Down by the River

8/27-8/29
Named after Col. George S. Park, Parkville is a quiet little town along the Missouri River 10 miles northwest of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The place still has a certain turn-of-the-century flavor and a few beautiful parks that beckon urban dwellers tired of summer in the city. This weekend the hamlet hosts its 36th annual Parkville Days Riverfest at English Landing Park (on the river banks at the end of Main Street). The festival, which starts at 6 p.m. Friday and goes through Sunday, includes blues and jazz bands, arts and crafts booths and a carnival. For kids, there’s a petting zoo as well as pony rides and moonwalks. For adults, there’s plenty of beer and live music. Old men in funny hats driving tiny little hot rods provide an always-anticipated attraction; a Shriners parade kicks off in downtown Parkville at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Our friends at Parkville City Hall assure us that anyone coming to town on Missouri Highway 9 won’t have any problem locating Main Street or the festivities. Admission is free. Call 816-505-2227 for details. — Michael Vennard

Pony Boy

SAT 8/28
For 20 years, horse-obsessed locals have pursued their passion along 25 miles of riding trails at the Longview Horse Park in Raytown (12600 Old Raytown Road). The park has changed in recent years, though, with the addition of more challenging obstacles and a sizable water jump. The folks in the Longview Horse Park Association hope that the facility will host national events in the near future, and they’re raising money for maintenance and expansion with a Benefit Horse Show. All breeds are represented in 26 classes of competition, which ranges from best fox trot to most impressive vintage costume. The show starts at 6 p.m. Saturday; admission costs $3 for adults and is free for children under 12. Call 816-537-6855. — Sarah Smarsh

Ace!
These guys can definitely
get it up.

SAT 8/28
The most extreme thing about Saturday’s Extreme Volleyball Pro tour at the Shawnee Mission Beach Volleyball facility (19800 Johnson Drive in Shawnee) is that a pro tour is coming to town. The EVP brings close to 25 professional men’s teams to the 18-court facility, starting at 9 a.m. Elimination matches run all day, with finals between 4 and 6 p.m. Admission is free, but the healthier your donation, the more raffle tickets you get. A slew of sponsors, including Red Bull and Healthy Rejuvenation Massage, will give stuff away, and area band G13 kicks out the jams on the deck at 6 p.m. If you can tear yourself away from the Malibu rum booth, the volleyball action promises to be pretty exciting, too. Call 913-226-5027 for directions and details. — Christopher Sebela