Kansas City’s festival season kicks off with this event’s 50th anniversary
Despite suffering a loss of corporate sponsorships, KC Pridefest will celebrate its 50th anniversary this weekend at Theis Park to kick off Kansas City’s summer festival season.
Highlighting the event will be live entertainment with host Mo Heart on Friday and Saturday nights, the annual parade on Saturday morning and a Family and Community Day on Sunday.
Last month, Pridefest organizers blamed a $200,000 shortfall in corporate support on the anti-DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric from President Donald Trump and his administration.
The event, which is hosted by the nonprofit Kansas City Pride Community Alliance, typically draws thousands to Theis Park each June. The first Pride Parade in March 1977 attracted only about 75 people but has grown into one of the city’s largest parades with more than 100 organizations participating.
Here is what you need to know about Pridefest and the rest of Kansas City’s big summer festivals.
KC PrideFest and Parade
Where: Theis Park, 4701 Oak St.
When: 5-10 p.m. Friday, June 6; noon-10 p.m. Saturday, June 7; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 8.
Pride Parade: Starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 7, at Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard, goes south on Broadway, to Mill Creek Parkway, ends at Theis Park.
Other activities: Live entertainment, education tent, wellness tent, artist row, game zone and youth area.
Admission: Adults, $7.06 (including $2.06 in fees); children 12 and under, free with adult admission.
Parking: Free at Cherry Street Parking Garage (Levels 2 and above), 5005 Oak St.; Church of the Resurrection Brookside, 5144 Oak St.; and public garages in the Country Club Plaza. Shuttle buses will run to and from all locations. Accessible parking also is available at the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, 4800 Rockhill Road.
Information: kcpride.org
More KC festivals this summer
Boulevardia: June 14, Crown Center. https://boulevardia.com
Heart of America Shakespeare Festival: “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” June 17-July 6, Southmoreland Park. https://kcshakes.org
JuneteenthKC Heritage Festival: June 21, 18th & Vine District. https://www.juneteenthkc.com
Stars and Stripes Picnic: July 4, National WWI Museum and Memorial. https://theworldwar.org/stars-and-stripes-picnic
KC Fringe Festival: July 13-27, multiple venues. https://kcfringe.org
Ethnic Enrichment Festival: Aug. 15-17, Swope Park. https://eeckc.org/ethnic-enrichment-fest