Peep this list of Pitch-approved August events
Free weekly art fair. // Courtesy Art Garden KC
While we’ve heard that August is sometimes considered the Sunday of Summer, weekends in Kansas City are just heating up (it’s the humidity!). May we present to you a positively balmy list of events around town, complete with showing out at Show-Me Pride Fest in Theis Park, finally learning your crush’s zodiac sign at the Mystic Fair, and welcoming back the King of KC himself, Tech N9ne. Enjoy.
Events Running Beyond August
July 1-March 2022
Testimony: African American Artists Collective, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art
July 1-January 2022
Auschwitz, Union Station Kansas City
Sundays in August
Lemonade Park Yoga, Lemonade Park
Free Sunday Open Jam, Knuckleheads
Dagorhir Boffer LARP, Meadowmere Park
The Mengel Brothers Duo, Chaz on the Plaza, multiple dates
Free Weekly Art Fair, Art Garden KC, @artgardenKC
Calling all artists and makers: you’re invited to sell your wares, network, perform, teach a class, or paint plein-air style in the garden. To top it off, booth fees are waived and the event—which takes place each Sunday in August—is free to the public. From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., guests will find over 30 vendors selling artwork and handcrafted ceramics, jewelry, candles, macrame, clothing, and glassware. Plus, we’ve heard talk of face painting and yard games. We love yard games. Food and drink can be purchased from food trucks and PH Coffee across the street in Pendleton Heights. Email hello@artgardenkc.org for more information.
August 1
Summer Family Timber Challenge Fun Run, Zip KC
Turn Down for Brunch, Parlor
Gleason Magic Experience, Prairiefire, multiple dates
Nightshade Vocal Jazz, 1747 Summit St.
Gucci Mane ft. Lil TJay, Latto, and Yung Bleu, Liberty Memorial
Jo Koy, Uptown Theater
Linq and Drink Day Party, Soirée Steak and Oyster House
August 2
Jeff Shirley Organ Trio, Mondays and Tuesdays at Green Lady Lounge
August 2-7
No Divide: Queer Narratives Festival, The Black Box Theater
August 3
Lenexa Farmers Market, Saturdays and Tuesdays at Lenexa Civic Campus
Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market, Tuesdays at South Park
Jason Mraz, Starlight Theater
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Azura Amphitheater
August 4
Sons of Brasil, Chaz on the Plaza
Rolston String Quartet, Midwest Trust Center
Cake and Wine Night, McLain’s Market Lawrence
Charity Drag Bingo, Hamburger Mary’s, hamburgermarys.com/kc, multiple dates
Each Wednesday and Thursday night, Hamburger Mary’s bevy of fabulous drag queens throws a riotous “Hambingo” party, where money raised goes to a variety of local charities. Playing bingo at Mary’s is easy: a $10 donation gets you a book of 10 cards, and 100% of the donation goes to charity. The restaurant is usually busy, so securing a reservation is the best way to snag a table.
August 5
Mission Market, Thursdays at 5635 Johnson Dr.
Jenna Bauer Duo, Chaz on the Plaza
Hair: Then and Now, Crown Center
Hot Country Nights with Randy Rogers Band, KC Live! Block
The House Rockers, Thursdays at Knuckleheads
Free Outdoor Movie Night: Sonic the Hedgehog, Lakewood Orthodontics
Foo Fighters, Azura Amphitheater
Jungle Boogie with Stevie Cruz, The Ship, multiple dates
Joe “Mr. D” Dombrowski, Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant
Comedy Open Mic, Thursdays at The Comedy Club of Kansas City
August 6
Camp Wornall/Majors, Alexander Majors House Museum, multiple dates
Brett Blakemore, KC Wine Co.
GOEX Grand Reopening, GOEX Apparel
The KC Improv Comedy Show, Fridays and Saturdays at KC Improv Co.
Ryan Long, Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant
Faizon Love, The Comedy Club of Kansas City
Backyard Movies: The Princess Bride, Screenland Armour
Lady A, Azura Amphitheater
Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo 7, The Ship
First Friday Sunset Sounds Featuring Phantastics, 1512 E. 18th St.
Hard Ticket to Hawaii, Stray Cat Film Center
Wyeth Tootle Mansion Ghost Hunt, 1100 Charles St.
Illphonics / Golden Groves / Atlas, Lemonade Park
August 7-8
The Ascension: A Stray Cat Film Center Fundraiser, Union Library
August 7
Harlem Globetrotters Spread Game, T-Mobile Center
Merriam Farmers’ Market, Saturdays at Merriam Marketplace
Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market, Saturdays at 824 New Hampshire St.
KC Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Sale, Trailside Center
Knuckleheads Saturday Jam, Saturdays at Knuckleheads
Family Game Night, KC Improv Co.
Loud and Local, E.H. Young Park
Backyard Movies: Tremors, Screenland Armour
Vinyl Revival, Aztec Shawnee Theater
Brian Scarborough Quintet, 1747 Summit St.
Dermot Kennedy, Uptown Theater
Tech N9ne, KC Live! Block
Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys, The Ship
Dogwood Days, Dunbar Park
Garth Brooks, Arrowhead Stadium
Botanical Brewfest, Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
The Black Creatures / Kellindo Parker / The Creepy Jingles / Kemet Coleman, Lemonade Park
August 8
Matt Carrillo, 1747 Summit St.
ZZ Top and Willie Nelson, Azura Amphitheater
Zack Mufasa, KC Wine Co.
Family Yoga and Hike, Swope Park Trails
Sunday Bingo, Red Crow Brewing Co.
New Moon Singing Bowl Love Fest, Pop Up Art Gallery
August 9
Struggle Jennings, The Truman
August 10
Hard Candy Dance Class with Denali, Missie B’s
Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014, Union Station
August 11
The Grand Marquis, Chaz on the Plaza
Dropkick Murphys and Rancid, Grinders
Off the Rails Comedy, Knuckleheads
August 12
Baby J Duo, Chaz on the Plaza
Sam Morril, The Comedy Club of Kansas City
Hot Country Nights with Jimmie Allen, KC Live! Block
Wilco and Sleater-Kinney, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Pints on the Patio: The Canterberries, Kansas City Irish Center
August 13
Billy Ebeling, KC Wine Co.
The People’s Picnic, Swope Park Bandstand
Murder Mystery Dinner, Belvoir Winery and Inn
Backyard Movies: A League of Their Own, Screenland Armour
Steve Treviño, Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant, multiple dates
Arnold Young, 1747 Summit St.
Mr. Mojo Risin’, Aztec Shawnee Theater
All Time Low, KC Live! Block
Manor Records Presents, Lemonade Park
Mystic materials. // Courtesy KC Mystic Fair and Aidy Acres Rogers
August 13-15
KC Mystic Fair, Holiday Inn and Suites in Overland Park, @kcmysticfair
Now’s your chance to get into everything metaphysical, tarot, or numerology-related. KC Mystic Fair is a three-day event featuring healers and spiritual guides, Henna artists, jewelry, gems, and crystals, and handcrafted essential oils and salts like the one featured here from Sanctuary Apothecary’s Aidy Acres Rogers. Attendees can expect past life readings from Doc Cromwell, astrology from Rachel Pearson, and paranormal consultations with KC’s own psychic medium Renee Rau. Admission includes free classes, and tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door for $6 daily, $10 for two days, or $15 for the weekend.
Trevor Turla and Kadesh Flow. // Photos by Ryan Strong and Nicole Bissey
August 14
Dog Days of Summer, Shawnee Town 1929 Museum
Northland Cornhole Tournament, The Sandbox
The Floozies, Grinders
KC Bones, Aztec Shawnee Theater
Backyard Movies: Hook, Screenland Armour
Raytown Live: Johnny and the Supermatics, 10009 62nd Street, Raytown, MO 64133
Eddie Griffin, Uptown Theater
Sincerely KC, The Black Box Theater
Jorge Arana Trio / Abandoncy / Via Luna, Lemonade Park
Open Studio Concert Series: Kadesh Flow and Trevor Turla, Raj Ma Hall, rajmahall.org
Raj Ma Hall—one of local music’s best kept secrets—is giving us all the funk, along with a little jazz, hip-hop, and soul. The outdoor music venue is actually home and studio to Roger Guibor-MacBride, a local sculptor who wanted to provide a COVID-safe “sanctuary” for community fellowship and music. Catch rapper and producer Kadesh Flow, also known as the trombone Super Saiyan, and Trevor Turla, Grand Marquis trombonist and jazz aficionado, playing the house down. Bring your own food, drinks, and chairs around 4 p.m., and pay just $15 per person. All proceeds go to the musicians.
August 15
Rusty Laffoon, KC Wine Co.
Maks and Val: Stripped Down Tour, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
TK Kirkland, Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant
Riverfront Heritage Trail Clean Up, Berkley Riverfront
August 16
Big 816 Summer Party, John’s Big Deck, Drunken Worm, MO Brew, The Levee
August 17
Corey Taylor, Grinders
August 18
Jackie Myers Quartet, Chaz on the Plaza
Carmen Morales, The Comedy Club of Kansas City
Bessie Coleman: Aviation Extraordinaire of the 1920s, Shawnee Town 1929 Museum
August 19
Emily Dix Duo, Chaz on the Plaza
Frank Caliendo, Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant
Hot Country Nights with Jordan Davis, KC Live! Block
Ron Funches, The Comedy Club of Kansas City
Third Thursdays Backyard Concert Series, MADI Apparel
Pottery Pub, Lost Evenings Brewing Co.
August 20
Erica McKenzie, KC Wine Co.
Backyard Movies: Willow, Screenland Armour
Last Kiss: A Tribute to Joe Bonamassa, Aztec Shawnee Theater
Koe Wetzel, KC Live! Block
Light Up the Lawn: Kelley Hunt, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
Film Screening: Beetlejuice, Theatre Lawrence, multiple dates
August 21-22
Show-Me Kansas City Pride Festival, Theis Park
August 21
Backyard Movies: Spaceballs, Screenland Armour
EMS: Extemporaneous Music Society, 1747 Summit St.
Midnight Rodeo, KC Live! Block
Voz Portuguesa, Howard’s Farm
August 22
Nick Nave, KC Wine Co.
Berry Acres and The Hilltop Food Tasting, Berry Acres
Frenchie’s Finest Brunch, 6235 Blue Ridge Blvd.
Phresh Sundays Presents Ben Roy, PH Coffee
August 23
Charlie Parker Spotlight, KC Bier Co.
August 24
Healing Your Life: Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda Workshop, 136 Walnut St.
August 25
Jammin’ on the Green with the Grand Marquis, Shawnee Town 1929 Museum
August 26
Emily Frost, Chaz on the Plaza
Hot Country Nights with Parmalee, KC Live! Block
Erin Keeller and the James Ward Band, The Ship
The Anarchy Fun Time Show, Westport Coffee House
August 27-29
Kansas City SummerFest, 6320 Manchester Ave.
August 27
Summer Backyard BBQ in Overland Park, Pinstripes
Nicole Springer, KC Wine Co.
Rags to Riches Fashion Show, Swope Parkway
Elvis Costello and The Imposters, Uptown Theater
Leonard Ouzts’ Young, Black, and Funny, Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant
Backyard Movies: Mean Girls, Screenland Armour
The Fab Four, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Into the Gray, Aztec Shawnee Theater
Light Up the Lawn: The Rainmakers, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
Vote for Pedro, KC Live! Block
Open Studio Concert Series: Erin Keller and Matt Carrillo, Raj Ma Hall
Masquerade Party, DoubleTap KC
18th and Vine. // Courtesy Jon Trozzolo
August 28
Arts al Fresco!, Kansas City Young Audiences
Jeanne Robertson, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Night of the Songwriter, Aztec Shawnee Theater
Head for the Cure 5K, Corporate Woods
I Love the ‘90s Bash Bar Crawl, Power and Light District
Early Bird: Charlie Parker at 18th and Vine, East 18th St. and Highland Ave., @kcjazzalive
If you live in Kansas City, you’ve heard of Charlie Parker. August 29, 2021, marks his 101st birthday, and the time’s come to celebrate. Reserve tickets via Eventbrite for a walking tour of the Bird’s old stomping grounds at 18th and Vine, where Parker played in the 1930s. Tour guides include Chuck Haddix, Director of UMKC Marr Sound Archives and host of KCUR’s “Fish Fry” on Friday and Saturday nights, and Geri Sanders, Director of Collections at the American Jazz Museum. Attendees will meet at the park at 18th and Highland at 9:45 a.m.
August 29
Cameron Russell, KC Wine Co.
Black Girl Magic Wine Walk, 18th and Vine Jazz District
Carroll County Balloon Festival, Carroll County Ag Center
August 30
Louis the Child, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
