Experience the magic of the holidays at these local attractions.
December Fun Calendar
Celebrate unique holidays in December with Kansas City family Fun!
Dec. 4, National Cookie Day:annaMcLain’s Bakeryannahas been serving delicious baked goods, including cookies, to local customers since 1945. Famous for their chocolate cup cookies, they offer goodies that are a delicious way to celebrate National Cookie Day.
Dec. 9, Christmas Card Day:annaFor more than 100 years, Hallmark Cards has called Kansas City home. Visit theannaHallmark Visitors Center, where you can watch as cards are manufactured, enjoy the magic of Hall’s Christmas trees and more.anna
Dec. 12, National Hot Cocoa Day:annaChristopher Elbow, the city’s most famous gourmet chocolatier, makes drinking chocolate in three flavors.
Dec. 14, National Monkey Day:annaTheannaKansas City Zooannais open year-round. Treat the family to a winter outing and visit the monkeys and their animal pals at the zoo. While you’re there, check out FOTZ memberships—they make great Christmas gifts!
Dec. 20, Go Caroling Day:annaGather some friends and go caroling. Visit neighbors, grandparents and friends and serenade them with your favorite Christmas carols and some goodies.
Dec. 21, Crossword Puzzle Day:annaIn 1913, the first crossword puzzle was published in the New York World. Purchase a crossword puzzle book at your local bookstore or, for the true enthusiast, buy the World’s Largest Crossword Puzzle, measuring 42.25 square feet with more than 91,000 squares and 24,000 clues fromannaAmazon.com.
Dec. 24, National Egg Nog Day:annaEnjoy locally-made egg nog fromannaShattoannaDairy Farm. Their concoction is frequently voted the best egg nog in Kansas City.
Dec. 27, Make Cutout Snowflakes Day:annaMake intricate paper snowflakes using classic instructions fromannaThe Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Six-Stop Tour: Northland Excursions for the Family
Spend a day enjoying shopping, dining, laughing, playing, and a bit of history in the Northland!
Six-Stop Tour: Midtown / Plaza
Take time to explore some of Kansas City’s most beloved gems in the winter!
Bucket List Bonuses
When you want to add something extra to your KC visit, consider one of these great bonus excursions!
This autumn, visit the Kansas City Zooannaand explore the detailed illuminated displays of GloWild, a spectacular nighttime lantern festival.
Giant sunflowers greet thousands of visitors every autumn at Grinter Farmsannawhere acres of the beautiful yellow flowers bloom in the heart of Kansas.
Underwater pumpkin carving is a thing, and you can watch as scuba divers carve jack-o’-lanterns at Sea Life in October.
Kansas City is known as theannaCity of Fountains, boasting more fonts than any city other than Rome. Learn the story behind our beloved fountains when you read “Fountain history.”anna
Challenge your friends or family as you compete IN a game show in at Overland Park’s Game Show Battle Rooms.
ReadannaKC Parentannamagazine each month for more ideas to enjoy with your family.
Play a round of mini golf at Art Course, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s mini golf experience on the gallery lawn, with holes inspired by some of the museum’s favorite masterpieces.
Imagine you’re in outer space as you walk a scale model of the solar system on a quest to see the entire Voyage Exhibition, along Baltimore Avenue in downtown Kansas City, MO. Follow a 1-mile path through the Crossroads District and end in front of historic Union Station, discovering our solar system from the sun to Pluto.
Ride a bike or scooter available for rent throughout downtown and midtown Kansas City. Enjoy fresh air views of the city’s sites and attractions.
Design your own custom donut at Donutology in Westport. Mix and match flavors and toppings in this custom donut laboratory.
Learn about historic U.S. aircraft at the Airline History Museum. See the first Lockheed Constellation ever restored, a Martin 404, a DC-3 and a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.
Ice-skating isn’t just a winter sport. Lace up your ice skates and enjoy Independence Community Ice, KC Ice Center or Line Creek Arena, some of the city’s year-round indoor ice-skating rinks.
TheannaMidwest Genealogy Centerannais a free research facility through the Mid-Continent Public Library system. With thousands of resources and expert research librarians there to assist, you’ll discover new secrets about your ancestors.
KC Segway ToursannaandannaKC Fun Toursannaoffer one-of-a-kind tours of our hometown, a great way to become more acquainted with the city.
Quench your thirst at the Roasterie, where coffee is an artform. Take a 45-minute tour and learn all about their cupping, roasting and blending processes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the factory and experience a manual coffee brewing demonstration.
The 58-foot-tallannaRussell and Helen Means Observation Towerannais opening soon atannaKill Creek Park. The steel behemoth will offer visitors amazing views from theannaKansas Speedwayannato KU. This Instagram-worthy destination is a must for photographers.
Hook a fish at Lake Olathe, one of the area’s newest lakes, where you may enjoy boating, kayaking, swimming or a day angling for “the big one.”
Pack a picnic and a blanket and enjoy Heart of America’s Shakespeare Festival’s free outdoor production of Romeo and Juliet at Southmoreland Park June 14 – July 3.
Trains deliver food straight to your table at Fritz’s restaurant (Crown Center and Shawnee locations), a local icon since 1954.
Carousels were once made in Kansas, and now you can visit the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum.anna Learn about C.W. Parker, the founder of a carousel factory in Leavenworth, and ride an authentic 1913 carousel.
When we’re looking for indoor adventure, rock wall climbing is a favorite.annaRoKC, the longtime KC favorite, has locations in North KC, downtown KC and Olathe.
Watch as Lost Trail sodas are bottled and apple cider is made from scratch at Louisburg Cider Mill.
Play at the Johnson County Museum, where the interactive KidScape exhibit, a child-size village, fosters creative play.
The Lawn atannaLegends Outletsannais a greenspace centerpiece of the shopping center offering live concerts, yoga classes and events throughout the year. In between events, it’s a great place to hang out and enjoy the outdoors with friends.
BONUS: Subscribe to theannaeNewsletter on KCParent.comannafor our top pick events every weekend and fabulous giveaways!
Free & Cheap Ways to Explore Downtown KC
10 Free & Cheap Ways to Explore Downtown KC
- Walk theCountry Club Plazaand admire the art and fountains of the city’s original landmark.
- Share a Skyscraper, a giant ice cream soda meant for sharing, atWinstead’s, Kansas City’s original burger joint.
- Stroll through the freeKauffman Memorial Gardenswhere something is always in bloom.
- Explore theNelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Admission is free; there is a fee for parking. The world-class museum is open regularly until 5:00 but remains open late on Thursdays and Fridays for many special events throughout the year.
- Discover a masterpiece and take a photo with the giant spiderat the freeKemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
- Enjoy wildflowers and play among the trees at theAnita Gorman Discovery Center, a free nature center with an imaginative outdoor playground and hands-on exhibits.
- Get free (shredded)money at theMoney Museum.
- Ride theKC Streetcarand visit the FREE KC Rail Experience atUnion Station, then ride to the Power & Light District where you’ll find a variety of dining and entertainment options or go on to River Market to explore shops and restaurants.
- Visit theNational Archives of Kansas Cityand explore their free exhibits.
- Tour the FREEHallmark Visitors Center. Then, enjoy a bit of shopping and dining at Crown Center. The district is also home to live theater and attractions.
Discover more ideas with the geo-based search in our Going Places guide on KCParent.com.