Christmas in Kansas City with kids.
Christmas in Kansas City is easy to plan around Union Station and Crown Center. Holiday Reflections opens at Union Station on November 20. At Crown Center, kids can skate on the Ice Terrace and visit Santa. The Coterie's Pigeon show is there, too.
For lights, drive through Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake. It's free. Winter Magic in the Northland is another drive-through. Or walk the Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens. Many events post their 2026 dates in November, so this list will grow.
Before you go
- Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake is free. Go on a weeknight early in the season to skip the longest lines.
- Food and drinks aren't allowed inside Holiday Reflections, and kids can't wear Santa or character costumes.
- At Winter Magic, most November nights cost the least. December Saturdays cost the most.
- TubaChristmas at the Kauffman Center is free, but you need a free ticket.
- Pick an afternoon show of the Nutcracker for younger kids.
Family Christmas events in Kansas City
13 events
Some ticket links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects which events we list. Learn more.
- Holiday festivalsSanta visitsHoliday trains Good for toddlers
Holiday Reflections at Union Station
- Dates
- Nov 20 - Jan 4 · Daily 10am-8pm, last entry an hour before close. Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Dec 4 and 11 close at 6pm. Dec 24 closes at 2pm.
- Where
- Union Station, Grand Plaza, Crown Center / Union Station
- Price
- $10 Mon-Thu, $12 Fri-Sun and Dec 21-Jan 4, plus a 10% fee. Babies 12 months and under free.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Timed tickets, card or online only. Buy ahead. All sales are final.
An indoor walk-through holiday village with model trains and a new frozen winter area with igloos. Santa walks around inside from 10am to 2pm through Dec 24. Plan on 45-60 minutes.
Parent tip: Kids under 48 inches can ride the mini train for $5 more. Food and drinks aren't allowed inside, and kids can't wear Santa or character costumes.
- Ice skating Good for toddlers
Crown Center Ice Terrace
- Dates
- Nov 6 - Mar 14 · Nov-Jan: Sun-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm. Thanksgiving 3-10pm. Dec 24 and Dec 31 10am-6pm. Closed Christmas Day.
- Where
- Crown Center Square
- Price
- $10 for ages 4 and up. Under 4 free with a paid adult. Skate rental $6.
- Ages and booking
- All ages. Kids 12 and under must come with a paying adult. · No advance booking mentioned
An outdoor rink in the middle of Crown Center, open all winter. Opening day, Fri Nov 6, has free skating with free coffee and hot chocolate from 6 to 9am.
Parent tip: Hours can change with the weather, so check the day's hours before you go.
- Santa visitsFree Good for toddlers
Santa at Crown Center's Destination North Pole
- Dates
- Nov 27 - Dec 24 · Nov 27-Dec 24, 2026, during shop hours. Mon-Thu 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun noon-6pm. Dec 24 until 5pm.
- Where
- Crown Center Shops, Level 1
- Price
- Free visit. Photo packages from $12. Your own photos are free.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · No booking mentioned
A free indoor Santa visit at Crown Center. Santa arrives by horse-drawn carriage at 10am on Nov 27 and stays through Christmas Eve.
Parent tip: Pair it with the Ice Terrace or the Coterie's holiday show, which are in the same complex.
- Shows and Nutcracker
Kansas City Ballet's The Nutcracker
- Dates
- Nov 28 - Dec 24 · Nov 28-Dec 24, 2026. Afternoon and evening shows. Dec 24 has a 1pm show only.
- Where
- Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Downtown / Crossroads
- Price
- Adults $39-154. Kids 12 and under $39-149.
- Ages and booking
- Kids who can sit through a 2-hour ballet · Buy ahead online
Kansas City's big holiday ballet. It runs 2 hours and 15 minutes, with one 20-minute break.
Parent tip: Pick an afternoon show for younger kids. The ballet also lists a sensory-friendly show on its site.
- Christmas lightsFree Good for toddlers
Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake
- Dates
- Nov 25 - Dec 31 · Nightly from 5:30pm. Sun-Thu until 10pm, Fri-Sat until 11pm.
- Where
- Starts at Frank White Jr. Softball Complex, 3901 SW Longview Rd., Lee's Summit (southeast metro)
- Price
- Free. Donations at the exit go to local charities.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Drive up. No tickets.
A free drive-through light show that winds through the Longview Lake campground. This is its 39th year.
Parent tip: Go on a weeknight early in the season to avoid the longest lines.
- Christmas lights Good for toddlers
Winter Magic at Platte Purchase Park
- Dates
- Nov 4 - Jan 2 · Nightly. Gates open 6pm. Closing time is 8-11pm, depending on the night.
- Where
- Platte Purchase Park, 10400 N. Platte Purchase Dr., Northland
- Price
- $20-40 per vehicle, depending on the night. More than 15 riders needs a second ticket.
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy online for a set night
A drive-through light show of about a mile that you see from your warm car. It's run with KC Parks.
Parent tip: Most November nights are the cheapest. Saturdays in December cost the most.
- Christmas lights Good for toddlers
Evergy Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens
- Dates
- Nov 19 - Jan 3 · Select nights, 5-10pm: Nov 19-22, 27-29; Dec 3-5, 10-12, 18-23, 26-29; Jan 2-3, 2027.
- Where
- Powell Gardens, 1609 NW US Hwy 50, Kingsville (east of Kansas City)
- Price
- See the official site
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy tickets online
An outdoor lighted path through the botanical garden, with food, shops and a warming station.
Parent tip: It's closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, plus the day before each. The warming station closes at 9:30pm.
- Shows and Nutcracker Good for toddlers
The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza! at The Coterie
- Dates
- Nov 10 - Dec 31 · Nov 10-Dec 31, 2026. Check the schedule for show times.
- Where
- The Coterie Theatre, Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd.
- Price
- See the official site
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Buy ahead online
A new musical based on Mo Willems' Pigeon and Elephant and Piggie books. It runs about an hour, which suits little kids.
Parent tip: The Coterie offers sensory-friendly shows of this one. There's also an ASL show on Nov 21 at 2pm.
- Shows and Nutcracker
A Christmas Carol at KC Rep
- Dates
- Nov 21 - Dec 24 · Nov 21-Dec 24, 2026. Check the schedule for show times.
- Where
- Spencer Theatre, UMKC campus, 4949 Cherry St., UMKC / Rockhill
- Price
- See the official site. Some early dates are cheaper.
- Ages and booking
- See the official site · Buy ahead online
Kansas City's long-running stage version of the Dickens story. Local kids play Tiny Tim and the other Cratchit children.
Parent tip: The cheapest seats are on the first four dates, Nov 21-25.
- Shows and Nutcracker
The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert with the Kansas City Symphony
- Dates
- Nov 27-29 · Fri Nov 27, 7pm; Sat Nov 28, 1pm and 7pm; Sun Nov 29, 2pm
- Where
- Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, Downtown / Crossroads
- Price
- $70-145 depending on the seat
- Ages and booking
- Families · Buy ahead online. All sales are final.
The whole Muppet movie plays on a big screen while the symphony plays the music live.
Parent tip: The Saturday 1pm and Sunday 2pm shows are the best fit for kids who nap or go to bed early.
- Shows and NutcrackerSanta visits
Kansas City Symphony Christmas Festival
- Dates
- Dec 17-20 · Dec 17-18, 7pm; Dec 19, 1pm and 7pm; Dec 20, 2pm and 7pm
- Where
- Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, Downtown / Crossroads
- Price
- $45-105 depending on the seat
- Ages and booking
- See the official site · Buy ahead online. All sales are final.
A holiday concert with the symphony, its chorus and guest singers. Santa stops by.
Parent tip: Pick one of the weekend matinees for younger kids.
- Shows and Nutcracker
The Polar Express in Concert with the Kansas City Symphony
- Dates
- Dec 23-24 · Wed Dec 23, 7pm; Thu Dec 24, 11am
- Where
- Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, Downtown / Crossroads
- Price
- See the official site
- Ages and booking
- See the official site · Buy ahead online. All sales are final.
The Polar Express movie on a big screen, with the symphony and chorus playing the score live.
Parent tip: The Christmas Eve 11am show leaves the rest of the day free.
- Shows and NutcrackerFree Good for toddlers
TubaChristmas at the Kauffman Center
- Dates
- Dec 4-14 · Two dates only: Fri Dec 4 and Mon Dec 14, 2026, at noon
- Where
- Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center, Downtown / Crossroads
- Price
- Free, but you need a free ticket
- Ages and booking
- All ages · Reserve free tickets online
Hundreds of tuba and baritone players fill the concert hall to play carols and holiday songs.
Parent tip: A noon start fits around naps, and it's a free way to see the inside of the Kauffman Center.
Dates and prices were checked on each event's official site. They can change, so check the official site before you go.
On a budget? See every free Christmas event in Kansas City, including parades and tree lightings.
Planning a Santa visit? See where to find Santa in Kansas City, plus free Santa photos, breakfasts with Santa and tips for skipping the line.
Going to the ballet? Compare every Nutcracker in Kansas City, with run times, age tips and sensory-friendly shows.
Questions parents ask
What is there to do in Kansas City for Christmas with kids?
See Holiday Reflections at Union Station. Then skate at the Crown Center Ice Terrace and visit Santa. Drive through Christmas in the Park or Winter Magic. Walk the Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens.
For shows, see Kansas City Ballet's Nutcracker or the Coterie's Pigeon holiday show.
When is Holiday Reflections at Union Station in 2026?
Holiday Reflections runs from November 20, 2026, to January 4, 2027. It's open daily from 10am to 8pm, with shorter hours on a few days. It's closed November 26 and December 25.
Christmas in other cities
- Christmas in New York
- Christmas in Chicago
- Christmas in Boston
- Christmas in Washington, DC
- Christmas in Nashville
- Christmas in Seattle
- Christmas in Denver
- Christmas in San Diego
- Christmas in San Francisco
- Christmas in Los Angeles
- Christmas in Atlanta
- Christmas in Houston
- Christmas in San Antonio
- Christmas in Gatlinburg
- Christmas in Philadelphia
- Christmas in Pittsburgh
- Christmas in Las Vegas
- Christmas in Orlando
- Christmas in Miami
- Christmas in New Orleans
- Christmas in Charlotte
- Christmas in Dallas
- Christmas in Austin
- Christmas in Phoenix
- Christmas in St. Louis
- Christmas in Tampa
- Christmas in Cincinnati