Weekend Possibilities | KC Pride Fest, Luke Combs and Christmas Con

Break out the sunscreen, summertime activities are officially on across the Kansas City area. Mid-June means KC Pride Fest, country music at Arrowhead Stadium and a movie night under the stars.

Friday, June 9

2 – 8 p.m. Counting the days until cooler weather? Christmas Con at Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd., could help hold you over until the most wonderful time of the year. Attendees can look forward to a holiday market, celebrity panels and meet-and-greet opportunities, themed photo ops, holiday music and activities for the kids. Friday passes are $60. Kids ages 4-10 can get a ticket for $15.

5 – 10 p.m. KC Pride Fest starts on Friday and the party goes on through the weekend in Frank A. Theis Park, Oak and 47^th streets. The annual event celebrating Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ community will have live music and entertainment on the main stage, plus food trucks, drinks, vendor booths, family activities for all ages and more. The parade is planned for Saturday at 11 a.m. Check out the schedule online in advance. Tickets are $5 for adults. Kids get in free.

7 p.m. Only Originals is a local live music showcase happening Friday and Saturday nights throughout June at PH Coffee, 2200 Lexington Ave. Friday night’s “All Sorts” open mic invites anyone with an original tune to step up and perform in the cozy coffee shop. There will be food, beer, cocktails for adults and a kid zone for children. The all-ages shows are free to attend. Be sure to check out the full month’s lineup of local talent.

Saturday, June 10

9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. It’s Free Day Saturday at the Johnson County Museum, 8788 Metcalf Ave. Bring the whole family to enjoy the interactive KidScape space and check out the new special exhibit “TRAINS: Transportation and the Transformation of Johnson County.” In addition to waiving admission, the museum will celebrate Juneteenth Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with art, music, food and more.

11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Virgil’s Plant Shop, 2763 Cherry St., is throwing a Block Party to celebrate its fourth anniversary. Plans include booths from more than 25 local makers, food from Peaches Fry Bread, coffee from traveling The Wild Way camper, yard games, music and tattoos to-go from Steel Panther. All plants from Virgil’s are 15% off. The block party is free.

5:45 p.m. The wait is over for Kansas City country music fans. Grammy Award-winning Ashville, North Carolina, native Luke Combs will play GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, 1 Arrowhead Drive, Saturday night. The full night of country music will feature opening sets from Brent Cobb, Flatland Cavalry, Lainey Wilson and Riley Green. Resale tickets are still floating around, prices vary.

7 p.m. How about a movie under the stars? Every Saturday of the summer, Legends Outlets, 1865 Village West Pkwy., hosts Movie Night on the Lawn and up next is “The Devil Wears Prada.” Bring a blanket or lawn chair, bug spray and snacks – or order carry-out food from your favorite Legends eatery. There’s a full-service bar in Yard House for anyone 21 and up. Movie Night on the Lawn is free.

Sunday, June 11

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. KC Pumpkin Patch, 13875 South Gardner Road, has been transformed into KC Jurassic Farm for the summer and it’s pretty much a dinosaur-adoring kid’s paradise. In addition to KC Pumpkin Patch’s regular fun farm attractions, more than 20 life-sized prehistoric giants have made their way to the grounds to discover on dinosaur walks. Expect plenty of photo opportunities, plus games, activities and more for the entire family. Tickets are $22.95 online and $24.95 at the gate.

Noon – 5 p.m. There’s a free celebration of the arts in Kansas City this Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd. Future Stages Festival features an array of local performing arts groups and arts activity partners of the Kauffman Center in a one-day, family-friendly community event spotlighting youth performers on the big stage. There is no ticket required. An RSVP is appreciated.

2 p.m. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum co-founder Larry Lester will lead this weekend’s Missouri Valley Sundays discussion at the Kansas City Public Library, 14 W. 10^th St., Rise of the Kansas City Monarchs: We Always Played. Lester will draw on his book “Black Baseball in Kansas City,” for the event, covering the formation of the Monarchs, the team’s success and impact on Kansas City as well as the sport altogether. The event is free. An RSVP is required.

Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.