People have so many different interests and ways to be individually enthralled, getting family members to agree on the same weekend action plan can be a challenge.
Still, I’d like to believe that the family that plays together, stays together.
Corny? I guess. Worth trying this weekend? You know it.
1. ‘Disney on Ice: Frozen’
The phenomenon of Disney’s 2013 animated hit, Frozen, shows no sign of thawing. Some parents, and dads in particular, may grouse about how their young children, and daughters in particular, continue to be obsessed with the girl-centric adventure story set in a wintry wonderland. But it makes perfect sense that “Frozen,” in particular, should also get the Disney on Ice treatment. Since Disney likes to spread its magic around, the show’s rink-full of performers will include assorted Disney princesses and favorite characters from Finding Nemo, Toy Story and The Lion King. Bring extra money. There’s no freezing out the souvenir stand.
Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday, 3 and 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m.; Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $27-$127.
2. An Agricultural Century: A Celebration of American Farming
I don’t know what you were doing from 1855 to 1955, but America was farming. The United States’ growing agricultural acumen during that time will be revisited by families at Missouri Town 1855, where all ages will be able to appreciate (and perhaps climb on) displays of antique farm machinery; observe demonstrations of horse shoeing, log sawing, corn shelling and wheat threshing; and achieve eye-to-eye encounters with dairy cattle, oxen, horses, mules, pigs, chickens and, yes, sheared-before-your-very-eyes sheep – not baa-d!
Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Missouri Town 1855, 8010 E. Park Road, Fleming Park, Lee’s Summit, Mo.; admission: $10 per car, $20 per bus.
3. Raytown Arts & Music Festival
Veteran folk-rock duo Brewer and Shipley (“One Toke Over the Line,” “Whitchi-Tai-To,” “Tarkio Road”) headline this daylong community arts and music shindig featuring visual artists from the Raytown Artists Association and Independence Artists Association. Hey, wait a second – “One Toke Over the Line” performed (and, chances are, sung along with) at a family friendly festival? Welcome to 2015.
Saturday, noon-7 p.m.; Kenagy Park, 9608 E. 79th St., Raytown, Mo.; admission: free.
4. India Fest
India is far away from Kansas City, not only geographically but also culturally. All the more reason to mingle with members of the area’s Indian community, who will reach out with India Fest to inform and entertain by way of their traditions. Enjoy authentic food, music, dance and more from the Land of the Tiger. It ought to be a wildly good time, but no real tigers will be there…right? Oh, I hate those hanging questions.
Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Overland Park Convention Center 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kan.; admission: free.
5. Tiblow Days
Will it be Saturday’s biscuits-and-gravy breakfast, Cub Scout pinewood derby or country concert by Unholstered Outlaws that might lure you and yours to Bonner Springs’ annual heritage festival? The three-day carnival should work for the kids. Friday’s beer garden sounds like a winner for the adult crowd. Pure history is also a draw: Tiblow Days is named for Henry Tiblow, a Delaware Indian who ran a ferry across the Kansas River and whose moniker was the original name of Bonner Springs. Connect with the past in the present for the sake of the future, or at least for Thursday night’s ice cream social.
Thursday, 3-11 p.m.; Friday 4-11 p.m.; Saturday, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.; downtown Bonner Springs, Kan.; admission: free.
6. Boston, Blue Oyster Cult and Shooting Star
Is your clan ready to rock out? Find out by attending this gig by classic rock bands Boston and Blue Oyster Cult – two of the 1970s and ’80s most famous guitar bands – along with Kansas City’s own Shooting Star, which had its heyday during the same era. The soaring buzz of Boston! The heavy metal crunch of BOC! The hometown sound of Shooting Star! More cowbell!
Sunday, 7 p.m.; Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $25-$125.
