Weekend Possibilities | Big Slick Party & Show, Waterfest and a Pride Yard Party

Between Waterfest and the Downtown Overland Park Art Fair, Big Slick and an improv class — there’s plenty of fun, plus funny for everyone this weekend.

Friday, June 24

2 p.m. Waterfest returns to Downtown Excelsior Springs, Missouri, Broadway Avenue, this weekend. The two-day festival celebrating the city’s mineral water heritage is free to attend and will treat visitors to live music across multiple stages, more than 90 vendor booths, a hot rod show, parade and so much more up and down the main downtown drag. Historic trolley tours are available to learn more about Excelsior Springs’ natural mineral water springs. 

5 – 9 p.m. The Downtown Overland Park Art Fair should provide a similar summertime festival feel a little bit closer to Kansas City. The first Overland Park art fair of its kind, attendees can expect live music in the air and tasty food trucks for snacks or dinner around the Clock Tower Plaza, 7935 Santa Fe Drive. More than 60 local artists and makers will have their work on display and up for sale. The fun picks back up Saturday at 9 a.m. 

Saturday, June 25

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Strawberry Swing and Kansas City Museum are teaming up to celebrate the summer solstice Saturday on the museum’s east lawn, 3218 Gladstone Blvd. Shop, sip and snack under the sun, then sneak over to the recently renovated museum for a little air conditioning and dose of local history. There is no admission fee.

2:30 – 5 p.m. Building confidence, celebrating spontaneity and making new friends is the goal for Adulting 101: Improv Comedy Saturday afternoon at Yoga Patch, 7235 Central St. The Waldo studio is transforming its space into a performance stage, as instructor and experienced joke-teller Anna Koehler teaches tips of the trade to anyone who shows up — regardless of experience in comedy. Sign up for $50.

6 p.m. KC Shakes: The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival is underway at Southmoreland Park, 4600 Oak St. Nightly activities start at 6 p.m. and include guest speakers, Shakespeare improvisational performances from teens, the featured Romeo & Juliet show and more in the park just east of the Country Club Plaza. There will be refreshments on site, though outside food and drink is permitted. KC Shakes is free. Chairs are available to rent for $10.

8 p.m. Kansas City’s funniest fundraiser Big Slick is bouncing back in 2022 and wraps up the weekend with a Party & Show Saturday night at T-Mobile Center, 1407 Grand Blvd. The show will bring comedians, television personalities and musicians to the stage, all in the name of raising money for Children’s Mercy. Guests for 2022 include appearances from Adam Scott, Andrea Savage, Heidi Gardner, David Cook and many more. Standard tickets are $75. Be sure to check online for VIP experiences.

Sunday, June 26

7:30, 8 & 9 a.m. A trio of start times are available for Kansas City cyclists participating in Sunday’s Wild West Ride by Cycling KC. Sign up for your desired distance and bring your bike to Due West Ranch, 13400 Donahoo Road, in Kansas City, Kansas, to set off. Those in for the long haul (85 and 100 miles) start at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 45-mile and 65-mile rides at 8 a.m. and finally the five-mile and 25-mile participants at 9 a.m. Road and gravel routes will be available. Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. Any non-member ride is $55. Lunch is $10. A family 4.4-mile ride is $10.

1 & 6:30 p.m. Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Time of The Temptations wraps up its time at the Kansas City Music Hall, 301 W. 13th St., Sunday and the musical tells a story worth seeing. Settle in for the 2019 Tony Award-winning musical that follows the Motown legends from the streets to Detroit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, full of the tunes that just don’t grow old. Tickets are available starting at $36, plus tax and fees.

4 – 10 p.m. The Black Box KC, 1060 Union Ave., is sneaking in a late-June Pride Yard Party Sunday night. The West Bottoms theater is opening the invitation to come as you are and enjoy drink specials, photo ops, local vendors, balloon sculptures, a DJ dance party and more. There is no cost of admission.

Flatland contributor Clarence Dennis also is a social media manager for 90.9 The Bridge.