You better watch out: These festive Lee’s Summit holiday events are coming to town
With Christmas just a month away, it’s time to make plans for those special holiday events. In Lee’s Summit, choices include the Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, a holiday performance from the Lee’s Summit Symphony and a popular drive-thru lights display at Longview Lake Park.
Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street will present its annual Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Howard Station Park. In addition to switching on the Christmas tree and thousands of downtown Lee’s Summit lights, the event will feature a visit from Santa Claus, performances by local choirs, late-night shopping and live window displays, as well as a light show near the Amtrak Station.
“The Mayor’s Tree Lighting has become a beloved tradition for so many in Lee’s Summit and beyond,” said Rachael Fitch, creative content and design coordinator for Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street. “It’s a special time of year where community leaders, neighbors, friends and families come together to kick off the holiday season in our beautiful downtown.”
The theme for this year’s Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, which has launched the holiday season in downtown Lee’s Summit for more than 30 years, will be A Toy’s Story.
“There will be keepsake ornaments available on a first-come, first-serve basis during the event,” Fitch said. “We will also be hosting a toy drive benefiting Lee’s Summit Social Services.”
The popular Christmas in the Park, hosted by Jackson County at its Longview Lake Park in western Lee’s Summit, is open evenings Nov. 22 through Dec. 31. County employees create a drive-thru attraction which features more than a half million lights and 200 animated displays.
Admission to Christmas in the Park is free with voluntary donations collected as vehicles exit the winter wonderland display. According to county officials, Christmas in the Park has raised more than $1 million dollars for local charities since it began 36 years ago.
This outdoor display continues to grow in popularity, and Jackson County staff encourages visits to Christmas in the Park on weeknights early in the season to avoid long lines.
Lee’s Summit Symphony, known for its annual holiday performances, will present “Holiday Radio Show” at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Pavilion at John Knox Village.
The Lee’s Summit Magic Tree, which recently moved to a new location, opens Nov. 22 with a 6 p.m. lighting ceremony. Known as a unique setting for holiday photographs, the attraction has relocated to 1401 N.W. River Road in a spot closer to Paragon Star near I-470 and View High Drive. Visitors to the Magic Tree are also encouraged to drop off new, unwrapped toys for Operation Toy Soldier, a charity providing toys to children of U.S. soldiers.
Interested in meeting Santa Claus this holiday season? Make plans to stop by the Lee’s Summit History Museum from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays Nov. 25 through Dec. 16.
Theater students at Lee’s Summit West High School are preparing for two holiday performances. “A Good Old Fashioned Big Family Christmas” will be held Dec. 7 and 8, and “A Christmas Carol” takes the stage Dec. 9 at the school’s performing arts center.
Holiday gift-givers are invited to check out several upcoming shopping events. Mistletoe Madness, hosted by Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation, will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Gamber Community Center.
On Nov. 25, Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street will present Small Business Saturday, a national effort designed to support locally owned businesses. The special day includes several giveaways with free tote bags for early arriving shoppers. In addition, Lee’s Summit’s Farmers Market is moving indoors to present its Holiday Mart from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at City Hall.
