EatKC
A guide to Kansas City
EatKC
The summer season is upon us in the Midwest. And with the warm weather rolling in, so are some exciting June events in Kansas City. There’s so much going on in this great city, and we want to share the experience with you!
Kansas City isn’t just full of fountains — like its nickname suggests — it is full of lively entertainment, diverse arts and culture, and mouth-watering food.
So, if you’re looking for some of the best events in Kansas City to attend this June, you’ve come to the right place!
Below is your complete guide to events in Kansas City happening this June — broken down by neighborhood — and some of the best restaurants you can find right next door.
Located just south of the Missouri River, the historic River Market greets you with the open-air farmer’s market and bustling boutiques.
Here are the June events happening at the River Market:
Friday, June 3, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Grab your Grub Crawl Passport and keepsake apron when purchasing your $45 ticket. This annual tasting tour around City Market features some of the greatest samples from many local businesses, including:
Rain or shine, come hungry!
Friday, June 3 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The first Fridays of the summer months are special times around the City Market. In June, you can enjoy some live music from local musicians performing at the Aspiring Artists Micro Music Festival. The festival will continue Saturday and Sunday.
Free admission and all ages are welcome!
Think you tried all of the restaurants after the Grub Crawl? Not quite! There are more than 30 restaurants packed in around the River Market, ranging from all sorts of different-styled cuisines. Below are just a few more you should check out:
The events and restaurants don’t stop there. You can take the free-to-ride KC Streetcar south to the next suggested hot spot for June events in Kansas City: The well-known entertainment neighborhood.
In the heart of downtown Kansas City, Power & Light thrives in the nightlife and event-hosting atmosphere. This district is the hub for watching sports, partying in bars and attending live summer concerts.
And, the month of June does not shy away from Power & Light’s events in Kansas City. In the middle of this eight-block entertainment space, you’ll find KC Live! — the district’s covered outdoor courtyard. This space alone hosts more than 150 free events each year.
Make sure to check out the Power & Light events website for any entry restrictions. Parking is available at The KC Live! Garage for as little as $3 for some events. You must have validation from any Power & Light District venue.
Here are the June events happening at Power & Light:
Every Thursday in June. Gates open at 5 p.m.
You read that right. Every Thursday in June! Come out to the KC Live! Block with your best cowboy boots, pair of blue jeans and your closest country music friends because these Hot Country Nights shows are FREE (with the exception of June 16). They’ll have you dancing and singing along all night.
The June headliners include:
Friday, June 3 at 9 p.m.
Come ready to party with this Swedish DJ Duo at Mosaic — Kansas City’s premier nightclub and lounge.
Want to make the night more fun? VIP party packages and bottle service will be available upon reservation.
The KC Live! Block isn’t just for country concerts. June is jam-packed with FREE live music spanning multiple genres. You can see on-stage performances by:
Wednesday, June 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Don’t have any plans for the fourth Wednesday of the summer months? Now you can! Relax at the PNC Plaza in Power & Light while listening to an assortment of live music and sipping down some cold beverages — the alcoholic kinds, of course.
You can find more information about the most popular annual Power & Light events in Kansas City here.
With so many great food and drink options around Power & Light, it is nearly impossible to narrow down the list. But once you visit one bar or restaurant, you’re only a few steps away from the next one. Below are just a few more places you should check out:
Next, time to hop back on the KC Streetcar to the next spot on the list for June events in Kansas City — it’s about to get artsy.
Here, you will find the perfect blend of various art forms scattered around the neighborhood — culinary and fine arts. These once abandoned warehouses are now filled with curated galleries and trendy restaurants.
Here are the June events happening in the Crossroads:
Friday, June 3 at 5 p.m.
You can spend your first Friday of the month strolling around the district with art on just about every street corner — both in and on buildings. There are many art venues in the neighborhood that participate in this event in Kansas City every month with doors wide open, including:
The art stretches beyond the district. You can take a picture in front of the hundreds of murals scattered around the city.
Sunday, June 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This free one-day festival invites everyone to the Kauffman Center to explore a diverse range of performances and interactive arts activities. Futures Stages Festival is a community event for all ages and showcases youth in the performing arts.
The Crossroads has many well-known restaurants and bars in the area, including:
But there are also some newcomers to the neighborhood that specialize anywhere from brunch to boozing, like:
Check out more restaurants that the Crossroads has to offer here!
There’s one last stop for you on the KC Streetcar before it makes its loop back north on Main Street: the Crown jewel – get it?
The neighborhood known for family fun includes so many shops and attractions meant for all ages in and around the area, including:
Here are the June events happening at Crown Center:
Saturday, June 4 at 7 a.m.
This Kansas City running event benefits Children’s Mercy Hospital, running for the past 49 years! There are 5k, 10k and half-marathon events.
The countdown to race time starts now. Registration and race maps are available on the Hospital Hill Run website.
Friday, June 17 (4 p.m. to 11 p.m.) and Saturday, June 18 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
Get ready for one of the largest events in Kansas City! Expect fun times with live music and hundreds of food, beer, clothing and art vendors from around the city and around the country.
Concerts cap off the evenings at multiple stages each night with special performances by:
You can view the full music lineup here. More information about event times, hotel, parking and FAQs is available here.
If you aren’t full enough from Boulevardia, pop into Crown Center or Union Station for some grub from places, like:
Though you’ve reached the end of the KC Streetcar rail, there are still many June events in Kansas City happening right outside the downtown area.
From the destination district to the premier retail center, these areas of Kansas City are perfect for early-morning brunches and late-night dates. You can’t think of events in Kansas City without thinking of the Plaza and Westport.
Here are the June events happening in Midtown — Westport & Plaza area:
Friday, June 10 to Sunday, June 12 (Times vary daily)
See why The Advocate ranked the KC PrideFest as one of the nation’s top 10 LGBTQ+ festivals and marches. Throughout the weekend event, celebrate inclusion, diversity and pride with exciting activities, like:
The festival will be at Frank A. Theis Park, across from the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and the Pride Parade will kick start Saturday morning at 11 a.m. from Westport Rd. and Pennsylvania Ave.
All ages are welcome!
Tuesday, June 14 to Sunday, July 3
If you aren’t there, some might wonder, “Where art thou?” Celebrating 30 years, this free event in Kansas City will perform Romeo and Juliet’s story at Southmoreland Park.
Whether you’re in the mood for a boozy brunch, classy date night or a spot for the whole family, Midtown is loaded with restaurants that’ll fill your hungry desire. Westport is filled with food and drink places, like:
And, the Plaza has restaurants, like:
The final stop on the list of events in Kansas City you should explore is probably the smoothest one of them all — smoothest jazz, that is.
Walking into Kansas City’s historic jazz district is almost never an accident. Whether it was the sweet music or savory smells of food that lured you in, it can be hard to leave after experiencing all that 18th & Vine offers.
Here are the June events happening at 18th & Vine:
Date and Time: TBD
The legacy of Jazz music has deep roots in Kansas City — especially in iconic clubs around the 18th and Vine district — and has reverberated throughout and beyond the city limits for decades. Each year, the Jazz Walk of Fame commemorates legends who have contributed to jazz culture and pays tribute to the legacy of jazz in Kansas City.
If you haven’t made it over to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum or the American Jazz Museum, you should do that first. But, once you dish up an appetite, head on over to some of the best restaurants around 18th & Vine, like:
Do you want to continue the fun-filled month just beyond downtown Kansas City? Here are a few more events in Kansas City you might want to put on your calendar:
More information about times, locations and parking is available on each website.