Celebrating Thanksgiving in Kansas City

Thanksgiving celebrations look a little different this year. Let's still remember to make memories and give thanks with our families this season! From charity 5Ks, to craft workshops, to lights... we have something for everyone.

Meal Inspiration:

• Save on Holiday Meals with Dream Dinners
• Festive and Flavorful Holiday Snacks
• Making Quality Time Thanksgiving's Secret Ingredient

Craft Inspiration:

• Thankful for You Thanksgiving Cards
• Fingerprint Turkeys
• Tin Can Thankful Trees
• Turkey Placecards
• Candy Indian Corn

Events:

• Thank Goodness for Thanksgiving

  Capture the spirit of Thanksgiving with family stories of turkey and pie and all things edible. To enjoy this virtual program, go to our MCPL360 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mcpl360/ at the scheduled day and time. All ages

• Holiday Happenings at Legends Outlets

  Although it may not be the most wonderful year, we still believe it's the most wonderful time of year! Legends Outlets hopes to make your spirits brighter with all the festivities we have planned throughout the season.

• Winter Magic | A Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Experience

  Drive thru nearly 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 of the most amazing, mesmerizing, 𝘞𝘐𝘕𝘛𝘌𝘙𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 magical holiday light experiences you've ever laid your gazers on.

• Crown Center Shops Open for Holiday Shopping

  Many of the Crown Center shops and restaurants have been operating under reduced hours, but will be open for holiday shopping.

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  Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens

  Advance reservations are required for non-members. Festival-goers will walk a mile-long path spread out over 25 acres through the Gardens featuring a variety of immersive light displays.

• Holidays Reflections at Union Station

  Enjoy Union Station’s magical new Holiday Reflections walk-thru holiday village. This spectacular themed experience fills Union Station’s massive Grand Plaza and features sky-reaching lights, dozens of decorated trees, forest friends and more.

• MINI HOLIDAY EXPRESS RIDE-ON TRAIN

  Take your little ones on a magical journey through giant nutcrackers, busy toy-making elves and a massive Rudy train steaming along a life-sized overhead track.

• Gobbler Gallop Virtual 5K Run/Walk

  Don't "fowl" victim to inactivity around the holidays. The Lenexa Rec Center's inaugural 🦃👟Gobbler Gallop 5K virtual run Nov. 23—27 will make you feel better about the Thanksgiving feast ahead.

• Crown Center Shops Open for Holiday Shopping

  Many of the Crown Center shops and restaurants have been operating under reduced hours, but will be open for holiday shopping.

• Ward Parkway Thanksgiving Day Run

  Ward Parkway Thanksgiving Day Run is going to happen LIVE! Runners will be sent out in waves for distancing!

• Country Club Plaza's 91st Lighting Ceremony: Virtual Event

  This year's Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving as a broadcast-only event. Watch the ceremony, including historical details, live performances and celebrity guest messages, on KMBC 9.

• Black Friday Shopping: Legends Outlets

  Legends Outlets is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, and opens at 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, for Black Friday shopping*. This year, Black Friday will include text-to-win giveaways, roaming character appearances, holiday movie screenings.

• Take-Home Puppet Theater Kit at T/m

  Be the star of the stage at home this Thanksgiving! Visit T/m on Wednesday, Nov. 25 and purchase a take-home shadow puppet theater kit for just $5 at the Visitor Services Desk.

• Arrival of Santa Claus

  Santa Claus will arrive in front of the Crown Center Shops in a horse-drawn carriage and will greet those gathered outside. Santa will then take up residence in Santa’s Gingerbread Station (Crown Center Showplace, Level 1) at 11 a.m.

• Sea of Lights

  SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium will shimmer with winter holiday spirit this December with the Sea of Lights experience!  Starting December 5th, guests can explore the Sea of Lights event, the only underwater light spectacular in Kansas City.

• Santa’s Gingerbread Station

  Santa Claus will welcome the public throughout the holiday season for visits, wish lists and photos. A photographer will be on-site to take photos for a fee or guests may take their own.

• Holiday Luminary Walk

  While the quiet woods are lit with candles lining the walkways, the gardens are bright with color. Trees, buildings, and bridges are all part of the show, with thousands of lights aglow.

• Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

  Lighting ceremony will be virtual.  Watch crowncenter.com for viewing details. The Mayor’s Christmas Tree and 37,500 festive holiday lights will brighten Crown Center Square through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021.

• SAVE A LIFE: BLOOD DRIVE DONATION

  Blood was stored for future transfusions for the first time in World War I. Since 2016, the National WWI Museum and Memorial has partnered biannually with the Community Blood Center in recognition of this life-saving achievement.

• FosterAdopt Connect

  Telethon on Giving Tuesday!

  Come on down for the FosterAdopt Connect Telethon this Giving Tuesday! Be dazzled by a swell lineup of variety acts and make a difference for foster kids during this throwback event when you take a generous lunch break on Facebook Live the Tuesda...