special November calendar of select admission-free metro-area Christmas events
ACTIVITIES
Bright Light Friday, Nov. 25, 10:30 a.m., Kansas City, Mo., Public Library Plaza branch, 4801 Main St., KCMO, all ages, Skip the craziness of Black Friday shopping. Sing, dance, and celebrate the start of the Christmas season with Kansas City-based kid rocker Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove, registration required, www.kclibrary.org/node/20625/register, 816-701-3407
Santa’s Gingerbread Station, opens Nov. 25, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., KCMO, all ages, explore this interactive exhibit, meet & have your photo taken with Santa Claus & climb aboard the Crown Center Express Train Engine, and enjoy Gingerbread Village. Photos with Santa are available for a fee, or you may take your own, www.crowncenter.com/Event-List/ , 816-274-8444
The Polar Express, Nov. 25, 6:30 p.m., Public Library Plaza branch, 4801 Main St., KCMO, Rated G, Kick off the holiday season with a screening of Robert Zemeckis' 2005 film, starring Tom Hanks, https://www.kclibrary.org/
A One-Room Schoolhouse Christmas, Nov. 26, 1-4 p.m., Lanesfield Historic Site, 18745 S. Dillie Road, Edgerton, Kan., all ages, Drop in for an old-fashioned Christmas! Write a letter to Santa with pen and ink and create your very own ornament. What do oranges have to do with Christmas? What types of gifts were given? Learn how Christmas was celebrated in 1904! Find old-fashioned stocking stuffers in our gift shop, http://jcprd.com/apps/events/, 913-893-6645
Holiday Entertaining & Crafts, Nov. 28, 7 p.m., Midcontinent Public Library, Riverside, 2700 NW Vivion Road, Riverside, Mo., adults, from a creative spin on wassail to a quick and delicious coffee drink, barista Emily Duffey can help you create easy and mouthwatering holiday drinks that can be made kid-friendly or spiced up for more grown-up tastes. Recipes will be provided., registration required, http://events.mymcpl.org/register.php?eid=eid-9945, 816-816-741-6288
EVENTS
Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, Nov. 18, 5:30 p.m., downtown Overland Park under the clock tower, 7911 Santa Fe Drive, Dickens Carolers, hayrides, donuts & hot chocolate & a visit from Santa, http://downtownop.org/holiday-tree-lighting/, 913-642-2222
Christmas on the River, Nov. 18, 6 p.m., downtown Parkville, Mo., south Main Street, all ages, 24th annual holiday celebration, live entertainment including Park Hill School District children’s choir, fun things to see and do, delicious dining and treats, plus our famous holiday fireworks, http://www.parkvillemo.org/event/christmas-on-the-river/, 816-505-2227
Mayor’s Tree Lighting, Nov. 18, 6 p.m., downtown Lee’s Summit, Mo., Third & Douglas streets, hot drinks & cookies, choir performances & a visit from Santa, http://downtownls.org/events/, 816-246-6598, info@downtownls.org
Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting, Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 701 N. 7th Street, KCK, all ages, lighting ceremony & music performed by the Kansas City Kansas Community Orchestra, http://kckorchestra.org/?tribe_events=mayors-chirstmas-tree-lighting
Northern Lights Holiday Lighting Ceremony, Nov. 19, 4 p.m., Zona Rosa Town Square, 8640 N. Dixson Ave., KCMO, all ages, holiday music, crafts for kids, lighting ceremony & arrival of the holiday Fairy Princess & Santa Claus, www.zonarosa.com/EVENTS, 816-587-8180
Annual Holiday Lighting, Nov. 19, 4:30-9 p.m., Union Station, Sprint Festival Plaza & Grand Hall, 30 W. Pershing Road, KCMO, all ages, 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Arrival of the “The People’s Tree” on its way to be put on display at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. for the holiday season. Take a photo with the 80 foot Engelmann Spruce Tree and learn about our National Forests; 6:30 p.m.: experience the largest indoor lighting ceremony with the lighting of the station and a “Holidays Come Alive” performance by Quixotic in Sprint Festival Plaza and Grand Hall; 7-9 p.m.: Mini Train Ride Opens & is free for all riders today only, http://www.unionstation.org/events/holiday-kickoff-ceremony
Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting, Nov. 22, 6 p.m., Linden Square, Gladstone, Mo., 70th & N. Cherry Street, holiday music, skating, Santa Claus & more, www.gladstone.mo.us/calendar.php, 816-436-2200
20th Annual Christmas in the Sky, Nov. 23, 5-8 p.m., Longview Lake Beach, 11101 Raytown Road, KCMO, all ages, Enjoy a holiday stage show with performances by Tevin Williams, Maggie Marx & a cast of 100 talented singers & dancers from Monica's School of Dance. Delight in the arrival of Santa in a mule-drawn sleigh, the First Gift of Christmas & a Holiday Fireworks Spectacular choreographed to your favorite Christmas tunes & simulcast on 99.7 The Point, http://www.makeyourdayhere.com/Calendar.aspx?EID=79&day=9&month=11&year=2016&calType=0, 816-503-4800
87th Annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony, Nov. 24, 5-8 p.m., main stage at Nichols Road & Pennsylvania Ave., KCMO, Christmas music performed, lighting ceremony & fireworks, concert by The Elders, www.countryclubplaza.com/event/plaza-lights/
Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting & Ceremony, Nov. 25, 5:30 p.m., Crown Center Ice Terrace, 2450 Grand Blvd., KCMO, www.visitkc.com/event-detail/mayors-christmas-tree-lighting, 816-274-8444
Santa Visits Downtown Lee’s Summit, Nov. 26, 2-4 p.m., Lee’s Summit History Museum, 220 SW Main Street, Lee’s Summit, Mo., http://downtownls.org/events/, 816-246-6598, info@downtownls.org
MUSIC
Holiday Choirs, starting Nov. 28, 10:45 a.m., Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., KCMO, all ages, Trail Ridge Middle School performing Christmas carols, www.crowncenter.com/Events/Choir-Schedule?utm_source=choir%2Bredirect&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=choir%2Bschedule , 816-274-8444
PERFORMANCE
A Christmas Carol with Gerald Dickens, Nov. 22, 10 a.m., Midcontinent Public Library, Colbern Road Branch, 1000 NE Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit, Mo., all ages, Gerald Dickens, the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens in a special engagement. A professional actor in England, he portrays the voices of "A Christmas Carol." His striking resemblance to his great-great-grandfather and his dramatic rendition of "A Christmas Carol" bring the classic to life. Refreshments will be served. No audio or visual recordings or still photographs are allowed during the performance, registration required, http://events.mymcpl.org/register.php?eid=eid-10370, 816-525-9924
A Christmas Carol with Gerald Dickens, Nov. 22, 7 p.m., Midcontinent Public Library, Lee’s Summit Branch, 150 NW Oldham Pkwy., Lee’s Summit, Mo., registration required, http://events.mymcpl.org/register.php?eid=eid-10344, 816-524-0567
Night Before Christmas Carol, Nov. 28, 1:30 p.m., Midcontinent Public Library, Blue Springs North Branch, 850 NW Hunter Drive, Blue Springs, Mo., ages 8 & up, Join Charles Dickens in his study for a very special night. On this evening in 1843, he creates his holiday classic, "A Christmas Carol." Renowned Dickens scholar, author, playwright, and lecturer, Elliot Engel has crafted a work that allows David zum Brunnen to portray the 17 "Christmas Carol" characters and Charles Dickens himself, registration required, http://events.mymcpl.org/register.php?eid=eid-10371, 816-224-8772
EXHIBITIONS
Christmas in the Park, opens Nov. 23, 5:30-10:30 p.m. nightly, Longview Lake Campground, 1499 SW County Park Road, Lee’s Summit, Mo., all ages, freewill offerings benefit local charities, www.makeyourdayhere.com/Calendar.aspx?EID=80&day=9&month=11&year=2016&calType=0, 816-503-4800
EBT Santa’s Countdown to Christmas, opens Nov. 25, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., KCMO, all ages, one of Kanas City's favorite pieces of Christmas nostalgia, EBT Laughing Santa, who first appeared at KC's Emery, Bird, Thayer department store in the early 1900s, www.crowncenter.com/Event-List/, 816-274-8444
