Christmas in Kansas City for Families
The holiday season brings plenty of opportunities for families to enjoy festive lights and holiday fun in Kansas City. From impressive light displays to unique holiday events, there’s something here for everyone. Whether you’re looking to take a stroll through twinkling lights, meet Santa, or start a new family tradition, Kansas City has plenty to offer this time of year. Check out this roundup of my favorite must-see Christmas attractions in and around the Kansas City metro!
Christmas Experiences for Families in the Kansas City Metro
Christmas in the Park
📅 Open: Nov 26 - Dec 31, 5:30 - 10:00 PM
Experience the magic of Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake with a beautiful drive-through display of over a million lights, complete with animated scenes and festive music. This popular, free holiday light show is perfect for a cozy night out—just pack some snacks, cocoa, and make sure your gas tank is full! To avoid the busiest times, consider visiting on a weekday evening early in the season. Christmas in the Park is a beloved tradition for families looking to soak in the holiday spirit from the warmth of their car.
📍 Location: 3901 SW Longview Road, Lee's Summit, MO
Evergy Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens
📅 Open: Nov 20 - Jan 3 (specific dates only)
An evening at Powell Gardens’ Festival of Lights offers a breathtaking, walk-through experience with stunning light displays and festive activities. The glowing paths, captivating performances, magical tree, light maze, and Santa Claus visits (on select dates) create a memorable holiday outing. Concessions and fire pits are available, making it easy to enjoy warm treats along the way. This is also a fantastic choice for families with young kids in strollers, thanks to the smooth, accessible paths that wind through beautifully lit gardens and themed displays. It’s a truly enchanting holiday experience against the serene garden backdrop.
TIP: Use your Pogo Pass KC for free admission to the Festival of Lights during November! (Does not apply to December dates.)
📍 Location: 1609 NW Waukomis Dr, Kingsville, MO
GloWild North Pole Village at Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium
📅 Open: Nov 1 - Dec 23 for North Pole Village (general GloWild admission continues until December 28)
Times: 5:30 - 10:00 PM, Wednesday - Sunday
Explore the Kansas City Zoo transformed after dark into a glowing wonderland of thousands of lights, animal-themed displays, and festive activities for all ages. GloWild is truly a unique experience, with larger-than-life light installations that bring the zoo to life in a whole new way. Beginning in mid-November, an added attraction—North Pole Village—lets families meet Santa Claus and wander through charming winter-themed displays, all included with GloWild admission. It’s a magical outing that combines the excitement of the zoo with holiday cheer! Animals are not viewable during the evening event.
📍 Location: 6800 Zoo Dr, Kansas City, MO
Hallmark Christmas Experience at Crown Center
📅 Open: Weekends, Nov 28 - Dec 21, Friday/Saturday 10 AM - 10 PM, Sunday 10 AM - 8 PM
A new, free Christmas market is now at Crown Center in Kansas City! It has everything you love like local vendor market shops, food, treats, nightly tree lightings, giant toys to play on, and pretty lights. Plus, you can enjoy Ice Terrace ice skating for $10 per person or the Light Maze for $5 per person. We love this new Hallmark Christmas Experience!
📍 Location: Crown Center Square 2425 Grand Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64108
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Land
📅 Open: Nov 27 - Dec 31, 5 - 10 PM
Take a cozy drive to Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead to enjoy an enchanting light display from the comfort of your car! This drive-in light show is our family favorite—perfect for grabbing some hot cocoa and snacks on the way, then settling into the back of the van to watch the lights. The display is synchronized to music and runs on an approximately 45-minute loop, creating a magical experience that everyone will love. Best of all, it’s FREE, making it an ideal outing for families!
📍 Location: 13800 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS
Holiday Reflections at Union Station
📅 Open: Nov 21 - Jan 4,
Hours: Monday - Friday 10 AM - 8 PM, Saturday - Sunday 9 AM - 7 PM
Take a magical stroll through Union Station's indoor holiday light display featuring stunning decorations and festive activities. As Kansas City’s premier indoor light show, it offers countless photo opportunities in a beautifully decorated winter wonderland. Little ones will be delighted by the Mini Holiday Express Train ride (an additional $5, for children 48” and under), meeting Santa Claus during scheduled time slots, and the immersive Magical Sleigh Ride VR experience (an additional $6). What makes Holiday Reflections especially family-friendly is that it’s perfect for any time of day—thanks to darkened windows that create a cozy, nighttime feel without the wait for sunset. A great option for families with young kids!
📍 Location: 30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO
KC Winter Wonderland
📅 Open: Weekends starting Nov 28, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Join the fun at the KC Pumpkin Patch and KC Wine Co for a winter celebration with lights, activities, and holiday cheer. They have lovely photo ops and visits from Santa Claus and “the Mean One” each year. Stay for some yummy snacks and drinks! This is a wonderful family event or a special holiday date night spot.
Use code INKC for $3 off tickets!
📍 Location: 13875 South Gardner Rd., Olathe, KS
Knights of Lights
📅 Open: Nov 28 - 30, Dec 5 - 7, 12 - 14, 19 - 24, 27 - 29, 31
A totally unique light experience at the KC Ren Fest! Knights of Lights is a walk-through lighted wonderland with shopping, food, and entertainment. You can meet Santa & Mrs. Claus, play glow in the dark putt putt, view half a million lights, explore a castle and pirate ship, and more!
📍 Location: KC Renaissance Festival - N. 126th St., South of State Ave
Bonner Springs, KS 66012
Luminary Walk - Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
📅 Open: Nov 26 - Dec 30, 5:00- 9:00 PM
Experience the Overland Park Arboretum transformed into a winter wonderland with luminaries guiding your way. Live music, hot cocoa, and special performances make this an event to remember. We love joining with friends and visiting the Luminary Walk in Overland Park each year!
📍 Location: 8909 W 179th St, Overland Park, KS
Mayor’s Christmas Tree at Crown Center
📅 Open: Beginning Nov 28
Don’t miss the iconic tree lighting at Crown Center, a tradition that kicks off the holiday season with family fun and festivities. A free lighting ceremony takes place on the Crown Center square on November 28 at 6:00 PM. Check out the brand new Hallmark Christmas Village when you visit!
📍 Location: 2450 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO
Northern Holiday Lights at Zona Rosa
📅 Open: Nov 22 - Mid-January
Enjoy a magical evening at Zona Rosa with festive lights and holiday activities for the whole family. Toy Time, Owen & Graham, the Central Park playground, 54th Street, and Draftcade are some of our favorite Zona Rosa places to spend time as a family. A kick off Holiday Lighting Ceremony will take place on November 22 from 4-6 PM with Santa Claus arriving at 6 PM to flip the switch!
📍 Location: Zona Rosa, Kansas City, MO
Plaza Lights at the Country Club Plaza
📅 Open: Nov 27 - Mid-January
Witness the Country Club Plaza’s stunning light display across 15 blocks of walkable and shopable space, a must-see holiday tradition for families in Kansas City. Watch the lights flip on at the Plaza on Thanksgiving Night, November 27, from 5 to 8 PM.
📍 Location: Country Club Plaza - 4706 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO
Destination North Pole at Crown Center
📅 Open: Nov 28 - Dec 24
One of our favorite places to see Santa Claus in the Kansas City metro is at Crown Center! Walk through Destination North Pole (previously called Gingerbread Station) and meet the big guy in red for FREE at this Kansas City favorite. Lines can be long on the weekends, so I recommend visiting on a weekday if possible. Visit Santa Claus and then explore the free outdoor Toys Under the Tree climbable vehicles or the brand new, free Hallmark Christmas Experience!
📍 Location: 2405 Grand Blvd. Ste 200 Kansas City, MO
Santa’s Rescue in Downtown Lawrence
📅 Open: Nov 28, 2025 - 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Start the holiday season with a festive twist in Downtown Lawrence, KS, where Santa gets ‘rescued’ from the roof of Weaver’s Department Store! In this annual tradition, Santa’s sleigh makes an unexpected landing, and the Lawrence Fire Department steps in to bring him safely down. Once Santa is on the ground, the downtown lights come on, marking the start of the holiday season. This charming event is a unique kickoff and sure to become a new family favorite for a night out in Downtown Lawrence!
📍 Location: 901 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS
Santa’s Rocket at Ottawa Northern Railroad
📅 Open: Weekends, Nov 22 - Dec 22
The beloved, much-anticipated return of the ‘Polar Express’-inspired holiday train is here! The Ottawa Northern Railroad in Baldwin City, KS, has partnered with Rock Island Rail to create a magical, real train ride experience. Families will board in Baldwin City and travel to the North Pole, enjoying hot cocoa and a snack on the hour-long journey. Little ones will even get to meet Santa Claus himself and have the chance to mail their wish-list letter. I hope to visit for the first time this holiday season!
📍 Location:1515 High St., Baldwin City, KS
Sar-Ko-Aglow
📅 Open: Dec 5 - Jan 19
Take an enchanting stroll through Lenexa’s Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, transformed into a glowing holiday wonderland. This FREE lighted display wraps around Rose’s Pond, creating a beautiful setting for a family evening out. The paved trail is perfect for strollers, and there’s a playground nearby for some extra fun before the lights come on. Bundle up the family for a cozy outing or enjoy a romantic evening walk with a loved one under the festive lights!
📍 Location: Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park - Lenexa, KS
More FREE light shows in Kansas City!
Winter Magic
📅 Open: Nov 1 - Jan 4
This year, Winter Magic has doubled the holiday cheer, expanding their mesmerizing lighted drive-thru experience! Enjoy over a mile of dazzling holiday lights synchronized to festive music, making for an unforgettable evening. Bundle up with hot cocoa in the car, turn up the holiday tunes, and soak in the sparkling winter wonderland. Priced per carload ($20-$30), it’s perfect for loading up friends and family for a festive night out. Funds raised during this light display benefit The KC Parks Fund and Children's Mercy Kansas City. Winter Magic is one of our favorite light displays in the Kansas City area!
📍 Location: 10400 N Platte Purchase Dr, Kansas City, MO. 64154
Yaya’s Alpaca Farm
📅 Open: Nov 24 - Dec 22
A visit to YaYa’s Alpaca Farm offers one of the most unique holiday experiences in the metro! The farm is beautifully decorated with holiday lights, Christmas trees, and even an old-fashioned sleigh—perfect for photo ops. My kids loved every moment here! Spots are limited for these holiday tours, but the chance to feed and interact with the friendly alpacas makes it well worth it. Tickets include alpaca food, so if you’re a fan of adorable animals and festive lights, this is the perfect outing!
📍 Location: 30200 East 275th St, Garden City, MO
Holiday Theatre and Musical Performances
A Christmas Carol - KC Rep Theatre (Nov 22 - Dec 27)
Pentatonix - T-Mobile Center (Nov 22)
Elf in Concert - Kansas City Symphony (Nov 28 - Nov 30)
Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells - Theatre for Young America - Union Station (Nov 28 - Dec 23)
Tuba Christmas 2025 - Kansas City Symphony (Dec 5 & 15)
Handel’s Messiah - Kansas City Symphony (Dec 5 - 7)
Petite Performance: Holiday Harmonies - Kansas City Symphony (Dec 6)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - T-Mobile Center (Dec 6)
Christmas in Killarney: An Irish Christmas Celebration - Midwest Trust Center (Dec 6)
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Theatre in the Park (Dec 6 - 23, select dates)
A Charlie Brown Christmas - KC Jazz Orchestra - Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (Dec 9)
Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol - Midwest Trust Center (Dec 11)
Leslie Odom, Jr.: The Christmas Show - Kansas City Symphony (Dec 12 - 13)
MTC Kids Jam Holiday Sing-Along - Midwest Trust Center (Dec 13)
Christmas Festival - Kansas City Symphony (Dec 18 - 21)
It’s A Wonderful Life in Concert - Kansas City Symphony (Dec 23 & 24)
The Nutcracker - The Kansas City Ballet (Nov 29 - Dec 24)
Christmas Festival - Kansas City Symphony (Dec 19 - 22)
The Kansas City area truly shines during the holiday season, offering families endless ways to celebrate, from magical light displays to unique seasonal adventures. Whether you’re visiting with Santa, taking a festive train ride, strolling through holiday lights, or cuddling up with alpacas, these experiences are sure to create special memories. Gather your loved ones, bundle up, and make the most of the holiday magic that Kansas City has to offer. I hope this guide helps you find the perfect holiday activities for a joyful and memorable season!
Visit my Free Holiday Lights blog to learn more fun Christmas things in Kansas City!
Updated - 10/29/2025 - Gabrielle Isom
