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Celebrating the Holidays in KC: A Guide to Festive Fun in Every Corner

The holiday season is here, and there’s no better place to celebrate than around Kansas City! From twinkling light displays and charming winter markets to family-friendly activities and unique traditions, every corner of the metro is brimming with holiday cheer. Whether you’re looking to sip hot cocoa at a festive parade, enjoy a magical breakfast with Santa, or countdown to the New Year at a local celebration, KC’s communities have something for everyone. Join us as we spotlight 10 must-visit destinations packed with holiday events and activities to make your season merry and bright!



Bonner Springs, KS: Choo Choo!! All aboard! The annual Santa’s Express returns to the National Agricultural Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs on Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is just $5 and includes a picture with Santa, train rides, children’s holiday activities and more! Tickets can be purchased on-site the day of the event.

Gardner, KS: Gardner has a variety of ways to get in the holiday spirit this season!  Bring the kids to visit Santa's Workshop on December 8th from 2:00 to 3:30pm at Cornerstone Park (215 N. Center) or have Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus on December 14th from 8:00 to 11:00am at the Johnson County Fairgrounds (136 E. Washington Street).  Professional photos will be available from Adams Pro Photo for just $5.00!   The fun continues on December 19th with a Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt at Cornerstone Park at 5:30pm.  Visit gardnerkansas.gov to view more details on these great events and let the festivities begin!

Leavenworth, KS: The first weekend of December will bring old-fashioned holiday cheer to “the First City of Kansas.” Friday through Sunday, a “Christmas Carol”-themed shopping event will take over our historic downtown, with offerings from enticing sales on handmade gifts to yuletide tunes sung by Dickensian characters. Saturday will add an outdoor, German-style Christmas market to the festivities, so be sure to grab a mug of glühwein to keep you warm as you shop. Meanwhile, Sunday is reserved for Leavenworth’s annual Vintage Homes Tour, with nine historic structures ready for exploration!

Lenexa, KS: On Friday, December 6th watch as Lenexa Mayor Julie Sayers flips the ON switch to miles of lights at one of the metro’s best holiday light displays! Lenexa’s annual Sar-Ko-Aglow lighting ceremony takes place at 6 pm in the Grand Pavilion east of Rose's Pond at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, 87th Street Parkway and Lackman Road. Enjoy Dickens Carolers and visit with Santa until 7pm. The display will light the night until January 20, 2025! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3CpjPNj

Liberty, MO: Head to Liberty, MO for a dose of holiday fun at Hometown Holidays on Saturday, December 7. Free fun for the whole family includes photos with Santa, kids crafts, roast your own s'mores, hot cocoa, live music, a petting zoo, caricature artists and MORE from 2-5 p.m. Cap off the evening with the Mayor's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5:10 p.m. For more information about this event and other holiday happenings in Liberty, visit https://visitlibertymo.com/245/Hometown-Holidays

Kansas City, KS: December in KCK is full of festive merriment with plenty of opportunities for Santa sightings! Catch the jolly guy all month long at Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop, and also at JINGLE!, a Christmas market and holiday light extravaganza at Legends Field. Have Breakfast with St. Nick December 7 at Strawberry Hill Museum and December 8 at Dave & Buster’s, or pay him a visit at NFM December 14-15 and December 21-22!

Kansas City, MO: Celebrate the holidays in the heart of America this winter. Kick off the season at Kansas City’s annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony on Thanksgiving night where the famed Country Club Plaza will glow with thousands of jewel-colored lights. If your plans keep you away from the lighting ceremony, the Plaza Lights will stay on through Jan. 12. There are plenty more holiday light displays to explore in Kansas City this season. Don’t miss the brilliant Holiday Reflections village at Union Station, the mesmerizing drive-through display at Winter Magic in the Northland or the movie magic of the Hallmark Christmas Experience at Crown Center.  

If you’re looking for more opportunities to get in the holiday spirit, Kansas City’s cultural institutions are producing plenty of stellar shows this winter. Favorite traditions like the Kansas City Ballet’s The Nutcracker and the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s A Christmas Carol return, plus holiday hits like A Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s A Wonderful Life come to the stage with the KC Jazz Orchestra and MTH Theater.

Don’t forget to support local as you check off your holiday shopping list. Neighborhoods like Crown Center, the Country Club Plaza, Brookside and the West Bottoms feature dozens of local businesses with the perfect gift for everyone this year. You can grab handmade goods, up-and-coming designs and more unique finds in every corner of Kansas City. Learn more at www.visitkc.com

Merriam, KS: Merriam is the place to be this holiday season, with festive activities for all ages! Get into the spirit with timeless traditions like writing letters to Santa and enjoying a magical breakfast alongside the jolly man himself. Join the festivities as the Mayor flips the switch to light up Merriam Municipal Plaza at Christmas in the Courtyard, or wrap up the year with a bang at Merriam's family-friendly Noon Year’s Eve Party, where you can welcome 2025 in style before bedtime. Discover all the joy and holiday cheer Merriam has to offer. Plan your holiday adventure today—learn more at www.exploremerriam.com/events 

Olathe, KS: The holiday season in Olathe is a magical time filled with twinkling lights, festive music, and community celebrations. Kick off the festivities at the Mayor’s Tree Lighting on Friday, December 6, from 5–8 PM, where you’ll enjoy holiday crafts, a performance by the Olathe Civic Jazz Band, and photos with Santa as the city lights up its Christmas tree. For live music lovers, don’t miss Olathe Live! Christmas at Eagles Landing at Lake Olathe, featuring Lester Estelle and Friends performing jazzy renditions of your favorite Christmas classics. Be sure to shop local at holiday markets and boutiques for unique gifts—just make a list and check it twice, because you won’t want to miss the festive finds in Olathe!

Overland Park, KS: Kick off your holiday season with a festive family walk through the lights at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens! The gardens are bright with color -  while the walkways through quiet woods are lit with candles. Trees, buildings, and bridges are all part of the show, with thousands of lights aglow. Photos with Santa are available from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m., and the trains run in the Train Garden from 5:00 to 8:45 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online. Learn more: www.visitoverlandpark.com

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