Weekend Possibilities | Dinosaur Drive-Thru, Flavors of Central, Richmond’s Mushroom Festival

Whether you’re in the mood for tasty fungus or a “Sunday Funday,” spring temperatures set the stage for outdoor activities all weekend long.

Friday, April 30

10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Schedule this weekend’s day trip to Richmond, Missouri, for the city’s annual Mushroom Festival, 301 W. Main St. The free two-day fungus fest will feature plenty of food, crafts and art vendors, plus a carnival, demolition derby, Mr. and Mrs. Mushroom Contest, live music and more. Festival organizers will ensure social distancing protocols are followed.

2 – 9 p.m. Kansas City can drive into Jurassic times for the final time this weekend at Worlds of Fun, 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave. Dinosaur Drive-Thru has extended its stay at the theme park. Get tickets to travel back in time to see more than 60 realistic animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar. Day or night hour-long drives include an educational audio guide and trivia game for the whole family. A vehicle pass is $49 per car containing up to eight people.

7 – 9 p.m. Anyone over the age of 18 is invited to Top Hat Winery’s Adult Themed Coloring event Friday night. The Independence winery, 120 S. Main St., is holding the event to raise money for Positive Life Athletic Youth (PLAY), a nonprofit dedicated to helping underprivileged youth athletes. A ticket includes a glass of wine or cider and a coloring sheet. You must be 21 or older to drink. Admission is $15.75.

Saturday, May 1

9:30 a.m. The Flavors of Central Tour returns this weekend to the heart of Kansas City, Kansas. Ticket holders should meet at Bethany Park, 1120 Central Ave., between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. for registration, where they’ll receive a map, security bracelet and voucher for each of the participating eateries. The culinary tour to discover the flavors, culture and diversity of Central Avenue is accessible by foot, bike or Ride KC bus lines. More than 20 local restaurants and bars will participate in this year’s tour. Be sure to check online for more details. Tickets are $45.

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Celebrate Spring at Town Center Plaza’s Backyard Bash. The free block party will take place between Town Center’s J. Crew and Bravo spaces, 504 W. 119th St., and feature plenty of treats, yard games and activities. Check online for a full schedule of outdoor pop-up dance and yoga classes, a selfie booth and a Salvy Splash cut-out photo station and more. There’ll be Paige’s Shaved Ice and ChickHoovenSwine BBQ on deck for the hungry.

3 – 6 p.m. There’s a Kentucky Derby Watch Party happening Saturday afternoon at Pierpont’s at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road. Benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City, the afternoon sponsored by Woodford Reserve will have Kentucky Derby-inspired snacks and drinks. Be sure to dress in your Kentucky Derby best.

6 p.m. The 15th annual MerleJam benefit show at Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester Ave., is Saturday night. Get tickets for sets from artists like Joanna Connor, Stranded in the City and the Kris Lager Band. Proceeds will go to pre- and post-operative heart transplant patients and their families. Tickets are $20.

Sunday, May 2

10 – 11 a.m. Movement, community and plants make up Sound Sundays by KC Tiny Greenhouse and Breathe KC, 3743 Virginia Ave. The event will guide guests through movement, meditation and breathing exercises. Following the 30-minute session, attendees will be available to shop around KC Tiny Greenhouse when doors are typically closed to the public. The suggested donation range to participate is $10.

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Can’t make Sunday’s Backyard Bash at Town Center Plaza? There’s still Sunday’s Spring Chick Event. Town Center will host the pop-up featuring more than 20 vendors, multiple food trucks, activities and more in the north parking lot of the Leawood shopping center at the northwest corner of 119th Street and Roe Avenue. Attending the pop-up is completely free.

4 p.m. Sunday Funday at The Black Box, 1060 Union Ave., should ward off the “Sunday scaries” for anyone apprehensive about the coming work week. The West Bottoms performance art theater is inviting “quaranteams” to RSVP for the chance to check out the theater’s back yard and new outdoor stage. Plan around dinner at the resident Tree Hugger Truck. Tickets must be reserved in advance and are available for groups of to six individuals.