May 27, 2023
By Fred Liggett
sports.lstribune08@gmail.com
The annual Downtown Days Festival is set to take over the Downtown Lee’s Summit area June 2-4. The popular event returns to offer festival goers live music, arts and crafts, an array of kids’ street attractions, a sports booth, a large carnival area and plenty of food options.
This year the Sports Booth is sponsored by Anthony Plumbing & Heating and offers fans of all ages something to enjoy. The guest lineup includes former players, a hall of famer, an author, a popular baseball blog writer, a mascot, two nuns and a happy hour event.
On Friday, Jun. 2 a puck may not drop to start a game but the Kansas City Mavericks will be on hand to kick off the weekend starting at 3 p.m. Then the Sports Booth turns a Royal blue for the remainder of the night starting at 5 p.m. That’s when Kevin Christopher known as the Royal Reporter stops by. Kevin writes online about all things KC Royals. The evening continues at 7 p.m. with the Two Royals Nuns who are super fans of Royals baseball.
Saturday Jun. 3 begins at 10 a.m. when NBC 41 Weekend Sports Anchor Aaron Ladd visits the Sports Booth. Ladd will be happy to talk about any local sports team or player with area fans. At noon the Kansas City Chiefs will take over the booth with former wide receiver Tim Barnett and Almost Andy Reid on hand. Both were popular booth guests last year and return together again this year to talk all about the Super Bowl Champions. From 2 to 6 p.m. the Kansas City Comets will bring the sport of soccer to the booth. From 6 to 7 p.m. it’s a Happy Hour at the Sports Booth as guests can play trivia to win prizes and leave happy. The day wraps up at 7 p.m. with a visit from local sports author Bob Rennison writer of three books that will be on sale at the Sports Booth.
Sunday, Jun. 4 brings a trip down memory lane to the Sports Booth thanks to a visit from KC Comets and KC Chiefs alumni. Starting at 11 a.m. former KC Comet Nate Houser will headline a group of former Comets Soccer players. Then at 1 p.m. Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer Tim Grunhard will remind area fans of some Super Sundays at Arrowhead that he used to play in.
Regardless of the sport you’re a fan of there will be something fun for everyone at this year’s Sports Booth. The hours of the booth is Friday, 3 to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Sports Booth is free to visit and will be set up at 227 SE Main Street during the entire festival.
