Winter and holiday date ideas in Kansas City
The Plaza lights, Union Station's holiday village, ice skating and a drive-through light show. Kansas City lights up for the cold months, and these dates are built around it.
- 10 dates
- $8 to $211 for two
- Usually nearly two hours
More about these dates
Kansas City lights up for the cold months, and these 10 dates are built around it: the Plaza lights, Union Station's holiday village and model trains, an outdoor rink at Crown Center, and a light show you drive through in the Northland. Each one has a season window, and most run from November into early January.
They cost $8 to $211 for two and take nearly two hours at the middle. The catalog lists no reservation for 4 of them, and they gather in Downtown Core, Northland and Plaza. Three to try: “Topsy's Popcorn, Then the Plaza Lights”, “Holiday Reflections, Then Town Topic” and “Burgers, Then the Winter Magic Lights”. The list runs cheapest first, so a popcorn walk under the lights comes before a sit-down dinner.
Dress for standing outside: the lights, the rink and the drive-through show are all outdoors or mostly so. Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day usually change a place's hours, so check each one before you go.
Seasonal guide: Christmas date ideas in Kansas City. Lights, holiday shows, Union Station, skating and markets, with each date's season and a cost for two.
10 dates
Cheapest top estimate first. Ties go to the lower starting price, then the shorter date. Prices are planning estimates for two people.
Topsy's Popcorn, Then the Plaza Lights
Pick up a tin of Topsy's popcorn to share, then walk the Plaza under the holiday lights.
Stops: Topsy's Popcorne Shoppe (Plaza), then Plaza Lights
Season: Nov. 26 to Jan. 10
Holiday Reflections, Then Town Topic
Union Station's holiday village and the model trains, then burgers and a shake at the 24-hour counter a few minutes away.
Stops: Holiday Reflections at Union Station, then Town Topic
Season: Nov. 20 to Jan. 4
Skate at Crown Center, Then Fudge at Chip's
An hour on the outdoor rink, then a slice of fudge from Chip's inside Crown Center.
Stops: Crown Center Ice Terrace, then Chip's Chocolate Factory
Season: Nov. 6 to March 14
Burgers, Then the Winter Magic Lights
Burgers at Danny's, then a mile of holiday lights and a light show from your warm car.
Stops: Danny's Burger Shack, then Winter Magic
Season: Nov. 4 to Jan. 2
Skate at Crown Center, Then Town Topic
Loop the outdoor rink under the Crown Center lights, then warm up with burgers at the 24-hour counter.
Stops: Crown Center Ice Terrace, then Town Topic
Season: Nov. 6 to March 14
The KC Wheel, Then Town Topic
A private, climate-controlled gondola over Crown Center and the skyline, then burgers and a shake at the 24-hour counter.
Stops: KC Wheel, then Town Topic
No fixed season
Dinner on the Plaza, Then the Lights
Dinner at Rye, then a slow walk around the Plaza under the holiday lights.
Stops: Rye Plaza, then Plaza Lights
Season: Nov. 26 to Jan. 10
Dinner in Downtown Lee's Summit, Then Christmas in the Park
Dinner on Third Street in downtown Lee's Summit, then a slow, free drive through a million lights at Longview Lake.
Stops: Third Street Social (Lee's Summit), then Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake
Season: Nov. 25 to Dec. 31
Dinner, Then the Winter Magic Lights
Dinner at Third Street Social, then a mile of holiday lights and a light show from your warm car.
Stops: Third Street Social (Northland), then Winter Magic
Season: Nov. 4 to Jan. 2
Holiday Reflections, Then Dinner at Pierpont's
Walk through Union Station's holiday village and the model trains, then stay in the building for dinner at Pierpont's.
Stops: Holiday Reflections at Union Station, then Pierpont's at Union Station
Season: Nov. 20 to Jan. 4
Tell the planner your day, budget and mood and it will rebuild any of these around you.
How these were picked
A date is on this page when it is tagged winter or holiday in the catalog. At most 24 show here.
Each season window comes from the place's own page for this winter. Confirm the dates, hours and any tickets there before you go, because holiday schedules move.
The newest source check behind this list was October 17, 2026. That is a review of the plans, not a promise that every detail is current, so confirm hours and prices with each place before you go.