Tag Archives: Arts & Culture

Cultural Passport

Your guide to KC’s most vibrant celebrations.

By Michelle Bacon | Photo by Ali Nassir

KC’s presence on the global stage may be a recent development, but its ethos as a cultural hub has long been ingrained in its food, art and celebrations. From eagerly anticipated festivities to newly established customs, these events highlight the vibrant communities that live and thrive in the metro area.

AANHPI HERITAGE FESTIVAL | May
In 2021, the same year Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month was officially recognized by the city, local activists organized the modest inaugural event. Now, Vietnamese coffee shop Café Cà Phê and its nonprofit arm Hella Good Deeds draw large crowds to a wide berth of Eastern cultures — encompassing 50+ local businesses, food trucks, visual and performing artists, fashion shows, live tattoo demonstrations and the endlessly captivating Chinese lion dance.

FIESTA FILIPINA | June
Observing its 50th anniversary in 2025, Fiesta Filipina marks the Philippines’ independence from Spain. Held by the Filipino Association of Greater KC, the event preserves cultural traditions with food staples including pancit and lumpia, folk dance troupes, martial arts demonstrations and storytelling.

JUNETEENTHKC HERITAGE FESTIVAL | June
While Juneteenth wasn’t recognized as a federal holiday until 2021, KC was one of the first Midwestern cities to commemorate the occasion. Introduced in 1980, JuneteenthKC now takes place at 18th & Vine — against the backdrop of a celebrated jazz history and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Honoring the city’s African American foundations, the fest boasts 150+ vendors, gospel entertainers, a literacy zone and a health/cooling center with onsite medical and dental services.

ETHNIC ENRICHMENT FESTIVAL | August
Most of us are introduced to unfamiliar cultures through food — a big reason why the Ethnic Enrichment Festival has been a premier summer meetup for nearly 50 years. Grab a passport and stamp your way across 70+ represented countries, filling up on Jamaican beef patties, Greek moussaka and Egyptian sambusas.

KC FIESTA HISPANA | September
With roots dating back to 1981, Fiesta Hispana remains one of the Midwest’s largest Hispanic/Latino gatherings. In addition to 60+ vendors, a bevy of local entertainers/makers and children’s activities, the fiesta fosters community development through youth outreach efforts, employment opportunities and health services.

Fashion Forward

KC is always in style.

By Kelly Bunch

Fashion has long been woven into the vibrant landscape of Kansas City. Dating back to the mid-20th century, KC’s Garment District grew to be one of the largest in the nation. Now, the metro continues to celebrate innovation in fashion through local designers and high-profile events. 

KC RUNWAY 
Mark your calendar for the second Saturday in June when the 18th Street Fashion Show takes over the vibrant blocks between Wyandotte Street and Baltimore Avenue. Models strut the catwalk under the stars for a close look at some of the metro’s freshest designs. 

In the fall, get ready for Kansas City Fashion Week which makes its mark each year with two full weeks of designer runway shows. The event draws fashion lovers and industry insiders for high-energy runway shows, designer showcases and plenty of wow moments. Grab a ticket to be dazzled by both established and emerging designers. 

ETHICAL FASHION 
In a world of fast fashion, Amy Appleton, creative director and founder of Blackbird Collection, started her clothing and interiors business with a vision to support marginalized communities and ethical manufacturing. Her goal is to educate people on using personal fashion to connect with others. “But it’s really more than just fashion,” Amy said. “It’s a whole movement towards less consumption, sustainable living and intentionally dressing, which also includes intentionally buying.” 

ART X FASHION 
KC’s world-renowned arts scene brings big names to the metro. The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College presented A Match Made in Heaven, a mashup of two Missouri natives — fashion designer Jeremy Scott and contemporary artist Katherine Bernhardt — for a colorful and cheeky exhibition of pop culture. Smiles are inevitable as you walk through dresses made from windshield wipers and iconic branding. 

LOCAL DESIGNERS 
The KC region is booming with world-reaching design talent. Check out a few of the metro’s finest: 

CHEATIN SNAKES 
Think of gritty streetwear with a vintage flair. Even Post Malone couldn’t resist the distinctive designs of Grant Kratzer, founder of Cheatin Snakes. Grant’s creative streetwear not only graced Post Malone’s stage but also earned him a partnership creating merch for the musician’s tours. 

MADE MOBB 
Founded in 2013 by Vu Radley, Jesse Phouangphet and Mark Launiu, MADE MOBB features streetwear with hip-hop and Midwest roots. The founders’ passion for Midwest values takes their business beyond a clothing brand to community mentorship, sometimes visiting local schools to help students learn about entrepreneurial options. 

Three models sporting shirts from Made Mobb.
Fashion designer Whitney Manney.

WHITNEY MANNEY 
Making a statement is an everyday occasion for Whitney Manney, who positions fashion as art. Bold colors and custom prints that reflect street art and cultural movements are signatures for Manney’s successful clothing line. 

PAOLINI 
Known for polished menswear, Paolini delivers luxury textiles and custom-tailored garments for its loyal clientele. With every detail personalized, customers walk away with one-of-a-kind pieces that last a lifetime. n 

Hand Crafted in the Heartland

The local makers you need to know. 

By Weston Owen

The people of KC are passionate about shopping local — bolstering and uplifting businesses and organizations born from our very own community. While these makers abound, here are a few making big impacts in the region.

Bottles of whiskey from West Bottoms Whiskey Co.

WEST BOTTOMS WHISKEY CO.
Known for exceptional whiskey and award-winning cocktails that pay homage to the region and its storied history in the pre-Prohibition era, West Bottoms Whiskey Co. seamlessly blends craftsmanship and community into an incredible creation.

A Sandlot Goods "KC" hat.

SANDLOT GOODS
Completely designed and handcrafted in Kansas City, Sandlot Goods specializes in hats inspired by your favorite vintage gear, worn throughout the United States and by some of the most recognizable celebrities.

A woman wearing a necklace from Sierra Winter Jewelry.

SIERRA WINTER JEWELRY
The pieces from Sierra Winter Jewelry are designed in Kansas City and influenced by the Midwestern prairie, landscape and culture. The stories they inspire are as unique as the wearer, making each piece individual and timeless.

A KC Current denim jacket from Cherry.

CHERRY
Curating some of the most popular KC-inspired and fashion-forward sports gear since 2012, CHERRY is women owned and promotes individuality, innovation and comfort. From premium tees, sweatshirts, blazers and everything in between, CHERRY helps keep Kansas City fresh.

A plant from West Bottoms Plant Co.

WEST BOTTOMS PLANT COMPANY
Housed within the maker’s paradise of 12th Street Post, West Bottoms Plant Company offers specially sourced, high-quality plants in the ultimate downtown oasis. This artisan hub blends lush greenery with local creativity in a welcoming, inclusive space for the community.

A box of chocolates from Christopher Elbow Chocolates.

CHRISTOPHER ELBOW CHOCOLATES
Colorful confections that are decadently delicious, Christopher Elbow Chocolates blends stunning craftsmanship with mouth-watering flavor into each chocolatey bite. These masterful, artful morsels are a great gift for any occasion, even though they may not last long. 

A "KC" card from Hammerpress.

HAMMERPRESS
Locally designed and created, Hammerpress is a letterpress print shop specializing in cards, stationery, art, posters and more. Make those handwritten notes or invitations that much more special with a personalized touch or a little flair.

Arts Within Reach

KC’s performing arts scene is energetic, accessible and teeming with talent.

By Addie Linn | Photo by Cody Boston

KC’s nonprofit arts and culture sector has a $600 million impact on the local economy, supports nearly 9,000 jobs and inspires 4.5 million audience members annually. It may be unexpected for a mid-sized, “secondary city” — but KC is accustomed to overdelivering.

The numbers say a lot, but what really speaks is the caliber of talent gracing stages across the region. The city’s symphony, opera and ballet troupes attract top performers, conductors and choreographers from around the nation, forming a powerhouse of artistic prestige.

Homegrown virtuosos emerge from area schools including William Jewell College, Park University and the highly-regarded University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music and Dance.

Rooted in KC but performing worldwide, Quixotic Fusion stuns with a dynamic mixture of live music, dance, aerial stunts and technical mastery that blend into an immersive cirque experience you can’t miss.

The city is also filled with venues that are sure to take your breath away. Most notably, the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts — which has cemented itself as a destination for world-class performers and as an iconic piece of the KC skyline.

Starlight Theatre brings Broadway outside with its open-air amphitheater, while Overland Park’s New Theatre and Restaurant dazzles indoors with LED panels that give life to a unique auditorium atmosphere.

Our storied jazz legacy lives on today in historic venues — The Blue Room, Green Lady Lounge and The Phoenix, to name a few. There’s also the Mutual Musician’s Foundation, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as the world’s longest-running jazz venue.

These striking locales make KC an attractive place for touring acts, including concerts, comedy shows, Broadway musicals — you name it. Variety is undoubtedly a strength of the market and there’s no shortage of events available to fill your calendar.

Perhaps what’s most unique about the arts in KC: accessibility. Like an unspoken rule, the importance of arts exposure is collectively understood, and patrons of all ages, backgrounds and tax brackets can be a part of the scene in KC.

Kansas City Symphony goers can snag a ticket for as low as $37, or catch its Mobile Music Box to see a performance at no cost. Sprawling into suburban and rural communities, this outdoor concert series brings free chamber music to zip codes across the region.

The Drop, an ArtsKC program, works to remove barriers to the arts, while ArtsKC Go, an online platform, curates a calendar of free and low-cost events throughout the year.

Art as Mentorship connects young artists to seasoned musicians with a deeper goal of combating the youth mental health crisis. Founded by Enrique Chi, lead guitarist and vocalist of local Grammy-nominated band Making Movies, the program offers a variety of camps, workshops and the annual Celebrate Ameri’kana festival.

Far more than a “highbrow” pastime, KC’s performing arts scene aims to connect, engage and bridge gaps between neighbors. It’s an essential part of the region’s cultural heartbeat, reverberating across the Midwest.

History of the KC Heart

How the heart became the symbol for KC.

Kansas City has been home to a number of celebrity artists, designers, performers and athletes. Check out some of our more notable homegrown celebrities.

The KC Heart may be known for its iconic appearance on Charlie Hustle T-shirts and its use in the new Parade of Hearts art campaign, but Kansas City’s love affair with the heart symbol actually began more than a century ago.

According to multiple sources, Halford Mackinder, a British geographer, coined the term heartland in 1904 to refer to the heart of the Eurasian landmass: a strategic center of industry, natural resources and power. The use of the term heartland to apply to the American Midwest became common sometime in the early 20th century, and Kansas City was one of the first Midwestern towns to embrace the idea of being located in the “heart” of America.

The heart soon became an ingrained part of Kansas City culture. Railroad workers wore KC Heart pins in the early 1900s to signify the town they called home. The symbol was later engraved in steel on light poles in the Country Club Plaza shopping district in the ’50s and ’60s.

And when the Kansas City Monarchs Negro Leagues baseball team donned the KC Heart patch on their sleeves, the team’s civic pride was on full display as they went on to achieve championship victory in 1942.

Inspired by the rich heritage of the heart, the Charlie Hustle brand began selling its signature KC Heart T-shirts in 2011. Since then, more than 1 million of the shirts have been worn by people across the globe, including major celebrities, and the heart is world-renowned as the calling card for the entire two-state region.







Live from the Heartland

Live music hits all the right notes in KC.

By Ann Clifford

From the area’s deep roots in jazz to ranking as the No. 3 city for alternative music, KC delivers a mix of tunes and venues to fit every taste. 

Get into the swing by exploring the historic 18th & Vine District, home to The Blue Room and weekly jam sessions for up-and-coming jazz musicians. For more Kansas City jazz, visit the Green Lady Lounge in the Crossroads Arts District. 

Blues music is right at home in KC, too. The Phoenix, one of KC’s oldest jazz and blues clubs, features live music six days a week. Or if a casual setting is more your style, try BB’s Lawnside BBQ, which pairs authentic blues with delicious barbecue. 

Ready to rock? Head to The Bottleneck in nearby Lawrence or The Truman in the Crossroads, which both host some of the best in the rock and alternative music genres. For up-close experiences across the rock music spectrum, check out recordBar, Grinders and Knuckleheads. 

Country music is always popular in the Heartland, with the biggest stars taking the stage at GEHA Field at Arrowhead or T-Mobile Center. For live country in a smaller setting, check out Guitars and Cadillacs in Overland Park. Or, fill your calendar with live music nearly every night at Tin Roof in the Westport entertainment district. 

On any given weekend, hip-hop, rap and R&B artists take the stage across the region, with local talent defining a distinct KC style. Explore clubs like North Kansas City’s VooDoo Lounge, larger venues like the Uptown Theater and the multiple stages at Boulevardia, one of the area’s many music festivals. 

Classical music in many forms rounds out KC’s musical mix, with the renowned Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera leading the way. And for an experience only America’s Heartland could deliver, make sure the Symphony in the Flint Hills — an annual celebration of music and the region’s tallgrass prairie — is on your bucket list.