The holiday season is already happening around KC. Here are 14 ways to celebrate
The holiday season in Kansas City traditionally kicks off with the switching on of the Plaza lights on Thanksgiving evening, but holiday activities have actually been going on for more than a week now.
“Holiday Reflections,” one of the area’s most popular seasonal attractions, opened in Union Station’s Grand Plaza on Saturday, Nov. 21. The walk-thru village features a re-creation of downtown Kansas City’s 1920s Petticoat Lane complete with historic storefronts, reproductions of the Holiday Crowns that once decorated downtown intersections, a new Gingerbread Village, a holiday gift shop and much more.
Nearly 200,000 people attended “Holiday Reflections” last year.
Also now open is the Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens as well as two stage offerings: the performance art group Quixotic’s “Winterland: A Holiday Cirque Experience” in Crown Center and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s popular annual staging of “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.” The KC Rep show will be your last chance to see Gary Neal Johnson star as Scrooge after more than 1,100 performances in that role since 2000.
Here are 14 ways to begin celebrating the holiday season:
Open now
Festival of Lights: 5-10 p.m. Nov. 20-23, 28-30, Dec. 4-6, 11-13, 19-23, 26-29, Jan. 2-3, Powell Gardens ($10-$22; parking $10). powellgardens.org
“Holiday Reflections”: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 21-Jan. 4, Union Station Grand Plaza ($8-$12). unionstation.org
“Winterland: A Holiday Cirque Experience,” Quixotic: Nov. 21-Dec. 21, Crown Center Grand Theater ($35-$85). quixoticfusion.com
“Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol,” Kansas City Repertory Theatre: Nov. 22-Dec. 27, Spencer Theatre ($54-$154). kcrep.org
Luminary Walk: Time slots from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20; also, Electric Glow (lights only), time slots from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 26, Dec. 10, 17, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29, and 30, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens ($15-$17 for Luminary Walk, $10-$12 for Electric Glow). artsandrec-op.org/arboretum
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane: 5-10 p.m. Nov. 27-Dec. 31, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (free). opkansas.org
GloWild: Time Traveler: 5:30-10 p.m. through Dec. 28 (closed Dec. 1-2, 8-9, 15-17 and 24), Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium ($22-$24). kansascityzoo.org
Winter Magic drive-thru lights show: Opens 6 p.m. every night through Jan. 4, Platte Purchase Park, 10400 N. Platte Purchase Drive ($20-$40 per vehicle). wintermagickc.com
Happening soon
Canadian Pacific Holiday Train: 6-6:45 p.m. Nov. 28, Union Station, Haverty Family Yards (free). cpkcr.com
Hallmark Christmas Experience: Weekends Nov. 28-Dec. 21, Crown Center Square (experiences and packages range from $5 to $699). experiencehallmarkchristmas.com
“Elf” in Concert, Kansas City Symphony: 7 p.m. Nov. 28, 1 and 7 p.m. Nov. 29, 2 p.m. Nov. 30, Kauffman Center ($75-$160). kcsymphony.org
“Knights of Lights”: 5:30 to 9 or 10 p.m. Nov. 28-30, Dec. 5-7, 12-14, 19-24, 26-31, Kansas City Renaissance Festival ($9-$20; early-bird rates available). kcknightsoflights.com
Mayor’s Christmas Tree lighting: 6 p.m. Nov. 28, Crown Center (free). crowncenter.com
“The Nutcracker,” Kansas City Ballet: Nov. 29-30, Dec. 5-7, 11-14 and 18-24, Kauffman Center ($34-$250). kcballet.org
This story was originally published November 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
