KC’s Best Christmas Lights
2023 Edition
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, sunset (5:30) to 10:00; however, there are a few exceptions. Check websites to verify times.
Tips to enjoy your drive-through Christmas Lights:
- Let the kids wear PJs during the trip. Bring cookies and cocoa in travel mugs.
- Play your favorite holiday songs and sing along in the car!
- Make sure you have a full gas tank and use the restroom BEFORE you head out on your adventure.
- Save your favorite light-sights in your GPS so you can visit them again easily!
- Share your experience on social media so your friends can also discover the best lights in town... link to our guide making it even easier!
Winter Magic
Nov. 2-Dec. 31, Kansas City, Missouri. Enjoy your favorite dancing holiday light show as you vibe away to the most modern versions of holiday classics. Bring your whole family to enjoy the city’s premier drive-thru winter event for just $25 per car. This year, enjoy a NEW Candy Cane Party Lane area. Reserve tickets at WinterMagicKC.com.
Holiday Light and Magic
Nov.16-Dec. 31, Bonner Springs. This drive-thru experience provides more than 60 large scenes including Santa, nutcrackers, elves—and nontraditional holiday surprises! Squeeze as many elves …er, humans … into the car as you want because Holiday Light and Magic is only $25 per car. This year, there are even MORE displays! Tickets at HolidayLightandMagic.com.
GloWild: Around the World presents North Pole Village
Thru Dec. 30, Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Santa Claus is coming to town for GloWild at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium! The popular lantern festival’s North Pole Village returns this year on Friday, November 17, with brand-new holiday lanterns. Santa will greet families each evening from 6 until 9 pm and is included with GloWild admission. North Pole Village will be available through December 30, when GloWild ends. In its second year, the GloWild Lantern Festival is a unique and immersive nighttime experience that takes guests “Around the World” through massive steel and silk works of art that feature global landmarks as well as animals and botanicals of the seven continents. The event is even bigger than last year with lanterns up to 50 feet tall! Holiday lanterns will be located in the Australia section of the Zoo. Mrs. Claus will also offer cookie decorating and s’mores for an additional fee each night from 5:30 to 9 pm. Guests walk a one-way path through the displays with opportunities to stop to enjoy photo opportunities, concessions, shopping, and live entertainment throughout the evening. Performances are held each night at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 pm near Elephant Expedition. In the case of inclement weather, performances will be held in the Beastro Lobby Auditorium. This evening event requires a timed ticket separate from daily zoo admission. KansasCityZoo.org
Enchant Christmas
Bring families and friends to Enchant Christmas to experience the world's largest Christmas light maze, 100' Christmas tree, ice-skating, food, gift and beverage vendors, and of course Santa and his elves! Enchant is an immersive experience weaving magic into every corner, perfect for joyful seasonal celebrations. Adventure through The Mischievous Elf, a captivating, larger-than-life light maze that is the cornerstone of the Enchant experience. Wander our Village of tiny storefronts featuring artisan vendors, specialty crafters, and boutiques - perfect for holiday gift gatherings. As you shop, satisfy your festive cravings and indulge in a tasty seasonal treat or delightful beverage. Glide through a dazzling forest of Christmas lights on the Ice Skating Trail. Making your way to Santa’s Landing is a must at Enchant. Stop by to let the big guy know what you want this year and get your annual snapshot. Professional photography is available. Purchase tickets online.
Festival of Lights
Wednesday-Sunday, Nov. 16-Dec. 30, Powell Gardens. Explore more than 20 miles of lights that turn Kansas City’s botanical garden into a winter wonderland. Stroll a lighted outdoor path to experience the natural joy of the most festive season. PowellGardens.org
Luminary Walk
Select Nights Nov. 24 – Dec. 20, Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Kick off your holiday season with a festive walk through the lights. Choose from three unique experiences this year. OPKansas.org
Holiday Reflections
Nov. 20-Jan. 1, Union Station. Breathtaking scenic elements and endless photo ops as this Kansas City icon comes to light for the holidays. Filling 27,000 sq. ft., the magical experience (with tickets starting at just $7) features spectacular sights and sounds of the season: sky-reaching lights, a forest of decorated trees, dazzling overhead ornaments and more. And while Kansas City’s famous outdoor fountains will soon be turned off for the season, Union Station’s newest addition to Holiday Reflections “Fountain Forest” will be turned on. This 4,500 sq. ft. indoor, illuminated fountain will make its debut inside Holiday Reflections. From the makers of similar fountains around the world – currently delighting guests at Universal Studios, Sea World and Walt Disney World – this custom fountain features a 30-foot liquid fireworks dance show set to the beat of favorite holiday songs. Also new this year, all 17 iconic Grand Plaza windows will be covered with “12 Days of Christmas” themed blackout curtains (more than 4,500 square feet of window coverings) making the brilliant lighting experience the same regardless of the time of day or night. Details, tickets and schedule at UnionStation.org/Holidays
Bonus: Kansas City’s Newest and Largest Holiday Pop-Up Bar For an adult’s night out -- and new this year and for three nights only -- Tinsel & ‘Tinis – an after-hours (ages 21+) themed evening experience in Holiday Reflections, complete with eight bars featuring a seasonally-themed drinks and more. Tinsel & ‘Tinis is scheduled for December 15th, 16th and 22nd from 8:30 – 11:30 PM and is sure to sell out at only $15 per person. Guests are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets NOW to Kansas City’s largest Holiday Pop-Up Bar! Details, tickets and schedule at UnionStation.org/Holidays
Sea of Lights
SEA LIFE Kansas City is celebrating the holiday season with their Sea of Lights event! Join us from Dec 1st through Jan 1st for an underwater holiday experience! Featuring festive underwater displays, photo ops, and colorful lighting experiences that will end your year with holiday cheer! Visit our winter wonderland under the sea this Christmas season! Dec. 1- Jan. 1
Christmas in the Park
Nov. 22-Dec. 31, Longview Lake Park. With more than 500,000 lights, 175 animated figures and splashes of Christmas color, this enchanting drive-thru winter wonderland’s magic will delight the entire family. JacksonGov.org/Events-Directory
Country Club Plaza Holiday Lights
Nov. 23-Jan. 14, Kansas City, Missouri. Enjoy more than 80 miles of illuminated strings of bulbs. CountryClubPlaza.com
Crown Center Mayor’s Christmas Tree
Nov. 24 - holiday season, Kansas City, Missouri. Tree arrives from Oregon on Nov. 2 and is put in its stand on Nov. 3. The 100-foot-tall tree is
adorned with 7,200 lights. CrownCenter.com
Northern Lights at Zona Rosa
Nov. 16 - holiday season. Zona Rosa's magnificent display features Kansas City's historic holiday crowns and majestic 55' Christmas tree! ZonaRosa.com
Lee's Summit Magic Tree
Lee's Summit Magic Tree moved this year to a NEW location at 1401 NW River Road in Lee's Summit, MO. The tree is lit with more than 12,000 LED lights in every color of the rainbow. Facebook.com/LSmagictree
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane
Nov. 23-Dec. 31, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. This 38-minute show is synchronized with music you can tune in on your radio. OPKansas.org/Events
Downtown Marriott Light Display
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 featuring a synchronized display of 30,000 bulbs and 16.7 million colors.
ALTA Sciences Animated Lights
Alta Sciences (101st & Metcalf, Overland Park). From mid-November through Christmas, the 175,000-LED light display is beautifully choreographed to music for an animated light show your children will love! ALTA Sciences Animated Lights
Sar-Ko-Aglow
Dec. 1-Jan. 15, Lenexa. Take a nighttime stroll around Rose’s Pond to view the beautiful light display in Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park throughout the holiday season. Lenexa.com
Paulie's Penguin Playground
NEW LOCATION: 8207 W 122nd St, Overland Park, KS 66213. This Penguin-themed Christmas display is an unforgettable explosion of holiday decor.
Stagecoach Park
(1205 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe). The show features 41,000 lights and more than 16 million color combinations. Stagecoach Park
Kustom Christmas Family Light Show in the Northland.
Kustom Christmas Lights located on NE 60th Ct and N. Spruce Ave KCMO. Light show runs from 11/24-1/1. Hours: 6pm-10pm Sunday thru Thursday, 6pm-11pm Friday & Saturday. Note: Chiefs songs play on game days! A Chiefs Light Show will continue through the remainder of the Chiefs Season. Show last approx 20 min (longer on Chiefs Game days). Tune your radio to 90.7, turn your headlights off and enjoy the show from your warm, cozy car! We do ask that guest stay in their cars and be mindful to not block our amazing neighbors driveways. :) Kustom Christmas Lights
Gardner's Christmas in the Park
Cornerstone Park (215 N. Center, Gardner, KS). Christmas lights decorate Cornerstone Park.
Christmas Acres
Christmas Acres will open in mid-November. 5pm- 10pm. Come out and join us for our 24th year of bringing Christmas to the country. Directions to the location in Knob Noster, MO.
AMAZING STREETS / NEIGHBORHOODS:
Candy Cane Lane: Outlook & 79th Street in Prairie Village. This neighborhood decorates with amazing displays. See candy canes, giant Christmas trees and beautifully lit homes.
Christmas on Bradshaw: 13810 Bradshaw Street, Overland Park, KS. This entire street and cul-de-sac are decorated with amazing lights synchronized to a holiday soundtrack that broadcasts on 99.9FM. The entire neighborhood is beautifully lit. And, this is only a few miles from Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.
Christmas Place: 8705 W 131st Place, Overland Park, KS. Over twenty homes in the Terrace Place subdivision are decorated and coordinated with the same festive theme. The kids especially love the Grinch display and Frosty, the Snowman!
69th Street off Ward Parkway: There are many streets in the 60s and 70s blocks along Ward Parkway that are entirely decorated with Christmas lights. This is a perfect addition to your visit to see the Country Club Plaza Lights.
Christmas Card Lane: Ridgeview & 151st Street in Olathe. This neighborhood decorates with beautiful Christmas lights and giant wooden Christmas cards.
Animated Light Display Benefitting Children's Mercy (326 E 70th Terrace Kansas City, MO). The show is launch-able from a website (Swobodalights.com) and I’m also using that site to help fundraise for Children’s Mercy. Hoping people that enjoy the show may be willing to donate a few bucks (optional).
40+ Inflatables and Lights:
4903 W 155th Terrace Overland Park, KS. 40+ inflatable and then lights too!
Johnson's Walk Thru Christmas Lights
25310 E 258th St Harrisonville, MO. Dozens of delightful painted wooden Christmas scenes all lit for the holidays.
North Pole Acres
1010 NW 1st St., Oak Grove, MO. $20 PER CAR. TUNE IN TO 87.9FM. Create unforgettable holiday memories this year by visiting the North Pole Acres Christmas light show in Oak Grove, Missouri. Gaze in utter amazement from the comfort of your vehicle as you fully immerse yourself in over one million Christmas lights and holiday-themed music. Learn more here.
Holiday Park and the South Pole in St. Joseph, MO
Beginning in 1981, members of the East Hills Optimists Club approached the Parks and Recreation Director with an idea to decorate Krug Park (3600 St. Joseph Ave. Saint Joseph, MO) for the holidays. These individuals envisioned a lit entrance and drive around Krug Park with a house for Santa and other lit decorations. These members volunteered to find people to set up the displays and man a donation booth to collect money to be used to enhance the decorations at the park. A contest was held to name the new park in the local elementary schools with a first grader, Steven Haywood, submitting the winning name, "Holiday Park". The South Pole was founded some years later when the Southside Progressive organization approached the Parks Department about decorating Hyde Park (402 E Hyde Park Ave, St Joseph, MO) for the holidays. Today, parks maintenance division employees work diligently from mid-October until the week of Thanksgiving decorating both parks. Lighting ceremonies are held the first Friday after Thanksgiving to officially open the parks to visitors. These winter wonderlands will remain open through January 2, with visiting hours from 6-10 pm, each night, weather permitting.
Lane of Lights: The Lane of Lights is located along Lovers Lane in East Valley Park in Excelsior Springs, MO.
If you have an addition to our guide, please email kristina@kcparent.com.