Category: Arts and entertainment

Legends tree lighting to be Saturday night

The annual Legendary Tree Lighting ceremony will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at The Legends Outlets. A 45-foot synchronized Christmas tree will be lit. The event is free and open to the public. (File photo from 2018)

Legends Outlets is welcoming another holiday season with its 16th Annual Legendary Tree Lighting from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13.

The free tree lighting ceremony is in the Legends civic courtyard fountain area, near the AMC Legends Theaters. The ceremony is centered around a 45-foot Christmas tree.

There will be holiday entertainment and activities, including a live holiday concert, text-to-win prize giveaways, complimentary hot cocoa, and photos with Santa.

This year, the lighting of the tree will take place between 6 and 6:15 p.m. Saturday. Live music and activities will continue until about 8 p.m.

Upgraded with new lights and the addition of more than 2,000 ornaments, the Christmas tree, which is synchronized to music, will continue to brighten spirits until early January 2022.

Parker 3D, an international holiday design company based in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is the producer of the holiday lighting show.

This year’s official tree lighting emcees are Adriana Davalos and Toni Talley, hosts of Great Day KC on FOX 4 News. They will take center stage at 5 p.m. to kick off the event, introduce musicians throughout the evening, and then lead the ceremonial countdown to the tree lighting. Great Day KC is a new, weekday lifestyle show dedicated to all things Kansas City. It airs from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Friday, on FOX 4 News.

Families can create special memories from the evening as they enjoy free activities throughout the center. Activities include:

Center Courtyard and surrounding area:
• Live holiday concert
• Face painting
• Balloon twisting
• Prize wheel
• Text-to-win prize giveaways
• Complimentary hot cocoa
• Giant snow globe photo op

The Lawn:
• Holiday movie screening
• Fun photo opportunities
o Santa’s Sleigh
o Giant “I heart Santa” LED Letters
• Yard games
• Santa Mailbox

Characters including KC Wolf, The Grinch, and more, will be roaming around the center for photo opportunities starting at 5:30 p.m.

Live concert: 5-8 p.m.

Throughout the tree lighting ceremony, local musicians from various bands will perform classic holiday music that the whole family can enjoy. Musicians include:

• Rusty Laffoon
• Nick Nave
• Jaclyn Bell
• Nicole Springer
• Miguel

Photos with Santa: 5:15-8 p.m.

Santa will visit Legends Outlets to welcome guests to the 16th Annual Legendary Tree Lighting. After his welcome remarks, Santa will be stationed just west of the center courtyard, between Francesca’s and Converse Factory Store, for family photos. Photos are free, and guests will receive a shareable digital copy and print-out of their photo.

Text-to-win giveaways: 5-7:45 p.m.

Guests can text the word holidaycheer to Legends Outlets’ mobile VIP line at 877-321-2951 for their chance to win various prizes on Saturday, Nov. 13. Registration will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 7:44 p.m. All prize winners will be notified via text message at 7:45 p.m. with instructions on how to claim their prize. Winners must be present to win and must claim their prizes in-person at the Legends Outlets’ VIP tent by 8:15 p.m. Prizes include a Vera Bradley throw blanket, a $50 Puma gift card, a Chiefs cooler bag stuffed with Beef Jerky goodies, as well as other prizes from various Legends Outlets merchants like Tory Burch, Demdaco, Dave & Buster’s, and more.

Shopping: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Legends Outlets will be open current, normal operating hours on Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., for all-day shopping and savings at its nearly 75 leading designer and favorite brand-name outlet stores. Shoppers can enjoy numerous pre-Black Friday sales and special discounts at various retailers. To view a list of sales and promotions happening at Legends Outlets, visit https://legendsshopping.com/hot-deals/. Individual store hours may vary.

The Downtown KCK Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting will be Friday, Dec. 3.

Country music artist Tenpenny to perform Sunday at Kansas Speedway

Country music star Mitchell Tenpenny will cross Kansas Speedway off his ‘bucket list’ on Sunday, Oct. 24.

The multiplatinum-selling recording artist, whose hits include “Drunk Me,” “To Us it Did” and current smash “Truth About You,” will perform a pre-race concert prior to the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.


Admission to the concert is free to Hollywood Casino 400 ticket holders and will rev up race fans for the penultimate race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 8.


This will also mark the first pre-race concert at Kansas Speedway since Casey Donahew performed prior to the 2019 Hollywood Casino 400.


“It’s so good to have live music back at Kansas Speedway, and I know Mitchell Tenpenny will deliver an unforgettable performance our fans will enjoy,” said Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren, in a news release. “With our grandstands open to full capacity and the great racing our track consistently delivers, a concert of this caliber just amplifies the quality experience our fans deserve.”


Since the release of his debut single, “Drunk Me,” Mitchell has set new standards for breakout success in country music. The 2X Platinum-certified, No. 1 hit that has amassed over 500 million on-demand streams was taken from his introductory 2018 album, Telling All My Secrets, and earned him the best first week showing for any major label country debut LP.

Since that time, the “winning” singer (the New York Times) was nominated for New Male Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards and Breakthrough Video (“Drunk Me”) at the CMT Music Awards and saw his “Alcohol You Later” and “Anything She Says” singles certified gold.


“I grew up watching NASCAR and got my bucket list opportunity to drive one earlier this year,” Mitchell said. “I am so stoked for this concert. My fans are NASCAR fans. It will be a great day!”


As for the state of Kansas, Mitchell Tenpenny’s concert spices up an already power-packed weekend of racing at the 1.5-mile track. On Saturday, Oct. 23, fans will be treated to a racing doubleheader, beginning with the Kansas Lottery 300 at 2 p.m., the second race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs’ Round of 8. At 6 p.m., the ARCA Menards Series championship will be decided in the Reese’s 150.


And then on Sunday, following Mitchell Tenpenny’s performance, the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will vie for the checkered flag in the Hollywood Casino 400 at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase their tickets for both days of action now by visiting www.kansasspeedway.com/.

Downtown KCK Art Walk tonight

The Downtown Kansas City, Kansas, Art Walk will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, in the downtown Kansas City, Kansas, area.

The event will feature food, low riders, art and music. The general area is 6th and Sandusky to Minnesota Avenue. A low rider event will be near 6th and Minnesota.

Also at the event, participating sites will have a trunk and treat for kids.

A Latino Arts Festival will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at El Centro, 650 Minnesota Ave. The event at El Centro will include food, free to those who show proof of vaccination. There will be free COVID-19 vaccines available at the event at El Centro. A poetry reading from Donnelly College will take place at 6 p.m. at El Centro.

The Merc at 5th and Minnesota will have a new mural celebration.

Epic Arts at 609 N. 6th will have an art workshop, as well as music.

City Hall lobby, 701 N. 7th St., will be the site of the opening of an exhibit on the riverfront. The exhibit is by the Kansas City Design Center, in partnership with the Unified Government Planning and Urban Design Department. It depicts idea for riverfront development here. The exhibit will open at 4 p.m. Friday and will be open through 7 p.m. Friday during the Art Walk. Afterward, it will be open during regular City Hall hours.

For more information, visit the Downtown Shareholders site at https://www.facebook.com/DowntownShareholders/photos/a.549155951766867/5078693788813038.