Kansas Citians have spent many summer evenings at First Friday in the Crossroads, at Kauffman Center for a Royals game, or at the T-Mobile Center for a weekend concert. The pandemic did not allow for those events to continue during the summer of 2020, but the opportunities for events this summer look bright.

First Fridays

A Kansas City staple, First Fridays is an event showcasing food trucks, boutiques, and art galleries in the graffiti-filled Crossroads Arts District downtown. Visitors can find a wide array of food and drinks while walking through art galleries or shopping in locally-owned shops.

There has been no official announcement of the large-scale First Fridays festivities returning on a regular basis this summer. However, some First Friday events have been popping up on calendars at galleries and businesses in the Crossroads Arts District. Let’s hope it’s a sign of more good news to come.

Venues

In March 2020, popular Kansas City concert venues such as the T-Mobile Center, the Midland, and Cable Dahmer Arena had to postpone or cancel many shows. Thankfully, many of them have been rescheduled for the upcoming months.

The T-Mobile Center will be welcoming Justin Bieber on June 16 and Maroon 5 on Aug. 13, among many others. The Midland is featuring Brian Culbertson on May 5, Brit Floyd on June 9, and several comedy shows over the summer.

Also this summer, Grinders KC is featuring Sheryl Crow, Kenny Chesney is coming to Arrowhead Stadium, and Tech N9ne will be at KC Live!

Kauffman Stadium

 Baseball fans will again be able to cheer on the Kansas City Royals from the stands inside Kauffman Stadium season – instead of at home, like last year. At the opening game on April 1, up to 10,000 fans will be allowed into the stadium, compared to the usual capacity of 37,000, to allow for social distancing. We’ll take it!

Festivals

Last year, the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival announced its production of “The Tempest” would be postponed until this summer. While no dates have been announced yet, keep an eye out for this popular production in Southmoreland Park. As the fall begins, check out the Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs, Kansas, open weekends from Sept. 4-Oct. 17.

There are many different opportunities to enjoy Kansas City this summer, which will hopefully make up for the secluded nature of summer 2020. So get out and enjoy the metro, while also staying safe during this pandemic.