Looking to take off with a fun activity this weekend? Brian McTavish floats some options for you on the Weekend To-Do List.
Great Midwest Balloon Fest (50 hot air balloons in flight), 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Great Mall of the Great Plains, I-35 and 151st, Olathe, Kan. Admission: $10; $5 ages 6 to 12
Bruno Mars with Ellie Goulding (Pop, rock, R&B), 8 p.m. Friday at the Sprint Center, 1407 Grand, Kansas City, Mo. Tickets: 49.50 to $89.50
Independence Film, Art and Music Festival (Films shown include local premiere of “Ain’t in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm”), 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Independence Square (Main and Liberty/Lexington and Maple), Independence, Mo. Admission: Free art and music; $6 for most films
2013 Festival of Butterflies: Connecting with Nature (Hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies, children’s activities), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday at Powell Gardens, 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, Mo. Admission: $12 adults, $10 seniors, $5 ages 5 to 12, children 4 and under free
The Bikinis: A New Musical Beach Party (Musical comedy), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday at the American Heartland Theatre, Crown Center, 2450 Grand, Kansas City, Mo. Tickets: $35 and up