Where the 816 came from and how to celebrate it
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The Kansas City skyline. Photo: Edwin Remsburg/Getty Images
Kansas City is celebrating its area code Sunday with district block parties around town.
Why it matters: It's a free excuse to rep your hometown pride, although the number itself extends well beyond the city proper.
Flashback: The number came first. AT&T established 86 area codes across the country in 1947, and the 816 took the western half of Missouri.
- Even after later splits carved it down, the 816 still reaches 13 Missouri counties and 89 communities, from Adrian an hour south up to St. Joseph and out past Odessa.
Catch up quick: The holiday is much newer. Promoter Brian "Bizzy" Benton, who runs the Facebook group KC Where You At, heard about area code holidays in other cities from a friend and threw the first 816 Day party in 2017 at KC Jukehouse.
- The city made it official a year later, when then-Mayor Sly James signed a resolution.
Here's where to celebrate around the region, all free.
🎉 Power & Light District
The biggest party of the day, and the closest thing 816 Day has to a main stage. Mayor Quinton Lucas speaks at noon, followed by a "Rep Your District" segment with the City Council.
- Then 816 trivia, the Old School Drill Team, the Back Alley Brass Band and a two-stepping hour.
If you go: The party starts at 11am and ends at 9pm, with a citywide toast at 8:16pm.
🌸 Country Club Plaza
The Plaza is throwing its first 816 Day party this year. Storefronts will host student artwork, with live music and free flower bouquets around the district.
If you go: Programming runs noon to 4pm.
🎨 Zona Rosa
The Northland version runs at Central Park, with mural painting, kids' activities and photo-ops with KC sports mascots. Stores and restaurants around the shopping district are running their own deals.
If you go: It will run from 11am to 1pm.
🎶 City Market
Art in the Loop and the KC Streetcar close out the night in the River Market with sets from The Royal Chief, The DynamitExperience, BodaciousThang and FK Menace.
If you go: 6pm to 8pm. Free, but RSVP.
What we're watching: Sunday should be a tad cooler, but some weather forecasts show a slight chance of isolated storms.