Enter the Dragon

SAT 6/11
When patriotic Chinese poet Chu Yuan drowned himself in the Mi Lo River 2,000 years ago, it was an act of protest against corrupt leaders. Fishermen ran to their boats and hit drums to scare the fish away from Chu Yuan’s body, throwing them zong zi, steamed and leaf-wrapped rice balls, to feed on instead. There’s some dispute about whether that’s what inspired the modern Dragon Boat Festival, but the celebration lives on, and one such event is coming to Brush Creek (J.C. Nichols and Ward Parkway) Saturday starting at 10 a.m. Rowing teams race in the creek throughout the day, with a championship at 2 p.m.

Other festival activities include traditional Chinese dancing and live music. And, as part of the Asian-influenced programs scheduled in conjunction with Past in Reverse: Contemporary Art of East Asia at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, artists Hong Zhang and Hing Wah demonstrate Chinese brush painting. Partyers can also buy Chinese food. We’re hoping that includes some zong zi. — Rebecca Braverman

Some Like It Hot

6/10-6/11
Kansas City and New Orleans have a few things in common: jazz music, famous local cuisine (and hot debates over favorite spots) and NFL teams that suck in the playoffs. Maybe that’s why we feel right at home celebrating the Cajun capital with the annual Crawfish Festival at the City Market (Fifth Street and Walnut). Sponsored by Bayou native and former Chief Neil Smith — owner of the local Copeland’s restaurant — the festival has the food thing covered. But more exciting than pots of gumbo, perhaps, is the chance to hear some modern zydeco as Lil’ Malcolm and the House Rockers blend a funky edge into Cajun rhythms and African blues. Think accordions, wooden washboards and French lyrics. They go down really well with jambalaya. Sort of like how jazz goes with barbecue. The festival runs from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and costs $5. For information, call 816-842-1271. — Sarah Smarsh

Screen Play
SAT 6/11

During One-Night Stand, a time-restricted movie competition hosted annually by the Independent Filmmaker’s Coalition, auteurs have half a day to shoot and edit short films before screening them for the public later that night. Last year, audience members got to watch completed four-minute submissions by 25 teams. Many “exceeded all expectations for a ten-hour shoot,” the IFC’s Linda Wiedmaier tells us — and some, uh, did not. We’ll provide our own critiques at this year’s festival, starting at 7 p.m. at the Fahrenheit Gallery (1717 West 9th Street); see www.ifckc.com or call David Winger at 913-226-4451 for details.— Annie Fischer