As soon as I turned off the highway, my six-year-old yelled, “Mom, I see the lights! I see them!” He was right—there was a quick, small glimpse. The other kids weren’t looking in the right direction, and their anticipation grew at that moment. With a van full of kids ranging in age from twelve years to fifteen months, we were ready to kick off the holiday season.
We turned down the road, and there they were—the Winter Magic Lights. The lights start right at the entrance, with fun scenes and beautiful displays shining brightly against the dark evening backdrop. We continued driving past displays of lights until we reached the booth to scan our ticket. Winter Magic has festive music synchronized with the lights, and as we continued, the displays only got bigger and more intricate. The scenes counted down from 12 (Days of Christmas) to 1, leading up to the main displays. There are light tunnels, KC-inspired displays, puns, dinosaurs, race cars, and food displays to enjoy. The music-synced tunnels were our favorite, though the flashing lights might not be as enjoyable for some.
Winter Magic Lights charges per car, so we made sure every seat in our van was filled, inviting friends to join us. Tickets start at $20 per car. We brought hot chocolate, candy, and popcorn to enjoy with the lights. If you prefer not to bring snacks, you can pre-purchase Topsy’s popcorn or saltwater taffy with your ticket. We went early on a Thursday night and saw only a handful of other cars. For added fun, you can also pre-purchase a party pack with light-up goodies.
Winter Magic Kansas City is now in its fifth year of providing glowing family fun and has doubled the lights from previous years. This dazzling one-mile drive has upgraded lights and modern festive music. The new location is in the Northland at 10400 N Platte Purchase Dr, Kansas City, MO 64154.
Helpful tip to fully enjoy Winter Magic lights drive-thru
- Buy your tickets online at wintermagickc.com
- Monday- Thursday tickets are $20, Friday and Sunday are $30, and Saturdays are $40. You have to pick a time slot to arrive starting at 6pm.
- Black Friday and the Saturdays following are busier times. Peak wait times are around 30 minutes.
- They do have some restrictions on vehicles, so make sure to check the website for more info.
- Go to the bathroom before you arrive. There are no restrooms available, so make sure littles go before arriving. A gas station 4 miles away could be helpful in a pinch.
- If you spot Dilly the pickle, snap a picture, post it on Facebook with hashtag #ChristmasPickleKC for a chance to win a free return to Winter Magic PLUS a $25 gift card to Chicken N Pickle!
Halie Campain is a homeschooling mom of three. She lives in Overland Park with her husband, two sons and daughter. She loves doing things that make her children smile and hopes those things will make yours smile, too.