Weekend Possibilities | BBQ at Arrowhead, Jesus Christ and an SNL Star

Music, food festivals and an outdoor movie will make the first weekend of the season a doozy.

Friday, June 23

7:30 p.m. Prejudice & Pride comes to The Arts Asylum, 824 E. Meyer Blvd., stage Friday night. The new folk musical is a play on Jane Austen’s classic novel that tells the heartfelt and hilarious story of the Longhorn boys and their New York millionaire neighbors to the tune of 15 original folk songs. The nine-cast member production is headed for Broadway next year. Tickets start at $25.

8 p.m. There’s nothing like live music at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester Ave. Nashville singer-songwriter Maggie Rose and son of Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts, Duane Betts, will play the East Bottoms stage Friday night. Maggie Rose’s 2021 album “Have a Seat” was named one of the best records of the year by Rolling Stone and American Songwriter. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.

9 p.m. Grab dinner, snacks and the lawn chairs, the Movies in the Park series at Macken Park, 1002 Clark Ferguson Drive, continues Friday with a screening of Disney’s “Turning Red.” The coming-of-age story from Pixar starts at dusk, near the North Kansas City park’s main pavilion. It’s a free event. Don’t forget bug spray.

Saturday, June 24

11 a.m. Pitmasters from Kansas City and across the country are heading to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, 1 Arrowhead Drive, for Q BBQ Fest. This summer’s festival will take place on the field at Arrowhead, where ticket holders will have access to an all-you-can-eat barbecue for three hours. In addition to tastings, Q BBQ Fest will have demonstrations and tutorials, cold drinks available for purchase and live music. General admission tickets are $69, plus tax and fees. VIP tickets are $129 and allow for an extra hour of tasting, specialty drinks from a VIP bar and Chiefs locker room access.

11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The 2023 Strawberry Hill Pub Crawl is here. Rally the troops and make plans for a full day of fun rambling around “The Hill,” enjoying refreshments across nine neighborhood bar and restaurants including The Easy Inn, Breit’s and Mockingbird Lounge. Proceeds will go toward a new playground in the area and neighborhood beautification. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 on Saturday. All participants get a T-shirt.

2 – 8 p.m. The 2nd Annual Tamale Fest is set for Saturday at the Mattie Rhodes Center, 1701 Jarboe St. Swing by to take part in tamale contest tasting, enjoy live music from Mariachi Estrella and DJ Gomes, shop locally made food and goods vendors or take on the jalapeño-eating and grito contest. There will be a bouncy house and plenty of activities for the kids. The Tamale Fest is free to attend.

9:30 p.m. Former Saturday Night Live cast member Melissa Villaseñor stops at The Comedy Club Kansas City, 1130 W. 103 St., for two nights of stand-up comedy performances this weekend. The first Latina woman on SNL, Villaseñor is an accomplished comedian and actor who recently voiced characters in “Toy Story 4” and “Wreck It Ralph 2.” General admission tickets are $25, plus tax and fees. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 25

1 – 4 p.m. A trio of local delights are joining together Sunday for East, Drink, Listen, Local in the West Bottoms. Hosted by Amigoni Urban Winery, 1505 Genessee St., Local Pig and West Bottoms Whiskey Co. will join Amigoni for an afternoon of tastes and tunes. A ticket includes two Amigoni wines and two West Bottoms Whiskey cocktails paired with small plates from Local Pig. Singer-songwriter Nicki White will be behind the mic. Tickets are $75.

4 – 8 p.m. Fun, games and good deals are in the works for Rock the Block by RoKC Olathe, 654 N. Central St. The indoor climbing gym will be set up outdoors for the free community event, where lawn games will be set up for some friendly competition and Moosejaw will hold special sales on climbing gear and other equipment. You can look forward to raffle prizes and treats from Melt Box Ice Cream.

8 p.m. Celebrate 50 years of the all-time classic “Jesus Christ Superstar” Sunday night at Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road. Fans can expect a refreshed production of the iconic musical to mark the big anniversary. Tickets to the final show of the touring production are available starting at $15, plus tax and fees. Can’t make it on Sunday? Check a full schedule of this weekend’s shows online in advance.

Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.