Nov. 16 thru Dec. 31: KC metro area Christmas events calendar
ACTIVITIES
Holiday Luminary Walk, Nov. 23 & 24, Nov. 30 & Dec. 1 & Dec. 7 & 8, 5-9 p.m., Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, $9 & $10, all ages, https://www.opkansas.org/events/holiday-luminary-walk/,913-685-3604
WinterFest, select nights, Nov. 23-Dec. 31, Worlds of Fun, 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave., KCMO, amusement park rides, festive shows, holiday characters, ice-skating & more, all ages, $15-$46 + taxes & fees, https://www.worldsoffun.com/play/winterfest, 816-454-4545
Sar-Ko Aglow, Nov. 30-Jan. 13, 6 p.m. lighting, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, 87th Street Pkwy & Lackman Road, Lenexa, all ages, lighting ceremony, carolers, Santa & hot cocoa, free, https://www.lenexa.com/government/departments___divisions/parks___recreation/festivals_events/sar-_ko_aglow, 913-477-7135
A Dickens of a Christmas Tour, Dec. 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Vaile Mansion, 1500 N. Liberty Street, Independence, Mo., adults, $15 for 1, $25 for 2, hors d'oeuvres & champagne, favorite Dickens characters from A Christmas Carol, https://www.vailemansion.org/events, 816-325-7430
Plaza Lights Helicopter Tours, Nov. 15-Dec. 31, 3-9:45 p.m., Timberview Choppers, Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport, 10 NW Richards Road, KCMO, $145 for up to 3 passengers, http://www.destinhelicopters.com/kansas-city.php, 816-365-7691
Mini Holiday Express Train, rides thru Dec. 31, ride schedule on Website, Union Station, children under 48 inches tall, once a popular Christmas attraction at the downtown Jones Store, $5, https://www.unionstation.org/holidays/, 816-460-2020
Santa’s Wonderland, Dec. 5, 6-8 p.m., Gillham Park in KCMO, a visit from Santa, Christmas entertainment by Starlight STARS of Tomorrow & light display, free, https://kcparks.org/event/santas-wonderland-gillham-park-18/, 816-513-7500
Santa’s Wonderland, Dec. 8, 5:30-8 pm, Penguin Park, 4124 NE Vivion Rd., KCMO, free, a visit from Santa, Christmas entertainment by Starlight STARS of Tomorrow & light display, hot chocolate, https://kcparks.org/event/santas-wonderland-penguin-park/, 816-513-7500
Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train with Santa, Dec. 14-18, times vary, Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Rd, KCMO, free, reservations recommended, 18th annual run, the Holiday Express train bringing Santa includes a smiling tank car Rudy; a flatcar carrying Santa's sleigh, reindeer & a miniature village; a gingerbread boxcar; the elves' workshop; the reindeer stable; & a little red caboose, https://www.unionstation.org/events/kansas-city-southern%E2%80%99s-holiday-express-train, 816-460-2020
Winter Wonderland, Dec. 15 & 16, 9:30 am-4 pm, Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Drive, KCMO, see zoo transformed into magical winter wonderland & Santa bringing gifts to the resident animals & diving underwater with the penguins, all ages, price included in zoo admission $13-$16, https://www.kansascityzoo.org/, 816-595-1234
MUSIC
Hometown Holiday Concert & Reception, Nov. 16, 7 pm, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, Celtic concert with The Elders in one of their final performances plus cocktails, desserts & special holiday lights, seating limited, $65, https://www.kauffmancenter.org/, 816-994-7223
Christmas in Song, Nov. 23-Dec. 23, matinees & evening performances, Quality Hill Playhouse, 303 W 10th St., KCMO, 17th annual Christmas cabaret, sacred & secular, popular & traditional $41, senior & student discounts, http://qualityhillplayhouse.com/shows_category/2018-2019-season/, 816-421-1700
Holiday Choirs, Nov. 26-Dec.21, Crown Center, free, all ages, 130+ area school, church & community choirs performing daily, https://www.crowncenter.com/events/holiday-choirs-2018, 816-274-8444
Deep in the Heart of Christmas, Nov. 30, 8 pm, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, $51.50-$101.50, the Kansas City Symphony with The Texas Tenors presents a holiday concert with seasonal favorites & original hits, https://www.kauffmancenter.org/, 816-994-7222
Sleigh!, Dec. 1, 8 pm & Dec. 2, 4 pm, Folly Theatre, 300 W 12th St., KCMO, Heartland Men’s Chorus annual Christmas concert, $15-$67, http://hmckc.org/holiday/, 816-931-3338
Winter Wonderland, Dec. 4, 7 pm, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, $41.50-$66.50, Kansas City Jazz Orchestra with organist Chris Hazleton perform hip renditions of holiday tunes, https://www.kauffmancenter.org/, 816-994-7222
Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 7-9, 2 & 7 pm, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, $31.50-$81.50, the Kansas City Symphony & Chorus perform Handel’s choral masterpiece, https://www.kauffmancenter.org/, 816-994-7222
Sleigh!, Dec. 9, 4 pm, Yardley Hall, Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kan., all ages, Heartland Men’s Chorus annual Christmas concert, $15-$67, http://hmckc.org/holiday/, 816-931-3338
Buddy’s Holly Jolly Christmas, Dec. 14-16, 7 pm, MTH Theater Stage 2 at Crown Center, $31, Zachary Stevenson performs holiday favorites & Buddy Holly classics, https://musicaltheaterheritage.com/buddys-holly-jolly-christmas/, 816-221-6987
Christmas Festival, Dec. 14-18, 1, 2 & 7 pm, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, $21.50-$86.50, the Kansas City Symphony & Chorus perform Christmas carols & yuletide songs, https://www.kauffmancenter.org/, 816-994-7222
Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 19, 7 pm, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, $41.50-$51.50, the Spire Chamber Ensemble & Baroque Orchestra perform Handel’s masterpiece with period instruments, https://www.kauffmancenter.org/, 816-994-7222
Candlelight, Carols & Cathedral, Dec. 16, 2 pm, Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th St., KCMO, all ages, William Baker Festival Singers with Kansas City Bronze handbell ensemble & organist Canon John Schaefer present beloved traditional carols for organ & choir, $5-$50, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/candlelight-carols-cathedral-william-baker-festival-singers-tickets-47829508347, 913-403-9223
PERFORMANCE
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, Nov. 6-Dec. 30, matinee & evening performances, The Coterie Theatre, Crown Center, KCMO, all ages, $13-$19, https://www.crowncenter.com/events/rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer-musical, 816-474-6552
A Christmas Carol, Nov. 16-Dec. 30, matinee & evening performances, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, 4949 Cherry St., KCMO, performance schedule on Website, $38-$107, http://kcrep.org/show/a-christmas-carol, 816-235-2700
The Nutcracker, Nov. 20-Dec. 23, matinee & evening performances, Kansas City Ballet at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, performance schedule on Website, $40.50-$140.50, https://www.kcballet.org/, 816-931-8993
Plaza Lighting Ceremony, Nov 22, 5-8 pm, Main Stage at Nichols Rd. & Pennsylvania Ave., free, pre-show performances & giveaways, 89th annual flip-of-the-switch & fireworks, post-ceremony concert by The Elders, https://www.countryclubplaza.com/event/75412/kcpandl_plaza_lighting_ceremony
Fred the Flake or There’s no Business Like Snow Business, Nov. 23-Jan. 1, matinee & evening performances, Martin City Melodrama, 702 Blue Ridge Ext., Grandview, Mo., all ages, $12.99-$14.99, world premiere operetta set to music from Bach to Justin Bieber & Bruno Mars https://martincitymelodrama.org/, 913-642-7576
A Spectacular Christmas Show, Dec. 6-23, matinee & evening performances, MTH Theater at Crown Center, singing, dancing, show tunes & Christmas carols, fun stories & a visit from St. Nick, all ages, $27-$58, https://musicaltheaterheritage.com/portfolios/spectacular-christmas-show/, 816-221-6987
OUTDOOR LIGHT DISPLAYS
Vince & Associates Holiday Lights, Nov. 16-Jan. 1, 10103 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kan., free, over 200,000 LED lights synchronized to Christmas music, https://www.vinceandassociates.com/about/holiday-lights-display
Lee’s Summit Magic Tree, Nov. 21-Jan.5, 24/7, I-470 & View High Drive, Lee’s Summit, Mo., free but donations of new, unwrapped toys for Operation Toy Soldier, 3,000 programmable LED lights in all colors, http://lsmagictree.com/
Christmas in the Park, nightly Nov. 21-Dec.31, Longview Lake Campground in Longview Lake Park, ride begins at Frank White Softball Complex, 3901 SW Longview Rd, Lee’s Summit, Mo., free, more than 300,000 colorful lights in 175-plus animated displays, https://www.makeyourdayhere.com/318/Nov-21---Dec-31-Christmas-In-The-Park, 816-503-4800
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane, Nov. 22-Jan. 7, 5-10 pm, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, all ages, free, https://www.opkansas.org/things-to-see-and-do/deanna-rose-childrens-farmstead/deanna-rose-special-events/, 913-897-2360
Country Club Plaza, Nov. 22- Jan. 17, 5 p.m-3 a.m. daily, https://countryclubplaza.com/events/, 816-753-0100
Festival of Lights, Nov. 23-Jan. 6, Thursday thru Sunday 3-10 pm, Powell Gardens, 1609 N.W. U.S. 50 (30 miles east of Kansas City), botanically-themed displays utilizing more than 10 miles of lights all ages, $5-$12, https://powellgardens.org/events-exhibits/powell-gardens-festivals/festival-lights-illuminated-kcpl/, 816-697-2600
Downtown Dazzle, Nov. 22-Dec. 31, downtown KCMO, downtown buildings lit up in annual celebration of lights anchored by the Mayor’s Christmas Tree at Crown Center & Union Station, free, https://www.downtowndazzle.com/lighting-displays/
INDOOR HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS
Holidays Come Alive, Nov. 17, 10 am, Grand Plaza at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Rd, KCMO, free, largest indoor Christmas tree, lighting ceremony at 6:30 pm, mini train rides, family-friendly hands-on activities, puppets, face-painting, performances by bands, youth ballet & Starlight Stars, https://www.unionstation.org/events/holiday-kickoff, 816-460-2020
Santa’s Gingerbread Station, Nov. 23-Dec. 31, during shopping hours, Showplace at Crown Center, free, https://www.crowncenter.com/events/gingerbread-station-2018, 816-274-8444
Tis the Reason for the Season, Nov. 23-Dec. 30, Bingham-Waggoner Estate, 313 W. Pacific Ave., Independence, Mo., all ages, $3-$6, https://www.bwestate.net/events/, 816-461-3491
Victorian Christmas Tour, Nov. 25-Dec. 30, Mon.-Sat., 10 am-4 pm, Sunday 1-4 p.m., Vaile Mansion, 1500 N. Liberty Street, Independence, Mo., adults $6, children $3, https://www.vailemansion.org/, 816-325-7430
Holiday Model Train Display, thru Jan. 2, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Sprint Festival Plaza at Union Station, 18 trains running over 800 feet of track free & 15-foot tall 3D lighted Kansas City Southern “Rudy” train engine, http://www.unionstation.org/holidays/, 816-460-2020
MAYOR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGS
Mayor’s Holiday Tree, Nov. 16, 4:30 pm, downtown Overland Park under the clock tower, 7911 Santa Fe Drive, https://downtownop.org/holiday-tree-lighting/, 913-642-2222
North Kansas City Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting, Nov. 16, 6 p.m., City Hall, 2010 Howell St., NKCMO, free, http://www.nkc.org/departments/parks_and_recreation/events, 816-274-6000
Gladstone Mayor’s Christmas Tree, Nov. 20, 6 pm, Linden Square, 602 NE 70th St, Gladstone, Mo., free, https://www.gladstone.mo.us/calendar.php, 816-436-2200
Kansas City Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting, Nov. 23, 5:30 pm, Crown Center Square, free, https://www.crowncenter.com/events/mayors-christmas-tree-lighting-ceremony, 816-274-8444
Olathe Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting, Nov. 30, 6-8:30 pm, Olathe Community Center, 1205 E. Kansas City Road, Olathe, free, Santa & Mrs. Claus, music by local school choirs & activities, https://www.olatheks.org/government/parks-recreation/special-events/celebrate-olathe, 913-971-8563
