08.11.2023

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🌏 Explore the world in KC

Celebrate Kansas City’s many cultures at Ethnic Enrichment Fest

ethnic enrichment festival attendees pass turkey booth

It’s time to become a globetrotter. | Photo by the Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City

If America is a melting pot, Kansas City is a casserole. Did you know that 60+ countries’ cultures are baked into this delicious city? Once a year, we celebrate our city’s unique mix at the Ethnic Enrichment Festival.

The 44th annual fest is coming up next weekend, Friday, Aug. 18-Sunday, Aug. 20. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

🏁 How it started

This festival is the brainchild of the Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City, which was was started by Mayor Charles B. Wheeler in 1976 as a means to embrace KC’s rich cultural heritage.

The commission’s first event was a parade that highlighted local restaurants and showcased ethnic + racial groups’ contributions to KC’s growth. Two years later, this evolved into the first ever Ethnic Enrichment Festival, hosted at Liberty Memorial (now known as the National WWI Museum and Memorial).

cultural festival african woman ethnic fest — Get ready to wave those flags in the air like you just don’t care.
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Photo by Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City

🎪 How it’s going

Enter through the gates surrounded by various countries’ flags and you’ll see a world of pure imagination. Plus, there are lots of food stalls and a large stage built for cultural performances.

Over the course of three days, you can enjoy:

Performances from 30+ different cultures
A cultural fashion show
A parade of flags
Food + shopping booths representing 49 cultures

ethnic enrichment samoa booth — Each booth is decorated in a stylized way that shows off that culture.
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Photo by Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City

There is also a designated area for children with a playground and activities dubbed “Kid’s World.”

Hours vary each day of the festival, so plan accordingly:

Friday, Aug. 18, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 19, 12 p.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 20, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

🎟️ How to get in

The festival is held at Swope Park at the corner of East Meyer Boulevard and Swope Parkway. Park your car for free and purchase a ticket at the gate for $5. All kiddos 12 and under are free.

Events

Friday, Aug. 11

Q104’s Yallapalooza 2023 | Friday, Aug. 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Azura Amphitheater, 633 N. 130th St., Bonner Springs, KS | $25-$153 | Check out country artist Parker McCollum with special guests Chris Lane, Travis Denning, and Catie Offerman.

Saturday, Aug. 12

Kill Creek Park Triathlon | Saturday, Aug. 12 | 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Kill Creek Park, 11670 Homestead Ln., Olathe, KS | $85-$155 | Bring a team or compete on your own in this epic test of athleticism.
Stray Kids vs Ateez Dance Night | Saturday, Aug. 12 | 9 p.m. | 9th & State, 1717 W. 9th St., Kansas City, MO | $12 | Enjoy K-Pop themed cocktails + see which group gets the place jumping the hardest.

Sunday, Aug. 13

Celebrating with Sorors | Sunday, Aug. 13 | 5-8 p.m. | Delta Athenaeum, 900 E. Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, MO | Free | Calling all Delta sorors home for a time of fun, fellowship, and celebration.
Back to School Barber-Q | Sunday, Aug. 13 | 3-7 p.m. | Kenagy Park, 7834 Raytown Rd., Raytown, MO | Free | Indulge in free BBQ while your children get haircuts from The Barber Lounge + Shoats Barbershop. The first 50 kids get free backpacks stuffed with supplies.

Monday, Aug. 14

Small Batch Trivia | Monday, Aug. 14 | 7-9 p.m. | Chicken N Pickle, 1761 Burlington St., North Kansas City, MO | $0+ | Win prizes with quizzes that cover everything from Hungary to The Hunger Games.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Theater

Johnson County Commission designated $2 million to improve accessibility at Theatre in the Park. Funds will renovate restrooms, concessions, parking, and walkways. This is phase one of the major overhaul planned for the venue. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Sports

It’s official. KC Current’s Challenge Cup semifinal game will be played on home turf. The team will face North Carolina Courage on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at Children’s Mercy Park. Tickets range $17-259.

Events

Picklecon, a Pickleball convention, is coming Thursday, Aug. 8-Sunday, August 11, 2024 to the KC Convention Center. Offerings include 60+ vendors, 100+ courts, tournaments, and meet-and-greets with pro players. Registration is not yet open. (Startland News)

Opening

Catch ‘em all in Shawnee. This September, The Poké Post opens at 15937 W. 65th St., selling + grading Pokémon trading cards and card games like “Yu-Gi-Oh!”The shop plans to offer tournaments, serve cold brew, and establish an official Pokémon league. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Ranked

Wallethub ranked Overland Park as the No. 7 best city for people with disabilities based on the economy, quality of life, and access to health care. OP also has the highest employment rate for people with disabilities.

Biz

Café Cà Phê is hosting a mega raffle with six prize bundles to celebrate its one year having a brick-and-mortar in Columbus Park. Some of the prizes available: a photoshoot with a previous Vogue photographer, an outfit from MADE MOBB, and a massage. The raffle closes Monday, Aug. 14.

Pets

🐾 Vets for less

Pet Resource Center pampers wallets across Kansas City with low-cost vet care

Fido finds this place fetching. | Photo by Pet Resource Center of Kansas City

Formally known as Spay and Neuter KC, Pet Resource Center of Kansas City is on a mission to help all pets keep their tails wagging regardless of economic status.

The nonprofit has been a community staple for 21 years, providing low-cost vet care to the greater KC area. So far its vets have helped 500,000+ pets and currently average ~200 pet patients per day. Workers also visit with unhoused pet owners to provide free services for their pooches.

Low-cost vet services include:

Urgent and minor care
Spay/neuter surgery
A pet food pantry
Parasite treatment and prevention
Vaccinations

For vaccinations, Pet Resource Center offers pop-up mobile clinics across the metro. You can also opt to use its vaccine drive-through at the main location.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Charmaine

From the editor

This weekend, I think I’m going to do absolutely nothing. I think these next few days I’m just going to lay on the couch, eat popcorn, and binge Netflix.

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