Weekend Possibilities | Celebrating Charlie Parker, an Outdoor Movie and a Social Justice Bootcamp

Socially distanced concerts, virtual events and volunteer opportunities mark August’s first full weekend in and around Kansas City.

For anyone with plans to get out and about, be sure to wear a mask. 

Friday, Aug. 7

The National World War I Museum and Memorial, 2 Memorial Drive, has reopened for in-person visits, but with COVID-19 cases on the rise across the midwest, virtual exhibits might be a good choice. Hop online at any point for the museum’s “The Volunteers” virtual exhibit. Click through the interactive module to learn more about the regular individuals who made the difference during war time. The exhibit is free.

5 – 9 p.m. Celebrate Kansas City icon and legendary jazz artist Charlie Parker’s 100th birthday Friday night at the Mutual Musicians Foundation’s Soulful Sounds of Summer concert. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket to spread out on the MMF Building’s lawn, 1823 Highland Ave., for an evening of live music commemorating Parker. The show is free.

8 – 10:45 p.m. The Outdoor Movies series at Screenland Armour, 408 Armour Road in North Kansas City, continues this weekend with a screening of “The Grand Budapest Hotel”. Watch director Wes Anderson’s tale of hotel concierge Gustave H. and his loyal sidekick Zero set in the 1930s under the stars and socially distant from other moviegoers. Be sure to bring a mask for restroom and snack bar access. Tickets start at $20 for a pair.

Saturday, Aug. 8

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Reale Justice Network is hosting its first annual Social Justice Bootcamp. The online session’s focus will be “Building Collective Power” — covering the skills necessary to build power, sustain grassroots movements and organize for Black liberation. Tickets to the virtual event start at $10.

4 – 9:30 p.m. The Studio School of Dance will wrap up its Free Dance Week with a final five and a half hours of studio time on Saturday night. Anyone interested in joining the company or enrolling their little one in classes should feel free to attend to get an understanding of the studio’s entire fall schedule of classes during the limited free period.

6 – 7:30 p.m. Anyone who is seriously missing live music might enjoy a set from Big Time Grain Company at Nebraska Furniture Mart’s KC Drive In Concert series, 1601 Village West Pkwy. in Kansas City, Kansas. All you need to do is pull up, put it in park and sit back and enjoy the tunes. There’ll be Blind Box BBQ on hand for the hungry. The show is free.

Sunday, Aug. 9

7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lend a hand at The Kansas City Urban Farm Co-Op’s Volunteer Day, 5051 E. Gregory Blvd. The group plans to clean up the co-op’s orchard and provide more information on urban farming to first timers. Be sure to bring water, snacks and a few helping hands.

Noon – 5 p.m. Lost Evenings Brewing Company at 8625 Houser Ct. in Lenexa, is inviting all crafters for a beer to close the weekend. Crafting with Crafts encourages creatives to bring whatever they are working on, along with supplies to meet other crafters and enjoy a craft brew or two. If beer isn’t your thing, there will be KC Wine Co. from the bottle, craft Kombucha and Polly’s Pop. The event is for those 21 and older.