Kansas City sparkles in holiday splendor with magnificent displays across the metro! These are our top picks for the best Christmas lights in KC!
Most displays operate from Thanksgiving through Christmas from sunset (5:30) to 10:00; however, there are a few exceptions. Check websites to verify times.
Kansas City Mayor’s Christmas Tree
Crown Center Square (2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, www.crowncenter.com). Friday after Thanksgiving through Christmas. The tree is lit with a special ceremony (including fireworks choreographed to music) on Friday following Thanksgiving at 5:30. The 100-foot-tall tree is adorned with 7,200 lights. Tip: Beneath the mayor's tree enjoy a delightful wooden playground that makes a wonderful backdrop for family photos!
Legendary Christmas
Legends Outlets Kansas City (1843 Village West Pkwy., Kansas City, KS, www.legendsshopping.com). Enjoy the lights mid-November through Christmas. Unique lighting display on a 45-foot holiday tree created by a world-renowned technology-driven holiday lights team, all synchronized to music.
Christmas in the Park
Longview Lake Park (I-470 & View High Drive, Kansas City, MO, 816.503.4800); open Thanksgiving Eve through Christmas, Sun.-Thu., 5:30-10:00; Fri. & Sat., 5:30-11:00. This display is outstanding and worth the drive, even if you live 30-45 minutes away. It is also extremely popular, so weeknights are your best chance to avoid a long wait to see the display. Beware of deer en route as many live nearby!
Lee's Summit Magic Tree
Lee's Summit Magic Tree is located at I-470 and View High Drive (a great addition to your Christmas in the Park light-seeing trip). Hours of Operation: 5:00-1:00 daily. The tree is lit with more than 12,000 LED lights in every color of the rainbow. You are invited to pull into the drive, take photos with the family and share them on social media with #LSmagictree. Donations are accepted at the tree in partnership with Lee’s Summit Social Services to provide a charitable outlet for those interested in supporting the community’s families in need.
Country Club Plaza
Country Club Plaza (Info Center: 4745 Central, Kansas City, MO, www.countryclubplaza.com). Take in the lights Thanksgiving through mid-January. Kansas City’s Christmas tradition begins with a lighting ceremony, complete with fireworks, from 6:00 to 7:00 on Thanksgiving evening. Enjoy more than 80 miles of lights. The best view is atop the parking lots.
The Ultimate Tree
At the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, 138th & Switzer in Overland Park. The display will run each night 5:00-10:00, Thanksgiving through Jan. 5. Visit http://www.theultimatetree.com/news.html for information. The Ultimate Holiday Tree™ is a giant flat panel Christmas lighting display with thousands of LED bulbs. Enjoy a light show synchronized to music with animation, lighting effects, patterns and messages. This must-see display was featured on HGTV's All Out Christmas. The display is more than 30 minutes long if you watch in its entirety. Bring some cocoa and cookies for the fun!
Downtown Marriott
Downtown Marriott (200 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO) The 20-story hotel provides an animated holiday display showing your favorite holiday characters and greetings.
Vince & Associates Animated Lights
Vince & Associates Clinical Research (101st & Metcalf, Overland Park). From mid-November through Christmas, this display is beautifully choreographed to music for an animated light show your children will love! Tune your radio to the station listed on their sign and watch the show! Tip: Park at Emanuel Baptist Church (directly across the street) for the best view!
Northern Lights at Zona Rosa
Zona Rosa (I-29 & Barry Road, Kansas City, MO, www.zonarosa.com). From mid-November through Christmas, Zona Rosa restores the local tradition of using crowns as holiday décor. A variety of lighted crowns are featured throughout the center during the holidays, as well as at the featured Christmas tree in the town square. Lighting ceremony (with the arrival of the Fairy Princess, Santa and real reindeer) on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Dickens carolers will perform on the square on select dates throughout the season. After seeing the lights, visit the Grove for a fun indoor playground.
Liberty Light Show
Dec. 4-Jan. 1 at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church (1600 North 291 Highway, Liberty, MO). This FREE drive-in Christmas light display will be synchronized with live musicians in the PV parking lot. It’s a family-friendly show that will capture the hearts of many. Audiences will tune their radios to hear live performances of Christmas favorites like the Jingle Bell medley and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Christmas Eve Sarajevo (Carol of the Bells). Through a simple narrative, the Gospel story will be weaved throughout the show, inviting guests to discover the true reason for the season. Guests can view the 15-minute show from the warmth of their vehicles on a first-come, first-serve basis. Shows begin every 45 minutes. Kids will be offered free glow sticks and adults can participate in a drawing for Best Buy & Target gift cards.
Stagecoach Park
Animated light show at Stagecoach Park (1205 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe). The show features 41,000 lights and runs Mon.-Thu., 5:30 to 10:00, and Fri.-Sun., 5:30-11:00.
Sar-Ko-Aglow
Sar-Ko Aglow at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park (87th & Lackman, Lenexa) features beautiful trees around a pond.
Gardner's Christmas in the Park
Cornerstone Park (215 N. Center, Gardner).