Three Classically KC Christmas Traditions

By Kristina Light

A Nighttime Fairyland

Starting in September, workers begin installing thousands of lights. Then, in the middle of the night before Thanksgiving, they secretly test the lights to ensure every bulb is bright. On Thanksgiving night, the magic begins as Kansas City’s “nighttime fairyland,” as it was known in the 1930s, comes to life! Kansas City’s landmark Country Club Plaza (CountryClubPlaza.com), opened in 1922, is perhaps most famous for its Christmas lights. The tradition began on Christmas Day 1925, when Charles Pitrat, the maintenance supervisor for the Nichols Company, decorated the Mill Creek Building with a single strand of lights and a few small trees. Every year, Pitrat added to the display, and now the Plaza boasts more than 80 miles of lights. You can enjoy the Country Club Plaza Christmas lights every evening Thanksgiving through mid-January.

Bah! Humbug!

When I’m enjoying A Christmas Carol at the KC Rep, a beloved KC tradition for more than 40 years, the theater magically becomes 1843 London, and the cast become the living embodiment of the characters they portray. Having read Dickens’ book almost every Advent for more than two decades, I am always amazed and impressed at the ability of the Rep’s stars to bring the characters so accurately to life. Topping the list is Ebenezer Scrooge himself, portrayed by Gary Neal Johnson, who has pronounced, “Bah! Humbug!” for audiences in the star role for years. Make it a tradition for your family to enjoy this annual holiday performance. KCRep.org Read our review of A Christmas Carol here.

Kansas City’s Own Fairy Princess

In 1935, Kline’s Department Store of Downtown Kansas City celebrated the grand opening of their Toyland. Santa came to other stores. Kline’s wanted to do something original to attract visitors, so they introduced the Fairy Princess. For 25 cents, children visited the princess, telling her their Christmas wishes. Then she waved her magic wand, making a surprise gift appear! Over the years, gifts were presented sliding from chutes, appearing on revolving turntables, hiding in fairyland trees or in magically opening trunks. The tradition continued, at just 25 cents, until Kline’s closed in 1970. The Fairy Princess returned in 1987, when the Kansas City Museum brought her back for Christmas. You can visit the Fairy Princess Dec. 7-10 at the Kansas City Museum. KansasCityMuseum.org