Calendar

WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN JUNE

June 04

GO: Cultural Parade on Saturday, June 4. Noon–4 pm. Heritage Festival on Saturday, June 18. Noon–9 pm. 18th and Vine District, KCMO. UNITED WE STAND Last year, June 19 was officially recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorating the end of slavery in the US. This year, Kansas City’s 18th and Vine District is expecting more than ten thousand people to attend its Juneteenth cultural parade and heritage festival, which will be themed “United We Stand.”

The cultural parade is Saturday, June 4, and will feature a mix of local drill teams, community groups and floats. The heritage festival on Saturday, June 18, will host over two hundred retail and food vendors, a kids zone with things like giant puppets and face painting, live music from The Rude Boys and others, an outdoor skating rink and talks from important KC figures. Most of the activities will be free.

“We’ve made the effort to connect with community resources and entities and to foster local partnerships that can support families year-round,” says program director Makeda Peterson.

This year, Paseo to Truman will be blocked off for the festival, encompassing the entire Jazz District and several city blocks. “We’ve grown every year, and now this year we are getting national recognition,” Peterson says. “That growth has been diverse, too. We’ve really seen a mix of cultures wanting to learn more and celebrate.”

Peterson has hosted the Juneteenth festival for eleven years in the Jazz District. Her father, Horace Peterson, was the founder of the Black Archives of Mid-America, the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. He started the city’s Juneteenth celebrations in the early ’80s, and today his daughter carries on the tradition.

“It’s just cool to see the celebration of African American culture and pride here in Kansas City,” Peterson says. “It’s rare for our community to have the opportunity to be unapologetic about our culture. This is about us. It’s a day of celebration and liberation.” —MARY HENN

June

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO THIS MONTH

01

Silver Throne at Nelson-Atkins

May 21, 2022–May 28, 2023

Two ornate silver thrones where Dungarpur royalty once sat have now been restored and set to display at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The new exhibit, Silver Splendor: Conserving the Royal Thrones of Dungarpur, India, shows a video documenting the grueling process of restoring these thrones back to their prime, a process that has been ongoing since 2013. Commissioned in 1911, the thrones were built during India’s British Colonial era, combining European and Indian design elements. In the exhibit, the thrones are accompanied by relevant Indian paintings and artwork. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Gallery 203.

Old Shawnee Days

June 2–June 5

The annual Old Shawnee Days is a jumble of all things that make you think “carnival.” The four-day outdoor event has carnival rides and games, vendors and a live music lineup headlined by country acts Jason Pritchett of America’s Got Talent and X-Factor alum Tate Stevens. Thursday, June 2–Sunday, June 5. 6–10 pm. Saturday’s parade is at 11 am. Shawnee Town 1929.

Meadowbrook Park Festival

June 3

The term “craft fair” takes on a new meaning with the Strawberry Swing Meadowbrook Park Festival. A list of local vendors curated by Strawberry Swing will be selling. The party continues with lawn games, live bluegrass music and a wide range of food trucks. Friday, June 3. 3–9 pm. Meadowbrook Park, Prairie Village.

Tacos and Tequila Festival

June 4, 2 pm

The Tacos and Tequila Festival is back for year two, this time with a Throwback theme. The festival is headlined by T.I., Juvenile and Ginuwine, and the margarita lineup is almost as impressive, with flavors like mango creamsicle and basil melonball. The event also offers a hundred different street taco options, lucha libre wrestling and a showcase of exotic cars. Saturday, June 4. Doors open at 2 pm. Legends Field.

Haim

June 4, 8 pm

Haim’s blend of soft rock and pop music with touches of R&B bring a unique energy to the stage. The three Los Angeles sisters will play hits from their most recent album, Women In Music Pt. III, which took over music charts everywhere at the time of its release in 2021. Saturday, June 4. 8 pm. Starlight Theatre.

The War On Drugs

June 5, 7:30 pm

If you’re a late-Xer aiming for Bob Dylan, you might get lucky and hit Bruce Springsteen. At least that’s what happened on I Don’t Live Here Anymore, the new record from The War on Drugs. Singer Adam Granduciel references Dylan to open the title track, but the end result for this Philly outfit is so Springsteen-y you can smell the steak sandwich on it. Sunday, June 5. 7:30 pm. Grinders.

Wallows

June 9, 8 pm

You may have seen lead singer of the band Wallows Dylan Minnette as Clay Jensen in the somber Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, but his performance style on stage is the exact opposite. The indie band is influenced by music from the ’70s and ’80s with a contemporary twist. Thursday, June 9. 8 pm. Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland.

Arts in the Park

June 10 & 11

Arts in the Park in North Kansas City’s Macken Park brings every family-fun activity into one festival. The two-day event features live music—with many tribute bands on the lineup—balloon art, caricatures, magic, juggling and a marionette show by StoneLion Puppet Theater. Food and drinks are available from local breweries and food trucks. Friday, June 10. 5–10 pm. Saturday, June 11. 10 am–10 pm. Macken Park.

Kansas City Pride Parade & Festival

June 10–12

Theis Park hosts the annual three-day festival celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, kicking off with the Kansas City Pride Parade at 11 am from Westport Road and Pennsylvania Avenue. There will be food, drinks, crafts, musical performances and educational activities. Friday, June 10–Sunday, June 12. 5 pm. Theis Park.

Kauffman Future Stages

June 12, 11 am

The Kauffman Center’s Future Stages Festival is exactly as it sounds: a celebration of Kansas City’s talented young artists. The free event puts young performers on the city’s highest-profile stage while inviting the community to enjoy a diverse range of local arts organizations, ranging from Irish and Chinese dance to orchestra and theater. Sunday, June 12. 11 am–4 pm. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Rex Orange County

June 13, 8:30 pm

Expect a carefree summer atmosphere at the Rex Orange County concert coming to Starlight Theatre. At just twenty-one years old, the English star has a “colorful” performance style like no other. Hits like “Loving Is Easy” and “Best Friend” will be accompanied by his newest album, WHO CARES? Monday, June 13. 8:30 pm. Starlight Theatre.

29

Barenaked Ladies

June 29, 7:30 pm

Whether listening to their classics like “If I had $1,000,000” or “One Week,” or just watching The Big Bang Theory and catching the theme song, the Barenaked Ladies are known to combine comedic lyrics into their rock sound. The band is now missing singer Steven Page, who wrote most of the group’s biggest hits before departing in 2009, but marches on—after sixteen albums—for the sixth edition of their Last Summer on Earth Tour. Wednesday, June 29. 7:30 pm. Starlight Theatre. 18 The Kansas City Canaries June 18, 9 pm The Kansas City Canaries are a dance troupe dedicated to preserving the traditions of jazzera chorus girls. They’ve recently performed with the KC jazz orchestra at the Kauffman Center and on this night will perform at Nighthawk, the club below the Hotel Kansas City. Saturday, June 18. 9 pm. Nighthawk.

Kip Moore

June 16, 5 pm

With the sweaty, sticky mess that the KC Live! crowd becomes on those wild Hot Country Nights, Kip Moore’s low, gravelly voice will be much appreciated. Since his release of “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck” in 2011, he’s been a reigning force in country music—which is great for those country-music lovers looking to put on their cowboy boots and grab a cold beer on a Thursday night. Thursday, June 16. 5 pm. KC Live!

Third Eye Blind

June 30, 7 pm

With every passing year, the legend of Third Eye Blind singer Stephan Jenkins seems to grow. The notoriously prickly and egomaniacal writer of “SemiCharmed Life” was recently busted for apparently falsely claiming to have been the valedictorian of his college class and has been the subject of a series of stories told by the guy from Eve that may one day join the exploits of Led Zeppelin in rock lore. Thursday, June 30. 7 pm. Starlight Theater.

Robert Stackhouse: Passages

Through August

Robert Stackhouse’s life-size A-frame-style sculptures are literally “passageways through art.” He moved to Kansas City in the mid-’90s and continued to create outdoor installations while teaching at the Kansas City Art Institute. The Belger Arts Center’s Passages includes over thirty sculptures, prints, paintings and drawings by Stackhouse. Through August 6. Belger Arts Center.

Yoga on the Lawn

Through Labor Day

The covered lawn at Ward Parkway Center hosts free yoga every Thursday at 7 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Given the weather lately, expect it to be Bikram-esque. The classes are open to adults and are sponsored and taught by Genesis Health Clubs. Bring your own yoga mat and water bottle. Thursdays through Labor Day. 7 pm. Ward Parkway Center.

DIG DUGOUT

3 secret amenities of Kauffman Stadium

BY MARTIN CIZMAR

KAUFFMAN STADIUM is one of the oldest and most famous stadiums in the game, drawing baseball fans from all over the world. Most people know to arrive early for tailgating and check out the iconic fountains, but there’s a lot more going on at the K, including some things even loyal Royals fans won’t know about.

Pork and Peanut Butter

A few years ago, John Woychick, the executive chef for Aramark at Kauffman stadium (@thekfoods), was throwing a little get-together by his backyard fire pit when he decided to get a little crazy.

“I had just brought some smoked pork belly home, and I had some Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups,” he says. “So I combined them. Everybody loved it, and I kept that idea in the back of my head.” This off-season, the Kauffman food team was looking for something unique and attention-grabbing.

Woychick’s creation is now on the menu at Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue pit behind the Price Chopper Patio in right field. It’s called the BBQ Reese’s Sandwich and includes pulled pork, Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce, crumbled Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and imitation bacon bits.

“We found that it needed some crunch, and the bacon bits did that,” Woychick says. “They’re almost like pop rocks.” ‘Room’ For All

As of Opening Day this year, the K now has two sensory rooms: one on the first-base side and the other on the third-base side. The rooms are designed to help children reduce and manage stress and aggression, says Amanda Grosdidier, executive director of Royals Charities. They were added to the stadium at the request of parents whose children were overwhelmed by the noise and pageantry.

“We don’t ever want the stadium to feel like it’s not comfortable,” Grosdidier says. “So this is a way to be comfortable and engaged in the game in a different way.”

Families should call Guest Services in advance of their visit for directions to the sensory rooms, which are in outof-the-way spots near exits.

“The paint, the flooring, the walls are all adapted to be as soothing as possible,” Grosdidier says. “And then we also worked with KultureCity to train all of our staff.”

Having a Ball While there are team shops selling hats and jerseys all over the K, there’s one where you’ll find serious memorabilia collectibles, says Ashley Ficken, the Royals’ director of merchandise sales. Game-used balls are the “bread and butter” of The Authentic Store, which is on the main concourse behind section 225, Ficken says.

Game-used balls are available starting in the seventh or eighth inning of every game—and you’ll see people lined up, Ficken says.

The balls get authenticated by a league employee in the dugout and are marked with a sticker that notes information like who threw the pitch and who the batter was. Prices vary based on who was involved—the ball from Bobby Witt Jr.’s second hit went for $3,000.

Another popular item is a small bottle of water from the iconic fountains in center field, which is also authenticated by a league employee.