Kansas City's Best Christmas Lights
2017 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 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!
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.
Astro Botanicals Nov. 18 - Dec. 31 at Union Station 30 W. Pershing, Kansas City, MO. Experience a bold, new sculpture garden that’s going to catch the eye of nature lovers, art enthusiasts and will capture the hearts of the playful. Just outside Science City in the new Haverty Family Yards, eight inflatable sculptures between eight and 15 feet tall will “grow” in a unique and fantastical exhibition. The inflatable designs are purposefully massive in scale, so their multi-colored light displays give off a magical aura. “In the daytime they appear to be bigger-than-life ice sculptures, and at night, Astro Botanicals are illuminated in holiday colors for a dreamy winter wonderland feel,” says Tammy Ruder, Special Events Manager at Union Station. This newest addition to “Holidays Come Alive” will be visible from the West Yards Garage pedestrian bridge, but to truly be immersed with them, guest should plan to walk among them. During regular daytime hours, Science City guests are invited into the “garden” via Science City outdoor gates. For evening hours, Haverty Family Yards gates will be your access point. Either way, you won’t want to miss interacting and taking pictures with the sculptures titled, Magnolia Starship, Asparagus and Dragon Lotus. Astro Botanicals visits Kansas City for the first time and ONLY at Union Station. Union Station Members will experience it for FREE and non-members can expect a nominal charge.
Nov. 24- Dec. 30 at Worlds of Fun. Holiday cheer rings out at Worlds of Fun during the first annual WinterFest celebration. Thousands of sparkling lights transform the park with an inviting glow that warms the heart and lifts the spirit. Witness 10 live shows, meet over 16 iconic holiday characters, join 9 holiday activities like ice skating and cooking decorating, ride select park attractions, and create lasting memories with family and friends. We're especially excited to celebrate with Charlie Brown and Snoopy! Charlie, the gang, and a cast of 18 singers and dancers will present a Christmas Holiday Spectacular! This stunning display of holiday cheer includes high-kicking and a hefty amount of sequins to dazzle the audience. Charlie Brown even takes the stage to impress the audience with his extra special dance moves, but you can be assured the Snoopy and Lucy won’t let him steal the spotlight. All of the PEANUTS gang will be represented in this fast-paced spectacle, brought together with the talented performers who will delight with their harmonious vocals and fancy footwork in this Broadway-caliber show!
Festival of Lights Weekends Dec. 1 - Jan. 7 at Powell Gardens 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, MO. A lighting exhibition, artfully curated by the Powell Gardens Horticulture staff, the Festival of Lights includes botanically-themed lighting displays that begin at the garden entrance and stretch along a winding pathway through six of the seven themed gardens.
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 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 (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.
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane
At the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, 138th & Switzer in Overland Park. The display will run each night 5:00-10:00, Thanksgiving through early January. It's the fifth year but with new features including lots of animation. The 38-minute show is synchronized with music. Tune in to 90.5 Rose FM to hear holiday music as you watch this year's spectacular show. Bring some cocoa, cookies and blankets as you view the lights and hear the music from the warmth of your car. The display is at the main entrance of the Farmstead. Please turn off your vehicle's lights while watching the show.
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! The display of over 175,000 LED lights is synchronized to music and is a major holiday attraction in the Kansas City area. Started by Dr. Brad Vince, this Holiday Lights Display takes three men about three weeks to install and synchronize. If you live in the Kansas City area or you will be visiting during the holiday season, stop by 103rd & Metcalf in Overland Park. Emmanuel Baptist Church across the street gives you the best view. Tune your radio to channel 96.9FM to enjoy the show!
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.
Animated light show at Stagecoach Park (1205 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe). The show features 41,000 lights and more than 16 million color combinations. The 16 minute drive-up show is filled with animation, elves and music played through your vehicle radio. The show will run through New Year’s Eve on Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Gardner's Christmas in the Park
Cornerstone Park (215 N. Center, Gardner). Christmas lights decorate Cornerstone Park. where special events (Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt, Lighting Ceremony, etc) are held throughout the season.
Bonus Winter Light Events:
Holiday Luminary Walk Nov. 25 & 26; Dec. 2 & 3; Dec. 9 & 10 from 5-9pm at Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens 8909 W. 179th St., OPKS. The annual Holiday Luminary Walk at the Arboretum includes over 2 miles of candlelit paths, light displays, special music, wagon rides and Santa at the Train Depot.
Downtown Dazzle: Holiday Trolleys Saturdays from 5-9pm Nov. 25 - Dec.23, Hop on the FREE Downtown Dazzle Holiday Trolleys for a scenic ride up and down Kansas City’s Grand Boulevard. Between the KC Streetcar and our Holiday Trolleys, getting around during Downtown Dazzle is easy and free. Stop at the new Downtown Dazzle Holiday Lighting installations in Washington Square Park and KC Power & Light District. The dazzling light installations in Washington Square Park will turn on at the same time as the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting in Crown Center on Friday, November 24 and run through Jan. 1. Wander through Crown Center’s magnificent holiday lights and then make your way across Pershing Road, immediately north of Crown Center, to stroll through the Downtown Dazzle holiday lights. FREE!
Liberty Light Show Dec. 1 -3 from 6-9:30pm 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 from the comfort of their own cars. 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 are 15 minutes long, and begin every 45 minutes at 6:00pm, 6:45pm, 7:30pm, 8:15pm, 9:00pm.
Sar-Ko Aglow Dec. 1 from 6-9pm at Sar-Ko-Par Park, 87th Street Parkway & Lackman Road, Lenexa, KS. Kick off your holiday festivities this year by meeting up with friends and neighbors for a community celebration at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park for Sar-Ko Aglow. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with the lighting of Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. Bundle up and enjoy a stroll through the park while taking in the spectacular lights, sipping hot cocoa and listening to carolers.
14th Annual Winter Solstice Torch-lit Hike and Snowman Trail Dec. 13 from 5-6:30pm at George Owens Nature Park, 1601 S. Speck Rd., Independence, MO. Walk down a woodland path lit by torches to an ice sleigh, telescopes and a bonfire. Bring your camera for photos in the ice sleigh; view the night sky; see live owls; and drink free hot chocolate. Snowmen will be displayed beginning on Dec 13, The Winter Solstice Torch Lit Hike through Jan 31.
Winter Solstice Celebration Dec. 16 from 6:30-8pm at Ernie Miller Nature Center, 909 N. K-7 Highway, Olathe, KS. Take a break from the busy holiday festivities as we walk through the woods, along little Cedar Creek to witness the natural display of winter’s quiet time. The trails will be lit by luminaries. Warm up by the fireside and listen to ancient stories about the longest night of the year. Please note: Portions of this program will be outdoors. Advance reservations recommended. For more information call (913) 764-7759.
Many homes are beautifully decorated for the holidays - please comment below sharing the BEST neighborhoods to see the lights in KC!