Category: Arts and entertainment

Annual PiperFest to be Sept. 28

Editor’s note: Because of rain in the forecast, the schedule of PiperFest has changed. Some events now will be held on Sept. 29, while others will continue Sept. 28. To see the new schedule, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/piperfest-schedule-changes-because-of-weather/.

by Mary Rupert

Preparations are underway for the annual PiperFest, a community festival from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Piper High School, 4400 N. 107th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The annual event will raise funds for the Piper Public School District 203, according to Sean Ziolo, who is volunteering with the festival’s car show.

Highlights of the event will include a pancake breakfast, run-walk, auction, car show, carnival, alumni softball game, bingo, concessions and food trucks.

The day begins with a Boy Scouts pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Piper High School Commons, 4400 N. 107th St.

A 5K run-walk follows from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. starting at Piper Elementary School East. The event is coordinated by Anytime Fitness. The race begins at 8 a.m., with late registration accepted through 7:30 a.m. Online registration ends Sept. 23, and details are at https://www.piperfest.com/5k.

A silent auction opens at 7 a.m. and runs through 8 p.m. The event will be in the Piper High School Commons. All funds raised will go back to the Piper Public Schools. This year, persons also may participate in the auction through “ClickBid,” a mobile app. For more information, see https://www.piperfest.com/auction.

The PiperFest Car and Truck Show will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Piper High School south parking lot. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., then the car show will begin with the national anthem at 11:30 a.m. There are plans to have two tow trucks supporting an American flag in the air at the car show; entrants should be able to drive under the flag.

The entry fee for cars and trucks will be $10, Ziolo said. All models and makes of vehicles are eligible to enter the judged show, he said.

He said entries were down a little last year because of the weather, and he hopes the show draws 200 to 300 cars this year.

The show will hand out over 70 awards, along with cash prizes. The “best of show” award is $200; second runner-up is $100 and third runner-up is $50. The principal’s choice award winner will receive a trophy and the picture of the vehicle will go on next year’s T-shirt, fliers and banners.

A special class for anyone 25 and younger will include 15 “Rising Star” awards to recognize youth who enter the car show.

Besides the top awards, there will be giveaways to car show entrants including a TV set, neon signs, gift cards to restaurants and tools, with donations from a lot of sponsors, he said.

The rain date will be Sunday, Sept. 29.

For more information on the car show, visit https://www.piperfest.com/carandtruckshow.

PiperFest also includes an alumni softball game from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 28 at Piper High School baseball field.

In addition, there will be soccer and track skills stations from 10 a.m. to noon at the district stadium.

The carnival, community stage and vendors will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at Piper High School. A $20 carnival wristband will be available. Music performances also are part of the festival.

Bingo will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Piper High School Commons, with concessions available.

Ziolo said eight food trucks will be at the festival.

There is no admission charge to attend the festival.

“We look forward to having everyone out and we appreciate their support,” Ziolo said. “We look forward to seeing old friends and making new, and making the car show one of the best in KC.”

For more information, visit www.piperfest.com or https://www.facebook.com/pipercarshow/.

Shakespeare comedy, superheroes and sports art all to be at the Alcott Saturday

A Shakespeare comedy and a superheroes and sports art exhibit are planned for Saturday at the Alcott Arts Center, 180 S. 18th, Kansas City, Kansas,

The 11th year of the Alcott Shakespeare performances will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Alcott, said Chris Green, Alcott executive director. The play also will be performed next weekend.

The director of “Two People from Verona” will be Susan Proctor, who has directed two Shakespeare plays previous at Alcott, Green said. The title of the play has been changed from “Two Gentlemen from Verona” in order to be more inclusive, she added.

Formerly performed outdoors in the parking lot, the Shakespeare play this year will be performed inside the Alcott, with air conditioning. The play will be performed using three rooms, two galleries and the main foyer as the theater, with the audience moving from room to room with the actors, she said.

Admission to the play is a $5 suggested donation.

Green said the audience will enjoy the play. There have been lots of laughs from the rehearsals, and the play will include singing, music, musicians walking through, along with the usual mistaken identity theme.

“We’re very excited and we can’t wait to see the show,” Green said.

There is a flight of stairs to the area where the play will be held, and Alcott Arts Center is not ADA-accessible at this time.

Later Saturday, at 6 p.m., an art show featuring superheroes and sports figures is featured at the Alcott.

Artists Darryl Wood, who draws all sorts of superheroes, along with pictures of Kansas City Chiefs players, will be featured with Anthony Oropeza, whose work is all sports, Green said. Woods has created some sports posters of Chiefs players that have schedules on them, she added.

Two young artists also will be featured Saturday, she said. They are Marquis Jamison, who has created a comic book and does cartoon-style art, and Simone Bealer, a freshman at Blue Valley Northwest, who does anime art and some superheroes, Green said.

The Alcott art galleries will open for viewing at 6 p.m., with a reception for artists at 6:30 p.m. The art show and reception are free and open to the public. Refreshments are planned.

Green also said a petition is being circulated to save the Alcott Arts Center from a development that has been proposed in the area. The Alcott is accepting signatures for the petition both in person at the center and also online at http://chng.it/QWMqDVyF.

Green said the Alcott has a lot of support from the community, which has helped save the former elementary school in order to have an arts center.

For more information, visit https://www.alcottartscenter.org/.

Blues fundraiser scheduled for Sept. 5

A blues music fundraiser is scheduled at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, to help pay funeral expenses for Dennis Edwards.

The fundraiser will be held at Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester, Kansas City, Missouri.

A silent auction will be held in conjunction with the concert.

Blue 88 will open the concert at 7:15 p.m., followed by 51% Blues Band at 8:15 p.m., and Earl and Them at 9:15 p.m.

Edwards was murdered along with a customer at a shooting at Edwards Original Corner Market and Deli at 81 N. Mill St., on July 10, 2019.

Blue 88 and the 51% Blues Band are donating their participation in the fundraiser; the headliner was already booked for the performance.

Edwards was a 1974 graduate o Wyandotte High School. Sue Corbett of Blue 88 was a classmate of his. Urma Cade-Watson and Ronnie “Sticks” Hardin of 51% Blue Band also are Wyandotte graduates.

There also will be a silent auction that will feature about 60 items.

The fundraiser was organized by Scott Mackey, also a classmate of Edwards’ at Wyandotte.

Those who would like to contribute to help defray funeral expenses may mail a contribution to Larkin and Garcia funeral home, 1844 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, 66102, and designate it “Attention: Dennis Edwards.”