2026 holiday guide

Kansas City Christmas Lights 2026: the best displays, dates and drives

The best holiday light displays across the metro, with dates, hours, cost and directions for each one, plus the neighborhood streets locals drive every December.

Updated By the Barley Bus team, who run Kansas City's private holiday lights buses

The Country Club Plaza outlined in Christmas lights at night

If you only have one night

Our top 5 for 2026

  1. The Plaza's Giralda tower outlined in red and white holiday lights1

    Plaza Lights

    The Kansas City classic: 15 blocks outlined in lights since 1930, free to see.

  2. The Mayor's Christmas Tree lit up on Crown Center Square2

    Mayor's Christmas Tree at Crown Center

    A towering tree with free light shows on weekend nights.

  3. Trees wrapped in colorful lights along a park path at night3

    Christmas in the Park

    The metro's biggest free drive-through: over a million lights at Longview Lake.

  4. A Kansas City house lined with candy canes and holiday lights4

    Brookside & Ward Parkway light blocks

    Whole streets competing for best block. Free, and best seen slowly.

  5. A holiday tour group in front of the Union Station Christmas tree5

    Holiday Reflections at Union Station

    Indoor holiday village and model trains, a good pick on a cold night.

Best Kansas City Christmas lights by type

20 of 20 places

Area guide

Downtown & Crown Center

Union Station and Crown Center sit across Pershing Road from each other, so you can see both in one stop.

The Mayor's Christmas Tree lit up on Crown Center Square

1

Mayor's Christmas Tree & Hallmark Christmas Experience

Crown Center, Kansas City, MO

FreeDrive or walkBus-friendly

The Mayor's Christmas Tree stands on Crown Center Square (in 2025 it was about 100 feet tall). On weekends the Hallmark Christmas Experience adds a free outdoor market and timed tree light shows. The Ice Terrace rink is next door.

Good to know: Time your visit to a light show on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The tree is visible from Grand Blvd and Pershing Rd if you are driving past.

When
Tree lighting: Friday, Nov 27, 2026. Hallmark Christmas Experience: Nov 27 to Dec 20, 2026, Fridays to Sundays (Fri and Sat noon to 9 p.m., Sun noon to 7 p.m.). Tree light shows Fri and Sat at 6, 7 and 8 p.m., Sun at 6 p.m. Ice Terrace: Nov 6, 2026 to Mar 14, 2027. Holiday choirs in the Crown Center Shops atrium: Nov 30 to Dec 18, 2026.
Cost
Free. The Hallmark Light Walk is ticketed.
Address
2450 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO
DirectionsCrown Center: Hallmark Christmas ExperienceCrown Center Christmas
A holiday tour group in front of the Union Station Christmas tree

2

Holiday Reflections at Union Station

Union Station, Kansas City, MO

Indoor walk-through

An indoor walk-through holiday village with model trains: 800+ feet of track and 18 trains in the Grand Plaza, plus the Model Train Gallery. Little kids (under 48 inches) can ride the Mini Holiday Express.

Good to know: Entry is by timed hourly slot, so book ahead for weekends. A good warm-up stop on a cold night.

When
Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 4, 2027, daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (last entry one hour before close). Closed Nov 26 and Dec 25. Closes early Dec 4 and Dec 11 (6 p.m.) and Dec 24 (2 p.m.).
Cost
$10 Mon to Thu, $12 Fri to Sun, and $12 daily Dec 21 to Jan 4, plus a 10% preservation fee. Members $9. Babies 12 months and under free. Card or online only. The kids' train ride is $5 for non-members.
Address
30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO
DirectionsUnion Station: Holiday Reflections

Area guide

The Plaza, Ward Parkway & Brookside

The heart of the season. The Plaza, the Ward Parkway mansions and the Brookside light blocks are a few minutes apart, which makes this the best single area for a night out.

The Plaza's Giralda tower outlined in red and white holiday lights

3

Plaza Lights

Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, MO

FreeDrive or walkBus-friendly2026 dates not posted yet

Fifteen blocks of the Country Club Plaza outlined in lights. The first strand went up in 1925 and the first lighting ceremony was in 1930. The lights have been turned off only once, in 1973.

Good to know: Plaza garages are free. Ceremony night brings huge crowds, so pick another night unless the ceremony is the point. The KC Streetcar has a Plaza stop.

When
2026 dates not announced yet. In 2025 the 96th lighting ceremony was on Thanksgiving night (Nov 27), and the lights shone nightly from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. through Jan 11, 2026.
Cost
Free
DirectionsVisit KC: Plaza LightsKCTV5: 2025 holiday lighting guide

5

Brookside & Armour Fields light blocks

Brookside, Kansas City, MO

FreeDrive or walkBus-friendly

Whole blocks around Ward Parkway decorate around a theme and compete for best block, including the local "Candy Cane Lane" on W. 68th Terrace, Arno Road and Armour Fields east of the parkway, and "Snowflake Street" just west of it.

Good to know: See our neighborhood guide for each street and the best order to drive them.

When
Typically all of December. No official dates.
Cost
Free
DirectionsKCTV5: Ward Parkway neighborhood lights (Dec 2024)KC Mom Collective: Brookside-area lights guide (Dec 2025)
A Kansas City house decorated with a nutcracker and lit treesWant every light block, in driving order?See our guide to Kansas City's best Christmas light neighborhoods →

Area guide

Johnson County

Prairie Village, Overland Park and Lenexa mix one of the oldest neighborhood traditions in the metro with ticketed garden walks.

6

Candy Cane Lane

Prairie Village, KS

FreeDrive-throughBus-friendly2026 dates not posted yet

A long cul-de-sac with a 50-foot light tree in the middle and candy canes at every driveway. Neighbors have done it since 1958.

Good to know: Stay in your car; traffic backs up.

When
Typically late November into early January. 2026 dates not posted.
Cost
Free. Neighbors collect donations for a local charity.
Address
7900 block of Outlook Lane, off W. 79th St, Prairie Village, KS
DirectionsJohnson County Post (Dec 2024)Kansas City Magazine (Dec 2025)

7

Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane

Overland Park, KS

FreeDrive-through2026 dates not posted yet

A light display at the farmstead entrance that you watch from your car, with music on the radio.

Good to know: The farmstead itself is closed in winter, so there are no animals or hayrides. Turn your headlights off when you park.

When
2026 dates not posted. In 2025 it ran from late November through Dec 31, 5 to 10 p.m.
Cost
Free
Address
Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead entrance, 13800 Switzer Rd, Overland Park, KS
DirectionsFOX4 holiday displays list (Dec 2025)Johnson County Post (Dec 2024)

8

Luminary Walk at the Overland Park Arboretum

Overland Park, KS

Walk

The 27th annual walk along garden paths lit by luminaries.

Good to know: Tickets are by night, so buy ahead. Dress for walking outside.

When
Traditional walk: Nov 27 to 28, Dec 4 to 5, 11 to 12 and 18 to 19, 2026. Adults-only Candlelight Stroll: Dec 3, 10 and 17. Electric Glow: Dec 16, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 26.
Cost
$17 for the traditional walk and the adults-only stroll, $12 for Electric Glow. Ages 5 and under free. Glow cart tours are sold out.
Address
8909 W. 179th St, Overland Park, KS
DirectionsCity of Overland Park: Luminary Walk

9

Sar-Ko Aglow

Lenexa, KS

FreeWalk

A free lights walk around Rose's Pond, opened each year with a lighting ceremony with carolers and Santa.

Good to know: Free parking at the Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center and Foundry Church.

When
Lighting ceremony Friday, Dec 4, 2026, 6 to 7 p.m. (cancelled if the forecast is 15°F or colder). Lights on each evening after that into January.
Cost
Free
Address
Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, 87th Street Pkwy & Lackman Rd, Lenexa, KS
DirectionsCity of Lenexa: Sar-Ko Aglow

10

KC Winter Wonderland at KC Pumpkin Patch

Olathe, KS

Walk2026 dates not posted yet

A lighted walking path on a farm, with a giant slide and Santa.

When
Friday to Sunday evenings in season. 2026 dates and prices not posted.
Cost
Ticketed. Part of the proceeds go to the Veterans Community Project.
Address
13875 S Gardner Rd, Olathe, KS
DirectionsVisit KC listing

Area guide

Swope Park, Lee's Summit & Eastern Jackson County

Home to the metro's biggest free drive-through, the zoo's lantern festival and a garden light walk worth the drive.

11

Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake

Lee's Summit, MO

FreeDrive-throughBus-friendly

The 39th annual drive-through: more than a million lights and over 200 animated displays, run by Jackson County Parks + Rec.

Good to know: Buses and RVs are welcome; clearance is about 14 feet.

When
Nightly Nov 25 to Dec 31, 2026. Sun to Thu 5:30 to 10 p.m., Fri and Sat 5:30 to 11 p.m. Opening night (Nov 25) starts with Christmas in the Sky: a free show with Santa and fireworks at 7:30 p.m. at Longview Lake Beach.
Cost
Free. Donations at the exit go to local charities.
Address
3901 SW Longview Rd, Lee's Summit, MO (enter at Frank White Jr. Softball Complex)
DirectionsJackson County Parks + Rec: Christmas in the ParkJackson County: Christmas in the Sky

12

Lee's Summit Magic Tree

Lee's Summit, MO

FreeDrive or walkBus-friendly2026 dates not posted yet

A single tree covered in lights, a Lee's Summit holiday tradition. In 2025 it moved to a spot you can see from I-470.

Good to know: It is near I-470 and View High Drive, so it pairs well with Christmas in the Park.

When
2026 dates not posted. In 2025 the lighting was on Nov 26 at Paragon Star. In past seasons it has stayed lit into early January.
Cost
Free. Toy donations are encouraged at the lighting.
DirectionsKCTV5: 2025 holiday lighting guide

13

GloWild at the Kansas City Zoo

Swope Park, Kansas City, MO

Walk

A one-mile lantern festival through the zoo. The 2026 theme is "Hidden Treasure."

Good to know: Allow about an hour to walk the path.

When
Open since Sept 11, 2026, Wednesday to Sunday 6 to 10 p.m. (open Thanksgiving week). The zoo has not posted an end date.
Cost
Ticketed; see the zoo for current prices.
Address
6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City, MO
DirectionsKansas City Zoo: GloWild

14

Independence Square lights

Independence, MO

FreeDrive or walk2026 dates not posted yet

More than a mile of lights around the historic square and Truman Courthouse.

When
2026 dates not posted. In 2025 the lighting ceremony was Friday, Nov 21. In 2024 the lights stayed up through December.
Cost
Free
DirectionsKCTV5 (Nov 2025)

15

Evergy Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens

Kingsville, MO (about 30 miles east of downtown)

Walk

A light walk of about a mile through the botanical garden, with a holiday train and a warming station.

Good to know: Closed on the major holidays. Buy tickets ahead.

When
Select nights Nov 19, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, 5 to 10 p.m.: Nov 19 to 22 and 27 to 29; Dec 2 to 5, 10 to 12, 18 to 23 and 26 to 29; Jan 2 to 3.
Cost
Ticketed; prices not posted yet.
Address
1609 NW US Highway 50, Kingsville, MO
DirectionsPowell Gardens: Festival of Lights

Area guide

The Northland

North of the river: two drive-throughs, a shopping district in lights and a one-night riverfront festival.

16

Winter Magic

Platte Purchase Park, Kansas City, MO

Drive-through

A drive-through of about a mile, with music on your car radio.

Good to know: Buy tickets for a specific night ahead of time; they cost more at the gate. Cars, trucks and vans or buses of up to 15 passengers only (no limos, motorcoaches or trailers).

When
Nightly from early November through Jan 2, 2027. Opens at 6 p.m.; closing time varies by night.
Cost
Per carload, $20 to $40 depending on the night (peak December Saturdays are $40). Tickets on sale now.
Address
10400 N Platte Purchase Dr, Kansas City, MO
DirectionsWinter Magic KCWinter Magic: 2026 vehicle rules

17

Lane of Lights

Excelsior Springs, MO (about 30 miles northeast of downtown)

Drive-through

A volunteer-built drive-through along Lover's Lane. A different local nonprofit hosts each night and shares in that night's proceeds.

Good to know: Opening night is also the town's Lighted Christmas Parade (Nov 21, 2026).

When
Nightly Nov 21 to Dec 25, 2026, from 5:30 p.m.
Cost
Not posted. Each night's proceeds help that night's host nonprofit.
Address
Lover's Lane, Excelsior Springs, MO
DirectionsVisit Excelsior Springs: Lane of LightsVisit Excelsior Springs: annual events

18

Zona Rosa Northern Lights

Zona Rosa, Kansas City, MO

FreeDrive or walk2026 dates not posted yet

Lighted Kansas City crowns over the streets and a 44-foot tree. In past seasons The Rink at Zona Rosa has offered outdoor skating.

When
2026 dates not posted. In 2025 the lighting ceremony was Saturday, Nov 22.
Cost
Free to see
Address
8640 N Dixson Ave, Kansas City, MO
DirectionsPlatte County Landmark (Nov 2025)

Area guide

Kansas City, Kansas & Bonner Springs

Out west near Village West: a lit-up festival ground and the outlet center's holiday displays.

19

Knights of Lights

Bonner Springs, KS

Walk2026 dates not posted yet

The Renaissance Festival grounds lit for the holidays, with a maze, train rides, Santa and a light-covered dragon.

When
2026 dates not posted. In 2025 it ran Fridays to Sundays from late November through Dec 31.
Cost
Ticketed (about $20 for adults in 2025).
Address
Kansas City Renaissance Festival grounds, 628 N. 126th St, Bonner Springs, KS
DirectionsKCTV5 (Dec 2025)

20

Tanger Kansas City at Legends

Village West, Kansas City, KS

FreeWalk2026 dates not posted yet

The outlet center (formerly Legends Outlets) holds a tree lighting each November.

When
2026 dates not posted. In 2025 the tree lighting was Saturday, Nov 15. Check before you go whether the synced light show returns under the new owner.
Cost
Free
Address
1843 Village West Pkwy, Kansas City, KS
DirectionsFOX4 (Nov 2025)
A holiday tour group at the Liberty Memorial overlook with the lit Kansas City skyline behind them

Plan your night

Kansas City Christmas lights map and trip ideas

Every display and light street on one map. Pick up to four stops, or start from one of our trip ideas, and open the route in Google Maps from wherever you are.

Open the mapOr let us drive

Mark the calendar

Holiday events

Lighting ceremonies, markets and one-night events. Several are free.

A Kansas City bar decked out in Christmas lights

21 and over

Holiday pop-up bars

Kansas City's 2026 holiday pop-up bars haven't been announced yet, and we'll add them here as they are. Last season's lineup included Miracle on the Plaza and Miracle at Rockhill, Tinsel Tavern at KC Live! and Christmas in the Crossroads at Society. Union Station's after-hours Tinsel & 'Tinis is confirmed for 2026. (KCTV5: 2025 holiday pop-up bars)

A Kansas City house lined with candy canes and holiday lightsA family under a tunnel of lighted archesA Kansas City house decorated with a nutcracker and lit trees

Street by street

The best Christmas light neighborhoods

Some of the best lights in Kansas City are on residential streets. We list 11 of them, from Brookside's themed blocks to Candy Cane Lane in Prairie Village, with the best order to drive them.

See the neighborhood guide

Good to know

Kansas City Christmas lights questions

When do the Plaza Lights turn on in 2026?

The Plaza has not announced its 2026 dates yet. The lighting ceremony is traditionally on Thanksgiving night. In 2025 it was Nov 27, and the lights shone nightly from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. through Jan 11, 2026. We will update this page when the 2026 date is announced.

What are the best free Christmas lights in Kansas City?

The Plaza Lights, the Mayor's Christmas Tree and weekend light shows at Crown Center, Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake, the Ward Parkway and Brookside light blocks, Candy Cane Lane in Prairie Village, Sar-Ko Aglow in Lenexa and the Lee's Summit Magic Tree are all free.

Where can I drive through Christmas lights in Kansas City?

Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake is free and runs nightly Nov 25 to Dec 31, 2026. Winter Magic in the Northland charges per carload. Lane of Lights in Excelsior Springs runs nightly Nov 21 to Dec 25, 2026. Candy Cane Lane in Prairie Village and Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane in Overland Park are free to see from your car.

What is the best night to see the lights?

Sunday through Thursday nights are calmer than Fridays and Saturdays, and ceremony nights are the busiest of all.

Can we see the Kansas City Christmas lights without driving?

Yes. Barley Bus runs private holiday lights buses for groups: $900 for up to 14 guests or $1,000 for up to 20, plus a 10% gratuity, for about three hours. You bring the group and your own drinks and snacks (no glass); we plan the route and drive.

Is Christmas in the Park free?

Yes. Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake is free, and donations collected at the exit go to local charities.

Can't pick a date?

Give a Barley Bus gift certificate instead. Send it by text or email, and it never expires.

Send a gift certificate

How we keep this guide accurate

We check every listing against the organizer's own page or recent local news, and link the source under each one. When an organizer hasn't posted 2026 details yet, we say so and show last season's dates, labeled 2025. Plans change, so confirm with the organizer before you go. Last checked October 20, 2026. Photos are from Barley Bus holiday tours unless credited under the photo.