Celebration at the Station draws large crowds despite heat

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Despite temps in the mid-nineties, the annual Bank of America Celebration at the Station drew large crowds at Union Station on Sunday.

Doors officially opened for the "largest free, outdoor Memorial Day weekend event in the Midwest" at 3:00 p.m.

Michael Pretzl and his wife arrived at 1:30 p.m. to snag their spot under a tree.

"Shade is a commodity today, that's for sure," he said.

On Sunday afternoon, however, it was even hot in the shade.

"I think it's 150," Sallye Sickman joked. 

Sickman attended the very first Celebration at the Station and has come ever since. Long gone are the days when Sickman would arrive at 7:15 for the 8 p.m. show. This year she came at 4 p.m.

"We staked out our place and then we immediately came in here, and I've just been sitting in the air conditioning," she said.

Outside performers and event organizers weren't fazed by the heat. Instead, they were thrilled with the blue skies overhead.

Kansas City Symphony Executive Director Frank Byrne reminded musicians and attendees to drink plenty of water and take advantage of the air conditioning inside Union Station.

Byrne, who announced he will retire in August of 2019, started the event 16 years ago. 

"We're honored to give this gift to the community, and we are just grateful for everyone coming out and supporting this wonderful event," he told 41 Action News. 

There was one slight change to this year's program. Instead of cannons firing during the 1812 Overture, crews set off fireworks from the top of Union Station. KC Symphony Spokeswoman Beth Buchanan said "duty called," and the cannons were needed for training.