Christmas in Kansas City: Traditions Old & New

Christmas in Kansas City is special. From the Plaza Lights to the unique local artisans’ shops, here are some of the best holiday happenings to put on your to-do list this season. You might even find something NEW to try!

Shopping

Crown Center

Crown Center is a Kansas City Holiday Must-Do. I remember driving down to Kansas City when I was a child growing up in St. Joseph. It was a BIG deal, every year. With a wide variety of stores and restaurants inside, the Mayors’s Christmas Tree right outside, and the ice skating terrace across the street, it is a holiday destination for many in the Kansas City area.

Kaleidoscope is open again this year (with reservations required), and the Sea Life Aquarium & Legoland are also waiting for you – with a combo ticket available! The Crown Center Ice Terrace opens on November 4, 2022 with its annual FREE SKATE from 6am – 9pm that day.

The Best of Kansas City Store

While you’re at Crown Center, be sure to visit The Best of Kansas City store! This shop is a veritable treasure trove of all things about Kansas City, made in Kansas City, and featuring Kansas City. It was a go-to stop when my oldest son was in the Army, stationed in Afghanistan, and seriously missing home.

The Best of Kansas City is a great place to stock a Kansas City-themed gift basket -from barbecue sauces to local treats, books to clothes- for those who love this city we call Home.

Made in KC

Made in KC is comparatively new to the scene. A multi-vendor market on the Country Club Plaza (right near the Florentine Boar statue), Made in KC brings the best of Kansas City’s local vendors into one place. Here, you can find more barbecue sauces than you knew existed, Nickle & Suede earrings, Christopher Elbow Chocolates and more! Local honey, beeswax gifts, hand-painted signs, clothing, soaps, confections, and baked items are all on sale. They even have a cafe and bar at the back, serving local craft brews! A must-stop shop while you enjoy the Country Club Plaza. You can also visit them in Briarcliff, near the River Market and in their other locations.

Topsy’s

Mom & I were just talking about this last week: there is NO other popcorn like Topsy’s Popcorn. How do they do that?! Topsy’s is great for gifting in those beautiful, collectible tins or for snacking in a smaller bag to-go. With locations in both Zona Rosa and on the Country Club Plaza, it’s hard for my family to visit either center during the holidays without stopping by Topsy’s first. It’s just that good!

Union Station: Strawberry Swing Holiday Market

Inspired by Europe’s open air holiday shopping events, the Strawberry Swing Holiday Market brings makers and artisans together at Kansas City’s City Market at 5th & Walnut. Enjoy warm drinks and a festive setting while browsing gifts from a variety of local retailers. Open Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 25 through Dec. 18, 2022.

Related Post: Kansas City’s River Market: It’s Not Just for Summer!

Light Viewing

Country Club Plaza

Did you know that the Plaza Lights have been a Kansas City Christmas tradition for over 90 years? Thousands of white, red & green lights outline the buildings of Country Club Plaza. If you’re from Kansas City, this is one of the places you almost have to visit at least once during the holiday season. Remember to stop by Topsy’s for some popcorn (I recommend the cheese and the caramel!) to enjoy while you walk around and take it all in. The annual lighting ceremony takes places on Thanksgiving evening every year, and the lights are on through early January.

Union Station

Kansas City’s Union Station’s history is fascinating. So is its Christmas display! Again this year, “Holiday Reflections” features a timed-ticket walk-through display (only $7) filling the Grand Plaza with appropriate grand style. The ride-on train is still available to little ones and the holiday model train gallery is even bigger this year! Check out Union Station’s website for the Holiday Reflections events. You don’t want to miss these.

Did you know?

Union Station boasts Kansas City’s largest and most photographed indoor holiday tree – measuring a full 40 feet tall and decorated with stunning red and gold adornments.

Zona Rosa

At Zona Rosa, you can shop and see the holiday lights all at once! Huge crown displays hung from above light up the intersections and the huge Christmas Tree in the Plaza behind Bravos gives families a place to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. One of our favorite shops in Zona Rosa is Heavenly Oils and Vinegars (great gifts for your friends who love or are learning to cook). Stop by Ixtapa (see below) for dinner!

Mayor’s Christmas Tree

The Mayor’s Christmas tree is a long-standing Kansas City tradition. The 100+foot-tall fir tree stands outside Crown Center and is lit up by over 7,200 white lights. Centered the the decorated plaza between the shopping center and the ice terrace, it’s a great place to take pictures on your way from Crown Center to go skating.

Longview Lake

Longview Lake Park’s Christmas in the Park is a holiday drive-thru display featuring timed lights that create delightful animations as you move past. This one always reminds me of the lights we always had up at Krug Park in St. Joe when I was a kid. Nov. 23-Dec. 31

Local Shops

Christopher Elbow Chocolates

Christopher Elbow is a Liberty graduate (go Blue Jays!) who made his name in artisan chocolates. His storefront is right on McGee Street in Downtown Kansas City, where they offer the most beautiful, hand-crafted confections you’ve ever seen.

We love taking a trip to the store to buy gifts (which you can also order online) & to buy a special treat for ourselves, as well. Seriously – try the Lavender Truffles. They are AMAZING.

Tea Market

Confession: I’ve become a bit of a tea snob. Ever since learning what real tea is supposed to taste like years ago in Stacie Robertson’s tea classes, I haven’t looked back.

The Tea Market is a specialty tea store in Crestwood (just a few blocks south of the Plaza) with over 100 whole leaf teas and even more, with custom blends. Stacie and her staff love sharing the joy of tea with customers and are happy to answer your questions. They will help you find the perfect tea for you and/or the ones you love.

Curating and sourcing quality teas is Stacie’s passion. She is the most knowledgeable person I know when it comes to tea (I kinda want to be like her when I grow up.) The Tea Market offers seasonal teas as well as traditional staples.

Anna Marie’s Teas

Christmas tea at Anna Marie's near Kansas City

Anna Marie’s Teas is the Northland’s go-to shop for loose leaf teas. Owner Brenda Hedrick is the sweetest person you’ll ever meet. One of my favorite events is Brenda’s monthly themed tea parties at her gorgeous 1913 historical home in Liberty, Missouri. My mom and I love finding reasons to “gift” Brenda’s tea parties to each other – and when we can’t find a reason, we do it anyway!

Anna Marie’s tea shop ladies will help you find a lovely tea to keep you warm this holiday season. They also offer great gift ideas and packages for your loved ones who love tea! Say Hi for me when you visit.

Indigo Wild: Zum Soaps

Did you know that Zum Soaps are made right here in Kansas City? They make great Christmas gifts! Their retail store, Indigo Wild, is just south of downtown on Wyandotte, but you can find their soaps and other bath and scented items in many stores in the area (I usually buy Frankincense and Myrrh Goat Milk Soap by the ounce at Price Chopper) As something fun to do, though, take a trip down to the retail store.

Related Post: Kansas City’s The Roasterie: Local Coffee from the Grounds Up

Dining

Kansas City is chock-full of excellent restaurants. There is just no way to put them all here! Aside from barbecue and steak joints, however, here are a few unique places that you may not have tried yet. Great for when your family comes home to Kansas City for Christmas!

Ixtapa

For my friends who like Mexican food, I have two favorites in Kansas City. First, just south of Zona in the little strip east of Quik Trip, is Ixtapa. Authentic, flavorful and well-priced, it is the only place I have found in Kansas City to get Chile Rellenos that are roasted, not battered and fried. Stuffed with nopales, mushrooms, onions, and authentic white cheeses, they are the most flavorful I have ever had. I order them every. time.

My husband (the carnivore) explores the menu, which spans a wide range of Mexican favorites – but you’re not going to get that yellow American shredded cheese here! If you’re lucky, you’ll visit when Alejandro, Ixtapa’s co-owner, is there. He and his friendly staff work to make sure your authentic meal is one you’ll come back for again and again.

K-Machos

We just recently discovered K-Macho’s, and even though it’s a 25-minute drive over onto the Kansas side in Overland Park, it is SO worth it!

Check out our experience here.

Guy Fieri’s Dive and Taco Joint

Blake and I visited Guy’s on a random Saturday afternoon lunch date. Just across the street from Power and Light, Guy’s serves specialty taco plates and a really flavorful spread of salsas. They were happy to modify one of their plates to accommodate my vegetarian preferences. We visited on a weekend afternoon when there were no crowds, but you could tell it was a happenin’ place when the sun went down. The walls are covered in neon signs and unique memorabilia and the side of the joint facing the street has garage doors that open up to let the Power and Light vibe in when the weather permits.

The Dubliner

The Dubliner is an Irish Ale House and Pub – also in Power and Light. My teenage boys and I visited one weekend for a “mom & sons date” to see what was on the menu. The menu basically consists of typical pub foods with an Irish theme. We ordered a variety of dishes to share, and I can say that after tasting the Guiness Stew, I now know what Guiness must taste like! My middle son ordered a Reuben & was a big fan. Their Sharing Plates are generous, and we enjoyed both their onion rings and poutine. Poutine is basically french fries smothered in gravy or cheese – can’t go wrong there! The menu is vegetarian- and gluten-free- friendly, which is great for those of us who follow special diets.

Fogo de Chao

Fogo de Chao is a wonderful place in Kansas City for a special Christmas time lunch or dinner. The restaurant is a Brazilian churrascaria – a completely unique dining experience in which gauchos (servers) come around the dining room with spits of meat freshly removed from the kitchen grills to offer patrons a wide selection of beefs, chickens, pork meats, and even lamb. Diners use special utensils to accept the custom slices of meat, using a round disc to indicate when they are ready to try another serving (the green side) and when they are content for the time being (the red side).

For those who don’t prefer meats, Fogo offers a high-quality vegetable, cheese, breads, and soup bar. The meal is also accented by parmesan-dusted polenta, cheese puffs, mashed potatoes and carmelized bananas.

Lunch prices are lower than dinner prices, when fewer cuts of meat are offered. Either time is a great opportunity to experience dinner for a special occasion or celebration.

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Kimberly Brownlee is a Kansas City-area native and a lover of local travel. Well, any travel. And Christmas.

Memories are something that your loved ones will never outgrow, never lose and never forget. Consider the gift of travel this year.

Kimberly Brownlee is the owner/operator of Next Adventure Vacations, a Kansas City-based travel agency focused on helping couples and families make memories that last a lifetime.