Weekend Possibilities | KC Summer Brew Fest, Kaw Social and Alvin Brooks at the Zoo A Toast to Summer
Published June 10th, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Beers on the field at Arrowhead Stadium, a group float on the Kaw River and Music in the Park?
It’s (almost) summer in Kansas City.
Friday, June 11
4 – 9 p.m. Charlotte Street Foundation, 3333 Wyoming St., will unveil its new headquarters and arts campus this weekend. Located in a repurposed industrial building, Friday’s grand opening will not only provide guided tours of the facility for collaborative artist incubators, but also feature two exhibitions, “Who We Were, Who We Are, Who We Will Be” and “[Phainesthai] Prairie Translations.” RSVP to attend.
5 p.m. The first Kansas City State Fair wraps up this weekend in the parking lot at Cable Dahmer Arena, 19100 E. Valley View Pkwy. in Independence. Corn dogs, funnel cakes, carnival rides and old-fashioned variety show entertainment will be right here in the city. Be sure to check online for a full schedule of events. If you can’t make it Friday, the fair’s final day opens Saturday at 1 p.m. Gate admission is $10.
5 p.m. The Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Drive, has plans to host a conversation with local activist and civil rights leader Alvin Brooks. Brooks will reflect on his time in community and public service, plus the history of Swope Park and its relationship with the Black community in Kansas City. The Juneteenth commemoration event is free with zoo admission. Make sure to RSVP online.
Saturday, June 12
7 a.m. It’s time to add to the collection. Wake up early for a chance to grab one of Josey Records’, 1814 Oak St., Record Store Day drops. June Record Store Day releases include several albums available in-store only, such as AC/DC’s “Through The Mists Of Time / Witch’s Spell” and Al Green’s “Give Me More Love,” in addition to more than 100 vinyl records.
4 – 7 p.m. The community is coming together for the 3rd Annual Music in the Park day at Westwood Park, 48th and Wyoming streets. This year’s show will feature tunes from local group The Suburbans, plus plenty of food trucks, a balloon artist, lawn games and more. Make sure to invite the four-legged friend, dogs are welcome.
4 – 8 p.m. Kayaks, canoes and paddle boards will dot the Kansas River during this weekend’s Kaw Social Community Float. The group plans to meet at the Rock Island Bridge, just north of Kansas Avenue, where folks from Stockyards Brewing Co. and food vendors will be set up with refreshments and representatives from Central Avenue Betterment Association will be on hand to chat about the future of Kansas City’s rivers. Live entertainment will be provided by the American Jazz Museum and vocalist Rashida Phillips. The Kaw Social is free.
7 – 11 p.m. There will be 60 breweries, 150 beers, food trucks and the chance to drink beer on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. KC Summer Beer Fest is here. Admission to the beer festival 1 Arrowhead Drive includes tastings across all participating breweries, plus lunch from food vendors. Tickets start at $50, but $65 VIP tickets are available for anyone looking to get in an hour early or hang out for an hour after everyone else heads for the exits.
Sunday, June 13
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The final day of online events planned for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts’ Virtual Future Stages Festival kicks off Sunday morning with Three Trails Taiko’s Drum Workshop. The free Facebook Live sessions will also feature a workshop with Kansas City Ballet, Mexican folk art and other groups from around town for youngsters interested in the arts. RSVP to the event for updates.
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. There’s a unique opportunity for women who are in the thick of that next big project happening at Firebrand Collective, 1101 Mulberry St. Stop by the Brown Sugar Lab, a diverse co-working space for women who are entrepreneurs, creatives, influencers and dreamers, for the chance to meet, collaborate with and ask for feedback from other creators — no matter what the project. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Tickets are $12.50.
3 – 9 p.m. You can keep the party going with Soul Sunday at Lifted Spirits, 1724 Cherry St. The Crossroads’ distillery will spin R&B jams all afternoon while Sunday funday fans sip on cocktails made with handcrafted vodka, gin, whiskey and absinth. If you want to see how the spirits are made, book a distillery tour online.