Getting in the Spirit: Top Ways to Celebrate the Holidays

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With the Halloween season coming to an end, Thanksgiving right around the corner and Christmas just over a month away, fall will soon be over and winter will be in full swing. With winter come different activities to get you into the spirit: gingerbread houses, hot chocolate with marshmallows, snowball fights and Christmas lights. In Kansas City, there are many activities that you can take part in to get into the spirit. 

Ice Skating

Kansas City has three different ice skating rinks that are inexpensive and easy to access. All three provide skate rental, though they all welcome owned skates, and each have a low cost for skating in general. 

Ice Terrace at Crown Center: 2425 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO

• Ice Terrace is open from November through mid-March. This year is its 46th season in downtown Kansas City, MO, set in the middle of Crown Center.
• Regular admission is $7, plus a skate rental fee of $3.
• Hours are Sunday through Thursday are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Kansas City Ice Center: ​19900 Johnson Dr, Shawnee Mission

• Kansas City Ice Center (KCIC) is located in Shawnee with varying hours for public skating.
• Public sessions have an $8 admission fee plus a $4 skate rental fee.
• The website covers the dates of public skating times, as well as the rules for public skating: www.kcicecenter.com

The Ice - Park Place at Leawood: ​11565 Ash St, Leawood

• Leawood offers their ice rink in the middle of their Park Place shopping district. Nearby are restaurants, stores, movie theaters and more.
• Admission is $8, plus a $3 skate rental.
• The schedule changes often and the venue offers different discounts during their business hours.
• Check it out at: www.parkplaceleawood.com/special-offers/ice 

Christmas Lights

Known as the City of Fountains, Kansas City also has its fair share of Christmas lights around the different suburbs and shopping districts. There are tree lighting ceremonies, Christmas lighting ceremonies and much more in the city. 

The 89th Annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony - ​4706 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO

• Every year on Thanksgiving, long after the meals have been consumed, the Country Club Plaza officially starts Christmas.
• This year, the tradition falls on Nov. 22, starting at 5 p.m.
• There is no admission fee to the event, but it is typically a packed ceremony. If “packed” isn’t something you enjoy, it is broadcast live on 41 Action News. 

Sar-Ko-Aglow - 8808 Greenway Ln, Lenexa

• Sar-Ko-Aglow takes place at Sar-Ko Par Trails Park in Lenexa on Nov. 30.
• At 6 p.m. that night, the park’s lighting celebration occurs, flipping on lights that are strewn across trees, bridges, buildings and more.
• There’s no admission fee. Santa Claus will be present and hot chocolate will be available. 

The 14th Annual Legendary Tree Lighting Ceremony - ​1843 Village W Pkwy, Kansas  City

• Switching out its fountain for an enormous Christmas tree, the Legends Shopping Center hosts an annual tree lighting ceremony to kick off the holiday season.
• Saturday, Nov. 17, the Legends offers activities starting at 6 p.m, like s’mores, hot chocolate, meeting Santa Claus, live music and more, while attendees can also walk around and shop. 

Live Shows

A Christmas Carol 

• “A Christmas Carol,” named the best Christmas story ever told. The tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is presented every year in downtown Kansas City at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre.
• Tickets start at $74 with the opening show on Nov. 17. Tickets can be purchased at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre website. 

Kansas City Ballet - The Nutcracker

• Named one of Kansas City’s best holiday shows, the “Nutcracker Ballet” is an annual show, casting dancers from all over the city each year.
• Tickets start at $70 with shows beginning Nov. 30.
• Tickets can be purchased on the Kauffman Performing Arts Center website. 

98 Degrees 

• One of the hottest boy bands of the 1990s, 98 Degrees returns in 2018 for a Christmas tour, which is making a stop in Kansas City, MO. They will be singing classic Christmas hits, as well as their own takes on different songs.
•  They perform at Ameristar Casino and tickets start at $82 for their concert date of Nov. 30. Buy tickets at Ameristar’s website.

Throughout the months of November and December, there are ways to get into the holiday spirit. For further information on what you can do during the month in the city, visit this website: www.visitkc.com.