Plan to kick off the summer during the Downtown Days…Streets Alive! festival, from Friday to Sunday, June 1-3, spanning six blocks in the historic and award-winning Downtown Lee’s Summit central business district. Live entertainment, food vendors, a car show, carnival, kids fitness games, a new art and culture area, and the KCBS-sanctioned Smokin’ on the Summit BBQ contest all are part of this year’s festivities. Festival hours are from noon to 10 p.m. Friday, June 1; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 2; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 3.

For more than 20 years, Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street has been hosting a family-friendly street festival, which has grown into one of the largest festivals in the area and the first of the summer, attracting not only thousands of residents, but also guests from cities throughout the region. And every year, the Downtown Days committee brings in new events and activities, and this year is no exception, promising a few attractions festival-goers won’t see anywhere else.

ENTERTAINMENT

* Killer Queen, a Queen tribute band
* Landslide, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band
* The Nace Brothers
* Clint Martinez Trio, performing a Paul Simon tribute
* Rain Dogs
* Lee’s Summit Symphony, performing its first free, outdoor public concert in Lee's Summit, sponsored by The Stanley Historic Event Space.

ATTRACTIONS

* Downtown Rotary’s Smokin’ on the Summit BBQ competition, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society, takes place Friday and Saturday on the west side of the railroad tracks.

* Associated Car Clubs of Kansas City Car Show, sponsored by Roberts Chevrolet, takes place Sunday on the west side of the railroad tracks.

* ART a’LIVE! offers guests an opportunity to watch various artists creating pieces in front of the public.

* Roly-Poly, an interactive public art sculpture with a children’s area, is sponsored by the Lee’s Summit Arts Council.

* Carnival rides and games

* Replica space shuttle and tours

* “Back to the Future” DeLorean

* Kids Street has two new additions this year: the Y.E.S! Games, sponsored by Y.E.S! Kids Fitness, and an interactive live butterfly experience.

* Sports Zone and Sports Trivia Contests, sponsored by Mazuma Credit Union, with sports personalities and mascots.

* Contests, such as an Ice Cream Eating Contest, Pizza/Wings Eating Contest and a Mustache Contest, take place on the Summertime Stage, sponsored by Stuey McBrew’s.

* Cooking demonstration, science show, dance troupes and much more.   

Of course, what festival would be complete without summertime food and plenty of vendors? Downtown Days has these bases covered as well.

Most importantly, Downtown Lee’s Summit shops and restaurants are open throughout the weekend and welcome visitors into their one-of-a-kind, independently owned stores. They are a big reason Downtown Lee’s Summit is a Great American Main Street award-winner.

Downtown Days...Streets Alive! is the major fundraiser for Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization and historic preservation of Downtown Lee's Summit, and is sponsored by Bank of Lee’s Summit, Saint Luke’s East Hospital, the Lee’s Summit Journal, Jerry’s Bait Shop, Central States Beverage Co., University of Central Missouri Summit Center, KCP&L, Saucy Productions and Owen Lumber.

For more information about Downtown Days, visit www.LeesSummitDowntownDays.com.

For more information about Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, visit www.downtownls.org.