Fed Up Fest & Other Weekend Possibilities

Live acts. Surprise beers. The chance to help feed the hungry. Your heart and belly will be full at Fed Up Fest, a benefit for the Harvesters Community Food Network, at CrossroadsKC at Grinders (417 E 18th Street) from 2:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday. Catch acts on two stages (including Sylvan Esso and the Phantastics), munch on goodies from the Red Wattle and Magnolia’s on the Go, and test your hand at yard and arcade games. General admission tickets are $15, $25 gets you into the bleachers, and VIP (private lounge, free water, indoor restroom) is $50.

If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of Lenexa. The Lenexa Chili Challenge is tonight (6 to 10 p.m.) and tomorrow (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) in Old Town Lenexa (Santa Fe Trail and Pflumm Road). The heatheads’ dream is a combo chili, salsa, and hot wings contest. They even have a hot pepper eating contest on Saturday at 11 a.m. Admission is free.

Get out and play with your dog…and have a beer and some treats (human and dog-friendly) from a food truck at the Pup-Up Party to benefit Wayside Waifs (3901 Martha Truman Road) on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. in the animal shelter’s five-acre off-leash dog park. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door.

Remember, it’s still October and so your Oktoberfest celebrations must continue. Bier Station (120 E Gregory Boulevard) hosts MOtoberfest, a celebration of Missouri breweries and their takes on classic German styles, from 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Keep an eye out for Civil Life’s Altbier and Martin City Brewing Company’s Purple Train Berliner Weisse.

The second annual Oktoberfest Lawrence is Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Lawrence Library Plaza (707 Vermont Street). Admission is $10 ($20 if you want a commemorative stein and one drink ticket included). German food (think bratwurst from Leeway Franks), traditional German dancers and music, and plenty of Octoberfest brews (Hofbrau Octoberfest will transport you to Munich).

Need some jack-o-lantern inspiration? Powell Gardens hosts the Glow Jack-O-Lantern Festival tonight and tomorrow from 6 to 10 p.m. They’ll have more than 700 carved jack-o-lanterns lit up along a mile-long trail. They’ll have hayrides, a bonfire, and pumpkin carving demonstrations. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for kids ages five to 12 years old.

McLain’s Market, the sister spot to McLain’s Bakery, opened earlier this week. They offer baked goods, the chocolate cup cookie is naturally on the menu, along with savory breakfast and lunch options. They’re also serving beer and wine. McLain’s Market (10695 Roe Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas) is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Red Crow Brewing Company (20561 S Lone Elm Road, Spring Hill, Kansas) is celebrating its first anniversary this weekend. They’ll have ice cream sandwiches and cookies from Yummylicious Cookie Company Friday night along with an outdoor showing of Ghostbusters. They’ll have funnel cakes, a balloon artist, and face painting for the kids on Saturday afternoon, and then brewery tours and a special beer release at 5 p.m. for the adults.

— Jonathan Bender writes about food trends and is the author of “Cookies & Beer” and “Stock, Broth & Bowl.” Follow him on Twitter @jonathanbender.