From chicken-wire displays in the Chandler Courtyard (yes, the Cheesecake Factory courtyard) back in the 1940s to a nationally ranked event, the Plaza Art Fair has leveled up. These days, it draws 250,000+ attendees with 240 juried artists, 20+ restaurant booths, and three live music stages.
The festivities return next Friday, Sept. 19 through Sunday, Sept. 21, taking over nine blocks of the Country Club Plaza. Prepare for road closures and plan your itinerary with our full guide.
Pro tip: Make it an art-centric month with a stop by Crown Center’s Hallmarket this weekend to browse artwork made by Hallmark employees.
Asked
Asked
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is home to which famous work?
A. “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Hokusai B. “Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness” by Caravaggio C. “Sunflowers” by Vincent van Gogh D. “Portrait of Madame X” by John Singer Sargent
GloWild: Time Traveler | Friday, Sept. 12-Sunday, Dec. 28 | Times vary | Kansas City Zoo | $22+ | Journey through glowing lanterns that take you along a one-mile path from 19th-century Paris to a sci-fi future, with photo ops, food, and entertainment.
Kansas City Underground Film Festival | Friday, Sept. 12-Saturday, Sept. 20 | Times vary | Charlotte Street Foundation | Free | Discover all sorts of bold, original, and unforgettable cinema that you won’t find in theaters or on streaming platforms.
Fiesta Hispana | Friday, Sept. 12-Sunday, Sept. 14 | American Royal Facilities | Times vary | Free | Kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, join 40,000 local and out-of-town visitors to experience 75+ vendors, a children’s activity area, food booths, and entertainment from Mexico to Chile and beyond.
Saturday, Sept. 13
Mobile Music Box Concert | 6 p.m. | Roanoke Park | Free | Ditch your opera glasses and pull up a lawn chair for a KC Symphony performance pairing lush, late summer greenery with moving music.
Sunday, Sept. 14
Crossroads Flea | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | W. 19th St. + Wyandotte St., KCMO | Price of purchase | Think Brooklyn Flea, but KC-style — this new Second Sunday tradition brings a curated mix of local produce, vintage, makers, and exclusive bites from Mildred’s.
The “New Heights” Tailgate | 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | KC Live! Block | Free | Whether you’re repping red or green, pregame the Chiefs vs. Eagles’ quasi-LIX rematch with a tailgate food truck, photo ops, cornhole battles, and “New Heights” merch + giveaways.
Monday, Sept. 15
Cigars in the Biergarten | 6 p.m. | Kansas City Bier Company | $20+ | Enjoy premium smokes from Diebel’s Cigars and sip on bier and spirits while chatting with the founders of KC Bier Co. and J. Reiger & Co.
The deadline for FIFA World Cup 26 volunteer applications has been extended until early October. Sign up today for your chance to be one of the ~6,000 friendly faces needed to welcome the world’s biggest sporting event to Kansas City.
Seasonal
So much for sweater weather. False fall has fizzled, and 90° temps are hanging on through Monday. Summon cooler temps back at West Bottoms’ haunted houses — The Beast, Edge of Hell, and Macabre Cinema — all opening this weekend. (KMBC9 + Kansas City Star)
Sports
Fox Sports’ talk show “First Things First” is live in KC today. Co-host and hometown native Nick Wright returns for a free taping at Power & Light from 2-5 p.m. Bonus: Rumor has it a witty sign could score you your first round free (or at least $20 from Wright himself). (Kansas City Star)
Civic
“Shall Frank White, Jr. be recalled from the office of County Executive in Jackson County, Missouri?” That’s the sole question on the Tuesday, Sept. 30 special election ballot. Brush up with The Beacon’s FAQ before casting your vote.
Traffic
Road diets are on the brain here in KC, but statewide crews are beefing up I-70. The Improve I-70 project will widen the interstate to three lanes each way from KC to STL — starting with a stretch from Blue Springs to Odessa, slated to wrap by Nov. 2026. (KCTV5)
Real Estate
The InterContinental Hotel is officially on the market. The 371-room property overlooking Brush Creek has been an area icon since 1972 — known for its prime Plaza Lights views + upscale top-floor event space. Meanwhile, City Council voted to loosen Plaza height restrictions, clearing the way for new development at the former Nordstrom site. (Travel and Tour World + KCBJ)
Eat
Indian comfort food, meet fast casual. The Indian Belly is now open in Olathe, serving made-from-scratch staples in customizable wraps and bowls. On the side: samosas, chicken puff pastries, mango lassi, and mint lime coolers. (Johnson County Post)
Shop
The WWI Museum and Memorial is selling limited-edition poppies — part of its retired field installation on display from 2006 to 2017. Each is packaged in a collector’s box inspired by the “Horizons” light display from the Liberty Memorial Tower.
Finance
Gold is as hot as ever, with its price per ounce crossing $3,400 in August. A gold IRA can be a smart way to own gold and add stability to your retirement portfolio — but with added tax benefits, plus $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases. See one of Money’s top picks.†*
Jobs
Need to hire? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re staffing up for the season or filling a key full-time role, our Job Board is your one-stop hiring solution. Post your open positions for free and start connecting with qualified candidates.
Try This
Ready to kickstart your career in digital media sales remotely? We’re looking for a Sales Coordinator to fuel our fast-paced sales team, with a competitive salary, premium benefits, unlimited PTO, and real growth opportunities to boot. Apply to join our team.
The Buy
This Ring doorbell and outdoor camera bundle that’s $20 off today only. Our favorite features? Crisp video and smart alerts sent straight to our phone, so we know who’s at the door without leaving the couch.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I spent yesterday afternoon at my first in-person City Council meeting, where leaders touched on everything from Housing Trust Fund dollars and Missouri’s possible redistricting to shoutouts for its municipal sports leagues. My unexpected lightbulb moment? Hearing directly from my own council rep.
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