Weekend Possibilities | Cornucopia, Lizzo and Fountain City Comedy Festival Harvest Season of Fun

KC’s biggest fall festival, Walktober and a Pup Pregame by City Dogs KC provide the chance to enjoy the outdoors in October before it’s too late.

Friday, Oct. 14

7- 8:15 p.m. The KC Improv Company is mixing comedy with creepy for a night of hilarious terror at Kick Comedy Theater, 4010 Pennsylvania Ave. Weekends in October, Horror Story from KC Improv brings horror-movie themed performances to the stage based on audience suggestions. You must be 17 or older to attend without a parent. Tickets are $9.

7 p.m. Tickets are still available for Giselle by Kansas City Ballet. The story of love, betrayal and forgiveness on stage at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway, is a ghost-filled romantic classic and comes just in time for Halloween. Total runtime is 2 hours and 15 minutes. Reserve your spot for $34.

8 p.m. Fresh off playing Thomas Jefferson’s 200-year-old crystal flute and the viral social media reaction that followed, rapper and singer Lizzo brings The Special Tour to Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center, 1407 Grand Blvd. Supporting act Latto will open the show. Tickets are available starting at $65.

Saturday, Oct. 15

10 a.m. Bliptoberfest is back this weekend at the West Bottoms motorcycle garage-coffee spot Blip Roasters, 1301 Woodswether Road. Plans call for local food trucks and makers, a motorcycle show starting at noon, with trophies awarded at 3:30 p.m. A Mini Cooper meetup and “ride-in” movie in the parking lot are also in the works. Bliptoberfest is free to attend.

11 a.m. – 8 p.m. The mother of all fall festivals is coming to Kansas City’s Power & Light District, 13 Grand Blvd. Cornucopia is a three-day street festival that will fill the entire weekend with all sorts of fun for the entire family. Look forward to live music, carnival rides, local vendors, exclusive drinking experiences, community resource information, activities and games for children and adults alike, a silent disco, pony rides and so much more. Best of all? Cornucopia is free. 

7:30 p.m. Celebrate the renovation and reopening of the iconic Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St, Saturday evening with Shake, Rattle & Roll at the downtown venue. Kansas City-based bands Fred Wickham Caravan and Grand Marquis will honor the city’s jazz history with live performances and music lovers can expect a few guest appearances. The evening celebrating the 122-year-old theater will be hosted by Chuck Haddix. Tickets are $15. Proceeds benefit Midwest Music Foundation. 

This weekend’s three-day Fountain City Comedy Festival will bring more than 15 local and national touring acts to multiple stages around town. Pick from a full weekend pass or individual show tickets. Be sure to check online for a full list of performances, venues and ticketing details.

Sunday, Oct. 16

Noon The Pup Pregame at City Dogs KC, 2001 Walnut St., should be the perfect opportunity for four-legged friends and football fans to get some jitters out ahead of kickoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills Sunday afternoon. Organizers will have yard games to choose from, plus food truck options, brews from Touring Taps, pet vendors and more at the dog park. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members. Check online for required vaccination details ahead of time. The Chiefs game starts at 3:25 p.m.

Noon – 2 p.m. Take advantage of favorable forecasts (for now) and join community members celebrating Walktober 2022 this weekend with a stroll or ride along the Brush Creek Trail, starting at MLK Jr. Square Park, Woodland Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard. The free Walktober event will take participants along Brush Creek, near the Country Club Plaza, with the option to cut through the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden.

7 p.m. Stray Cat Film Center, 1662 Broadway, is inviting movie lovers in for an absolute classic to round out the weekend. This week’s rare film showing will bring Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein to the screen for an evening of vintage spooks and giggles in the intimate venue. Tickets are $7.

Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.