Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland
Stroll through holiday winter lands with the magic of candlelit trails, beautiful music, and unforgettable holiday traditions at Kansas City's local gardens and parks.
Weekends Nov. 23- Dec. 31 at Worlds of Fun. Holiday cheer rings out at Worlds of Fun during the annual WinterFest holiday celebration. Thousands of sparkling lights transform the park with an inviting glow that warms the heart and lifts the spirit. Witness festive live shows, meet iconic holiday characters, join holiday activities like ice skating and cooking decorating, ride select park attractions, and create lasting memories with family and friends. This holiday event takes place on select nights in November and December.
Festival of Lights: Powell Gardens
The first night of the season is Nov. 23. Enjoy this event on Thurs-Sun through Jan. 5. Admission charged. The Powell Gardens Festival of Lights offers a unique holiday experience in the Kansas City area. 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 mile-long walking path through six of the seven themed gardens. Enjoy free children’s activities each day from 4-8 p.m. including an ornament station to take the magic home with you!
See it Snow INSIDE! at Paradise Park
Weekends Nov. 23 - Jan. 5 at Paradise Park. Baby, it’s cold outside, but it’s warm here Paradise Park and you can experience some “North Pole” magic inside our Foam Factory, where it SNOWS INSIDE! You’re invited to come experience the wonder, get some energy out while keeping warm, and maybe you’ll even catch an elf or reindeer having a snowball fight!
Luminary Walk: Overland Park Arboretum
The Luminary Walk will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., three weekends, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, and Dec. 6-7, 13-14. Admission charged. This awe-inspiring annual tradition returns for its 20th year, as the glow of thousands of luminaries warm the winter landscape at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens' Holiday Luminary Walk. Make your way through this winter wonderland adventure, along the mile of candlelit trails featuring dazzling holiday lights, live music, Santa Claus in the Depot, horse-drawn wagon rides, hot cider around a campfire and mystical Gnome and Fairy Villages. Children will be thrilled to see Santa's Woodland Depot in the Train Garden and can visit him nightly from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. The luminary walk is held from 5 - 9 p.m. Last entrance is at 8 p.m.
FREE Dec. 7 at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs, MO. No registration required (all ages). Who’s hopping up that tree, making that sound or eating that birdseed? Find out the answer to these and many more questions as we explore the feathery creatures of our backyards. Weather dependent we will go outside to explore the nearby woods for cool bird species.
Conservation Families: Families Xplor Winter Night Hike
Dec. 12 at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs, MO. Registration required (families with children ages 6–13). A cold winter’s night is a great time to get out and explore the wonders of nature. Learn about nocturnal adaptations and strategies for coping in this dark and incredible world.
Orienteering: Navigating with Map and Compass
Dec. 14 at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs, MO. Registration required for each person attending (ages 10+; ages 10–16 must be accompanied by a participating adult). Put away the smartphones, tablets and GPS receivers to learn to navigate through the woods the old school way…and have some real fun! This program will present the basics of topographic maps, a baseplate compass and how to use both tools to travel from point to point. Bring a water bottle and dress for trekking off-trail.
Dec. 6-Jan. 12, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa, KS. Enjoy one of the region's most beautiful displays with a stroll through the lights.
Experience a holiday tradition as you hop on a hay wagon decorated with holiday lights and ride around Jowler Creek’s decorated vineyard while listening to Carols and sipping on a warm festive beverage. Holiday Hayrides start at 5:00 p.m. and leave approximately every 30-minutes thru 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the Holiday Hayride are $15/person and include a souvenir Jowler Creek mug and a delicious serving of a warm festive wine beverage. Reservations Required.
16th Annual Winter Soltice Torch Lit Hike
FREE Dec. 11, George Owens Nature Park, 1601 S. Speck Rd., Independence, MO. Enjoy this family favorite seasonal program as you walk the trails of George Owens Nature Park and enjoy holiday decorations, ice sculptures, and more.
Winter Solstice Celebration at Ernie Miller Nature Center
Dec. 21 from 4:30-7:30pm, Ernie Miller Nature Center, 909 N. K-7 Highway, Olathe, KS. Advance reservations required. Take a break from busy holiday festivities as we walk luminary lit trails along little Cedar Creek to witness the natural display of winter’s quiet time. Gather round for campfire treats of toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate. Dress for the weather. For more information call (913) 826-2800.
For more holiday events, see our KC Calendar.