Weekend Possibilities | Virtual Fringe Fest, Parking Lot Provisions at The Rieger and Outdoor Activities Playing Safe in a Pandemic
Published July 16th, 2020 at 6:00 AM
Above image credit: The Fourth Wall will perform 'Fallen from the Toy Box'. (Contributed | Fringe Festival)Online and in-person opportunities await as Kansas City adjusts its summer plans in the face of surging COVID-19 cases.
Whether you feel like staying home or stretching the legs some, there’s a little something for everyone, from a virtual Fringe Fest to farmers markets and family yoga.
Don’t forget your mask.
Friday, July 17
7 p.m. Songs from Maria the Mexican and Unfit Wives will fill the East Bottoms air Friday night at Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester Ave., as the venue returns to live music with social distancing guidelines in place. The pair of Kansas City-based bands combine for a night of Americana-Mexicana soul and bluegrass tunes that are sure to get the crowd moving. Tickets are $10.
7 p.m. Kansas City Fringe Festival 2020, the biggest celebration of arts and culture in the metro, has gone digital. All 35 performances will be available online through July 26 — all you have to do is purchase a ticket. Sit back, relax and enjoy shows featuring 23 local, nine national and three international performers from the couch. Friday night’s live portion includes a post-show chat with the Dollar Menu Comedy Club. Ticket prices range depending on show length. But an all access pass is available for $200. Be sure to check online for a full schedule of events.
9 – 11 p.m. Keep an eye out for comet Neowise once the sun goes down at Blue River Forest Experience’s Stargazing Campfire Night, 17315 Antioch Road. Bring your own blanket or yoga mat to spread out and stare into the night sky under the stars. Consider yourself lucky if you spot the passing comet. Neowise won’t come around for another 6,000 years. Donations are recommended.
Saturday, July 18
7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. If shopping in an open-air market makes you a bit more comfortable, put off the trip to the grocery store and swing by Overland Park’s Social Distancing Walk-Up Farmers’ Market, 8101 Marty St. Eat locally and in-season thanks to vendors offering fresh produce, local foods and other specialty items. Make sure to wear your mask.
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. J. Rieger & Co., 2700 Guinotte Ave., is inviting many of Kansas City’s best-known vendors and makers together for Parking Lot Provisions, a low-contact marketplace offering all sorts of goodies. Good luck picking between food and cocktail options from Local Pig, Ruby Jean’s Juicery, Stag Pizza and more. There’s a drive-through route available online for those who want to stay in the car. The Rieger asks any walkers to please wear a mask or face covering.
10:30 a.m. Grab your mats and get out to Family Yogatime in the Garden at Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 8909 W. 179th St. The program is designed to spark the imagination of little ones with stories of nature through yoga poses. Be sure to wear a hat, sunscreen and bring water. Family Yogatime is $10 for member families, $15 for nonmember families.
Sunday, July 19
Noon – 3 p.m. Whether you’re a brand-new plant parent or are already known for your green thumb, KC Plant Swap at Loose Park, 5200 Wornall Road, is the spot come Sunday afternoon. Organizers encourage participants to bring healthy plants and cuttings to swap and gift, along with information on how to care for the plants and potting supplies. Be sure to label each plant with its scientific and common name. The event is free.
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Hundreds of vehicles are headed for the National WWI Museum and Memorial lawn, 2 Memorial Drive, for The Great Car Show 2020. Food trucks, vendors, activities and discounted admission to the museum will be available for the whole family. Tickets for the event benefiting the WWI Museum and the Kansas City Automotive Museum are $5 for adults and $2 for children over the age of 5.
5 – 7 p.m. The Campground and Betty Rae’s are joining forces for a celebration of National Ice Cream Day with a parking lot party social, 1531 Genessee St.. Be sure to come with an empty stomach, Betty Rae’s is serving specialty flavors, while The Campground will provide the drinks and man the grill. The delectable duo asks patrons to mask up and follow social distancing guidelines. Some seating is provided, but feel free to bring lawn chairs.