Unwrap the New Midwest with Top Things to Do in Kansas City, MO

Cheerful lights & other inspiring sights

There are few places where the sights and sounds of the season are more alluring than in Kansas City, so it’s no surprise that AFAR recently crowned KC one of “America’s Most Surprising Cities.” Whether for a long weekend or just a day trip, make plans now for a memorable holiday in the heart of the New Midwest.

• Holiday shopping on the iconic Country Club Plaza is elevated to an art form thanks to Plaza Lights, when thousands of glimmering, jewel-colored lights accentuate every dome, tower and window of the Spanish-inspired shopping district. From Thanksgiving night to mid-January, take in the cheerful sight while crossing off your shopping list at more than 100 stores.

• Commemorate Veterans Day with a visit to the National WWI Museum and Memorial. A hit with history buffs, the American treasure features interactive exhibits such as a walk-in shell crater and stunning recreation of No Man’s Land. 

• Youngsters (and the young at heart) love Jackson County’s Christmas in the Park, a dazzling drive-through experience of half a million lights and 175 animated figures. The fun kicks off on Nov. 25 and lasts until Dec. 31.

• Life is like a Hallmark card at Crown Center, home to the greeting-card maker and the awe-inspiring Mayor’s Christmas Tree. Standing a lofty 100 feet and touting more than 10,000 bulbs, the iconic fir is easily one of the most breathtaking sights of the holiday season. Stick around for ice-skating, shopping and other yuletide entertainment.

• The season takes on a presidential feel in Independence, MO, the charming hometown of America’s 33rd president. Be one of the first to experience the reimagined Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, reopening soon after a multimillion-dollar renovation.

• Treat the KC Streetcar as your very own shopping sleigh by tracking down locally made presents and trendy outfits in the Power & Light District, a thriving Downtown neighborhood. Or, hop the state line to Kansas City, KS, for even more discounts and deals at Legends Outlets, a festive outdoor shopping center. 

• Treat yourself to a break at the Kansas City Zoo, open year-round and home to more than 1,700 animals. Get to know the feathered friends residing in Helzberg Penguin Plaza, where King and Gentoo penguins torpedo through a 100,000-gallon cool pool inside their winter wonderland. 

• KC’s historic Union Station features a never-ending array of festivities in November and December. A new blockbuster exhibit for 2020—Dinosaur Road Trip—features 26 life-size animatronic dinosaurs enjoying an epic road trip across Route 66. 

• Holidays meet history in Olathe, KS. Go back in time and experience an 1860s Christmas celebration at the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop, a living history museum with immersive, family-friendly experiences fit for the trailblazer in all of us. 

• Experience Winter Magic in Swope Park, featuring more than a mile of drive-through holiday displays and the longest animated light tunnel in the Midwest.

• Head to the 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District to experience The Soul of Santa, Dec. 4–5. The celebration includes an outdoor tree lighting ceremony, drive-through breakfast and a virtual holiday concert.

• Give the gift that lasts all season long, a Worlds of Fun Gold Season Pass. Now on sale, 2021 Gold Passes include unlimited visits to Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun, the all new Riptide Raceway, free parking and other exclusive benefits.

• Finally, toast a successful holiday adventure and raise a glass to Kansas City’s brewery scene with Season Four of KC Tap Tour. Explore 22 breweries at your own pace, enjoying more than $100 of value with a convenient digital passport. Get yours in time for Christmas at VisitKC.com/TapTour.