Looking for holiday fun in Kansas City as Christmas nears? We’ve got 18 ideas
It’s the week before Christmas, and you might still be looking for things to do to celebrate the holidays or entertain friends or relatives who are in town. Rest assured, you have a wide selection of holiday-themed options.
Topping the list are the final appearances of Gary Neal Johnson starring as Scrooge in the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s annual production of “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.” Johnson, who has played Scrooge in more than 1,100 performances since 2000, has announced he will end his remarkable run this year. The show runs through Dec. 27 at Spencer Theatre, although ticket availability is limited.
The same goes for another local holiday tradition, the Kansas City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” which runs through Dec. 24. You have plenty of other holiday activities to choose from in upcoming days, however, including light displays that will continue throughout the area until the end of the year and beyond.
Here are 18 ways you can celebrate the holidays in the last week before Christmas.
Theater and music
“Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol,” Kansas City Repertory Theatre: 7 p.m. Dec. 18, 8 p.m. Dec. 19, 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 20, 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 21, 7 p.m. Dec. 23, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 24, 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 26-27; Spencer Theatre ($12-$164; few tickets remain, some shows sold out). kcrep.org
“The Nutcracker,” Kansas City Ballet: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 1 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22-23, 1 p.m. Dec. 24; Kauffman Center ($65.50-$259.50; limited availability for most shows). kcballet.org
“Winterland: A Holiday Cirque Experience,” Quixotic: 7 p.m. Dec. 19, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 20, 5 p.m. Dec. 21, Crown Center Grand Theater ($35-$75; limited availability to all shows). quixoticfusion.com
“A Magical Cirque Christmas”: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Music Hall ($36.65-$60.45). magicalcirquechristmas.com
Folly Theater shows, with more info available at follytheater.org:
- Christmas with The Petersens, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 ($38-$44; $25 for students; $6-$20 for children)
- Marilyn Maye, Holly Jolly Follyday, 3:30 p.m. Dec. 21 ($22.50-$79)
- Spire Chamber Ensemble, Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight, 7 p.m. Dec. 23 ($41-$81)
Kansas City Symphony shows at the Kauffman Center, more info at kcsymphony.org:
- Christmas Festival, 7 p.m. Dec. 19, 1 and 7 p.m. Dec. 20, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 21 ($33-$103.50)
- “It’s a Wonderful Life” in Concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 23, 11 a.m. Dec.-24 ($58.55-$160)
Light displays and holiday experiences
“Holiday Reflections”: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, through Jan. 4, Union Station Grand Plaza ($8-$12). unionstation.org
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane: 5-10 p.m. through Dec. 31, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (free). opkansas.org
Plaza Lights: 5 p.m.-3 a.m. through mid-January, Country Club Plaza (free). countryclubplaza.com
Christmas in the Park: 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, through Dec. 31, Frank White Jr. Softball Complex (free). makeyourdayhere.com
GloWild: Time Traveler: 5:30-10 p.m. through Dec. 28 (closed Dec. 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
Festival of Lights: 5-10 p.m. Dec. 19-23, 26-29, Jan. 2-3; Powell Gardens in Kingsville ($10-$22; parking $10). powellgardens.org
Luminary Walk: Time slots 5-7:30 p.m. Dec. 19-20; also, Electric Glow (lights only), time slots 5-6:30 or 5-7:30 p.m. Dec. 22-23, 26-27, 29-30; Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens ($15-$17 for Luminary Walk, $10-$12 for Electric Glow). artsandrec-op.org
“Knights of Lights”: 5:30 to 9 or 10 p.m. Dec. 19-24, 26-31; Kansas City Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs ($13.02-$21.76). kcknightsoflights.com
