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6 Lucky Things To Do In Kansas City This Weekend

Dave von Fintel
/
Vimeo
Kansas City's iconic Western Auto sign will once again light the cityscape this weekend.

Superstition is absolutely ridiculous. Unless it’s not.

So you might as well cover your keister this entire Friday the 13th weekend with totally luck-centric events that will leave you feeling fortunate no matter what the calendar says.

All you have to do is get out there and make it happen...as far away from hissing black cats, not-yet-cracked mirrors and open ladders as possible. Don’t push your luck!

1. Western Auto Sign Lighting

Looking for a good luck sign? Here’s one: The iconic Western Auto Sign atop the historic Western Auto building in downtown Kansas City. The local landmark hasn’t been illuminated for years, but will return as a glowing beacon of our evening skyline at dusk on Friday. Whether you view it from near or far, cross your fingers that you’ll be watching at the precise moment the switch is flipped. Don’t blink.

Friday, 8:45 p.m.; Western Auto Building, 2117 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri; admission: free for all to see.

2. Kenny Chesney

Country superstar Kenny Chesney wants us all to “Get Along,” which always takes a bit of luck. Or as the song says: “Paint a wall/Learn to dance/Call your mom/Buy a boat/Drink a beer/Sing a song/Make a friend/Can’t we all get along?” Chesney’s timely musical advice will be part of his summer concert tour stop at Arrowhead Stadium. With any additional luck, the show will include a rendition of Chesney’s popular cover of Frankie Laine’s 1949 standard, “That Lucky Old Sun,” released as a duet by Chesney and Willie Nelson in 2008.

Saturday, 5 p.m.; Arrowhead Stadium, One Arrowhead Drive, Kansas City, Missouri; tickets: $91-$232.

3. The Bacon Brothers

Brothers Kevin and Michael Bacon were lucky to grow up playing music together – and luckier still to find a way to keep collaborating as adults. It was in the mid-1990s that film actor Kevin (“Animal House,” “Diner,” “Footloose,” “Apollo 13,” “Mystic River,” “X-Men First Class”) and film score composer Michael began formally rocking out as a bona fide brother act. The two have their major influences and cover tunes to match, such as a nifty version of the Beatles’ “If I Needed Someone.” But it’s the duo’s alternately fun and thoughtful rock and pop originals that will dominate their Kansas City concert, like “Tom Petty T-Shirt.” Lucky souvenir!

Saturday, 8 p.m.; Voodoo Lounge at Harrah’s Casino, One Riverboat Drive, Kansas City, Missouri; tickets: $47-$59.50.

4. Wyandotte County Fair

Some people are convinced that they make their own luck (hmm, is that still luck?), but some folks and even critters can use a little encouragement in the good fortune sweepstakes. Take the pig races at this weekend’s Wyandotte County Fair – the more noise the crowd makes, the faster the pigs will run. Anyway, it’s a theory. Besides curly-tailed oinkers in various stages of forward motion, the fair has carnival rides, contests, live music, a mud run and go-kart races – I don’t care how lucky you feel, make sure to wear a helmet.

Thursday, 6-10 p.m.; Friday, 6-11 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; Wyandotte County Fairgrounds, 3700 Polfer Road, Kansas City, Kansas; admission: $5 per car.

5. Kantcon

Tabletop and roleplaying games are the big draws at this annual confab of gamers eschewing the digital world – for a few days, at least – in favor of traditional game boards, game pieces, game cards and good old-fashioned luck. In other words, a rabbit’s foot in each pocket is the way to go.

Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kansas; tickets: $15-$40 (ages 8-15 half-price, ages 7 and younger free).

6. Crypticon Kansas City

When is bad luck also good luck? When you’re Linda Blair, child star of the 1973 horror film classic, “The Exorcist.” Blair’s sweet-little-girl character in the film is graphically possessed by Satan (bad luck), but the role has allowed the actress to be a permanent part of the horror/pop culture pantheon (good luck).  Meet Blair for a head-turning good time at this year’s Crypticon Kansas City, a horror fan’s dream convention, along with such other special guests as Adrienne Jo Barbeau, who followed her success on the 1970s sitcom, “Maude,” with a string of scary flicks, most notably “The Fog,” “Swamp Thing” and “Creep Show.” Take that, Friday the 13th!

Friday, 4:30-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Joseph Civic Arena, 100 N. Fourth St., St. Joseph, Missouri; tickets: $20-$35.

Brian McTavish is a regular arts and culture contributor for KCUR 89.3. You can reach him at brianmctavish@gmail.com

Brian McTavish follows popular culture in the belief that the search for significance can lead anywhere. Brian explains, "I've written articles and reviews ... reviewed hundreds of concerts, films and plays. And the thing is, these high arts all sprang from the pop culture of their day. Don't forget: Shakespeare was once Spielberg."
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