Weekend Possibilities | Irish Fest, KC Air Show and Labor Day You Deserve It
Published September 1st, 2022 at 11:00 AM
Above image credit: Irish Fest will take over Kansas City's Crown Center this Labor Day weekend. (Courtesy | KC Irish Fest)The long Labor Day weekend will have a little something for everyone, from Irish meat pies and carnival rides to runway fashion and air show action.
Friday, Sept. 2
5 p.m. Kansas City Irish Fest returns to Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., for its 20th year this weekend. The party starts Friday evening and continues through the weekend with a packed schedule of live music, shopping, food, cultural activities, art, whiskey and so much more. Tickets are $35 at the gate.
7 p.m. Kansas City Fashion Week wraps up with Friday evening’s Runway Show at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road. Participating designers and stores include Annette Sunshine Designs, Gracie Key, Honey Magnolia Studios and Lauren Bander to name a few. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 3
10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Westport’s Port Fonda, 4141 Pennsylvania Ave., is throwing a Hatch Green Chile Fest street party for the whole family. Stop by for drink specials, games, live music and all things hot roasted hatch green chiles. The Green Chile Fest is free.
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Paper Plains Zine Fest is celebrating the artform and independent publishers Saturday at Van Go in Lawrence, Kansas, 715 New Jersey St. The one-day festival will provide participants the chance to show off, sell and trade independently published zines and other “radical readables.” Be sure to bring a few bucks to buy a zine or two. There’s also wall-to-wall informational programming and workshops for authors of all ages. Paper Plains Zine Fest is free.
5 – 8 p.m. It’s harvest season for Lawrence’s Z&M Twisted Vines, 24305 Loring Road, and the vineyard is opening an invitation to pop off your shoes and stomp. Those 21 and older can join the Sicilian Crushing Party to help the cause for $30. If you don’t love the feeling of grapes between your toes, come for live music from Grammy-nominated opera singer Julia Scozzafava, pizza from the wood-fired oven and local wines and slushes.
8 p.m. Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters stops at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Saturday night. The rock legend and songwriter’s This Is Not a Drill Tour will treat Pink Floyd fans to all of the hits from a circular stage, ensuring there won’t be a bad seat in the house. Tickets to the show are available starting at $22, plus tax and fees.
Sunday, Sept. 4
10 a.m. World-class pilots will take to the skies for this weekend’s Garmin KC Air Show above New Century Fieldhouse, 551 New Century Pkwy. Bring earplugs and keep your eyes peeled for aerial performances from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army Golden Knights, Red Bull’s helicopter and more. Be sure to check online for a full schedule of events and parking/shuttle details. General admission tickets are $45 for adults, $16 for teens and $9 for kids.
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The free Kansas City Chalk and Walk Festival is happening Saturday and Sunday at the City Market, 20 E. 5th St. Stop by to check out mind-blowing 2D and 3D chalk art created over two days by several dozen teams. The professionals left plenty of space for the kids to create some works of their own.
Monday, Sept. 5
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. The East Lawn of Powell Gardens, 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, has been transformed into Fortopia. Perfect for a day off school, the interactive exhibition at the botanical garden features eight unique forts brought to life by a team of architects, engineers, artists and true experts on the matter — preschoolers. Access to Fortopia is included with daily admission. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for kids ages 5-12. Children ages 4 and under get in for free.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Spend Labor Day at the SantaCaliGon Days Festival in Independence, Missouri, 108 S. Liberty St. The final day of the festival celebrating Independence’s heritage will have live music paying tribute to Steve Miller, Bad Company, Bob Segar and more iconic names in rock and roll. Away from the stage, festival organizers have plans for games and activities for all ages, festival food, carnival rides and much more. SantaCaliGon Days is free.
What’s a holiday weekend without barbecue? The Kansas City BBQ Experience App by Visit KC allows the hungry to check in at various joints around town, track and rank your orders, share favorites with friends and family and follow themed barbecue “trails” around the city, one plate at a time.
Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.