Save money this holiday season and enjoy fun across Kansas City! From Santa Sightings to concerts, storytelling events to crafts – we’ve got you covered!

Note: We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always verify dates, times, location and other information, especially with the possibility of weather impacts. Please submit corrections and additions to this guide tokristina@kcparent.com.

Have you ever wanted to make gifts for loved ones? Or make beautiful holiday centerpieces or wreaths? Paint a holiday ceramic or decorate a gingerbread house?These classes are perfect to get your holiday DIY gameon!

Note: Many of these programs require advance registration. Be sure to make your reservations with the organization.Please submit corrections and additions to this guide tokristina@kcparent.com.

For more holiday events, see our guide toChristmas in Kansas City.

Sales, craft shows, special shopping events for children, and opportunities to support local businesses abound in Kansas City this holiday season.

Note:This guide may not be reproduced in print or online without permission from KC Parent. Please submit events for consideration inthis guide tokristina@kcparent.com.

Our Favorite KC Area Shopping Districts:

Photo creditDiMartino Photography.

Crown Center

Shop a variety of shops and enjoy many great restaurants at Crown Center. Ice Skating at the Ice Terrace, a visit to Legoland or Sea Life, live shows, and a visit with Santa are all musts when visiting this local holiday landmark. The Mayor’s Christmas tree, a100-foot tree will illuminate the city throughout the holidays andacts as a symbol for the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund, which benefits Kansas City’s less fortunate residents. After the holidays, the wood from the tree is repurposed to be commemorative ornaments, which are sold the following year to benefit the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund.

One of the highlights of a holiday visit to Crown Center is Santa’s Gingerbread Station. 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 Santa’s Gingerbread Station. No admission fee. Photos with Santa are available for a fee, or you may take your own.

Open during Crown Center Shops 2021 Holiday Hours:

• Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
• Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Zona Rosa

Zona Rosa is the Northland’s premier retail, dining and entertainment destination – where shopping is fun, memories are made, and Kansas City traditions are celebrated. The layout is reminiscent of downtowns of the past, with individual storefronts evoking a sort of village feel. Zona Rosa is more than just a mall, it’s an open-air Town Center where the local community can gather. Amid the retail space, you’ll find grassy areas with fountains and park benches just right for relaxing, and wide sidewalks meant for strolling. It will take you back to a time when life moved a bit slower, and things seemed simpler.

Zona Rosa is home to many well-known merchants, including Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, New York & Company, Dick’s Sporting Goods, White House Black Market, Children’s Place, Build A Bear, and Dillard’s, just to name a few. Appetites will be satisfied with the many dining options including Bravo! Italian Cucina, Buffalo Wild Wings, Noodles & Company, Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy, Hereford House, Bar Louie, Yogurtini, and Swagat Fine Indian Cuisine.

Legends Outlets

Located in the heart of Village West, the state of Kansas’ top tourist destination, Legends Outlets Kansas City is the only outlet shopping destination serving the greater metropolitan region. Conveniently situated at the intersection of Interstate 435 and Parallel Parkway, just north of Interstate 70 in Kansas City, Kansas, Legends Outlets is the home to more than 75 leading designer and favorite brand-name stores including Coach, Banana Republic Factory Store, Gap Factory, J.Crew | crewcuts, Nike Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger Outlet, Victoria’s Secret and Under Armour® Factory House, among many more, which offer savings of up to 65 percent off regular retail prices. Also featuring a wide array of restaurant and entertainment venues, the property welcomes more than 10 million guests annually.

Holidaysat Legends Outlets:

Christmas Tree Light Show

• When: Nov. 13– early Jan., 2022(during center hours)
• Where: The Civic Courtyard Fountain
• LegendsOutlets’ 45-foot holiday tree is also getting an upgrade this year with new lights and more than 2,000 ornaments. Still synchronized to music, the holiday tree and center-wide light display will continue to brighten spirits until early January 2022.

Downtown Lee’s Summit

DLSMS hosts over 100 days of community events, drawing hundreds of thousands of people each year to a thriving and vibrant downtown that is home to over 100 locally-owned businesses. Volunteers donate thousands of service hours each year to help ensure that Downtown Lee’s Summit continues to serve as the economic and cultural hub of the community as well as a premier destination for entertainment and shopping in the Kansas City metro.

Mark your calendar for great events at Downtown Lee’s Summit including:

• MAYOR’S TREE LIGHTING PRESENTED BY SECURITY BANK OF KANSAS CITY: November 19, 2021 from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at Howard Station Park 220 SE Main, Lee’s Summit, MO. Join us at 6:30 p.m. in Howard Station Park as we light Downtown in thousands of sparkling lights. We are “Rockin’ Around Downtown” with an evening filled with choir performances, a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus, and plenty of surprises.
• SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY 2021:November 27, 2021. Small Business Saturday is a nationwide movement to shop small and support locally-owned businesses in your community. Join us on November 27 for a day of shopping, giveaways, and giving back. The early bird gets the worm…. and a free tote bag!
• FARMERS MARKET HOLIDAY MART: November 27, 2021 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Enjoy Small Business Saturday with our Farmers Market Vendors! We’ll be setup in the Alley off Third Street between Elle & Em Boutique and Blue Heron from 10am-2pm. The first 200 shoppers will receive our insulated market tote bag with their purchase!

Upcoming Shopping Events:

Holiday memories are even sweeter with a visit to one of these local sites where they put a special twist on Christmas classics.

A Christmas Village Made Entirely of Gingerbread

Crown Center (Level 1, Crown Center Shops 2500 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO) has been hosting holiday memories for generations of Kansas Citians with the magic of the 100-foot-tall mayor’s Christmas tree, ice skating, photographs with Santa and holiday magic. Still, our favorite holiday attraction at Crown Center is the gingerbread village on display through December.  Visit Santa while you’re there! This whimsical holiday village, made entirely of real gingerbread and sweets, is a true feast for the eyes. If you’d like to make your own village, we have the shopping list for you:

• 170 lbs. sugar
• 165 lbs. flour
• 1,620 eggs
• 8 gal. egg whites
• 20 lbs. ginger
• 20 gal. molasses
• 20 lbs. baking soda
• 14 lbs. salt
• 180 lbs. assorted candies

Coca-Cola’s Santa, Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen and Sweet Treats WinterFest at Worlds of Fun

WinterFest at Worlds of Fun returns this year with many treats to satisfy your holiday sweet tooth! Their restaurants will offer an array of unique holiday goodies and Christmas classics. Only at WinterFest can guests enjoy holiday nachos: sweet potato fries with swiss cheese sauce, chicken, cranberries and topped with a crispy fried brussels sprout. Other delicious foods include mint cannolis, apple pie, candy cane ice cream, pumpkin ice cream, funnel cakes with holiday toppings and, of course, hot chocolate.

Coca-Cola’s holiday commercials and trademarks are beloved, and you’ll see a 30-foot-tall inflatable Coca-Cola Santa holding an ice-cold bottle, and the Coca-Cola polar bear. Don’t forget to stop by Mrs. Claus’ kitchen, where you can decorate your own box of cookies baked with her top-secret recipe—with Mrs. Claus herself.

In addition to sweet treats, enjoy holiday shows with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang, a live holiday show called Tinker’s Toy Factory and more. Visit Artisan Alley, enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas as the theme park is decorated with holiday lights, ride the Holly Jolly Trolley, ice skate and visit a stable of animals reminding us of the first Christmas.

Chocolate Christmas Village Houses

For many North Kansas Citians, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without a chocolate house from Wally’s Pastry Shop (3855 N. Oak Trafficway, North Kansas City, MO, 816.452.7535). Master pastry chefs Wally Uhl and his son, Manfred, were trained in Europe and they’ve been preparing their confections for Kansas Citians, including President Truman and other local celebrities, for decades.  Their delightful Christmas village houses are both whimsical and delicious—the perfect centerpiece for your holiday table.

Made-from-Scratch Gingerbread Houses

Mely’s Yogurt & Ice Cream (4051 Somerset Dr., Prairie Village, KS, 913.381.9642) has been a Corinth Square landmark for more than 30 years. In addition to the frozen treats, patrons delight in the holiday confections. Mely’s bakes beautiful gingerbread houses and they offer both decorated and undecorated houses for customers. You may buy their premade houses to decorate at home. In addition to the gingerbread houses, they also sell sugar arts (sugar bells, sugar balls, Christmas tree, lamb) and peanut brittle. 

Traditional Treats

Many local shops specialize in holiday treats with a rich heritage. Some of our favorites include:

• Winstead’s. (Multiple locations: WinsteadsSteakburger.com). This Kansas City original, since 1943, has been serving steakburgers, fries, and rings for families on the Country Club Plaza after a light-seeing tour for generations. They are known for their Skyscraper – a giant ice cream soda or shake meant for sharing. And, to make it even more memorable, the drink is served with a holiday (or birthday, or celebratory) song!
• Strawberry Hill Povitica (7226 W. Frontage Rd., Merriam, KS, 800.634.1002). The shop makes handmade European sweet bread in an open kitchen where customers can watch as the bread is baked from scratch.
• Country KeepsakesTearoom (501 Main St., Belton, MO, 816.348.7888) Country Keepsakes is one of the quaint shops lining Main Street Belton. Offering a wide variety of teas, quiches and sandwiches, the home-cooked menu changes every month. Throughout the holiday season, their delicious hot cocoa hits the spot.
• Dolce Bakery Yule Log (3930 W. 69th Ter., Prairie Village, KS, 913.236.4411). The chocolate yule log cake is just one of the favorite pastries at this shop, which also specializes in cookies, cakes and treats.
• André’s Confiserie Suisse Buche Noel (5018 Main St., Kansas City, MO, 816.561.3440). Andre’s refers to their Christmas cake shaped as a yule log by its French name, Buche Noel. The cake lives up to its reputation as a delicious and beautiful dessert.
• Annedore’s Fine Chocolates Plaza Christmas Lights (5000 State Line Rd., Westwood Hills, KS, 913.831.0302). Annedore’s makes an array of gourmet chocolates, but their holiday signature is a box of chocolate Country Club Plaza Christmas lights wrapped in an artisan box with a gold bow—they’re almost too pretty to eat! They also make a fabulous cup of hot chocolate.
• Topsy’s Popcorn in the Christmas Tin (Multiple locations: TopsysPopcorn.com). Serving Kansas City their famous gourmet popcorn since 1950, Topsy’s makes it seem like Christmas. At our house, their popcorn is essential to our holiday celebration, in flavors of cinnamon, cheese and caramel, presented in their beautiful Plaza tin.
• Laura Little’s Candy Kitchen Fudge (2100 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, KS, 913.722.2226). Laura Little’s makes beautiful chocolates, and they’ll even personalize them for your loved ones—but their fudge can’t be beat.
• Betty Rae’s Ice Cream (multiple locations: BettyRaes.com). This local ice cream shop is taking the city by storm with their gourmet one-of-a-kind flavors and made-from-scratch waffle cones. Their Egg Nog Ice Cream is a holiday favorite and the shop also sells fresh pies for Christmas.
• The Upper Crust Pie Bakery (7943 Santa Fe, Overland Park, KS, 913.642.2999 and lower level of Pryde’s Old Westport, 115 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO) is owned and operated by sisters who know the art of a delicious made-from-scratch pie. Their shop specializes in buttery, flaky crusts and delicious flavors. Try Grandma’s apple pie with a hint of nutmeg, blackberry apple, pumpkin pie or French apple with a streusel crumb topping.

Sweet Themed Events

We want to know…. where do YOU find the best hot cocoa in KC? The best Christmas cookies? The best holiday treats? Please comment below! We love discovering new places around town!