Last updated: November 11, 2024
Experience the holiday joy in Leawood! Our guide has all the exciting festive happenings. Whether you know Leawood like the back of your hand or you're just finding your way, this guide is your festive roadmap.
Popular Events: Step into a winter wonderland at the Union Station Holiday Market, featuring local artisans and unique gifts that capture the spirit of the season. With its dazzling lights and cheerful atmosphere, Evergy Plaza Lights is perfect for an evening stroll. And the Kansas City Ballet's The Nutcracker is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a magical experience that elegantly blends dance and holiday cheer. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Contact information and details below.
Synchronized lighting of historic marketplace buildings.
The Evergy Plaza Lights are a 15-block holiday spectacle on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, featuring thousands of glimmering lights illuminating each dome, tower, and window.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Evergy Plaza Lights
Immersive holiday experience with VR sleigh ride and model train display.
Holiday Reflections at Union Station features sky-reaching lights, decorated trees, forest friends, and a model train gallery. Explore Santa's secret wonderland with a VR sleigh ride and enjoy festive decorations and sounds.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Holiday Reflections at Union Station
Twice the lights in a new Northland location.
Winter Magic is a drive-thru holiday light display in Kansas City, featuring twice the lights and a new location in the Northland. The event includes a one-mile drive with breathtaking light displays and festive music, making it a memorable holiday experience for families and friends.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Winter Magic
Interactive light maze with original holiday story.
Enchant Christmas is an award-winning holiday light maze experience featuring stunning, custom-designed light sculptures, unique ice skating experiences, and countless festive attractions. Explore an original holiday story while discovering hidden light sculptures and helping to save Christmas. Enjoy seasonal food and drink, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, and take in the dazzling lights and Ferris Wheel.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Enchant Christmas
Annual holiday lighting with Santa and live music.
Join us for the annual holiday lighting tradition at Merriam Community Center, featuring time with Santa, live music, crafts, and treats.
Where: Merriam | More Info: Christmas in the Courtyard, Merriam KS
Immersive holiday experience with a mini train ride and virtual reality sleigh adventure.
Union Station Holiday Market features a walk-thru holiday village with sky-reaching lights, decorated trees, and a mini train ride. It includes holiday plays, performances, and family photo opportunities.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Union Station Holiday Market
Traditional European Christmas market with handcrafted goods.
Christkindlmarket in Leawood offers a traditional European Christmas experience with handcrafted goods, German sausages, and live music performances. Visitors can find unique gifts, ornaments, and knitted scarves, as well as enjoy festive foods like pretzels and mulled wine.
Where: Leawood | More Info: Christkindlmarket in Leawood
Illuminated Victorian mansion with diverse ethnic exhibits.
The Strawberry Hill Museum transforms into a vibrant holiday setting with beautiful decorations and thousands of lights, celebrating the diverse ethnic heritage of Kansas City.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Strawberry Hill Christmas Mart
Secure holiday shopping experience for children with volunteer assistance.
At the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum's Small Mall, children aged 3-13 can independently shop for family, teachers, and friends in a secure environment. Volunteers assist with gift selection, and a wide variety of items are available, including jewelry, tools, sweets, and more. Each child receives a bag of Magic Reindeer Food and enjoys activities like a 1913 carousel photo op and Kids Craft Corner.
Where: Leavenworth | More Info: C.W. Parker Carousel Museum Small Mall
Local artisans selling unique, handcrafted gifts.
The Westport Christmas Market is a holiday celebration where local Kansas City makers and crafters showcase unique, handcrafted gifts. Enjoy festive music, seasonal treats, and warm beverages while shopping through charming market stalls.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Westport Christmas Market
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
The Kansas City Ballet's production of The Nutcracker is a timeless ballet featuring stunning choreography, opulent costumes, and magnificent sets. This adaptation of the beloved Christmas story, written by E.T.A. Hoffman, includes beloved characters like Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, Dr. Drosselmeier, and the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy. The production, choreographed by Devon Carney, has received critical acclaim and has become a favorite holiday tradition.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Kansas City Ballet's The Nutcracker
Redemptive journey with Christmas spirits.
Join Ebenezer Scrooge on his redemptive journey with Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Meet the Cratchits, Tiny Tim, and the irresistible Fezziwigs, and hear the haunting and joyous Candlelight Carol. This beloved holiday classic has been a Kansas City tradition for over 40 years, creating holiday memories for families with all the heart and spectacle you've come to love.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Kansas City Repertory Theatre's A Christmas Carol
Dazzling spectacle with pyrotechnics and lasers.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns to T-Mobile Center with an all-new production of "The Lost Christmas Eve," featuring pyrotechnics, lasers, and incredible storytelling.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Trans Siberian Orchestra
Intimate, heated igloo dinners available for private events.
Stroll through a Renaissance-themed setting adorned with twinkling lights, featuring visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Barbie the Christmas Elf. Enjoy shopping, food, and entertainment amidst the sights, scents, and sounds of the festivities.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Knights of Lights: A Renaissance Christmas Extravaganza
Live window performances with holiday scenes and an outdoor Christmas market.
Witness the transformation of Independence Square's windows into vibrant scenes of holiday cheer, featuring dancers, singers, and instrumentalists. The event also includes an outdoor Christmas market with vendors and concessions.
Where: Independence | More Info: Holiday Living Windows at Independence Square
World-class acrobats, contortionists, and aerialists performing to hit Christmas songs.
A variety show filled with nostalgia, charm, and awe-inspiring performances by world-class entertainers, celebrating the holiday spirit with favorite holiday music.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: A Magical Cirque Christmas
Interactive LED fountain display with special events.
Zona Rosa Central Park features 21 programmable LED lighted spray heads, creating a dynamic and colorful display. Enjoy coffee and breakfast burritos while being one of the first to play in the Central Park fountain.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Zona Rosa Holiday Market
Free skating on opening day with complimentary coffee and hot chocolate.
The Crown Center Ice Terrace is Kansas City's original public outdoor ice skating rink, offering a fun and festive atmosphere for all ages. Enjoy skating, coffee, and hot chocolate in the heart of downtown Kansas City.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Crown Center Ice Terrace
Victorian-era Christmas decorations in a historic mansion.
The Vaile Mansion is lavishly decorated for Christmas in a Victorian style, featuring intricate furnishings and decorations that evoke the elegance of the era.
Where: Independence | More Info: A Victorian Fashionable Christmas at Vaile Mansion
Holiday celebration with live music and Santa photo opportunities.
Celebrate the holiday season in Olathe with a variety of festive events, including holiday light displays at Stagecoach Park and Downtown Olathe, special mailboxes for Santa letters, and the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting at the Olathe Community Center. Enjoy live music by the Olathe Civic Jazz Band, participate in holiday crafts, and take photos with Santa.
Where: Olathe | More Info: Celebrate Olathe and the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting
Interactive holiday activities with Santa.
Join us for a holiday morning filled with crafts, games, and a pancake breakfast at the Merriam Community Center. Meet Santa and enjoy quality time with your family.
Where: Merriam | More Info: Breakfast with Santa at the Merriam Community Center
Custom-designed gingerbread house decorating for all ages.
Celebrate the season with our signature gingerbread house decorating experiences. Select from public classes, birthday parties, or private classes and at-home kits. Seasonal availability in November and December.
Where: Leawood | More Info: Holiday Cookie Decorating Class
Unique holiday activity with pre-assembled gingerbread houses and endless decorating supplies.
At Taste Buds Kitchen in Leawood, Kansas, children and families can create lasting memories by designing and decorating their own gingerbread houses. Each child receives a pre-assembled gingerbread house, freshly made frosting, and endless decorating supplies. The event is led by friendly chef instructors who guide participants through every step, ensuring a fun and memorable experience.
Where: Leawood | More Info: Gingerbread House Making at Taste Buds Kitchen
Interactive holiday fun for kids in a clean and safe environment.
At Santa’s SuperKidz Club Experience, kids can meet Santa, play in a festive indoor playground, and enjoy holiday-themed activities designed for young children.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Santa’s SuperKidz Club Experience
