When, where and who of Kansas City’s Plaza lights, mayor’s Christmas tree ceremonies
Update: Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu had a schedule change so will not be the special guest at Friday’s Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting, organizers said Wednesday morning.
The holiday season will kick into high gear this weekend with the Plaza lighting ceremony and the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting as well as the openings of two popular attractions:
▪ Six members of the KC Current women’s soccer team will flip the switch at the traditional Thanksgiving Plaza lighting ceremony; festivities begin 5 p.m. Nov. 25, with flip-switching at 6:52 p.m. and fireworks following. countryclubplaza.com.
▪ Mayor Quinton Lucas will flip the switch of the 100-foot tree at the Crown Center Square, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26. crowncenter.com.
▪ “Holiday Reflections,” a walk-thru village, will fill Union Station’s Grand Plaza, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 26-Dec. 27 ($5-$8). unionstation.org.
▪ Visitors to the Luminary Walk can enjoy the candlelit trails at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 5-9 p.m. Nov. 26-27, Dec. 3-4, 9-11 and 16-18 ($15). artsandrec-op.org/arboretum.
Music
▪ Raheem Devaughn, Carmichael Music Love and more, 6 p.m. Nov. 26, Scottish Rite Temple ($55-$100). eventbrite.com.
▪ Kansas City Symphony, “Schumann’s ‘Rhenish’ with Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto,” 8 p.m. Nov. 26-27, 2 p.m. Nov. 28, Kauffman Center ($25-$92). kcsymphony.org.
▪ Delynia Jannell, Lady D, Eboni Fondren and J Love will be among the musicians at the Blue Room’s Happy Birthday Ida McBeth! Celebration honoring the Kansas City jazz legend, 8:30 and 10 p.m. Nov. 26 ($10-$15). eventbrite.com.
▪ Winter House Concert with Calvin Arsenia and Flutienastiness, 1:30 p.m. Nov. 27, Kansas City Museum (sold out). eventbrite.com.
▪ Samidoh, 7 p.m. Nov. 27, Best Host Inn ($40-$45). eventbrite.com.
▪ Midwest Chamber Ensemble, “Beethoven, Reger and Boulanger,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection ($17; students free). midwestchamberensemble.org.
▪ Playboi Carti, 7 p.m. Nov. 28, Cable Dahmer Arena ($29.95-$74.95). cabledahmerarena.com.
▪ Waterparks, 7 p.m. Nov. 29, The Truman ($28.50-$55). thetrumankc.com.
More entertainment
▪ Before filling up on turkey and stuffing, runners and walkers can enjoy the Thanksgiving Day 5K and Family Stroll at Aspiria (former Sprint Campus) benefiting the Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation and WIN for KC, 9 a.m. Nov. 25 ($35-$40). sportkc.org/thanksgiving-day-5k.
▪ “Christmas in Song” at Quality Hill Playhouse will feature traditional carols and new favorites, opens 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26; runs through Dec. 24 ($42-$45). qualityhillplayhouse.com.
▪ The Theatre for Young America’s “The Elves and the Shoemaker” will open at City Stage Theatre in Union Station, 2 p.m. Nov. 27; runs through Dec. 23 ($10-$12). tya.org.
▪ “Dance Nation,” a co-production with UMKC Theatre directed by Heidi Van, will open at Unicorn Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1; runs through Dec. 19 ($22-$44). unicorntheatre.org.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
