2027 · Dad Jokes × Kansas City
Midwest Deadpan
I used to work at a calendar factory.
I got fired for taking a couple of days off.
January 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | · | · | · | · | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Union Station
Level 1–2 · Setting & CompletionThe Grand Hall clock
Union Station opened in 1914 as one of the largest train stations in the country. Its Grand Hall clock is the classic “meet me at the clock” spot — and a 1996 bi-state sales-tax vote helped fund the restoration that reopened the station in 1999.
The days off
He's holding the removed dates like ordinary paper — a dad literally carrying the punchline, with the station's own clock keeping the time logic honest behind him.
I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes.
She gave me a hug.
February 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Country Club Plaza
Level 1 · SettingCountry Club Plaza
Opened in 1923 as the nation's first shopping district built around the automobile, modeled on Seville, Spain — the wrought-iron balconies and tile roofs are a direct homage.
The eyebrow
A genuine, warm embrace — with the smallest flicker of ‘wait, what did I do?’ in his expression. That's the entire joke.
Why did the basketball player get stopped at the airport?
He was traveling.
March 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | · | · | · |
Kansas City International
Level 3 · ConvergenceKCI's new terminal
Kansas City International replaced its original 1972 circular terminals with a single $1.5B terminal in 2023 — the sweeping curved roofline behind this scene is the real building.
The call
The referee's raised whistle and pointing arm do the work a caption would otherwise have to do — the gag reads before you've noticed the joke is a pun on “traveling.”
If April showers bring May flowers,
what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims.
April 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | · | · | · | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | · |
Mill Creek Park Fountain
Level 2 · CompletionMill Creek Park Fountain
Kansas City calls itself the City of Fountains, and this bronze equestrian fountain at the east entrance to the Plaza is one of its most photographed. The J.C. Nichols name was removed in 2020; the city now lists it simply as the Fountain in Mill Creek Park.
The travelers
A small huddle of cloaked travelers with old-fashioned luggage, arriving at the edge of frame — easy to miss on a first look, which is exactly the point.
Why did the scarecrow win an award?
Because he was outstanding in his field.
May 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | · | · | · | · | · | 1 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 | · | · | · | · | · |
Loose Park
Level 2 · CompletionLoose Park's rose garden
Named for Jacob Loose of the Sunshine Biscuit company, the park’s formal rose garden holds nearly 3,000 roses of about 130 varieties, and was honored in 1989 by All-America Rose Selections as an outstanding public rose garden.
The ceremony
A small, entirely sincere award presentation — ribbon, medal, applause. Nobody in the field treats it as anything but an ordinary Tuesday.
Why did the golfer bring two pairs of pants?
In case he got a hole in one.
June 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | · | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | · | · | · |
Swope Memorial Golf Course
Level 2 · CompletionSwope Memorial Golf Course
A public course inside 1,800-acre Swope Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the country — A.W. Tillinghast redesigned it in 1934, and it hosted the 1949 Kansas City Open, a PGA Tour event.
The spare pants
Folded into the bag's side pocket like any other piece of gear. Nobody comments on it — which is the whole joke.
What did one flag say to the other?
Nothing. It just waved.
July 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | · | · | · | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Liberty Memorial
Level 1 · SettingLiberty Memorial
The 217-foot tower has stood over Kansas City's skyline since 1926, marking the National WWI Museum — the United States' official museum dedicated to World War I.
The conversation
The wind just happens to fold two flags toward each other. Nothing about them is drawn as a character — it's purely a trick of the gust.
Why did the music teacher need a ladder?
To reach the high notes.
August 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | · | · | · | · |
Kauffman Center
Level 3 · ConvergenceKauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Moshe Safdie’s two shell-like vaults opened in 2011 — the 1,600-seat Helzberg Hall for concerts and the 1,800-seat Muriel Kauffman Theatre for opera and ballet.
The ladder
No floating musical notes anywhere in the piece — the ladder does all the work the pun needs.
Why did the football coach go to the bank?
To get his quarter back.
September 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | · | · | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | · | · |
A KC Bank
Level 3 · ConvergenceAn old-fashioned KC bank
KC football spirit shows only through the coach's red quarter-zip and whistle — no team names, logos, or wordmarks appear anywhere in the piece.
The quarter
The teller hands over a literal quarter, completely deadpan, like any ordinary transaction across the counter.
Why did the skeleton go to the barbecue?
He needed some spare ribs.
October 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | · | · | · | · | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | · | · | · | · | · | · |
KC Barbecue Joint
Level 3 · ConvergenceThe smoker
Kansas City is one of the most decorated barbecue cities in the country — over 100 joints, and home to the American Royal World Series of Barbecue. That's a real offset smoker through the pass window.
Spare ribs
He's test-fitting a rib into the actual gap in his own ribcage — the pun made literal, and nobody at the table finds it worth a second look.
Why did the turkey join the band?
Because it had the drumsticks.
November 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | · | · | · | · |
18th & Vine Jazz District
Level 3 · Convergence — the ceiling18th & Vine
Birthplace of the Kansas City jazz sound in the 1920s–30s, and the former stomping ground of Charlie Parker and Count Basie. Today it's home to the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
The drummer
Nobody in the trio treats the turkey as remarkable — that restraint is the whole joke. The feather beside the dropped drum brush at his feet is the one easter egg this page allows itself.
I love holiday lights.
They really brighten my spirits — and my electric bill.
December 2027
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | · | · | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | · |
Plaza Lights
Level 1 · SettingThe Plaza Lights
The Plaza Lights have illuminated Kansas City every winter since 1925 — over 80 miles of bulbs strung along the rooflines each November.
The bill
Everyone else looks up in wonder; Dad's eyes are on the bill in his hand. Nobody else in the scene notices where he's looking.