Tommy Felts

Visitors can explore a range of foods from around the globe when they visit the free FIFA Fan Festival on the grounds of the National WWI Museum and Memorial — but Kansas City food takes center stage.

More than 100 businesses, artists, makers, food vendors, and community organizations are taking part in Kansas City's "City of Entrepreneurs" marketplace at Union Station, which runs select days through July 12.

The Czech-inspired taproom from Alma Mader will showcase hyper-fresh beers and a greenhouse-style space with expanded non-beer offerings. The vision for a dedicated chicken-and-beer concept grew out of pop-ups between the brewery and chef Keeyoung Kim of Sura Eats and Chingu.

Mass Street Plant Company is set for a soft opening May 2 in the Lawrence space that formerly belonged to plant shop Jungle House. The original Kansas City location opened in 2022.

Businesses and brand sponsors can apply now to take part in the activation, a short walk from where the FIFA Fan Festival is planned. “The marketplace will transform Union Station into a high-energy retail and cultural destination," organizers said.

The community will get a special sneak peek of the 150 hearts in the 2026 installation from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 4, at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Kansas City's newest sports franchise is a women's softball team: KC Diamonds, part of a new national league designed to elevate elite women's softball. They'll play at Legends Field, home of the Kansas City Monarchs, in a season starting June 17.

The Current and developers of a $1 billion entertainment and residential district near CPKC Stadium said Friday they'll have "core elements" open before the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament comes to Kansas City.

Made In KC recently closed its midtown shop, but the owners had been eyeing Union Station as a potential location for years. “It makes sense with how iconic Union Station has become that we should be here, representing local goods in Kansas City," co-owner Keith Bradley said.

It's official: Missouri's best craft beer is made in Kansas City. A Brookside favorite and a longtime powerhouse scored the top prizes at this month's Missouri Beer Cup.