Weekend Possibilities | Tacos and Tequila, Disney Music, Prairie Village Art Show Summer in the City

Outdoor concerts, baseball and movies under the stars – it’s summertime in Kansas City. Jump into June with a full weekend of festivals, Pride Day at “The K” or a cup a fresh Cuban coffee.

Friday, May 31

5 – 11 p.m. Festa Italiana returns to Zona Rosa, 8640 N. Dixson Ave., this weekend. Each year, the festival brings local Italian food, all sorts of entertainment, an Italian motorsports show, activities for kids and more to the northland shopping center. Friday’s schedule includes a performance by Frank Cherrito and a can’t-miss meatball eating contest. The Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair will be set up at the festival on Saturday. There is no admission fee. A portion of food and drink proceeds benefit UNICO, an Italian American service organization that provides scholarships for area high schoolers.

9 – 10:30 p.m. Celebrate the start of summer with Movies in the Park under the stars in Electric Park, Loiret Boulevard and W. 95^th Street, in Lenexa. Pack snacks, lawn chairs, bug spray and blankets to settle in for “Minions” (2021) – the origin story of sorts for the little yellow stars of “Despicable Me.” Dogs are welcome, and restrooms are available on site. There is no admission fee.

Saturday, June 1

10 a.m. – 8 p.m. The Shops of Prairie Village, 6920 Mission Road, will welcome more than 15,000 visitors for the annual Prairie Village Art Show. The three-day event showcases work from 100 local and national artists. Local band Private Stock will perform live music on Saturday starting at 5 p.m. The Prairie Village Art show is free to attend.

Noon – 2 p.m. The JuneteenthKC 7^th Annual Cultural Parade will make its way through the Historic 18^th & Vine Jazz District, 1800 Vine St., Saturday afternoon. Drill and dance teams, floats, community groups and the Zulu Connection Stilt Dancers will make up this year’s parade and compete for prize money. The parade’s theme “The Resistance” celebrates African Americans in the arts and their impact within the civil rights movement. The parade is free to attend.

2 p.m. Music, margaritas and Mexican food make up the Tacos and Tequila Festival at Legends Field, 1800 Village West Pkwy. The one-day music festival will feature performances by T-Pain, Ashanti, Chamillionaire, David Banner, Yung Joc and more. In addition to the music, the festival will have craft margarita and tequila bars, plenty of taco vendors, plus Lucha Libre wrestling, an exotic car showcase, chihuahua beauty pageant, art instillations and more. General admission tickets are $99, plus taxes and fees. A $199 VIP ticket grants front-of-stage access, express entry, lounge access, three craft margaritas and a taco flight.

3:10 p.m. Saturday is Pride Day at Kauffman Stadium, 1 Royal Way. Anyone with a themed ticket to see the Royals take on the San Diego Padres will receive a rainbow Royals Pride jersey upon entry through Gate A. Jerseys will be available through the second inning. The first 15,000 fans in the stadium will get a Vinnie Pasquantino “Pasquatch” bobblehead. Tickets to the game are available starting at $22, plus tax and fees. Parking must be purchased in advance.

6 p.m. There’s a Table to Farm Dinner at Young Family Farm, 3819 Wayne Ave., Saturday evening. Community members are invited to the urban farm to dine and donate money to support the organization’s efforts. The menu includes a wild greens salad, nettle and spicebush miso soup or sourdough crispbread as appetizers and a vegan rainbow sushi roll or pasta primavera as entrees. For dessert, there’s strawberry rhubarb shortcake or pine bark chocolate cookie ice cream sandwiches. The suggested donation starts at $50, but no one will be turned away.

Sunday, June 2

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The bold, authentic flavors of Cuba are coming to Berkley Riverfront. El Café Cubano, 1298 River Front Drive, will celebrate its grand opening on Sunday with live music, local vendors and coffee. The truck offers tasty coffee drinks and treats, plus bags of Cuban coffee available for purchase. The grand opening celebration is free to attend.

Noon – 6 p.m. Casual Animal Brewing, 1725 McGee St., employees are downsizing with a Staff Yard Sale in the Crossroads brewery. Swing by to treasure hunt after a beer or two. There is no price of admission.

2 – 4 p.m. Music of Disney at Kansas City Music Hall, 301 W. 13^th St., will celebrate 100 years of Disney with a free silent film presentation with live accompaniment. Presented by Kansas City Theatre Pipe Organ, guest organist from Disney’s El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, John Ledwon, will play long to a screening of the classic Mickey Mouse cartoon, “Plane Crazy.” Donations will be accepted at the door.

Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.