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Weekend Possibilities | Missouri Wine & Jazz Fest, Douglas County Fair and Oddities & Curiosities Expo Hot Times

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Above image credit: Uncorked: Wine Festival Kansas City will take over Union Station on Saturday. (Flatland)
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As calendars flip to August, your weekend options include a county fair, a free outdoor movie, car races and distinctly different festivals.

Friday, July 30 

7:30 a.m. –  Midnight What starts with a pie-baking contest and ends with a demolition derby? That would be the Douglas County Fair in Lawrence, Kansas, 2120 Harper St. Friday’s schedule of events and activities also includes carnival rides, live music, a bale throwing competition, petting zoo, live auction and more. The Douglas County Fair is free to attend.

6 p.m. The final WeekEnder of the season at Crown Center, 2405 Grand Blvd., will wrap up with music from The Accidental Moguls and a screening of “The Princess Bride.” Burnt End BBQ and Kona Ice food trucks will be on hand for the hungry. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket and arrive before the movie starts around 9 p.m. WeekEnder outside of Crown Center is free to attend.

7:45 p.m. In need of an adrenaline rush? Friday night’s Malvern Bank Super Late Models + NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, 5615 Wolcott Drive, should do the trick. With pits opening at 5 p.m. and grandstands at 6 p.m., there should be plenty of time to arrive early and watch the drivers warm up before the flag drops. General admission tickets are $20 for adults (16 and up), $5 for juniors (12-15) and free for children under 12. Pit passes are $35 for adults and $7 for kids if you want a close-up look at the cars.

Saturday, July 31

10 a.m. – Noon Main Event, 8081 N.W. Roanridge Road, is inviting area kids to fight off the back-to-school blues with Saturday’s Back To School Bash. The Northland entertainment center, featuring a bowling alley, laser tag, virtual reality, arcade games, an aerial adventure course and more is offering an hour of free arcade play, half-price bowling, plus contests with prizes for teachers and families preparing to head back to the classroom. 

11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Grand Carnivale is underway at Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun, 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave. The celebration of cultures around the world includes a culinary journey featuring more than 20 authentic samples from six different countries. Pick up a Grand Carnivale tasting card for access to French, Italian, Chinese, German and Spanish menu items, plus non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. The card is $30 for non-season pass holders. Admission to the theme and water parks is $35.

2 – 11 p.m. The Missouri Wine & Jazz Festival kicks off Saturday afternoon on the grounds of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, 2 Memorial Drive. The festival will feature a massive wine list with nearly 100 wineries represented from all over the world. Wines are available for tasting, depending on your ticket. The VIP Premium Wine Tasting Pass ($150) includes select tastings, VIP seating, early entry and a swag bag. A Standard Pass ($65) and General Admission option ($30) are also available. Musical performers include Kansas City’s Samantha Fish, Alex Bugnon, Jackie Michaels and Steamboat Revival to name a few. Be sure to check online for a complete breakdown of tickets, events and a wine list.

2 p.m. – Midnight Things are getting weird this weekend at Bartle Hall, 301 W. 13th St. Stop by the Oddities & Curiosities Expo for a traveling display of all things weird. The event showcases vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses with all sorts of oddities to offer, including preserved specimens, taxidermied critters, jewelry, odd clothing, original artwork and more. All items at the show are legal and sustainably sourced. General admission tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Want to try your hand when it comes to the weirdness? Enroll in the expo’s jackalope taxidermy class for $210.

Sunday, Aug 1

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. If there’s a wedding to plan, Sunday’s Kansas City Engaged Wedding Show at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, is a must. The event will bring together more than 100 of the area’s wedding experts, feature a live fashion show, samples, door prizes, giveaways and more. Tickets are $10.

11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Heartwork Studio and Art Garden KC are joining forces for Creative Wellness in Pendleton Heights. Look for the Heartwork tent in the space across from PH Coffee in the Historic Northeast, 2200 Lexington Ave. Members of the group will be on hand to lead guests in creative arts like poetry, visual art, drama and dance to promote personal and creative wellness. The event is completely free, although organizers appreciate an RSVP.

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