All-Star game parade could draw close to 100K to Country Club Plaza

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Summer heat doesn’t usually bode well for Plaza businesses. People avoid the heat.

This summer, the heat is bringing the Plaza a second Christmas.

Businesses are gearing up for Christmas in July, July 10 to be exact. That is the day of the All-Star Game and the parade that will wind its way through the streets of the Plaza.

Businesses here don’t really know what to expect other than people; a lot of people.

It is estimated that anywhere between 50 and 100 thousand people will attend the parade.

That foot traffic excites businesses, and one, in particular, is really excited.

Brio Tuscan Grille’s front door will be 20 feet from the parade.

They plan to extend their patio into the street, more than quadrupling its current size.

“We’re kind of treating it maybe like a Saturday in December,” said T.J. Wright, Executive Chef. “We expect a lot of people, really festive environment.”

Around the corner, The Granfalloon will block off a small side street and turn it into a block party.

“There’s a lot of people coming in town that aren’t even planning on going to that game,” owner Tim Caniglia said. “They just want to come for the festivities. I think it’s bigger that anything we’ve had here in a long time.”

The parade will start at 1 p.m. near the corner of Ward Parkway and Wornall Road.