Fireworks, festivals, music: Guide to Memorial Day weekend events in Kansas City
Celebration at the Station, the free Memorial Day weekend tradition at Union Station featuring the Kansas City Symphony, will come with a twist May 28.
The Resilient, a rock band composed primarily of severely wounded U.S. combat veterans, will perform works by Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen and more. As always, the symphony will provide a program of patriotic music.
The concert (airing live on Kansas City PBS) will begin at 8 p.m. and festivities begin at 5 p.m., including food trucks, pre-concert entertainment, vendors and the concluding fireworks. More information at kcsymphony.org.
Across the street at the National WWI Museum and Memorial will mark the entire holiday weekend, May 26-29, with half-price admission ($5-$9) for the public and free admission for veterans and active-duty military. Activities at the museum will include World War I research stations, a helicopter display and a vintage military vehicle display, with a Memorial Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. May 29. More information at theworldwar.org.
More entertainment
▪ Kids can explore specially designed forts during Fortopia at Powell Gardens, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, May 25-Sept. 4 (included with admission, $5-$12). powellgardens.org.
▪ Cirque du Soleil, the world’s most famous performance company, will bring “Corteo” to the T-Mobile Center, 7:30 p.m. May 25-26, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. May 27, 1 p.m. May 28 ($49-$159). t-mobilecenter.com.
▪ Naka-Kon at the Overland Park Convention Center will celebrate anime, manga, cosplay and more, 4-8 p.m. May 26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 28 ($10-$70). naka-kon.com.
▪ “Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing — The Exhibition” at Union Station will tell the superhero’s story through original art, interactive displays and more, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 26-Oct. 1 ($10-$24). unionstation.org.
▪ Fairy Tale Village will bring classic children’s tales to life at the Crown Center Showplace, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. holidays, May 27-Sept. 4 (free). crowncenter.com.
▪ PNC Broadway in Kansas City will present “Disney’s Aladdin” at the Music Hall, 7:30 p.m. May 30-June 2, 2 and 7:30 p.m. June 3, 1 and 6 p.m. June 4 ($35-$125). broadwayinkc.com.
Festivals
▪ Lawrence Busker Festival, 5 p.m. May 26, 1 p.m. May 27-28, 12:15 p.m. May 29, Downtown Lawrence (free). lawrencebuskerfest.com.
▪ Island Fest, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. May 27, Pharaoh Cinema, Independence (free). visitindependence.com.
▪ Flavors of Central Tour, 10:30 a.m. May 27, Bethany Park and Central Avenue, KCK ($35-$45). theflavorsofcentraltour.com.
▪ Community Block Party, 1-5 p.m. May 27, Charlotte Street Campus (free). charlottestreet.org.
▪ Los Monarchs Festival Latino, 3:30 p.m. May 27-28, Legends Field ($20-$140). maxfunlive.com/latino-festival-event.
More music
▪ The Mavericks, 8 p.m. May 25-26, 8:30 p.m. May 27, Knuckleheads ($49.50-$74.50). knuckleheadskc.com.
▪ Chicago, 7 p.m. May 26, Starlight ($39.50-$129.50). kcstarlight.com.
▪ Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, 7 p.m. May 26, Grinders KC ($45-$201). grinderskc.com.
▪ Dance to the Fiddle: A Celebration of Midwest Fiddling, 6:30 p.m. May 27, Manheim Gardens (free). eventbrite.com.
This story was originally published May 24, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
