Christmas in the Crown Center District
2022 Edition
For generations of Kansas Citians, it wouldn't be Christmas without an annual visit to Crown Center and Union Station. From family photos with the 100-ft Mayor's Christmas tree, to outdoor ice skating at the Crown Center Ice Terrace, to a visit with Santa at the Gingerbread Station, to the incredible live show A Charlie Brown Christmas- Crown Center is the perfect destination to make memories with your family this holiday season.
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Christmas at Crown Center
Nov. 25: Santa's Arrival at Crown Center: Welcome Santa Claus as he arrives in a horse-drawn carriage to kick off the holiday season. Join Santa as he makes his way to Santa's Gingerbread Station, where he resides through December 24. No admission fee. 10 a.m.
Nov. 25: Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: The 100-foot-tall Mayor's Christmas Tree, one of the nation's tallest, is the centerpiece for an illuminating holiday celebration. As part of this re-imagined event, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and a special guest will flip the switch to light the tree.
Nov. 25 - Dec. 31: EBT Santa: Don't miss one of Kanas City's favorite pieces of Christmas nostalgia. EBT Laughing Santa, who first appeared at KC's Emery, Bird, Thayer department store in the early 1900s, has been providing memories for new generations at Crown Center since 1979.
Nov. 25 - Dec. 24: Santa's Gingerbread Village Santa Claus will welcome the public throughout the holiday season for visits, wish lists and photos. A photographer will be on-site to take photos for a fee, or you may take your own. Photo packages start at $12. Open November 25 - December 24, 2022 with the following hours: 10:00am - 7:00pm, Monday - Saturday. Noon - 5:00pm, Sunday. 10:00am - 5:00pm, December 24. Please note that Gingerbread Village will not be a part of Santa's Gingerbread Station this year.
Nov. 25 - Dec. 25: 42 YEARS OF MAYOR'S CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENTS: A display features all 42 of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree ornaments that Hallmark has produced, and Crown Center has sold since 1981 to raise money for the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund. Open during Crown Center Shops holiday hours. Stop by Crown Center Customer Service to purchase this year's ornament and those still available from previous years. The 2022 Mayor's Christmas Tree Ornament is on sale beginning November 25.
Nov. 28 - Dec. 18: HOLIDAY CHOIRS: Beautiful music fills the halls of Crown Center, as nearly 90 area school, church and community choirs perform everyday beginning November 28 and through December 18.
Dec. 9: TubaChristmas: The Kansas City Symphony’s TubaChristmas is back, live and in-person! Tuba and Euphonium players come together in this fun and festive holiday concert on Crown Center Square. Enjoy this free noon-hour performance, weather permitting. Bring your own lawn chairs. Noon – 1:00 p.m. FREE admission. Alternate weather date is December 16. Tuba and euphonium players interested in performing can find more information at kcsymphony.org.
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A Charlie Brown Christmas
Nov. 15 - Dec. 31: The animated classic will come to life on The Coterie stage - and a *live jazz trio* will play the original Vince Guaraldi arrangements! Join Charlie Brown on a memorable journey as he tries to direct the school Christmas pageant. In their letters to Santa, everyone seems to be acting materialistic - so Charlie Brown tries to restore holiday spirit with a ragged little fir tree. Experience the power of this wonderful story live onstage as Charlie Brown turns to his best friend Linus to learn the season’s real meaning. Special encore song: Snoopy’s Christmas Eve encounter with the Red Baron! Read our review.
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Holiday Reflections at Historic Union Station
Nov. 21 - Jan. 1: Presented by BOK Financial, Union Station expands and adds to its magical “Holiday Reflections” walk-thru holiday village. This spectacular themed experience fills Union Station’s massive Grand Plaza and features sky-reaching lights, dozens of decorated trees, forest friends and giant, floating mirrored ornaments PLUS a bigger-than-ever Rudy’s Wonderland where kids can ride the historic Jones Store Train (Mini Holiday Express Train). Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit with brilliant sights and sounds as only Kansas City’s historic home can deliver. Starting at only $7 order your tickets online at unionstation.org and reserve your time! Your ticket to the Holiday Reflections Walk-Thru Village, presented by BOK Financial, includes access to our award-winning Model Train Gallery. With an additional $5 ticket (FREE for Union Station Members), your little ones (under 48”) can catch a ride thru Rudy’s Wonderland on the Mini Holiday Express Ride-On Train.
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Crown Center Ice Terrace
Nov. 4 - Mar. 12: Kansas City's original public outdoor ice skating rink opens soon for the 2022-2023 skating season! Come celebrate the 50th season of the Crown Center Ice Terrace. We will be using a reservation system for the 2022 - 2023 season.
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Holiday Bricktacular
Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Kansas City during our Holiday Bricktacular event! There's LEGO® holiday-themed creations for the entire family to enjoy.
Nov. 25 - Jan. 1 at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Kansas City
- Explore Winter Wonder MINILAND - Discover the transformation of Kansas City displayed into amazing holiday scenes.
- Create a Holiday LEGO® Build - Design a LEGO® ornament to hang on our LEGO tree.
- Take a Photo - Meet and greet LEGO® Santa or the Gingerbread Man. Give your Christmas list to LEGO® Santa and he'll check it twice! You may find a surprise!
- Holiday Scavenger Hunt - Spot all of the hidden candy canes hidden in this wintery wonderland.
- Design a holiday creation with the Master Model Builder - Step inside the Creative Workshop for an awesome experience to remember as you follow along to build something special this holiday season.
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Sea of Lights
HO-HO-H20! 'Tis the season to celebrate the season with thousands of lights under the sea!
Nov. 25 - Jan. 1 at Sea Life
- Stroll through Peppermint Harbor
- Explore Gingerbread Bay
- And enjoy our 10+ interactive zones decked in holiday decor
Buy your tickets online now to secure entry.
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Christmas Films and Events at Union Station
HOLIDAYS ARE BACK AT UNION STATION
Kansas City's favorite holiday traditions are back for the 2022 season!
Read our review of Holiday Reflections
Tickets are available for:
- Holiday Reflections walk thru experience presented by BOK Financial
- Mini Train rides
- Holiday Classic movies presented by Canadian Pacific
- KC's largest indoor tree
- Holiday star tour: Stars of Faith
- Laser Holiday Magic
- Holiday Model Trains
SEE HOLIDAY CLASSIC MOVIES ON THE BIG SCREEN
It's a favorite Union Station tradition, and it's back for another year! Classic Holiday Movies are back at KC's BIGGEST SCREEN, presented by Canadian Pacific.
Nov 18 - Nov 23 - Christmas Vacation
Nov 25 - Dec 8 - Elf
Dec 9 - Dec 20 - Polar Express (PJs encouraged!)Bring the family for only $3.50 per ticket and enjoy seasonal throwbacks at our GIANT 5-story Extreme Screen! Tickets sell out, so early purchase is encouraged to ensure your preferred date and time.
Members get popcorn for $1.
STARS OF FAITH: HOLIDAY STAR TOUR
Experience a brand-new special edition of our Sky Station LIVE planetarium star tour featuring holiday stars and traditions from around the world!
Starting NOV 18, in addition to normal winter seasonal star tour stops such as constellations, planets, and deep-space objects, this holiday season, our planetarium educators will also share with you the many ways in which faith connects with the night sky.
In Sky Station LIVE: Stars of Faith, you'll learn about the significance of astronomical bodies mentioned in the Quran, explore the lunar mechanics of the Hebrew calendar, investigate the possible astronomical origins of the Star of Bethlehem, and discover more about humanity's many connections to the heavens. Members get their first visit FREE.
LASER HOLIDAY MAGIC
Starting NOV 18, Experience the sights and sounds of the season in a new and spectacular way in Laser Holiday Magic at Union Station's Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium! Members get their first visit FREE.
HOLIDAY MODEL TRAIN DISPLAY
Our 10,000 sqf Holiday Model Train display will be dressed for the holidays.
Visit the fully decorated landscape featuring dozens of moving trains in every scale.
Your model train visit is included with your Holiday Reflections ticket.
Get FREE tickets to Holiday Reflections when you buy or renew a Union Station membership.
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A Spectacular Christmas
December 8 – 23: A Spectacular Christmas: MTH’s annual Holiday show has become a Kansas City tradition. An original revue featuring Holiday tunes from Musical Theater, innovative arrangements of Holiday classics, and more! Tickets (816) 221-6987 or www.MTHKC.com.