Best of December

Enjoy extraordinary shows, exhibits and holiday fun. Our top picks for December in Kansas City are here.

Note: We are looking forward to each event on this list. They are numbered to correspond with their position on the map, not in order of preference. We love them all.

• December Shows at Carlsen Center at JCCC

  December Shows:

  • KU Vespers on the Road 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 6, 2019
  • Winterlude – Ensemble IbéricaSiento y Vivo (I Feel and Live) at7 p.m. Sunday, December 8, 2019 
  • The Nutcracker at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, December 14, 2019 - December 15, 2019
  • Bandstand at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 17, 2019

• Winterfest at Worlds of Fun

  Weekends thru Dec. 31:  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 cookie 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.

• December at the Kansas City Zoo

  The Kansas City Zoo recently welcomed a four-year-old two-toed male sloth (native to South America), from the Biodome in Montreal, to its new home in the Discovery Barn!

  December Events at the KC Zoo:

  • Every Weekend  through December 22: PENGUIN MARCHES AND SANTA DIVES
  • December 7 & 8: FREE Photos with Santa
  • December 15 & 16: Santa Delivers  Presents to Animals
  • December 31: Zoo Year’s Eve

• Santa Visits at Family Tree Nursery

  Every year, Santa and Mrs. Claus make scheduled appearances at each of our stores and invites parents to take pictures of their children with him, in front of beautifully designed backdrops. We hope you’ll join us for this FREE family friendly event!

  Santa's Schedule:

  • Saturday, Dec. 7th, Overland Park Store | 10am - 2pm
  • Sunday, Dec. 8th, Shawnee Store | 10am - 2pm
  • Sunday, Dec 15, Liberty Store | 10am - 2pm

• Abby Martin

  Journey to Judea

  Dec. 6-8: Journey to Judea is an interactive Christmas experience that allows you to walk through the narrative of the Bible, learning the twists and turns that lead us to the birth of Christ and reveal the true significance of His coming. The birth of Christ is more than a historical event: it has crucial relevance for every man, woman and child.

  This event includes a cast of nearly 100 people, live animals, narration, live action, and music. Groups of 40-50 people will be guided through an hour-long outdoor tour of different scenes spread across twenty acres of land, literally walking through the story of the Bible. Our goal is to make this a yearly event that families can enjoy together as a part of their Christmas celebration.

  They offer six separate nights of outdoor tours this year. New tours will begin every ten minutes and will take about one hour to complete. You can pick your departure date and time as well as print your ticket when you register for the event. Tickets are free, they just ask that you register in order to plan accordingly!

• Roy Inman

  Holidays Come Alive at Historic Union Station

  Celebrate the magic of the holidays with a full season of award-winning fun and nostalgia at your historic Union Station. Laugh, dream, explore, make, sing and MORE at these one-of-a-kind events that are part of Kansas City’s holiday family tradition.

  • Dec. 21: The Snow Globes:  This show will feature some of your holiday favorites along with some of The Snow Globes' own material they have created. Come one come all, as this show is free and open to the public. This will be their final public performance of 2019. There truly is no where else like Union Station for the holidays.

  $3 Classic Holiday Movies:

  Bring the family for only $3/ticket and enjoy seasonal throw-backs on the Region's Biggest Screen.

  • Nov 29 - Dec 5: How The Grinch Stole Christmas
  • Dec 6 - 18: Polar Express PJ Party

  KCS Holiday Express: Dec. 18-22

  Back for its 19th annual run, the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express train brings Santa Claus and his elves back to Union Station. The Kansas City Southern Holiday Express is unlike any other train in the world! One of Kansas City's favorite holiday traditions, the Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train brings Santa to Union Station just before Christmas. Guests can visit with Santa and tour the train for free. This magical holiday train will roll into Union Station for a four-day visit this year from Dec. 18-22. Led by Kansas City Southern, Southern Belle business train, the Holiday Express train includes a smiling tank car Rudy; a flatcar carrying Santa's sleigh, reindeer and a miniature village; a gingerbread boxcar; the elves' workshop; the reindeer stable; and a little red caboose.

  Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium Holiday Shows

  • Laser Holiday Magic: Nov. 23 - Jan. 5: Celebrate the season with Laser Holiday Magic. We've gathered a selection of our favorite holiday tunes and brought them to life with gorgeous laser choreography. Vibrant animations and gorgeous abstracts dance above your heads, as the music takes you away from the hustle and bustle. It might be cold outside, but it's nice and toasty under the dome! Gather up your loved ones and share the one of a kind experience that is Laser Holiday Magic! And don't forget to check out both our morning showings and our afternoon matinees for a different variety of holiday classics.
  • Laser Nutcracker: Nov. 23 - Jan. 5:  Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic as you’ve never seen it before. 'Laser Nutcracker' has already become a holiday tradition in theaters around the country. This program combines some of Laser Fantasy’s most ambitious cel-frame animation with beautiful holiday imagery.

  Trombone Christmas: Dec. 21

  2019 marks the 3rd Annual Trombone Christmas Kansas City held in the Grand Plaza at historic Union Station! The Trombone Christmas Kansas City Concert was founded by Dr. Frank Perez and Mr. William Biggs in 2017 and is presented to promote and encourage the fellowship and musicianship of trombone players through the performance of Christmas Music.  Participation in the concert is open to trombone players of all ages and experience levels.  Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned trombonist, we hope that you will join us!  Help us meet our goal of having amassed a trombone choir of 200 participants!

• A Christmas Carol

  thru Dec. 29: Kansas City’s beloved holiday tradition returns with all the heart and spectacle you’ve come to love over 39 years. Join Ebenezer Scrooge on his redemptive journey with Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and rediscover the true meaning of the holidays. You’ll meet the Cratchits, Tiny Tim, and the irresistible Fezziwigs, and hear the joyous Candlelight Carol — all this and more, to kindle your Christmas spirit. Share the season with the people you love at A Christmas Carol.

• Christmas at Crown Center

  EBT Santa  Don't miss one of Kanas City's favorite pieces of Christmas nostalgia. EBT Laughing Santa, who first appeared at KC's Emery, Bird, Thayer department store in the early 1900s, has been providing memories for new generations at Crown Center since 1979. Children of all ages will marvel at this Jolly Ol' Soul as he chuckles his way through the holiday season while counting down the days until Christmas.

  Santa's Gingerbread Village  All aboard for a favorite holiday tradition at Crown Center! Kids and families can explore this interactive exhibit, meet and have their photo taken with Santa Claus (through December 24), climb aboard the Crown Center Express Train Engine, and enjoy Gingerbread Village. No admission fee. Photos with Santa are available for a fee, or you may take your own.

  Enjoy ice skating at Kansas City's original outdoor rink!

  Admission

  • Regular admission is $7, or free for adults over age 60 and children age 4 and under. Skate rental is $4, or skaters may bring their own.
  • Skaters age 12 and under must be under the supervision of a parent or guardian (21 or older).
  • Season Passes are available for just $80 and you can skate all season long from November 1, 2019 - March 8, 2020.  Visit the Ice Terrace Pro Shop or Crown Center Customer Service to purchase your season pass.
  • Two-for-One Tuesdays! After 5 p.m., pay one full-price admission and receive a second for FREE. (Skate rental not included, but it's just $4 per person.)

• Liberty Light Show!

  Liberty Light Show:  December 6-8 & December 13-15

  Automated Live Shows Run Nightly: 6PM• 6:45PM • 7:30PM • 8:15PM • 9PM

  Pack up the car and bring the family out for the largest drive-in Christmas light show in the Northland! With live musicians, synchronized lights, and a message of hope, the Liberty Light Show is a can’t-miss holiday tradition! With interactive elements and glowsticks, our friendly #TeamLightShow volunteers will make the whole family feel at home from the moment you drive-in! Change lives while you watch the lights this holiday season! This holiday season, we are partnering to bring hope to families in need. While the Liberty Light Show is free, we invite you to bring a donation of unopened, packaged diapers as part of our ongoing Love Our City campaign! Our #TeamLightShow volunteers will collect your donation while you watch! Donations can also be dropped off at any of our Love Our City dropoff businesses, as well as at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church!

• Overland Park Arboretum Luminary Walk

  Dec. 6 & 7, and Dec. 13 & 14: The tradition continues as FNBO, Westlake Ace Hardware, and Sarin Energy Solutions present the 20th Annual Holiday Luminary Walk. Thousands of candles illuminate over a mile of pathways through woods and gardens, music fills the air, while holiday lights brighten the trees, buildings and bridges. The Holiday Luminary Walk has become the traditional kick-off of the holiday season for many families. Kids love the Gnome and Fairy Villages, the colorful Children’s Garden and visiting with Santa. Grown-ups appreciate the quiet walk through the winter woods and the many musical performances. And everyone enjoys hot Louisburg Cider around the campfire, served by Boy Scout Troop 222, followed by a horse-drawn wagon ride. Purchase tickets in advance.

• Photo courtesy of Independence Center

  December at Independence Center

  December is magical at Independence Center:

  • Santa Photos: Nov. 9 - Dec. 24 
  • Holiday Hi-Jinx Photos: Take photos with characters from your favorite holiday movies! Dec. 7: Friendly NYC Elf. Dec. 14: Clumsy Christmas Crooks. Dec. 21: Green Grouch.
  • Santa Pet Photos: Dec. 6 from 3-6pm
  • Holiday Playdate Dec. 19 from 11am-12pm: FREE event with crafts, games, and storytime to celebrate the holidays!

• National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

  This December, the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures is hosting these great events:

  • COLEMAN HOUSE OPEN: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2019 | 10 AM - 4 PM - Special experience! For one day only, the museum will open the doors of the 9-foot tall Coleman Dollhouse. Get a close look at the dollhouse and enjoy informative talks about the house and its contents at 10:30 AM, 1 PM, and 2:30 PM. Included with admission. Free for members.
  • TOUR WITH FATHER CHRISTMAS: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019 | 1 PM AND 1:45 PM - Father Christmas is making a stop at T/m! Take a guided tour through the museum with professional storyteller Jim “Two Crows” Wallen to explore our collection of toys and miniatures and hear Christmas stories from around the world (tours at 1 pm and 1:45 pm). It’s fun for the entire family! Remember to bring your camera, as tours will be followed by Christmas treats in the Tureman Mansion and a chance to take a photo with Father Christmas. Included with admission. Free for members.

• Elf: The Musical

  Based on the beloved, hilarious film, Elf The Musical is an amazing way to celebrate the holidays! Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy journeys to New York City to find his family and revive the Christmas spirit.

  • Friday, December 6th - 7pm
  • Saturday, December 7th - 7pm
  • Sunday, December 8th - 2pm
  • Friday, December 13th - 7pm
  • Saturday, December 14th - 7pm
  • Sunday, December 15th - 2pm
  • Saturday, December 14th - 2pm
  • Sunday, December 15th - 7pm

• Clara's Dream

  Enjoy this annual holiday tradition brought to you by Miller Marley Youth Ballet as you enjoy Clara's Dream and Holiday Musical Revue. 

  • Dec, 21 at 2pm & 7pm
  • Dec. 22 at 2pm & 7pm

• Lenexa Baptist Church

  Kansas City Christmas, Morning at the Manger and Holiday Celebrations at Lenexa Baptist Church

  Kansas City Christmas, the annual Christmas program featuring the LBC Worship Choir and Orchestra. This event is FREE to everyone, and will be followed by a Dessert Buffet! #lbckcc

  Dates and Times:

  • December 7, 2019 @ 1:00pm and 5:00pm
  • December 8, 2019 @ 5:00pm

  Morning at the Manger: Dec. 14 from 10:00-11:30am: Preschoolers and their families are invited to join us for a special event designed just for you! Families can visit a variety of activity stations including a live petting zoo, making an ornament, decorating a cookie, an obstacle course and more! We will conclude with an interactive, kid-friendly Christmas worship time.

  Candlelight Christmas Eve:  You are invited to bring your family and friends to one of the four special Christmas services in the Worship Center.

  • Christmas Eve-Eve Service December 23 @ 7:00pm
  • Christmas Eve Services December 24 @ 3:00pm, 5:00pm and 11:00pm

• Genghis Khan at Union Station

  Discover how legends are made in this world-class exhibition that explores the culture, conquests and heritage of the world’s greatest conqueror . . . the man Time Magazine and The Washington Post named "The Most Important Person of the Last Millennium."

  Journey back 800 years, to experience the treasures and stories of Genghis Khan's 13th-century Mongol Empire. Presented in Kansas City for the first time, this world tour exhibition invites your entire family into an adventure across the vast grasslands of Central Asia, among the relics of Genghis Khan's reign.

  Experience life in 13th-century Mongolia. Entering the tents, battlegrounds, and marketplaces of a vanished world. Explore Genghis Khan's life and those of his sons and grandsons during the formation, peak, and decline of the Mongol Empire.

  View rare treasures from 13th-century Mongolia; more than 200 spectacular objects dramatically displayed to illustrate this legendary story. Gold jewelry and ornaments. Silk robes, musical instruments, pottery, sophisticated weaponry, and numerous other fascinating relics and elaborate artifacts.

  Even encounter daily, authentic Mongolian live music, artisitic and dance performers. A rare cultural opportunity specific to this remarkable exhibition.

  Plan and purchase tickets now to this exotic and uniquely interactive exhibition that tells the story of Genghis Khan - his life, his land, his people, his culture, and his enduring legacy.

• Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

  She was known as The One for Whom the Sun Shines. Discover the celebrated Queen Nefertari, the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Experience the magnificence of royal palaces and tombs, including Nefertari’s burial chamber, considered one of the greatest artistic achievements in the Valley of the Queens. Explore the daily life of the village where tomb builders and artisans lived, worked and worshipped more than 3,000 years ago. Drawn from the world-renowned Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy, the exhibition will bring together works that present the richness of life in ancient Egypt, focusing on the role of women—goddesses, queens, and commoners. Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the discovery of the tomb of one of the most famous figures of the time. Works of art from the excavations will bring ancient Egypt to life for 21st-century audiences.

• Noon Year's Eve at Science City

  The countdown to Science City’s biggest event of the year - Noon Year’s Eve – begins. Noon Year’s Eve kicks off Tuesday, December 31, NOON to 7 PM to provide a safe, fun and educational destination to ring in the New Year with your whole family! Don’t forget – our 6 PM balloon drop features 2,500+ balloons!

• Retro Xmas at Johnson County Museum

  Throughout the holiday season, the Johnson County Museum is decked out in Retro Holiday splendor! The aluminum Christmas tree was all the rage in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Come celebrate the 60th anniversary of the aluminum Christmas tree!

• Christmas at Mahaffie

  Christmas Open House Dec. 7: Enjoy the Heritage Center decorations, make an ornament and visit the historic Mahaffie House! Activities may include:

  • 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.-music by the Shady Grove String Band
  • 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.-Visit Santa in the Heritage Center
  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.-make an ornament
  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.-1860s living history activities such as blacksmith and cookstove demonstrations, stringing popcorn and cranberries, and stagecoach rides (weather and ground conditions permitting)
  • FREE admission! Stagecoach rides $3/person ages 3 & up, making a gingerbread house is $4/house. 

  Breakfast with Santa: Dec. 14:  Enjoy a pancake and sausage breakfast in the festive Heritage Center at Mahaffie with Santa! It's time for your yearly check-in with the big guy! Make it a special event by holding the meeting over a pancake and sausage breakfast in the festively decorated Heritage Center at Mahaffie. This event includes a craft for the kids and one printed photo per family. Space is limited and prior registration is required. Admission is $8 per person age 3 and up, ages 2 and under are free.