It’s a big weekend of festivals in Kansas City, followed by big week of premieres
Labor Day weekend will be filled with entertainment options.
Three major festivals traditionally mark the weekend: Kansas City Irish Fest, Santa-Cali-Gon Days and the Kansas City Renaissance Festival. Details on those are below.
And then, three of Kansas City’s premier performing arts groups will open their 2023-24 seasons.
▪ The Kansas City Repertory Theatre will kick off its 60th season at Spencer Theatre with “Cyrano de Bergerac,” adapting the familiar story of a love triangle built around Cyrano providing the words for another man to seduce the lovely Roxane, opens 7 p.m. Sept. 5; runs through Sept. 24 ($35-$79). kcrep.org.
▪ The Kansas City Symphony will open 2023-24 at the Kauffman Center with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1,” one of its popular Film and Live Orchestra concerts, 7 p.m. Sept. 6-8, 2 p.m. Sept. 10 ($54-$104). kcsymphony.org.
▪ Unicorn Theatre’s season will begin with “Native Gardens,” a comedy about feuding neighbors, opens 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6; runs through Sept. 24 ($42-$52). unicorntheatre.org.
3 big festivals
▪ The Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center will offer more than 150 acts on seven stages, as well as art, vendors, comedy shows, heritage workshops and displays and a huge children’s area, 5-11 p.m. Sept. 1, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 2-3 ($8-$30; general admission for Saturday and Sunday will be $35 starting Sept. 1; weekend pass, $75; comedy shows and whiskey tastings cost extra). kcirishfest.com.
▪ Santa-Cali-Gon Days will bring more than 400 vendor booths, a carnival (Aug. 31-Sept. 4) and two stages with live entertainment to Independence Square, noon-11 p.m. Sept. 1, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 2-3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 4 (free, except for carnival). santacaligon.com.
▪ The Kansas City Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs is one of the nation’s largest renaissance fairs, with stage acts, street acts, music, games, rides, jousting and more, opens 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 2; weekends through Oct. 15, plus Sept. 4 and Oct. 9 ($12.50-$20.95; $15.95-$24.95 at gate; season pass $60-$95). kcrenfest.com.
Also
▪ De Soto Days Festival, 6-10 p.m. Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Sept. 2, De Soto (free). desotodays.com.
▪ Kansas City Chalk and Walk Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 3, City Market (free). kcchalkandwalk.org.
More entertainment
▪ The Sobela Ocean Aquarium, with more than 200 species on display in 34 exhibits, will open at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 1 (included in regular admission, $9.50-$22; timed reservations required through at least Sept. 15). kansascityzoo.org.
▪ “Saturday Night Live” cast member Punkie Johnson will bring her stand-up act to the Comedy Club of Kansas City, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Sept. 1-2 ($25-$33). thecomedyclubkc.com.
Music
▪ First Sundays featuring Clay Kirkland Band, Talking Backwards and Better Off Dead, 1-4 p.m. Sept. 3, Theis Park (free). kcparks.org.
▪ Silk with Kindred the Family Soul and October London, 7 p.m. Sept. 3, KC Live! ($35-$75). powerandlightdistrict.com.
▪ Shinedown with Papa Roach and Spiritbox, 6:40 p.m. Sept. 4, T-Mobile Center ($34.50-$125). t-mobilecenter.com.
▪ Tash Sultana, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5, VooDoo ($59.50-$98). voodookc.com.
▪ Poppy and Pvris, 7 p.m. Sept. 6, The Truman ($39-$80). thetrumankc.com.
▪ Taj Mahal with Los Lobos and North Mississippi Allstars, 7 p.m. Sept. 6, Uptown ($45-$149). uptowntheater.com.
▪ 3 Doors Down, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6, Starlight ($39.50-$125). kcstarlight.com.
