VIEW MORE EVENTS: SPRING | SUMMER | FALL

 

Get the inside scoop on Kansas City fun! KC area winter events include holiday fun & shopping, restaurant experiences, and outdoor recreation. Events you won't want to miss include the Plaza Lights, The Nutcracker performed by the Kansas City Ballet, and holiday experiences at Longview Lake and Sar-Ko-Park.

 

 

ALL SEASON LONG

 

Plaza Lights – November, December, January. 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 glittering, jewel-colored lights that accentuate every dome, tower, and window of the Spanish-inspired shopping district. Timeless in every way imaginable, the Plaza Lights are a quintessential KC holiday tradition—and a delightful reminder of the Spanish-inspired Plaza’s undeniable beauty. View the Plaza Lights nightly Thanksgiving through early January. Plaza info & Ceremony info 

 

Ice Skating at Crown Center – November thru March. Grab your coat and gloves and catch some frozen action at Crown Center’s outdoor skating rink. You’ll be warmed by the entire storybook scene! And when you’re ready to duck inside, you’ll find dozens of shops and restaurants a snowball’s throw away. More info 

 

 

 

NOVEMBER

 

Kansas City Fall Caffeine Crawl – November. Explore the local coffee and tea scene with unique routes highlighting participating shops and roasters in the metro. Each stop provides a short, educational presentation along with a drink sample. This Crawl adds new faces, beverage industry veterans, and some of your favorite local spots stretching from De Soto to Lake Lotawana. There are historical buildings, inhouse roasters, tea stops, and everything in between over this weekend celebration. More info 

 

Holiday Boutique – November. The Overland Park Convention Center becomes a winter wonderland of merry shopping and gift-giving. Browse hundreds of vendors and cross off everyone on your list. More info 

 

Creative Hand Show & Sale – November. This event is produced jointly in Shawnee, KS by the Fiber and Weavers Guilds of Greater Kansas City. All pieces offered at this annual event are unique and handmade by local area members of the Guilds. You’ll find a wide variety of wearable fashions, jewelry, home decor and accents, fiber sculptures, pottery, hand dyed yarn and much more. More info

 

 

 

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

 

Luminary Walk – November, December. Kick off your holiday season with a festive walk through the lights at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. More info

 

Festival of Lights – November, December. More than 20 miles of holiday lights comprise installations that highlight the natural forms of Powell Gardens’ tree collection, show off the exceptional architecture and landscape design of the gardens, and with Instagram and holiday card-worthy photo stops along the way. More info 

 

Annual Christmas in the Park – November, December. This drive-thru magical winter wonderland features more than half a million lights and 175 animated displays, all designed and built entirely in-house. Admission is free, but voluntary exit donations benefit more than 35 local charities. More info 
 

 

 

DECEMBER

 

Sar-Ko Aglow – December. Around the winter holidays you can wander through miles of twinkling colorful lights as they brighten this favorite park with stunning views and gorgeous reflections on the water. The park remains lit each evening through mid-January. It’s free to walk through and enjoy the festive scenery. More info 

 

The Nutcracker – December. Performed by the Kansas City Ballet, this iconic, long-running show is a veritable holiday favorite in the Kansas City region. More info 

 

Holiday Lights and Festive Sights – December. Ring in the holiday season in Mission, KS with the Mayor’s tree lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa! There are children’s activities along the luminary walk on the Rock Creek Trail, s’mores roasting and hot chocolate and carolers. More info 

 

Jazzy Hip-Hop Christmas – December. The annual “Jazzy Hip-Hop Christmas” recognizes and celebrates Jazz & Hip-Hop fusion, at the Blue Room at 18th & Vine in the Historic Jazz District. This event has filled the Blue Room each year to standing room only capacity. More info 

 

Skiing & Tubing at Snow Creek – December thru March. Snow Creek is your Winter Outpost for outdoor recreation in the Kansas City Area. Nestled in the town of Weston, MO, Snow Creek has been celebrating winter fun for over 35 years. You can hit the ski slopes and still be home in time for dinner! 60 snowmaking machines create plenty of powder, and trails are accessed via chair lifts and rope tows. The lodge sports a cafeteria, bar, and lounge, along with a rental shop. More info 


 

 

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

 

Kansas City Restaurant Week – January. Dine well and do good during this 10-day, two-weekend event that highlights hundreds of the hottest restaurants in the city, each featuring special multi-course menus with portions of the proceeds benefitting area charities. More info 

 

Cupid’s Gems Artisan Jewelry Show – February. The annual Cupid’s Gems Artisan Jewelry Show at Thompson Barn is a juried event where you can purchase a variety of original, handcrafted jewelry items. Browse for gifts or find a new treasure for yourself. This is also a perfect opportunity to shop for a Valentine’s Day gift for a special person in your life. More info

 

 

VIEW MORE EVENTS: SPRING | SUMMER | FALL

 

 

 

BEST WINTER ACTIVITIES IN KC | KC AREA EVENTS
 
ABOUT KANSAS CITY  | MOVING TO KANSAS CITY