These events have passed.
This season, many families are looking for ways to celebrate the season while social distancing. Outdoor events and driving to look at holiday lights is a tradition that doesn’t have to change. Here are some of the Kansas City area’s best light shows you won’t want to miss.
Festival of Lights: Enchantment
$12 adults, $5 for kids, 4 and under free, $5 parking pass
Powell Gardens: 1609 NW US Highway 50, Kingsville, Mo.
Starting Nov. 13 through Jan. 3, catch the fourth year of this beautiful, illuminated walking path open Thursday through Sunday from 4 - 10 p.m. The mile-long path includes immersive light displays and shorter walking options are available. Reminder: everyone 2 years of age and older should wear a mask or face covering when social distancing is not possible.
The Soul of Santa
Free
Corner of 18th and Paseo, Kansas City, Mo.
Join in the Lighting Celebration at 18th and Vine Jazz District on Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. This outdoor, family-friendly event and other weekend events include a curbside community breakfast, curbside toy giveaway and virtual holiday concert.
Mayor’s Christmas Tree at Crown Center
Free
2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.
This year’s lighting ceremony will be Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m., in the middle of Crown Center square. This 100-foot tree will feature more than 48,000 lights, 892 ball ornaments, 100 snowflakes and 300 bells. Light ceremony entertainment includes songs from the cast of “A Spectacular Christmas Show.” The tree will be on display through Jan. 3, 2021.
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane
Free
Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead: 13800 Switzer, Overland Park, Kan.
Tune your car radio to hear holiday songs as they synchronize to a festive holiday light show on the side of Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead's main entrance. This year features a mix of holiday classics and popular movies.
Altasciences KC Holiday Lights
Free
Emmanuel Baptist Church: 103rd and Metcalf, Overland Park, Kan.
Park in the Emmanuel Baptist Church across the street from Altasciences and watch the beautiful holiday lights display while listening to the synchronized music on 95.5 FM. This display has more than 200,000 lights and takes 3 weeks to install.
Christmas in the Sky
Free
Longview Lake Beach: 11101 Raytown Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. for this holiday spectacular at Longview Lake Beach. Events include a Holiday Stage Show and fireworks display synchronized to holiday music.
Christmas in the Park
Free – donations accepted
Longview Campground: 1499 SW County Park Road, Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Starting Nov. 27 through Dec 31, drive through the popular holiday light display of more than 500,000 lights. This family pleaser is open 5:30 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Johnson County Kansas Christmas Light Displays
Free
Locations vary
Dreaming of a cute neighborhood full of lights? Drive through Candy Cane Lane in Prairie Village, Christmas Card Lane in Olathe, or by one of the many other houses in Johnson County worth a look. Maps included for easy route planning!
Winter Magic
$20 per car
Swope Park: 7332 Oakwood Dr., Kansas City, Mo.
This 2-mile drive features a world of wintery wonder. Open daily starting Nov. 2 through Jan. 2 from 5 - 9 p.m., and offers music programmed with the light show. Book your tickets to this holiday light show online early to make sure you can see the “longest animated light tunnel in the Midwest” this season.
Sar-Ko Aglow
Free
Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park: 87th S.t Parkway and Lackman Rd., Lenexa, Kan.
In Lenexa, this outdoor trail offers a beautiful light display starting Dec. 4 through Jan. 10 with the official lighting ceremony being live-streamed on Facebook on Dec. 4.
Luminary Walk
$14 general admission, kids under 6 free
The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens: 8909 W 1798th St., Overland Park, Kan.
Walkthrough the colorful-lit paths filled with candlelight and music or take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the forest.
Zona Rosa Holiday Lights Celebration
Free
Zona Rosa: 1-29 and Barry Road, Kansas City, Mo.
Zona Rosa will be lighting up their shopping center on Nov. 5 from 5 - 7 p.m..