In the 1930s, the WPA Federal Art Project employed artists to design beautiful travel posters to inspire Americans to discover and visit their National Parks. The Parks & Green Spaces Art Project recreates the spirit of the WPA era by commissioning local artists to illustrate majestic perspectives of the state’s outdoor and unique spaces. The “See Kansas” and “See Lawrence, Topeka and Eudora” series all invite viewers to explore and discover the beauty of Kansas.

Posters, postcards and information: WWW.PARKSANDGREENSPACES.COM

Come view the new installation at Prairie Village City Hall's R.G. Endres Gallery.

This SEE Kansas exhibition features many local artists you'll recognize and many that will be new for you to discover.

In the 1930s, the WPA Federal Art Project employed artists to design beautiful travel posters to inspire Americans to discover and visit their National Parks. The Parks & Green Spaces Art Project recreates the spirit of the WPA era by commissioning local artists to illustrate majestic perspectives of the state’s outdoor and unique spaces. The “See Kansas” and “See Lawrence, Topeka and Eudora” series all invite viewers to explore and discover the beauty of Kansas.

Posters, postcards and information: WWW.PARKSANDGREENSPACES.COM

Come view the new installation at Prairie Village City Hall's R.G. Endres Gallery.

This SEE Kansas exhibition features many local artists you'll recognize and many that will be new for you to discover.

The Giggle Time Children’s Program is a beloved community tradition in Overland Park designed to get toddlers and young children moving, laughing, and learning. The program hosts a diverse rotation of high-energy performers including popular regional musicians like Mr. Stinky Feet, the StoneLion Puppet Theatre, and various storytellers and magicians. Each session is built around the "giggle and wiggle" philosophy, encouraging active participation from the kids rather than just passive listening. Because the program is free and requires no pre-registration, it serves as a flexible, low-pressure outing for parents and caregivers. The venue shifts with the seasons to take advantage of the weather: events are typically held indoors at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center during the cooler months and move outdoors to Roe Park in June and August. It’s a great way for local families to connect while introducing children to the performing arts in a fun, accessible environment.

Dates and Performers:

June 3 - Mr. Stinky Feet (Roe Park)

Aug. 5 - Jane Christison (Roe Park)

Join us for the FREE opening night reception on Thursday, August 6 from 7 – 8:30 pm. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks and view fine art in a beautiful setting.

Join us Saturday evenings for Pottery & Pinot, a beginner-friendly pottery experience designed for adults (21+). Bring your favorite wine or beverage and enjoy a relaxed, creative evening while our instructors guide you through a different hand-building project each week. Projects include mugs, planters, vases, wall pockets, and seasonal designs.

No experience is necessary, and we provide all the clay, tools, glazes, and instruction you’ll need. At the end of the evening you’ll glaze your finished piece, and we’ll kiln fire it for pickup approximately two weeks later. Whether you’re planning a date night, celebrating with friends, or simply looking for a creative way to spend your Saturday evening, Pottery & Pinot is a fun and memorable experience.

Overland Park’s Music in the Park summer concert series is a cornerstone of the community’s seasonal festivities, held at the modern Thompson Park stage in the heart of the historic downtown Overland Park area. Running on select Thursday evenings throughout June, July, and August, the series showcases a high-energy rotation of Kansas City’s favorite local bands, spanning genres from soulful jazz and big band to high-energy pop and classic rock. The event is intentionally designed to be accessible and communal; there is no admission fee, and the park’s open lawn provides the perfect setting for attendees to spread out with blankets, lawn chairs, and picnics while enjoying a professional-grade sound experience under the sunset. What truly sets this series apart is the energetic atmosphere that begins well before the first note. In the hours leading up to the 7:00 PM showtime, the area often buzzes with additional festivities such as local car shows and yard games. The park’s amenities—including a splash pad for children, a playground, and nearby local breweries and eateries—make it easy for families and friends to turn a simple concert into a full evening of exploration. It’s an authentic slice of Overland Park life where the historic charm of the Strang Carriage House meets a vibrant, modern social scene.

Dates and Performances:

Thursday June 11, 2026 - Elisia Israel

Thursday, July 9, 2026 - Soca Jukebox

August 13, 2026 - Twice on Sunday

At the core of The Swallowtails, you will find two musicians magnetized by a curiosity to connect and be understood. The genre-bending exploration between Miki P (guitar and vocals) and Rachel Lovelace (bassoon and vocals) has established the band as a premier act in Kansas City and naturally grown a large and loyal following as people connect with both the music and the musicians. The band’s sound is heavily influenced by rock, folk, pop, and classical music.

The concert opens with one of the Baroque's most dazzling showpieces: Corelli/Geminiani's La Folia, a set of variations that has captivated audiences for centuries, its theme endlessly inventive and full of fire. Telemann's brooding, atmospheric Concerto for Bass Viola da Gamba follows, with guest soloist Tess Roberts who returns bringing a rare and luminous voice to this seldom-heard gem.

KC's own Trevor Stewart is featured in Vivaldi's Recorder Concerto in C Major — a KC native and ensemble favorite equally at home on recorder, chalumeau, as clarinet, And the evening reaches its radiant finale with Vivaldi's Concerto for Four Violins — four soloists blazing together with the full KC Baroque ensemble in a perfect last flourish of the summer sky.

Katy Guillen & The Drive’s sophomore album Make That Sound has been making big waves in the indie music scene since its release last fall. Glide Magazine describes it as “a relentless rock vibe, combining Wet Leg’s modern edge and Courtney Barnett’s knack for guitar-based hooks,” and Rainbow Rodeo declared, “It’s raw, it's tight, and it's utterly compelling.” The last half of 2025 saw the band touring relentlessly on the new record with dates across the Midwest and Northeast, as well as a tour down the West Coast supporting British guitar legend Robin Trower. This year the band will take the new album to more cities across the country, including a tour through Alaska.

Formed in 2012, Found a Job - A Tribute to Talking Heads is an 8-piece band that primarily performs music from albums released during Talking Heads' Expanded Heads era ("Remain in Light," "Speaking in Tongues," and "Stop Making Sense").

The ensemble also covers songs outside of that era including radio hits such as "Road to Nowhere, " "And She Was," "Take me to The River," "Once in a Lifetime," and "Burning Down the House."

Currently the band plays 2+ hours of music, complete with choreography a la the classic concert movie "Stop Making Sense."

The Giggle Time Children’s Program is a beloved community tradition in Overland Park designed to get toddlers and young children moving, laughing, and learning. The program hosts a diverse rotation of high-energy performers including popular regional musicians like Mr. Stinky Feet, the StoneLion Puppet Theatre, and various storytellers and magicians. Each session is built around the "giggle and wiggle" philosophy, encouraging active participation from the kids rather than just passive listening. Because the program is free and requires no pre-registration, it serves as a flexible, low-pressure outing for parents and caregivers. The venue shifts with the seasons to take advantage of the weather: events are typically held indoors at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center during the cooler months and move outdoors to Roe Park in June and August. It’s a great way for local families to connect while introducing children to the performing arts in a fun, accessible environment.

Dates and Performers:

Sept. 2 - Richard Renner

Oct. 7 - Mr. Stinky Feet

Nov. 4 - Priscilla Howe

Dec. 2 - StoneLion Puppet Theater

Join us for the FREE opening night reception on Thursday, September 3 from 7 – 8:30 pm. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks and view fine art in a beautiful setting.

Get set for the 2026 KC Music & Arts Festival at Lenexa-Shawnee, September 5 at beautiful Theatre in the Park. Enjoy 9 straight hours of CMA, Grand Ole Opry, and Billboard Top 10 artists performing live, plus an Arts & Crafts Marketplace and the Heartland Food & Beverage Garden.

September 5, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
FREE Admission and FREE Parking. See the exciting festival activities here: https://kcmusicfestival.com/

This annual concert series takes place in September at Leawood City Park, by the Aquatic Center. Events will start at 6:30 p.m.

The 2026 Performers

September 11: The Sons of Brasil

September 25: Betsy O & The Hollaback Boys

Performance Details

The Sons of Brasil: This quintet specializes in Brazilian jazz and has been performing in the Kansas City metropolitan area since 1991. This jazz group invites you to sample their unique sounds, which stem from their love and admiration of "musica bem brasileira." Featuring Stan Kessler, founder and prominent jazz musician in the KC music scene.

Betsy O & The Hollaback Boys: This acoustic band blends pop, rock, country and bluegrass alongside original roots music. This unique group thrives on energy from their crowds, surprising rhythms and original arrangements to truly shine. Betsy O & The Hollaback Boys have been playing in Lawrence, Kansas.

The family-oriented Lenexa Spinach Festival is packed with food, music, entertainment, hands-on activities and craft vendors. Experience the World’s Largest Spinach Salad, learn about our history, or submit your favorite dish to our recipe contest. There’s plenty to do for everyone in the family!

This culinary listing was populated by ArtsKC staff.  If you have questions about this listing, please contact the business directly. Interested in being highlighted in future culinary guides? Contact us at go-biz@artskc.org.

The Overland Park Fall Festival is a long-standing tradition that transforms the historic Downtown district into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly celebration of local culture. Spanning over Friday and Saturday during the last weekend in September, the event anchors its festivities around Thompson Park and along Santa Fe Drive, featuring an artisan fair with roughly 100 regional makers selling everything from handmade ceramics and jewelry to custom apparel. A major highlight is the integration of the nationally-ranked Overland Park Farmers’ Market on Saturday morning, where attendees can shop for seasonal produce alongside a diverse lineup of food trucks offering festival staples like kettle corn, street tacos, and funnel cakes.

Beyond the shopping and food, the festival is a hub for live performance, utilizing multiple stages to host a mix of local bands, folk artists, and high-energy headliners. Families are a primary focus, with a dedicated schedule of children’s entertainment that often includes the StoneLion Puppet Theatre, interactive science demonstrations, and "meet-and-greets" with popular characters.

To ease the congestion of the tens of thousands of visitors, the city typically provides a free shuttle service from nearby locations like Shawnee Mission West High School, ensuring the event remains an accessible, community-driven way to welcome the autumn season.

Dates and Times:

Friday September 25, 2026 - 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Saturday September 26, 2026 - 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The MTC Kids Jam concert series is specially designed with families in mind! Join us in the MTC lobby at 10 a.m. for art activities, followed by an hour-long concert..

Over the past decade, Joanie Leeds has won first place in the USA Songwriting Competition, an Independent Music Award, a GOLD Parents’ Choice Award, NAPPA GOLD Award, Family Choice Award, and is a John Lennon Songwriting Competition Finalist and International Songwriting Competition Finalist.

She has performed at venues nationwide, including Lollapalooza, Clearwater Festival, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Wolftrap, and Levitt Pavilion. Her music has been featured in the New York Times, People Magazine, Parents Magazine, Billboard, and The Washington Post, and played on radio stations and risen to #1 on Sirius XM’s Kids Place Live.

Gomez received critical acclaim upon the release of his debut album Rule The World (2013, New West Records); and his subsequent EP, Me and Joe (2017, Brigadoon Records), contained a freshly minted classic, “Make It Me,” which has gained over 4 million listeners on Spotify alone. As a budding performer, Gomez apprenticed in the rarefied musical micro-climate of northern New Mexico, where troubadours like Michael Martin Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard helped foster a Western folk sound both cosmic and country.

Join us for the FREE opening night reception on Thursday, October 1 from 7 – 8:30 pm. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks and view fine art in a beautiful setting.

The 4th Annual Olathe Arts Festival returns to downtown Olathe on October 9-10, 2026, offering a free, two-day celebration of creativity, culture, and community. Attendees can explore and purchase a wide range of exceptional fine art from talented artists across the region, enjoy live performances, and savor delicious local food and drinks. Curated shopping opportunities and engaging family-friendly activities make this festival a vibrant experience for all ages.

Families will love Kidtopia, a special area where children can get hands-on with art projects and interactive activities. With the lively fall atmosphere of downtown Olathe as the backdrop, the festival invites visitors to connect with artists, discover unique creations, and celebrate the arts in a fun and welcoming environment. Whether you’re a longtime art enthusiast or just looking for a weekend outing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

From the producers of “The Simon and Garfunkel Story” and “The Life and Music of George Michael” comes a dynamic celebration of the legendary singer-songwriter's greatest hits, and the story of the man behind the melodies.

This concert experience takes you on a journey through Billy Joel’s legendary career, from his humble beginnings to becoming one of the greatest songwriters and performers of all time.  Through faithful recreation of the original music, stunning visuals, and compelling storytelling, you’ll discover how his music has shaped generations and why his legacy endures.