Holiday Events in Kansas City

• Kansas City’s most iconic holiday display makes its return for the 96th year as the Country Club Plaza is adorned in thousands of twinkling lights. Explore the neighborhood and soak in the Evergy Plaza Lights all season. TBA
• Lace up your skates and take in the picturesque sights at the Crown Center Ice Terrace, recognized by USA Today as one of America’s top ice skating rinks. Skate rentals, lessons and private parties are available. Beginning Nov. 6
• Every moment of the season shines bright at Union Station. In addition to towering trees, festive decorations and classic seasonal films, the Holiday Reflections walk-thru village returns to offer a mesmerizing stroll through one of Kansas City’s most historic spaces. Nov. 20, 2026 through Jan. 4, 2027
• Make your way through Winter Magic at Platte Purchase Park, a mesmerizing drive-through display featuring a mile of lights. Proceeds benefit KC Parks improvement projects. Nov. 4, 2026 through Jan. 2, 2027
• Thanksgiving week marks the return of Christmas in the Park, a festive drive-through display in Longview Lake Park with more than 500,000 lights. The event is free, but donations are accepted to benefit local charities. Nov. 25 through Dec. 31, 2026
• The Soul of Santa brings a full lineup of holiday cheer to 18th & Vine and the Shops on Blue Parkway, including a tree lighting, community breakfast and toy giveaway, plus a benefit concert at the Gem Theater. Nov. 25, Nov. 28, Dec. 4-5, 2026
• Independence‘s Vaile Mansion offers tours of the stately Victorian property dressed in its finest holiday decor during A Victorian Fashionable Christmas. Nov. 27 through Dec. 27, 2026
• Stroll the glowing paths of Powell Gardens during the Festival of Lights, returning this season with new sparkling sights and installations to explore. Nov. 19, 2026 through Jan. 3, 2027
• Explore the holiday hub on the grounds of the KC Renaissance Festival. Knights of Lights offers thousands of twinkling lights, holiday music and visits with Santa, plus a few special events. Nov. 27 through Dec. 31, 2026

• A favorite tradition for many years, the Kansas City Balletperforms The Nutcracker at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, offering a sparkling start to the holidays. Nov. 28 through Dec. 24, 2026
• Also at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the Kansas City Symphony offers a pair of holiday performances in Handel’s Messiah and Christmas Festival, an energetic presentation of the season’s favorite tunes. Dec. 4-6, Dec. 17-20, 2026
• The Kansas City Repertory Theatre returns to the stage at Spencer Theatre for a favorite holiday tradition. Join Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and a cast of irresistible characters for performances of A Christmas Carol, select nights each week. Nov. 21 through Dec. 24, 2026
• The show (literally) goes on the road with the return of the KC Streetcar’s Holiday Jam, bringing a series of spirited live music performances to Kansas City’s popular mode of public transportation. TBA
• The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra presents A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring classic tunes from the beloved TV special with the whole Peanuts gang at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Dec. 8, 2026
• Embrace the holiday spirit with A Ruby Room Christmas from Music Theater Heritage at Crown Center. This show is sure to leave a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. Music, magic, and a dash of holiday mischief, too! Dec. 9-23, 2026
• See classic holiday movies like Elf and Polar Express at Union Station’s Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre, the biggest screen in Kansas City. Nov. 20 through Dec. 24, 2026 (dates vary by movie)
• The Trans Siberian Orchestra returns to Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center with its high-energy holiday show, packed with pyrotechnics, lasers, and the incredible storytelling. Dec. 29, 2026
• Celebrate the holidays with a musical review spanning multiple genres and decades. Christmas in Song at Quality Hill Playhouse has everything from traditional to contemporary, gospel to today’s hits. TBA Nov. 27 through Dec. 20, 2026
• Join Buddy the Elf on his heartwarming holiday adventure in Elf the Musical at The Coterie Theatre. This family-friendly production is packed with festive fun. TBA

• Always a favorite destination for the holidays, Crown Center shines brighter than ever with the Hallmark Christmas Experience. Visit the Crown Center Square to shop Hallmark gifts, cards and other exclusive merchandise—or browse the Christmas Market to find local vendors offering home goods, clothing and artisan gifts. Weekends, Nov. 27 through Dec. 20, 2026
• The City Market‘s Merry Market brings an outdoor shopping extravaganza to the neighborhood in partnership with Art Garden KC, featuring more than 75 retailers throughout the streets of the market. Stroll the area and pick up all of your holiday necessities across four weekends in November and December. TBA Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5-6, Dec. 12-13, Dec. 19-20, 2026
• Join the Strawberry Swing for the 16th Annual Holiday Swing where local artists and makers are ready to stock your shelves with crafts, handmade artwork and much more. This year, the open-air, European-style holiday market is returning to Union Station, the place where it all began! Nov. 21-22, 2026
• Find everything on your list and step into the holiday spirit at Legends Outlets in KCK. The shopping destination offers more than 75 stores and plenty of seasonal celebrations, including the annual Christmas tree lighting, holiday movies on the lawn and more. Beginning Nov. 13, 2026
• A brand new holiday celebration arrives in the streets of Kansas City’s oldest district this season. Browse local vendors and embrace the friendly cheer of live music performances, all enveloped in the allure of Westport‘s neighborhood charm, at the Westport Christmas Market. Dec. 12, 2026

Access more holiday resources to find all the ways you can celebrate the season in Kansas City, from stunning displays to shopping hotspots.

Holidays in KC