Welcome to the Lowdown! I am so glad you’re here!
Happy Sunday, Lee’s Summit! ☀️
I cracked open an energy drink to power through this one, and I have zero regrets because this week’s edition was worth every sip. We’ve got a graduation story that proves this community shows up when it counts, the biggest event series downtown LS has seen in a long time, and a Saturday night so packed with live music it should probably require a permit. Let’s get into it. 👇
🎓 CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2026!
This week, graduates from Lee’s Summit High School, Lee’s Summit North, Lee’s Summit West, Summit Ridge Academy, Summit Christian Academy, St. Michael the Archangel, Blue Springs High School, and Blue Springs South walked across the stage and into the next chapter. What a week to be a Lee’s Summit family. Congratulations to every single grad!
And speaking of walking… a story that had a lot of families holding their breath got a happy ending. Seniors who had unpaid school lunch balances were at risk of missing their ceremony until school board member Bill Haley stepped up, rallied some neighbors, and paid off the debt in full. Every senior got to walk. That’s the kind of community this is. Thanks, Bill. 👏
Full disclosure: I never got to walk for my own high school diploma. I was living overseas and they mailed it to me. So yeah, this one hit different.
🏫 SCA STUDENTS EARN PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS
Summit Christian Academy seniors are getting some well-deserved recognition. Aidan Cummings received the Derrick Thomas Service Scholarship from the Third and Long Foundation for the 2025-2026 school year, and Addison Welch earned first runner-up for the Neil Smith Service Scholarship, also taking home a monetary award. The Third and Long Foundation honors students who combine academic excellence with a commitment to serving others, and these two clearly fit the bill. Congratulations, Aidan and Addison! 👏
⚽ THE WORLD CUP IS COMING TO YOUR BACKYARD
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is coming to Kansas City this summer, and Lee’s Summit is leaning all the way in. KC is hosting six matches at GEHA Field at Arrowhead starting June 16, and our city has put together something special for residents who want to soak up the energy without the downtown parking nightmare.
Futbol Fridays is a free, family-friendly event series running five Fridays in June and July at Green Street Market. Think live music, big-screen match broadcasts, kids’ games, food trucks, and themed celebrations. Backed by LSGoal26, a coalition of the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, and the City, with about $50,000 invested to make it happen.
The theme lineup:
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June 12 — Champions of the Heartland
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June 19 — Boots on the Pitch: A Wild West Futbol Bash
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June 26 — Goals, Galleries, and Great Vibes
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July 3 — Stars, Stripes & Soccer Nights
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July 10 — Kickin’ It on Route 66
Check lsgoal26.org for the full schedule and updates.
🙏 VBS SEASON IS HERE — HERE’S YOUR GUIDE
Summer is coming fast, and if you’ve got kids (or grandkids) and you’re already dreading the “I’m bored” chorus – a local mom named Bethany Shipley just saved you. She built a color-coded spreadsheet of every Vacation Bible School program happening across Lee’s Summit this summer, with free morning sessions already highlighted.
It is more organized than anything I have ever produced in my life. And I run a newsletter. Weekly.
Whether you’re looking for something for the kids or want to volunteer, this is the resource. Free options are easy to spot, and if you know of a VBS not on the list, reach out to Bethany so she can add it.
🚃 THE CABOOSE IS BACK
If you’ve driven through downtown lately and noticed some work happening around the historic caboose, the wait is over. It’s been fully refurbished thanks to a grant from the Downtown Lee’s Summit Community Improvement District, and it will be open for tours during special events. It looks great. Go check it out next time you’re downtown.
🏘 KEEPING AN EYE ON: Senior Living Near I-470
A developer has pitched tax incentives for a large senior living complex on a 12-acre site near the I-470/Bowlin Road interchange. Still in early stages, but worth watching as the city continues to sort through a busy season of growth and development decisions.
⏪ The LS Loop
Meetings that happened while you were living your life last week.
🏛 City Council
A little drama to kick things off: Council Member Rader publicly rejected her committee assignments after not getting any that she had requested while simultaneously being demoted in a committee she served on the year prior, forcing the council to vote through a backup slate. Once they got that sorted, the real headline of the night was Project Kings – a proposal to bring 82 high-paying manufacturing jobs to Lee’s Summit. The city is reviewing incentive options to make it happen. Good jobs with good wages are always worth watching.
The council also passed a $3.5 million curb repair program for FY27. (Pothole people, your time has come.)
Oh, and Animal Control filed a report about a panicked call regarding a runaway “dinosaur.” It was a 60-pound tortoise. Lee’s Summit, never change. 🐢
🍎 LSR-7 School Board
Student reps led with the best news of the night: LSR-7 peers won a national culinary championship, cooking a full three-course meal without electricity. The board reviewed new school safety upgrades and heard a public comment advocating for better support of gifted “tall poppy” students. Then the adults spent considerable time trying to sort out their own committee assignments before giving up and tabling it until June. The kids cooked a gourmet meal without power. Just saying. 😄
🎸 Live & Local
This week’s music lineup is genuinely stacked. Here’s where to be:
Thursday, May 28
Patrick Woolam | 7:30 p.m. at Iron Horse Bar & Grill. Live music every Thursday and Saturday at Iron Horse. Patrick Woolam brings the guitar.
Soul Fundamentals w/ Julian Goff | 7:00 p.m. at The 1909 Club. Live soul, funk, and R&B every other Thursday night at The 1909 Club. Unmatched energy, top-tier musicianship. Reservations recommended.
Addy Gardner | 5:30 p.m. at The Fillmore Café. A great early evening option before the rest of the night kicks off. Live music at The Fillmore from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, May 29
The Bluebird Ramblers | 7:00 p.m. at The 1909 Club. Roots, blues, and a touch of swing in the most intimate room in downtown LS. Reservations recommended.
Big Time Pianos — Dueling Pianos | 8:00 p.m. at Konrad’s Kitchen and Tap House. Their 584th time at Konrad’s. Yes, really. If you’ve never seen a dueling pianos show, this is the one to fix that.
Grayson | Stuey McBrew’s. A Friday night at Stuey’s with Grayson. Check Stuey McBrew’s Facebook page for the set time.
Mitch Prather Live | 8:00 p.m. at Llywelyn’s Pub. LS Singer, songwriter, and performer bringing a great live set to Llywelyn’s.
After Party | 8:00 p.m. at Captain’s Sports Lounge. KC’s high energy rock and party band out on the water at Captain’s. Always a good time.
Saturday, May 30
RED: A Taylor Swift Tribute | 8:00 p.m. at Legacy Park Amphitheater. Fronted by Lauren Corzine, this is a full recreation of a live Taylor Swift concert, all the eras, all the anthems. Pre-sale tickets are $16, day-of are $21. Grab them at RockTheAmp.net before prices go up. Are you ready for it? Because LS is. 👀
The Howard Mahan Band | 7:00 p.m. at The 1909 Club. A Saturday night at The 1909 Club. Reservations recommended.
Todd Justice & The American Way | 7:30 p.m. at Konrad’s Kitchen and Tap House. Four sets of classic hits spanning multiple decades and genres. Always a party at Konrad’s.
Tyler Lyon Music | 8:00 p.m. at Iron Horse Bar & Grill. Iron Horse delivers again. Live music every Saturday night.
Grayson | Stuey McBrew’s. Back for night two. Check Stuey McBrew’s Facebook page for the set time.
Midnight Faceplant | 8:00 p.m. at Captain’s Sports Lounge. Pop punk, alternative, emo, and hard rock out at Captain’s on the lake. Not your average Saturday night.
Blacksher Trio | 8:00 p.m. at Llywelyn’s Pub. Good fare, good folks, and good fun. The Blacksher Trio brings it for a classic pub night.
📅 THE WEEKLY LINEUP
Here’s what else is going on this week:
Tuesday, May 26
Pure Barre Pop Up Then Pour | 6:15 p.m. at Green Street. An outdoor barre class on the Green Street lawn — full body, all levels welcome, hands-on coaching, music up. Arrive by 6:10 p.m. so class can start on time and bring your own mat. After class the group heads somewhere nearby for drinks. Active and social. Yes please.
Thursday, May 28
LSEF Trivia Night | 6:00 p.m. at Green Street. Teams of up to 8, live trivia from Kevin with Big 5 Trivia, pizza from Summit Pizza, and a cash bar from Embrace the Grape. VIP tables and sponsored team options available. Proceeds benefit the Lee’s Summit Education Foundation. A great excuse to rally your crew for a good cause.
Twilight Trivia Night | 7:00 p.m. at Craft Putt. Twi-hards, this one’s for you. Free to play, $50 gift card for the winning team. Show up dressed as your favorite character if you’re feeling bold. (No judgment here.)
Friday, May 29
Sandlot Revival with Robert Anthony Cruz | 7:00 p.m. at Abundant Life Church, 304 SW Persels Rd. Coach RAC from the Savannah Bananas, Mekhi Key, and the Abundant Life Worship team come together for a night of faith, sports, and community. Free and open to all ages.
Night Flight 5K | 9:00 p.m. at Legacy Park Amphitheater. A 5K run at night, starting and ending at Legacy Park Amphitheater with a post-race party to follow. Pre-registration only. $35 for ages 14+ / $30 for 13 and under. Register in advance.
Saturday, May 30
Kickoff to the Cup! ⚽ | 11:00 a.m. at Price Chopper, 937 NE Woods Chapel Rd. Sporting KC giveaways, enter-to-win contests, mascot appearances, face painting, and balloon artists. A fun warm-up to all the World Cup energy headed our way this summer.
Summit Art Plein Air Festival Closing Reception & Art Show | 5:00 p.m. at Green Street. The 6th Annual Summit Art Plein Air Festival wraps up with an awards reception and art sale. Meet the artists, view and purchase original works painted at locations throughout Lee’s Summit. Food trucks, cash bar, free to attend.
🤔 Lee’s Summit Trivia
Did you know? Legacy Park – home to Saturday night’s Taylor Swift tribute – is one of the most sustainably designed parks in the region. The lake you see as a backdrop at the amphitheater? It’s filled entirely with captured stormwater runoff, and it irrigates all 39 athletic fields on site. That system saves Lee’s Summit over $160,000 a year in water costs. So the next time you’re sitting on the lawn at a concert watching the sun set over the lake, you’re basically watching the city’s giant rain barrel. You’re welcome. 🌊
One Last Thing
This week a group of neighbors found out some seniors might not get to walk across that stage, and they just… fixed it. No committee. No task force. No six-month study. Someone made a call, people showed up, and every single kid got their moment. That’s the thing about Lee’s Summit that’s hard to explain to people who don’t live here. It’s not a bumper sticker. It’s just what happens.
Also, a 60-pound tortoise caused a full Animal Control response. So. You know. It’s a whole town.
Thanks for reading. Hit reply and tell me what got you this week. I genuinely want to know.
Thanks for being part of the Lowdown crew!
– Jen
Editor, Lee’s Summit Lowdown
P.S. My daughter graduated 5th grade this week, complete with a ceremony, a class party (with a DJ… yes, A DJ!), and a final walk-out celebration. I graduated high school and got my diploma in the mail. Safe to say Lee’s Summit is doing things a little differently than I did growing up… and honestly? I’m here for it. 🎓
P.P.S. The Lowdown goes out every Sunday morning to a few thousand of your neighbors – people who actually read it, click the links, and show up to the events. If you own a local business or run an organization and want to get in front of this community, I’d love to talk. Hit reply and let’s figure something out.
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