Weekend Possibilities | Big 12 Hoops, KC Current and St. Patrick’s Day

A busy weekend in Kansas City tips off with Big 12 basketball downtown. Away from the hardwood, KC Current play at CPKC Stadium for the first time on Saturday and there’s no shortage of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Friday, March 15

3 p.m. College basketball fans looking for fun before tipoff should check out Miller Light Fan Fest Live! at KC Live! at Power & Light District, 1300 Grand Blvd. In addition to every game on the big screen, there are plans for drinks, food and games for the entire family, plus pre-game pep rallies with school bands and cheer teams. Friday night’s party will finish with a live set from Lost Wax. The fan fest is free to attend.

6 p.m. The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship semifinals will be played Friday evening at T-Mobile Center, 1407 Grand Blvd. When you head to the concessions, be sure to look for special school-themed menu items, like the Powercat PB&J or University of Central Florida’s UCF Citronaut Drink. Tickets to the two-game session are available starting at $80, plus tax and fees. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m. Roméo et Juliette, presented by the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, opens Friday night at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd. Composer Charles Gounod’s production of Shakespeare’s famous tale comes in the form of a French grand opera, features a complete score, dramatic sets and period costumes. The full show will be translated into English subtitles. Tickets are available starting at $38, plus tax and fees.

Saturday, March 16

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Green-thumbed gurus will gather for Saturday’s 2024 Kansas City Garden Symposium at Arrupe Hall at Rockhurst University, 1100 Rockhurst Road. Four speakers will give six presentations covering everything from the “Joy of Containers” to native plant gardening design. Lunch is provided. Symposium tickets are $99.

10 a.m. – 10 p.m. The Kansas City International Auto Show will be parked at Bartle Hall, 301 W. 13^th St., all weekend. Dozens of local dealerships will have vehicles on display, you can get up close to classic cars and check out this year’s electric vehicle ride along experience. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door for adults. Junior (8-12) tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. KC Current make history Saturday, playing their first home match in CPKC Stadium – the first stadium in the world built for a women’s professional sports team. Whether you have tickets to the game or just plan to party, the KC Current Tailgate and Watch Party at DoubleTap KC, 318 Oak St., will make for a solid starting point. DoubleTap and Strange Days Brewing will have food and drink specials for soccer fans. A shuttle will be available to take fans to the stadium. Go Current!

11 a.m. Snake Saturday celebrates 40 years as a pre-St. Patrick’s Day tradition in the Northland. The parade with humble roots (it started in a motel parking lot) now travels along Swift Street in North Kansas City, before turning east and proceeding along Armour Road, where judges will vote on the top float from the grandstands. For family fun, the Snake Saturday Festival at the corner of 18^th Avenue and Howell Street will have a petting zoo, carnival rides and games, a car show, plus festival grub. Festival wristbands are $25. The parade is free.

Sunday, March 17

8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Browne’s Irish Marketplace, 3300 Pennsylvania Ave.,wraps up its two-week St. Pat’s Season celebration with a full day of Irish festivities on St. Patrick’s Day. Not far from Sunday’s parade route, Browne’s will offer live music, Guinness and Irish whiskey, food trucks, Browne’s deli bites and sales on scarves and jewelry in the shop.

11 a.m. The Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take over Broadway between Linwood Boulevard and 43^rd Street on Sunday. The 50^th parade in its history will move north to south along Broadway and feature more than 100 local entries, including bands, dance teams, local businesses, community groups, car and motorcycle groups and more. Be sure to check out parking and full parade details online in advance.

7 p.m. The Elders play Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester Ave., Sunday evening and it’s shaping up to be a full-on hooley. The St. Patrick’s Day show is the second of the weekend for the local Americana-Celtic rockers in the East Bottoms and will feature an opening set from The Canterberries. Tickets are available starting at $29.50.

Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.