Downtown KC Parks Activated with Summer Music & Performance Series

The Downtown Council, the Downtown Community Improvement District (DCID) and Art in the Loop are producing 3 different art, music and performance series to activate Downtown KC parks and open spaces throughout the summer!

Garment District Grooves

On Wednesday, May 15, Garment District Grooves returns for its sixth season bringing music and food to the Historic Garment District in Downtown Kansas City. The concert series is produced by the DCID, KC Parks & Recreation, Crossroads Charter Schools, and the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA). This year, there will be lunchtime concerts on the third Wednesday of each month from May through October from 11:30am to 1:00pm and two evening performances in the fall.

The fun starts this Wednesday with It’s Murf Music and the Sugar Skull taco food truck. The remaining line-ups for the lunchtime concerts are:

  • June 19: Musician – Jass, Food truck – Julita’s
  • July 17: Musician – Tica Felise, Food truck – Chillakillers
  • Aug. 21: Musician – Dave Panico, Food truck – Jabaday’s Tasty Kitchen
  • Sep. 18: Musician – Stan Kessler & friends, Food truck – Sugar Skull
  • Oct. 16: Musician – TBD, Food truck – Taste of Brazil

For more information, contact Jared Campbell, jared@downtownkc.org.

 

Summer in the City
The DCID is hosting a new performance and event series, “Summer in the City” in Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park at 12th & Walnut. Join us twice a month from May through September in Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park for music, dance, poetry, food trucks, games and other activities.

ACTIVATION SERIES – May through September, 2024

  • 2nd Wednesdays (12:00 to 1:30 p.m.)
    Community events or local performances, yard games and food trucks over lunchtime.
  • 4th Thursdays (5 to 6:30 p.m.)
    Local musicians, dancers, spoken word and other performers will bring the park to life!

The season’s evening events begin Thursday, May 23 with NAMI. Artists Nina Cherry and Imani combine a mixture of genres and instrumentation to provide a unique sound to start your evening off right.

The Summer in the City Series is brought to you by the DCID, in partnership with Jackson County, Art in the Loop and area businesses. Events and performances are free and open to the public.

For more information contact Mark Rowlands, mark@downtownkc.org.

Art in the Loop: Convivencia

The Art in the Loop Project is a curated outdoor exhibition of temporary artworks and performance series presented in partnership with the KC Streetcar. This year marks the eleventh year for the Art in the Loop Project and includes visual artwork based on photography, painting, digitized illustrations, and performance artwork based in dance, experimental jazz, hip hop, aerial acrobatics and more.

The theme for 2024 is the Spanish word Convivencia. Convivencia represents a shared life with others that is a constant practice, effort, negotiation, and joint achievement while recognizing friction or opposing energy. We recognize that artists and creatives are familiar with navigating space, energy, and time amongst one another and within their communities.

The public is invited to the Kick-Off event for the 2024 Art in the Loop Project: Convivencia, on Wednesday, June 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kansas City Public Library – Central Branch. Guests will enjoy an evening of art and music as they are invited to meet the 2024 visual and performance artists. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with musical performances by Alber and Kat King and an interactive art creation activation with Viva La Tinta KC occurring throughout the evening. At 6 p.m. guests are invited to meet with visual and performing artists for a chance to learn about the work the artists are creating for this year’s project. Please join us for this free and open to the public. Click here to RSVP.

This project is funded in part by ArtsKC, the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, with public support from the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, as well as corporate sponsorships and philanthropic contributions.

For more information contact Ann Holliday, ann@downtownkc.org.

 

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