market hosts its Friday Night Sound Bites series. Each performance has a special dinner and dessert to accompany the show from local food trucks.
Lenexa Public Market will announce more concerts as the season rolls on, but here is the current schedule of headliners:
May 23: The Suburbans
May 30: Landrush
June 6: Dating Sarah
June 13: Vinyl Revival
June 20: Way Too Famous
June 27: Caprice Classic
July 11: Just Add Water
July 18: The Recliners
July 25: Green Shoebox Band
Aug. 1: Rock Bottom
Aug. 8: Groove Pilots
Aug. 15: Piano Manning
Aug. 22: KC Groove Therapy
Aug. 29: Coldwater
OLATHE LIVE!
Olathe Live! returns to Stagecoach Park, 1205 E. Kansas City Road, for the summer. Shows start at 7 p.m. on Fridays and you can bring blankets, lawn chairs, food and non-alcoholic beverages to watch these tribute bands:
- May 30: Liverpool with Mikey Needleman
- June 13: Bob Jovi and Just What I Needed
- June 20: Burning Pianos and Killer Queen
- July 11: Landslide and Waking Up The Neighbours
- July 18: Yachtly Groove
- July 26: Big Time Grain Co.
- Aug. 15: Liverpool Project
“Olathe Live! Over Lunch,” a concert series taking place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday in June and July at Olathe Downtown Library, 260 E. Santa Fe St., also returns for 2025:
- June 3: Lindsay Blacksher
- June 10: Caleb Blacksher
- June 17: John Sanders
- June 24: Lester Estelle
- July 1: Aaron Lucero
- July 8: David Smart
- July 15: Nick Nave
- July 22: Julie Nave
- July 29: Candice Hill
CONCERT IN THE PARK
Overland Park’s free “Concert in the Park” series takes place at Thompson Park, 8045 Santa Fe Drive, at 7 p.m. every second Thursday during the summer months. The 2025 schedule includes:
- June 12: Back Alley Brass Band
- July 11: Surfin’ USA
- Aug. 8: Alex Abramovitz and His Swing’n Kansas City Jazz Band
KC WINE CO.
KC Wine Co., 13875 S. Gardner Road in Olathe offers free performances from local acts in the vineyard. You have to be 21 and older to attend these events, and they all run from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays all summer long.
Throughout the summer are $5 Fridays, with live music and $5 pints, glasses of wine and flatbread pizza from 4 to 9 p.m. Check out the schedule of performances online.
THEATRE IN THE PARK
Shawnee Mission Park’s “Theatre in the Park” is back for 2025, featuring five plays at the outdoor amphitheater, 7710 Renner Road, from May 30 to Aug. 2.
The following plays are at Shawnee Mission Park’s outdoor venue this year:
- May 30-June 7: “James and the Giant Peach”
- June 13-21: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
- June 27 to July 5: “My Fair Lady”
- July 11-19: “Catch Me If You Can: The Musical”
- July 25 to Aug. 2: Disney’s “The Aristocats Kids” and “My Son Pinocchio Jr.”
Tickets for plays are $12 for adults, $10.80 for seniors ages 60 and up, $7 for kids ages 4-10 and free for children ages 3and under. Buy tickets online.
We will be adding to this list as more events are announced. If we’re missing one of your favorite places to visit or you think there’s something everyone can enjoy, let us know at kcq@kcstar.com.
