guides

Holiday Light Displays and Shows in Kansas City

By Melissa Basgall, Editor and Publisher, Macaroni KID November 24, 2020

Grab the kids and hop in the car, because we've got the full list of KC area light displays and all the details right here! 


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Country Club Plaza Lights

Free

A local tradition for more than 90 years, Plaza Lights is a 15-block holiday spectacle on the famed Country Club Plaza, featuring thousands of glimmering, jewel-colored lights that accentuate every dome, tower and window of the Spanish-inspired shopping district.


Luminary Walk at the OP Arboretum

15/ person, 5 and under free

Kick off your holiday season with a festive family walk through the lights at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.


Mayor’s Christmas Tree at Crown Center

Free

The 100-foot-tall Mayor's Christmas Tree, one of the nation's tallest, is the centerpiece for an illuminating holiday celebration. The tree is a symbol of the Mayor's Christmas Tree Fund, which is dedicated to assisting the people of Kansas City during the holiday season. The Mayor’s Christmas Tree will shine brightly on Crown Center Square from November 26, 2021 through January 3, 2022. After the holidays, the wood from the Mayor's Christmas Tree is made into commemorative ornaments, which are sold the following year to benefit the Mayor's Christmas Tree Fund. Visit Crown Center Customer Service, Level 2 of the Crown Center Shops, to purchase your Mayor's Christmas Tree Ornament beginning November 26.


Lights on Farmstead Lane at Deanna Rose Farmstead

Free

Join us for a light show synchronized to your favorite holiday and movie music.


Sar-Ko-Aglow

Free

Take a nighttime stroll around Rose's Pond to view the beautiful annual lights display in Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park throughout the holiday season.


Candy Cane Lane

Free

Thanks to that 50th anniversary year, every house on Candy Cane Lane is attractively decorated. In 2021 this display of lights is still worth a special visit and has a steady stream of car loads of people enjoying the holiday display.


Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake

Free

Now in its 34th year, this magical winter wonderland features more than half million lights and 175 animated displays, all designed and built entirely in-house by our talented crews!


Knights of Lights

Gate prices are $13.00 for children (age 5-12) and $18.00 for adults. Children under 5 are always free!

Walk through a Winter Wonderland at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival! Beginning Friday, November 26th, enjoy a spectacular light show from Landers Visions, plus food, entertainment, activities for the kids & fun for everyone! Ring in the New Year at our special extended December 31st show. More details to come!


Holiday Reflections at Union Station

Prices start at $7 

Union Station expands and adds to its magical “Holiday Reflections” walk-thru holiday village. This spectacular themed experience fills Union Station’s massive Grand Plaza and features sky-reaching lights, dozens of decorated trees, forest friends and giant, floating mirrored ornaments PLUS a bigger-than-ever Rudy’s Wonderland where kids can ride the historic Jones Store Train (Mini Holiday Express Train). Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with brilliant sights and sounds as only Kansas City’s historic home can deliver.


KC Winter Wonderland at KC Pumpkin Patch

Check website for pricing

KC Pumpkin Patch & KC Wine Co’s ROCKIN’ holiday light experience is back and better than ever! Join us for some “walkin’ in a winter wonderland” at the farm where you’ll take in the sights and sounds of the holidays this year.


Christmas in the Park in Gardner's Cornerstone Park

Free

Decorated park area with a number of moving light displays


Haymarket Square Lights in Leavenworth

Free

Each year, lights are put up at Haymarket Square and set to music on a specified radio station. The display stays up until the Monday after New Year's Day for all citizens to enjoy. Just pull into Haymarket Square and tune your radio to the station showing on the signs.


Paulie’s Penguin Playground

Free

A walk-through, penguin-themed display delights for the holiday season and raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It’s open and worth visiting during the day, but the best experience is at night when the display is lit up.


Olathe's Stagecoach Park

Free

A festive display of giant trees and twinkling lights. There is also a lighted luminary path that goes partially around the lake at the rear of the community center building.


Altasciences Holiday Lights Display

Free

The Altasciences light display (formerly Vince & Associates Clinical Research) includes more than 200,000 LED lights synchronized to music. The best viewing experience is sitting in your car across the street in the parking lot of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Tune into 99.5 FM and enjoy.


Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens

Prices vary, see website

Head to Powell Gardens for the fifth annual Festival of Lights(November 11-December 30), illuminated by Evergy. This family-favorite festival is a breath of fresh air during a hectic holiday season. Bundle up and wander a lighted outdoor path featuring immersive, botanically-inspired installations that celebrate the natural joy of the most festive season. More than 20 miles of lights highlight the natural forms of Powell Gardens’ tree collection, show off the exceptional architecture and landscape elements in the Gardens, and create paths through Instagram and holiday card-worthy photo moments.


Northern Lights at Zona Rosa

Free

Zona Rosa will kick off the 2021 holiday season with the annual lighting ceremony featuring the historic holiday crowns and majestic 55′ Christmas tree!


Holiday Lights and Magic in KCK

20-25 dollars for standard vehicle

It’s a one-mile long drive-thru display showcasing the most amazing, mesmerizing, WINTERrifically magical holiday light displays you ever Bliztzen seen. There’s Santa scenes, elves, reindeer, there’s dinosaurs, and freakin’ UFOs! never believe you.


Winter Magic at Cliff Drive

$25 and up

Those magic little elves are on the move this year! They’ve taken over one mile of Kansas City’s historic (opened in 1900) Cliff Drive! So, be sure to aim your sleighs toward downtown.

Enjoy your favorite dancing KC holiday light show displays while you “holiday-party-in-your-car”. You’re sure to be vibin’ away to the most modern versions of Holiday Classics! Winter Magic (in partnership with Kansas City Parks) is the city’s premier, drive-through winter event now for the 3rd year in a row! Book your ticket for our drive-through Christmas lights in Kansas City.


If you enjoyed this list, we have a few others you might like!!

Looking for Santa Events? Click here for our Character Appearances Guide

Need KC Local Holiday Gift Ideas? Click here for our KC Local Holiday Gift Guide


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