Sixteen Things To Do In KC This Weekend, October 8—11
Here are sixteen things to do in KC this weekend, October 8—11 including Barbara Takenaga: Awestruck, John Proctor Is the Villain and Crossroads Flea.
Kansas City Symphony presents The Planets
Since its debut in 1918, Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite The Planets has been an international sensation. From aggressive, brass-heavy movements like “Mars” to the more serene “Jupiter,” this sweeping celestial work has even inspired Hollywood scores like Star Wars. In addition to pieces by Giacinto Scelsi, Ludwig van Beethoven and Bohuslav Martinů, the Kansas City Symphony performs all seven movements alongside the Symphony Chorus.
October 9–11. Times vary. Helzberg Hall.
John Proctor Is the Villain
Anyone who remembers reading Arthur Miller’s The Crucible in high school probably remembers John Proctor as the story’s flawed but ultimately heroic leading man. Playwright Kimberly Belflower would like us to reconsider. Her provocative John Proctor Is the Villain comes to KCRep’s Copaken Stage, making the local company one of the first regional theaters in the country to produce the play following its buzzy 2025 Broadway run.
Set in a small Georgia town, the play centers on five teenage girls studying The Crucible in their high school English class. But as they examine the Salem witch trials—and Proctor’s relationship with teenage Abigail Williams—the conversations begin to hit uncomfortably close to home.
October 6—25. Times vary. Copaken Stage.
Panda Fest
This Asian food and cultural festival, one of the biggest in the nation, makes its KC debut. At Panda Fest, Legends Field transforms into an open-air market featuring live performances, artisans and more than 90 food vendors. Sample cuisines from Vietnam, China, Japan, Thailand and beyond throughout the weekend.
October 9–11. Times vary. Legends Field.
Local Thursdays: Jazlyn Epps
Each Thursday evening through October, non-profit organization Manor Records spotlights KC musicians with concert series Local Thursdays. This week features singer-songwriter and actress Jazlyn Epps. Admission is free.
October 8. 6 pm. J. Rieger & Co.
What if Puppets Presents “How to Snag a Sea Monster”
This colorful and award-winning puppet show follows the life of an adopted village baby who ultimately saves the day. The show teaches valuable lessons about accepting differences and overcoming one’s fears while also creating a unique visual experience.
October 7–10. Times vary. Polsky Theatre.
Barbara Takenaga: Awestruck
New York City-based artist Barbara Takenaga, known for her abstract and meticulous dot paintings and print work, will have her first career retrospective, Awestruck, at the Kemper. Her work is held at institutions across the nation including the The Museum of Modern Art in New York and The Broad in Los Angeles. The Awestruck exhibit will feature the past 25 years of Takenaga’s work.
October 9–April 11, 2027. Times vary. Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
Crossroads Flea
Mildred’s neighborhood market returns for the fall season. Inspired by New York’s bustling Brooklyn Flea, the morning market—held each second Sunday through November—features antiques, vintage wares, local produce, artisan made goods and more. Fuel up on the café’s beloved breakfast sandwiches (and coffee, of course) and shop away.
October 11. 9 am. Mildred’s (Crossroads location).
Frankenschtick or It’s Not Easy Being Green
Just in time for Halloween, this theatrical production presented by Englewoods Arts is the perfect family event to get in the spooky spirit. The musical takes a silly twist on the original Frankenstein story, featuring a live “Monster Mash.”
October 2–11. Times vary. Englewood Arts.
Apparition: Coffin Club
Sip themed cocktails among vampires and werewolves at this immersive murder mystery bar. Though the bar is an experience in itself, it’s the ideal spot to grab a drink before visiting one of the West Bottoms’ many haunted houses.
September 18—October 31. Times vary. Fountain City Winery.
Visions of the Flint Hills
At this annual art benefit and sale, celebrate the beautiful plains of Kansas, portrayed through art pieces inspired by the Flint Hills’ landscapes—the largest tallgrass prairie in North America. Artists from around the country find themselves inspired by the region and present their pieces at the Buttonwood Art Space this fall. Half of the proceeds go to the artists themselves, while the other half benefit the Friends of Konza Prairie, which promotes environmental education for the region.
September 28–December 9. Times vary. Buttonwood Art Space.
Snap Space: The Distance Between
In M. Willie Garcia’s mixed media print installation The Distance Between at the Kansas City Artists Coalition, the printmaker explores what it means to live alongside the unknown. Garcia draws from science, science fiction and personal identity to explore space and invites viewers to reflect on their place within a universe that has been expanding for 13.8 billion years. As a printmaker, Garcia has worked throughout the Kansas City area and has had work featured abroad in the “Sumi-Fusion” Mokuhanga exhibition in Nara, Japan.
September 18—November 6. Times vary. Kansas City Artists Coalition.
Mobile Music Box
The Kansas City Symphony’s free, metro-wide outdoor concert series, Mobile Music Box, returns for the fall season. This weekend, the portable stage makes a stop on the Plaza as orchestra musicians deliver a chamber music performance.
October 11. 6 pm. 4901 Central St., KCMO.
KC Wine Co. Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch
Roam KC Wine Co.’s 40 acres at this all-ages extravaganza. The price of admission includes over 60 activities like corn pits, skee ball, mega slides and plenty of seasonal photo ops. Plus, the Olathe winery’s signature wine slushes will be available for purchase all day, every day.
September 26–October 31. Times vary. KC Wine Co.
Tiny Explorers Stroller Adventures
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art offers a free monthly program for children under two and their guardians, allowing them to explore and discover art at an early age. The program includes guided gallery tours and hands-on activities that are meant to spark kids’ curiosity and creativity.
October 9, November 13, December 11. 10:30 am. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
KC Renaissance Festival
Take a step back in time at Kansas City’s Renaissance Festival. The annual fair transports visitors to the Renaissance with cosplay, costumes and live entertainment such as jousting matches and folk music. There will be food and drinks, handmade goods and immersive activities throughout the festival, enhancing the creative and playful atmosphere.
September 5–October 18 (Saturdays and Sundays only). 633 N. 130th Street. Bonner Springs.
Waldo Fall Fest
Experience a day of family fun at the 34th annual Waldo Fall Fest. Each year, the free festival welcomes food trucks, pop-up shops, a dog costume contest, kids’ activities and live performances.
October 10. 10 am. Wornall Road & Gregory Boulevard.
The post Sixteen Things To Do In KC This Weekend, October 8—11 appeared first on Kansas City Magazine.
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