Charlie Parker Day Celebration free at American Jazz Museum

Charlie “Bird” Parker was born in Kansas City on August 29, 1920. On Saturday, August 29, 2026, the American Jazz Museum hosts a free Charlie Parker Day Celebration for his 106th birthday.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: American Jazz Museum, 1616 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108
Cost: Free for main events and outdoor activities; regular admission applies for indoor galleries.

Schedule of Events

The schedule features a saxophone salute, instrument petting zoos, presentations with Chuck Haddix, radio personality and jazz historian, deep-listening sessions, trivia, a guest artist panel with Willie Cole, and raffle drawings. Here is the schedule:

10 a.m. Saxophone Salute: Outdoor kickoff at the Bird Lives statue. This 30-minute outdoor concert features Steven Martin, Roger Wilder, Ben Tervort, Kenny Watson and friends
10:30 a.m. Instrument Petting Zoo (Morning Session). This is an all-ages event for anyone who wants to try a wind instrument.
11 a.m. “Bird in Kansas City” presentation with author and jazz historian Chuck Haddix.
12:30 p.m. The “Listen In” musical program. This is the first of a series of deep listening events planned by the museum staff.
1:30 p.m. Instrument Petting Zoo (Afternoon Session) & “Ornithology” Trivia Challenge.
2:15 p.m. Guest Artist Panel with sculptor Willie Cole, who did the KCI “Ornithology” piece of public art that creates birds out of saxophones.
3:30 p.m. Raffle Winners Announced.

Regular museum admission

The museum has a Charlie Parker exhibit, curated by Chuck Haddix, which closes August 30. The museum is open 10 am. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Hours may vary for holidays. Admission prices:

Adults (Ages 19–59): $15
Seniors (Ages 60+): $12
Youth (Ages 6–18): $10
Children (Ages 5 and under): Free

More Charlie Parker celebrations and jazz concerts

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and Kansas City Jazz ALIVE are presenting Spotlight: Charlie Parker, Saxophone Legends and Rising Stars, at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 29, at the Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo. Tickets are $34 to $87, plus fees, and you can find those here.

You can watch an open rehearsal for that concert FREE starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 27, at the Gem Theater, 515 Music Hub, at the Jazz Museum. You can reserve a spot for that free event here.

The American Jazz Museum has a working jazz club called the Blue Room. You can find out who is playing here.

You can find more places to hear live jazz in Kansas City here.