Weekend Possibilities | Sharks After Dark, Porchfest, And Barktoberfest

There are about 48 hours between leaving work on Friday and the time you start thinking about work once again on Sunday night. Weekend Possibilities is your roadmap for food, drinks and fun for the perfect Kansas City weekend.

Friday, Oct. 11

4 – 11 p.m. Fountainverse — Kansas City’s Small Press Poetry Festival kicks off Friday evening and runs all weekend Downtown at Capsule (1664 Broadway). Night one’s schedule includes a small press book fair, a feature reading from Denver’s Suspect Press, plus a poetry open mic. The three-day festival brings together poets representing independent presses from around the metro area and country. All Fountainverse events are free.  

7 – 10 p.m. Sea Life Kansas City (2475 Grand Blvd.) is open to big kids only on Friday night for Sharks After Dark, a one-of-a-kind opportunity to drink like a fish with the fish. Attendees 21 and up can enjoy a cash bar, while taking in the illuminated shark, stingray, jellyfish and more like never before. Tickets are $24.95 for non-annual members. Annual member tickets are $19.95.

If you’re looking for something fresh, check out Westport’s brand-new speakeasy The Fall (4128 Broadway). Billed as more than just a cocktail bar, the underground drinking joint offers a colorful lounge, VIP rooms and bottle service, plus premium spirits. Be sure to check online for more information about rooms or packages.

Saturday, Oct. 12

9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Mission Sunflower Festival is shutting down Johnson Drive for a day of festivities, ranging from a morning parade to a sunflower seed spitting contest. Look for local pop-up shops, free bingo and plenty of live entertainment. Hy-Vee Grill and Thai Orchid will be around for lunch and dinner. Kona Ice and Tropical Treats will serve up the dessert. The festival is free.

10 a.m. – 8 p.m. “Kansas City’s Ultimate Fall Festival” is coming to the Power and Light District. Cornucopia KC will feature family-friendly carnival rides, bounce houses, pony rides and much more. As far as flavors go, festivarians can expect barbecue, spiked cider, kettle corn and caramel apples, in addition to a wine tasting and lots of beer at Oktoberfest Live!, which is set to kick off at 4 p.m. There’ll be live music, college football and movies on the big screen across three stages, plus pumpkin carving, yard games, a craft fair and more. Be sure to check the event website for a full slate of events. 

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Kansas City Public Television is inviting families to Be My Neighbor Day at Cornucopia KC (PNC Plaza 56 E. 14th St.). Kids can look forward to meeting Daniel Tiger of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, plus a fun day with plenty of activities focused on being a caring neighbor. The event is free.

Noon – 6 p.m. Original Porchfest KC returns to three Midtown neighborhoods this weekend. The fifth edition of the neighborly local music festival will feature more than 150 artists performing across 50 porches in the Roanoke, Longfellow and Union Hill neighborhoods, along with the historic Union Cemetery. Worried about getting around? Ride KC and Drop Mobility will provide transportation all day long to ensure you don’t miss a thing. Be sure to visit the Porchfest website for a full schedule of music and a detailed map. The festival is free, but cash tips for artists are encouraged.

5 – 10 p.m. KC Brew & Chew will take over the City Market (20 E. 5th St.) with a family friendly evening featuring three outdoor bars, yard games, live music, great food, a pumpkin patch and all sorts of entertainment. Beer and wine tasting tickets are available for $20. Children’s unlimited bounce house passes are $12. A percentage of proceeds will go to the AdHoc Group Against Crime. Admission is free.

Sunday, Oct. 13

7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Put your pup on a leash and get down to Berkley Riverfront Park (1298 Riverfront Road) for Barktoberfest. The festival’s second-annual Dog and Jog 5k starts at 8:30 a.m. at Bar K Dog Bar and will finish at the park, where there’s a full day of events focused on four legged friends, like the doggy fashion show and dog yoga. The event is free. The 5K registration is $40.

7 – 11:30 p.m. Laugh yourself to death at Night of the Laughing Dead: A Comedy Show to close out the weekend. Immersive KC (1118 McGee St.) will open its doors to local comedians like Joe Nunnick, Brittany Tilander, Colby Cusick, Ameerah Sanders and more. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.