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For some, trivia night is a competition of the minds, a weekly hobby that tests your knowledge and skills under pressure. For others, it’s a good venue for a date night or an excuse to get a group of friends together.
In recent years, trivia events have become wildly popular, cropping up all over the Kansas City region in bars, breweries, coffee shops and restaurants.
“People are looking for new hobbies,” says Buford Logan, a local trivia host who recently joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss the popularity of trivia events in Kansas City. “You have the guys who do frisbee golf, the guys who go golfing, and then those who want to flex those brain muscles.”
Playing trivia typically cost between $5-10 a person, with the funds often going to the winning team at the end. Some trivia events — including those hosted by Big 5 Trivia and Geeks Who Drink — are free to play.
But as any good pub trivia host will remind you, ordering food and drinks while you’re playing (and tipping your server and bartender!) is the best way to support the game and the business hosting it.
Whether you’re a pop quiz whiz looking for your next challenge or a novice in search of a fun night out, here’s a list of the many places you can find weekly trivia nights in Kansas City.
Trivia events change frequently, so be sure to check ahead of time to confirm dates, details and locations.
Monday night trivia in Kansas City
Make the most of your Mondays with a few rounds of trivia and drinks at these local hot spots.
Start your week with Monday night trivia at Gaels Public House & Sports, located at 55th Street and Troost Ave. Gaels’ trivia, which is a favorite of some KCUR staffers, is free to play and starts at 7 p.m. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy $5 off any Gaels burger. The event is hosted by Intelligence Check Trivia, another popular trivia organizer in Kansas City.
Sinclair's Restaurant hosts free Monday night trivia at its location in Blue Springs, Missouri, with Big 5 Trivia. The game begins at 7 p.m., but show up early and order dinner by 6:30 p.m. to snag a 10% discount.
Tuesday trivia across Kansas City
Tuesday is easily the biggest night for trivia in Kansas City. In almost every neighborhood and suburb, you can find a trivia event that suits your tastes. Here’s a sampling of some of the most popular Tuesday night trivia around Kansas City.
Regardless of your trivia prowess, you’re guaranteed to have fun at All-Star Trivia Tuesday nights at Hamburger Mary’s. Six-time winner of Best Trivia in KC, this game is free to play with prizes at the end and runs from 7-8:30 p.m. Reserve your spot in advance.
Located on East 31st Street in Kansas City, Brick House KC hosts Tuesday night trivia each week with Geeks Who Drink starting at 7 p.m. Try the House B.L.T. for a delicious grilled cheese-meets-B.L.T. experience.
Atomic Cowboy hosts Tuesday night trivia in Overland Park with a Geeks Who Drink quizmaster starting at 6:30 p.m.
With an impressive number of participants most weeks, Cinder Block Brewery hosts Tuesday trivia in North Kansas City run by Geeks Who Drink. The game is free to play with teams of up to six players and runs from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Serv, a restaurant and entertainment space featuring pickleball courts and six container kitchens, offers “something for everyone” in Overland Park — including Boombox Bingo with Geeks Who Drink at 7 p.m. and traditional trivia on Wednesdays with Intelligence Check Trivia at 7 p.m.
Brew Lab in downtown Overland Park hosts a free trivia night with KC Pop Quiz on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. Enjoy Taco Night paired with a pint of craft beer.
Searching for Tuesday night trivia in Waldo? Lew's Grill and Bar hosts weekly trivia with Big 5 Trivia from 7-9 p.m. There's a new theme each week that includes 5 rounds with 10 questions each, with prizes to boot.
Wednesday trivia around Kansas City
Wednesday has become another popular night for weekly trivia events across the Kansas City metro. Here are some of our top recommendations.
If you’re looking for an LGBTQ-welcoming space for your trivia night fun, check out DoubleTap KC, a virtual reality arcade and sports bar in River Market where “all players are welcome.” DoubleTap KC hosts Wings + Trivia Wednesday with Intelligence Check Trivia starting at 7:30 p.m. $5 to play.
As recommended by longtime KCUR reporter Dan Margolies, Roland Reschke hosts Trivia Blitz at Cliff's Taphouse in Martini Corner most Wednesdays starting at 7 p.m. It costs $5 to play, and be sure to check the Trivia Blitz Facebook page for confirmation and category clues and to reserve your team's spot in advance.
Also in Brookside, Charlie Hooper’s hosts weekly Wednesday trivia in Brookside from 7-9 p.m. Geeks Who Drink runs this trivia game, so it’s free to play. Take advantage of the Wednesday special with $3 off Charlie Hooper’s mac ‘n cheese.
Burg and Barrel in Overland Park hosts a weekly Geeks Who Drink trivia night on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Craving a burger to pair with your trivia? Good luck choosing from an extensive offering of specialty burgs, from the spicy El Diablo burger to the funky Bleu Moon.
Thursday trivia in Kansas City
Bricks Pub & Grub in downtown Lee’s Summit hosts trivia every Thursday from 8-10 p.m. with the help of KC Trivia Geeks. This weekly quiz costs $5 to play with teams of up to eight players.
Test your knowledge at the Piano Room in Waldo Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Check the Piano Room’s Facebook for a preview of categories prior to each week’s event. The best team name gets a free shot, and the winners receive $5 off their tab.
Westport’s live music joint, Tin Roof, hosts trivia on Thursdays at 7 p.m. with Intelligence Check Trivia. Choose from a menu including burgers, quesadillas, fried chicken tenders and wings, or test your taste buds with an order of Nashville hot chicken.
Intelligence Check has also added a Thursday night trivia at Discourse Brewing in Overland Park, beginning at 7 p.m. It's a perfect excuse to try the microbrewery's house taps, like the Sinful Abyss milk stout.
Friday and weekend trivia in Kansas City
Hosting weeknight trivia is a popular (and effective) tactic for bar and brewery owners looking to increase business on slower evenings — which is why there are fewer options on Fridays and weekends. But that doesn’t mean you won’t find weekend trivia happening somewhere in KC.
Enjoy Friday night trivia at Nirvana Coffee and Games in Independence, Missouri, with local pop-up game company Crit and Ale. The game begins at at 6:30 p.m.
KC Wine Co. hosts themed trivia events each month. Enjoy wine slushies, beer and cider along with free trivia.
Sail Away Wine hosts trivia in North Kansas City on Sundays from 1-3 p.m. On your first visit to the wine bar, you’ll receive a free “Wine Passport” to keep track of which wine blends you’ve tasted.
“We fill the house up most Sundays,” says Logan, who runs Sail Away Wine’s weekly trivia, so be sure to show up early to claim your spot in the game.
Waldo’s KC Bier Co. invites you to “Get Trivial” with free trivia on Sundays from 1-3 p.m. with prizes for the top three teams.
Did we miss your go-to space for trivia night in Kansas City? Email us the details — including the date, time, location and frequency of the trivia event, and we’ll add it to our list.
