Holiday Reflections at Union Station
2023 Review
Kristina Light
Holiday Reflections at Union Station
Union Station, Kansas City's Home, is celebrating the holiday season with its annual installation of "Holiday Reflections." This year, the magical winter wonderland in Union Station's Grand Plaza is bigger and better than ever with an indoor Christmas fountain choreographed to holiday music (befitting the City of Fountains), and spectacular decorations including Kansas City’s largest indoor decorated tree, singing penguins and reindeer, whimsical windows, miles of garland, tens of thousands of lights, and course, trains!
Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
You begin your experience under a beautifully lit golden ornament and enter the Grand Hall where you'll see the magical Christmas fountain, fun photo ops, and whimsical holiday windows.
The fountain is the undeniable star of this year's show! A Liquid Fireworks Fountain is located right in the center of Grand Plaza creating a dazzling 16-foot-tall water show, powered by nearly 10,000 gallons of water, and 300 special effects lights creating a festive Christmas musical fountain show...and the first of its kind in Kansas City!
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
The holiday-themed VR ride returns this year as highlight of Holiday Reflections. Our family enjoyed the experience as we rode through Lapland, the North Pole, Santa's headquarters, and the Northern Lights. Tickets to Magical Sleigh Ride VR (located inside Holiday Reflections) are $6 and available to purchase once inside Holiday Reflections.
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Holiday Reflections photos by Kristina Light
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Holiday Reflections photos by Kristina Light
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Holiday Reflections photos by Kristina Light
The singing penguin trio is back this year, dazzling children with their holiday crooning.
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
The displays throughout Holiday Reflections are truly spectacular. You'll find many fabulous photo ops including the Giant Golden Ornaments, a Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe photo op, Santa's Rocket Sleigh, and more.
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
In addition to singing penguins, you'll find singing reindeer - a more comical musical group.
Kristina Light
Holiday Reflections at Union Station
The whimsical holiday windows are all animated with delightful Christmas scenes reminiscent of the North Pole. Santa's Holiday Village includes light poles with animated scenes, windows, and a special station where children may write letters to Santa. This year, the windows are all together creating a bit of a storefront to experience to enjoy. I love the charm of these classic holiday scenes.
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
The vintage reindeer and decorations throughout offer a hint of nostalgia for guests.
Kristina Light
Holiday Reflections at Union Station
The Jones Store Train display is my personal favorite. The giant toys surrounding the track are delightful and charming.
Visitors are invited to take a ride on the miniature train through Rudy's Wonderland! Often referred to as the Jones Store Train and beloved by generations during the holidays, it was once a popular attraction at the Jones Store downtown. Riders must be under 48″ tall (approximately 5-6 years of age and under). Accessible with paid admission to Holiday Reflections. Pricing: Union Station Members FREE | Non-members $5.
2023 Schedule:
Nov. 20 – Jan. 1: 10 AM – 1:30 PM, 2 PM – 4:30 PM & 5 PM – 7 PM
Please Note:
- Nov. 23 – Thanksgiving: Closed
- Dec. 24 Christmas Eve: Closes at 2:00 PM
- Dec. 25 – Christmas Day: Closed
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
A favorite display for children and adults alike is the Holiday Model Train display, featuring 11,000 square feet of beautiful holiday displays filling the back of the Grand Plaza with moving trains on every scale. Disney, Lego, Coca-Cola, the KCS Holiday Express, classic steam trains, and others run throughout the miniature village. Volunteers donate hundreds of hours every year on this true labor of love for the children of Kansas City, creating the very best model train exhibit we have ever seen (and our family has seen many train exhibits across the country!)
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Holiday Reflections at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
Our family spent an hour enjoying the experience, one of the best holiday attractions in Kansas City this year.
Ticket Price: Monday – Friday: $7, Saturday & Sunday: $10. Get up to 4 FREE tickets when you buy or renew a membership.
You will need to select a date as well as a time for your visit. Hourly capacities are strictly limited, walk-up tickets may or may not be available. Advance ticket purchases are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED. You may arrive up to thirty minutes before your hourly timed ticket. Expect to spend 45-60 minutes in total enjoying the decorations, taking pictures, and marveling at the model trains. No food or drink is allowed in “Holiday Reflections”, but restrooms are located within the ticketed space.
Tickets frequently sell out, so buying tickets in advance is highly recommended.
Buy Tickets for Holiday Reflections here.
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Christmas at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Christmas at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Christmas at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Christmas at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Christmas at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Christmas at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
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Christmas at Union Station photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com
MORE Events to Enjoy as part of Union Station's Home for the Holidays Season:
Bricktionary, Union Station's newest exhibit is outstanding for families. Enjoy it while you're at Union Station. Read our Bricktionary review here.
Plan to attend additional events including Planetarium Laser Shows and more.
Classic Holiday Movies
Union Station
Holiday Classic Films at Union Station
Stay warm and cozy inside Kansas City’s favorite holiday destination, enjoying a variety of unique sights, sounds, and experiences this holiday season. Connect with Kansas City’s holiday history and make new memories of your own in this most elegant holiday setting.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (November 17th – November 22nd)
- Elf (November 24th – December 7th)
- Polar Express (December 8th – December 31st)
Price: General Admission $3.75
Show Times:
- Sunday thru Friday – 12:30 pm, 4 pm, and 7:30 pm
- Saturday – 9:00 am, 12:30 pm, 4 pm, and 7:30 pm
*No showings on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Check unionstation.org for showtimes and tickets.
Santa at Holiday Reflections
Santa will be roaming the exhibit and visiting with families.
- NOV 24-26
- DEC 2-3
- DEC 9-10
- DEC 15
- DEC 17-24
2023 CPKC Holiday Train
Nov. 27, 6:45-8pm: The 2023 CPKC Holiday Train tours Canada and the United States from Nov. 20 through Dec. 19, raising money, food, and awareness for the important work that food banks do in their communities. Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train’s stage. CPKC donates to the local food shelf at each stop and encourages attendees to also donate. Since its inception in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $22.5 million and more than 5 million pounds of food for community food banks across North America.
Celebrate the season at The Planetarium with two wonderful holiday shows Laser Holiday Magic and Sky Station Live: Stars of Faith. Buy tickets here.
dszc Getty Images/iStockphoto
Union Station
30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64108
BUILDING HOURS MONDAY - SUNDAY 6AM - MIDNIGHT SCIENCE CITY HOURS MONDAY - SATURDAY 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. SUNDAY NOON - 5 P.M.