Enjoy extraordinary shows, exhibits and winter fun. Our top picks for January in Kansas City are here.
Note: We are looking forward to each event on this list. They are numbered to correspond with their position on the map, not in order of preference. We love them all.
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Mary Poppins: The Musical
16301 Midland Dr, City of Shawnee, KansasMusic Theatre Kansas City presents The Broadway Musical MARY POPPINS, live on stage at B&B Live Jan. 3-5.
Based on the classic Walt Disney film and the books by P.L. Travers, Mary Poppins comes to life on stage in this beloved Disney musical! Using a combination of magic and common sense, Mary takes the Banks family on many magical and memorable adventures, teaching us all how to make the world a little more SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!
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Monster Jam
Monster Jam® Jan. 17 -19 at Sprint Center.
Featuring eight skilled Monster Jam® athletes, Kansas City fans will witness a fierce battle for the championship with each Triple Threat Series competitor tearing up the dirt in customized high-powered vehicles: Monster Jam Speedsters, Monster Jam ATVs and of course, the iconic Monster Jam trucks. These Monster Jam athletes will go head-to-head for points in Freestyle, 2 Wheel Skills Challengeä and several Racing competitions, testing their agility, speed and versatility. Newly added as a special fan bonus during Freestyle, a Monster Jam driver will attempt Kansas City’s FIRST-EVER indoor arena-based Monster Jam truck back flip! Plus, fans in every city can become part of the action by voting for the winner in the 2-Wheel Skills Challenge and Freestyle competitions via real-time, in-arena fan voting on their smartphones.
Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 70 miles per hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motorsports action seen around the world.
At the Monster Jam Pit Party, you can see the massive trucks up close, meet your favorite drivers, get autographs, take pictures and enjoy other family-friendly activities. It is an unforgettable part of the Monster Jam experience where special connections are made and lifelong fans are born.
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SESAME STREET LIVE! MAKE YOUR MAGIC!
SESAME STREET LIVE! MAKE YOUR MAGIC! Jan. 30 at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.
When magician extraordinaire Justin visits Sesame Street to put on a magic show for the whole neighborhood, Elmo wants to be a part of the big event. But there’s one problem…Elmo can’t do magic!
That’s when Elmo teams up with Abby and Justin, embarking on an amazing journey where Elmo will discover the “power of yet” — the lesson of perseverance no matter what stands between you and your dream. Along the way, Elmo and Abby, joined by their friends Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Grover, Rosita and Count von Count, discover many magical moments in everyday life.
In the end, Elmo learns that you can do anything you set your mind to if you just keep trying! Join your favorite Sesame Street friends on this magical adventure when Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic comes to your neighborhood.
Show Times:
Elmo & Friends Meet & Greet
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4
The White Rose: We Defied Hitler
The White Rose: We Defied Hitler showing Jan. 21 - Feb. 9 at The Coterie.
Based on real events, a challenging new work that examines the role of ordinary people in extraordinary times.
This gripping and intriguing play tells the true story of Sophie Scholl, a German college student who led the only act of public resistance to the Nazis during the Second World War. The play contains little-known facts about Sophie, her brother Hans, and the civil disobedience of the White Rose movement in Nazi Germany. Scholl’s moral strength is tested while being interrogated for her crimes, leading her to question whether to save her own life or continue her righteous crusade.
Length: 70 minutes
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5
Chinese New Year Celebration at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Chinese New Year Celebration at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Jan. 26
Each winter, we host a Chinese New Year celebration, featuring live music, dance performances, a Chinese calligraphy demonstration, art activities, learning in our Chinese art gallery, Chinese food, as well as activities featuring the New Year’s zodiac animal.
FREE, no tickets required
Join the celebration of the Year of the Rat. Explore treasures from the Chinese Art collection. Experience a variety of activities, dances, and music marking the Lunar New Year celebrations. See the full schedule on our website: https://bit.ly/2Q1HmrB
FREE parking in garage for museum members; $10 parking for nonmembers.
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Underground
Störling Dance Theater’s Underground showing Jan. 30 & 31 at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Störling Dance Theater’s Underground has been called “one of the most vivid, heartfelt, and theatrically astute pieces of dance theater ever to grace a Kansas City stage,” (Kansas City Star) and named one of the top ten performances of the decade! (The Independent)
Choreographed by the duo of Mona Störling-Enna and Tobin James, Underground is a visual tapestry based on true stories of the Underground Railroad. With a cast of more than 50, featuring the talented artists of Störling Dance Theater, the production of this dramatic historical depiction has been hailed as a cultural gift, making it the perfect celebration of the Black History Month and a beautiful portrayal of the American Spirit.
For its 13th consecutive year, UNDERGROUND will inspire and challenge, awaken and encourage – embraced by a wide and diverse audience from across Kansas City and beyond.
School Shows at 9:30am, Public Performances at 7:30pm
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BrightStar Touring Theatre
North By Night: More Heroes of the Underground Railroad
North By Night: More Heroes of the Underground Railroad: Jan. 28 at The Folly
Follow the journey of brave men and women who risked it all to travel north and help others escape the terrors of slavery in “North By Night”. The story of the Underground Railroad is one of hope and courage and it reveals the bravery of humanity in the face of life-threatening consequences. Meet some familiar names and many more who have gone largely unnoticed by history – until now! This show features William Still, Sojourner Truth, William Lloyd Garrison, Robert Smalls and more.
North By Night is a perfect play for schools looking to introduce and expand on Black History for Black History Month.
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January Shows at Carlsen Center at JCCC
January Shows:
- PJ Masks Live! Jan. 15: PJ MASKS LIVE! is back with an all new super-heroic, live musical show, featuring the trio from your favorite series: The PJ MASKS! Watch Catboy, Owlette and Gekko, along with their new friend PJ Robot, as they try to save the day from the sneaky villains — Romeo, Night Ninja and Luna Girl! Fluttering Feathers!
- Bomsori Kim Jan. 18: Internationally regarded as one of today’s most vibrant and exciting instrumentalists, Bomsori Kim will perform in recital.
- Winterlude – Eboni Fondren Jan. 19: Eboni Fondren is a multitalented vocalist known for her engaging interpretations of jazz standards and impressive musical theater roles. After seeing her sing at the American Jazz Museum’s Blue Room, a representative from the Kansas City Repertory Theatre invited Eboni to audition for Little Shop of Horrors. Since then, she can be found not only in the area’s jazz clubs, but on the stages of the city’s musical theater productions. Eboni credits her mastery of jazz performance to her early work with Kansas City Hammond B-3 organ player Everette DeVan. Now she leads groups of KC’s finest jazz instrumentalists under her own name. She will treat us to the best in Polsky Theatre.
- Kansas Cultural History Jan. 29: The Kansas Settlers Band, accompanying themselves on banjo and guitar, sing folk songs that reveal a great deal about pioneer life. These songs tell stories about hardships, westward expansion of the railroad, and Kansas’ promise of freedom. These songs also tell us what pioneer Kansans did in their leisure time, such as play party games and hold square dances. Members of the Kansas Settlers Band bring these stories to life by sharing tales from their own family histories and encouraging students to learn how their families came to Kansas.
- Spencer & Rains Celebrate Kansas Day with Old-Time Music Jan 29: Tricia Spencer is a Kansas fiddler who grew up learning the tradition of old-time music from her grandparents. Howard Rains is a native Texas artist and the fourth generation to play his fiddle. Now married, this multi-instrumentalist duo is known for twin fiddle harmony, a product of the influence of Midwestern Scandinavian fiddlers Tricia heard as a child, as well as Howard’s distinct repertoire of Texas fiddling. You’ll hear that same distinctive harmony in their vocals.
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Genghis Khan at Union Station
Discover how legends are made in this world-class exhibition that explores the culture, conquests and heritage of the world’s greatest conqueror . . . the man Time Magazine and The Washington Post named "The Most Important Person of the Last Millennium."
Journey back 800 years, to experience the treasures and stories of Genghis Khan's 13th-century Mongol Empire. Presented in Kansas City for the first time, this world tour exhibition invites your entire family into an adventure across the vast grasslands of Central Asia, among the relics of Genghis Khan's reign.
Experience life in 13th-century Mongolia. Entering the tents, battlegrounds, and marketplaces of a vanished world. Explore Genghis Khan's life and those of his sons and grandsons during the formation, peak, and decline of the Mongol Empire.
View rare treasures from 13th-century Mongolia; more than 200 spectacular objects dramatically displayed to illustrate this legendary story. Gold jewelry and ornaments. Silk robes, musical instruments, pottery, sophisticated weaponry, and numerous other fascinating relics and elaborate artifacts.
Even encounter daily, authentic Mongolian live music, artisitic and dance performers. A rare cultural opportunity specific to this remarkable exhibition.
Plan and purchase tickets now to this exotic and uniquely interactive exhibition that tells the story of Genghis Khan - his life, his land, his people, his culture, and his enduring legacy.
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Crown Center Ice Terrace
Enjoy ice skating at Kansas City's original outdoor rink, open annually November-March.
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11
Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
She was known as The One for Whom the Sun Shines. Discover the celebrated Queen Nefertari, the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Experience the magnificence of royal palaces and tombs, including Nefertari’s burial chamber, considered one of the greatest artistic achievements in the Valley of the Queens. Explore the daily life of the village where tomb builders and artisans lived, worked and worshipped more than 3,000 years ago. Drawn from the world-renowned Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy, the exhibition will bring together works that present the richness of life in ancient Egypt, focusing on the role of women—goddesses, queens, and commoners. Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the discovery of the tomb of one of the most famous figures of the time. Works of art from the excavations will bring ancient Egypt to life for 21st-century audiences.
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January at the Kansas City Zoo
January Events at the KC Zoo:
- Cheetah Enrichment Jan 4 and 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Tropical Weekend at the Zoo Jan 11 & 12
- Yoga Night at the Zoo Jan 12
- Humboldt Penguin March Jan 25
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Super Fun at Paradise Park
January Events at Paradise Park:
- Date Night: Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31 from 5-8pm - Whether it’s your first date, or your 50th, you’ll enjoy a perfect light-hearted night of fun. Friday Date Nights at Paradise Park offer a variety of affordable indoor and outdoor options for a playful experience in a picture-perfect setting. It’s guaranteed to bring out the best in both of you! Only $25 per couple, plus tax. Here’s what’s included in your Date Night: Pick 1 Adventure Attraction to do together: Indoor: Rock Wall, Bumper Cars, Foam Factory, or Outdoor: Go Karts, Mini Golf, Laser Tag Maze, or All-You-Can-Play Game Card - Spend as much time as you like in our Arcade/Game Room in a little friendly competition (non-redemption games). Share a Single Topping 14″ Pizza.
- See It Snow Inside: thru Jan. 5 - Experience some “North Pole” magic inside our Foam Factory, where it SNOWS INSIDE! You’re invited to come experience the wonder, get some energy out while keeping warm, and maybe you’ll even catch an elf or reindeer having a snowball fight!
- Superhero VIP Breakfast: Jan 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Come dressed up as your favorite superhero and spend a super-power-packed morning with superhero characters! Eat a power breakfast with the heroes, listen to a story read by a superhero, play games with superheroes, and more! Includes: Seating for fabulous kid-friendly breakfast. Exclusive Meet & Mingle with superheroes. Mini Adventure Time led by the superheroes. Photo ops. Costume parade. All-day Discovery Play & Foam Factory admission. Seating and space are limited! Members – $8 plus tax, Nonmembers – $17 plus tax.
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Family Fun at Johnson County Museum
January Events at the Johnson County Museum:
- Kids Day Out: Jan 3 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Museum Program: Retro Storytime: Jan 8, 2020 10:00 a.m.
- Happy Birthday, Kansas!: Jan 25, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
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Winter at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm
January Events at Mahaffie:
- On Snowy Saturdays (weather permitting), enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides!
- Mahaffie Munchie Challenge: Fancy Sweets: Jan 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- 1860s Dance Party: Jan 25 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
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