In case you haven’t heard, the World Series is coming to Kansas City next weekend. No, I’m not talking about Royals baseball. I’m talking about the World Series of Barbecue, the American Royal-hosted event that features a whopping 550 teams and a $50,000 prize.

While contestant entries are not able to be sampled by anyone but licensed judges and friends of the crews, the public is invited to visit the American Royal grounds near Kemper Arena on Friday and Saturday for a day’s worth of live music, cooking demos, a petting zoo, food and drink from licensed vendors, and a fireworks show that reverberates across the city.

Advance tickets to the competition and festivities are $13 in advance at americanroyal.com or $15 at the gate. The competition is open from noon until 2 a.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m. Saturday.

The World Series of Barbecue will be held Friday and Saturday at the American Royal grounds near Kemper Arena, and will feature 550 teams competing for a 0,000 prize.

Under-the-radar BBQ

Speaking of barbecue, anyone asked to name a KC establishment will likely list just three names: Gates, Arthur Bryant’s or Oklahoma Joe’s (which is being rebranded as just “Joe’s Kansas City Bar-Be-Que). There are a smattering of other standout barbecue operations that lack the high profile and out-of-town visitors but are second to none in terms of quality.

Those looking to begin their off-the-beaten-smoker tour should check out Woodyard Bar-B-Que in Merriam. Though its website boasts that its only minutes from Ikea, Woodyard’s patio and stacks of apple and cherry wood they use to smoke the meats feels more like a backwoods diamond-in-the-rough. You can find it at 3001 Merriam Lane or online at woodyardbbq.com.

Just down the road at 1007 Merriam Lane is one of the city’s original family barbecue establishments. Quick’s, founded by pitmaster Earl Quick in 1964 and now operated by his son, Ron, offers hearty ham, turkey and sausage sandwiches as well as the standard pulled pork and beef.

In nearby Mission, R.J.’s Bob-Be-Que Shack is a neighborhood favorite that has also become a destination for those looking for out-of-the-ordinary offerings like hickory-smoked bison empanadas, lamb ribs, jalapeno sausage and deep-fried pig tails. Veteran chef Bob Palmgren’s barbecue creations even extend to drinks, including a BBQ bloody mary and a bacon-infused bloody mary. RJ’s, at 5835 Lamar Ave., is open seven days a week and often features live music performances on weekends, mostly of acoustic and bluegrass music. View a full menu and see a list of upcoming performers at rjsbbq.com.

Concerts

Seattle pop singer Perfume Genius will be at the Riot Room, 4048 Broadway Ave., on Monday night following the release of his excellent “Too Bright” album (the sleek, surreal video for his single “Queen” was directed by Kansas City’s own SSION). Tickets are on sale now for $12.

At the Sprint Center, Pitbull will be sharing a billing with Enrique Iglesias on Thursday. It’s difficult to imagine this happening outside of a Bud Light Lime commercial, but Sprintcenter.com is selling real tickets starting at $29.50.

Dance enthusiasts should be sure to check out “A Body of Work,” a series of reflections on the human body performed by the Owen/Cox Dance Group that features the talents of soprano Victoria Botero, NEA Fellow Nate Fors, and the compositions of Brad Cox. The performances will be held Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at La Esquina, a small arts space at 1000 W. 25th St. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, available at owencoxdance.org.

And Ringo Starr and his All Starr band will be live at Starlight Theatre on Saturday for an 8:30 p.m. show. Tickets cost $25 all the way up to $175 for premiere seating.

— Lucas Wetzel is a writer and editor from Kansas City, Mo. Know of an upcoming event in Kansas City you’d like to see featured in Kansas City Connection? Email us about it at kcconnection@ljworld.com.