American Royal Barbecue




THURSDAY Cattle Drive and free concert: 3:45 p.m., Power & Light District.

Usher in the barbecue with the Royal’s annual cattle drive down Grand Boulevard (9th Street to 14th Street). Country singer Lane Turner plays the KC Live stage afterward.  Kick in the Head Red happy hour: 5:30-7:30 p.m., 75th Street Brewery, 520 W. 75th St. in Kansas City. Barbecue-eating contest and $1.10 pints (in honor of the Royal’s 110th year) of the Royal’s new signature ale. K.C. Hopps restaurants will serve the brew throughout the Royal season.  FRIDAY  American Royal Barbecue: 3 p.m.-11 p.m., American Royal Complex, 1701 American Royal Court in Kansas City’s West Bottoms. Tickets $13 for all ages.

Watch cookers in action, buy food from vendors and listen to live music. There’s a petting zoo and carnival for kids, plus fireworks at 10 p.m.  SATURDAY  Tour de Barbecue: Ride begins at 8:30 a.m., Liberty Lot, American Royal Complex, $48.


Bicyclists will ride a 60-mile loop around 15 Kansas City area barbecue joints, stopping for samples at each. There’s also a 15-mile, five-restaurant route. The first-time event, planned by LIVESTRONG Army of Kansas City, raises money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and University of Kansas Cancer Center. Participants must register before 6 a.m. Saturday at tourdebbq.com.  American Royal Barbecue — Family Day: 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m., American Royal Complex. Tickets $13 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12, free for children under 5.


Petting zoo and carnival all day. MoCHIP Child Identification & Protection Program will create safety packets for children beginning at 8:30 a.m. Cooking demonstrations from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Live outdoor concerts start at 3 p.m. Fireworks at 10 p.m.  Texas Hold 'em Tournament: Barbecue dinner starts at 6 p.m., play starts at 7 p.m., $60.


Bring an appetite and poker face, and play to win a shiny new $15,000 mobile outdoor barbecue kitchen.  For details and ticket information, visit americanroyal.com.

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