Big week for KC holiday events: Plaza Lights, Mayor’s Christmas Tree, Mariah Carey

Dan Kelly
·3 min read
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With Thanksgiving weekend comes the traditional start of Kansas City’s holiday season.

One night after Kansas City hip-hop artist Tech N9ne flips the switch at the Country Club Plaza’s 94th annual light display on Thanksgiving evening, the Mayor’s Christmas Tree will be illuminated on Crown Center Square.

Several other light displays will open this weekend, including the popular Holiday Luminary Walk at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

And what would the holidays be without musical visits from Mariah Carey and Pentatonix, both of whom will perform at the T-Mobile Center?

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who delivered a fireside chat at last year’s festivities, will return for the Mayor’s Christmas Tree lighting ceremony Nov. 24 at Crown Center Square.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who delivered a fireside chat at last year’s festivities, will return for the Mayor’s Christmas Tree lighting ceremony Nov. 24 at Crown Center Square.

Holiday highlights

▪ Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane, 5-10 p.m. Nov. 23-Dec. 31, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead (free). opkansas.org.

▪ Plaza Lighting Ceremony, 5 p.m. Nov. 23, Country Club Plaza (free; lights on through Jan. 14). countryclubplaza.com.

▪ “Enchant: The Mischievous Elf,” hours and days vary Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Legends Field ($25-$34). enchantchristmas.com.

▪ Merry Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 24-26, Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, City Market (free). thecitymarketkc.org.

▪ Royal Victorian Christmas Tours, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24-Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 23-25), Vaile Mansion ($5-$10). vailemansion.org.

▪ Holiday Luminary Walk, 5-9 p.m. Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2, 7-9, 15-16, Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens ($15). artsandrec-op.org.

▪ KC Winter Wonderland, 5:30-9 p.m. Nov. 24-Dec. 17, KC Pumpkin Patch ($9.95). kcpumpkinpatch.com.

▪ “Knights of Lights” walk-thru, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday (plus Dec. 21), Nov. 24-Dec. 31, Kansas City Renaissance Festival ($9-$20). kcrenfest.com.

▪ Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 24, Crown Center Square (free). crowncenterchristmas.com.

Mariah Carey will bring her Merry Christmas One and All! Tour to the T-Mobile Center on Nov. 24.
Mariah Carey will bring her Merry Christmas One and All! Tour to the T-Mobile Center on Nov. 24.

▪ Mariah Carey, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24, T-Mobile Center ($59.95-$499.95). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Holiday Train, 6:45 p.m. Nov. 27, Haverty Family Yards (free). cpkcr.com.

▪ Pentatonix, 7 p.m. Nov. 26, T-Mobile Center ($29.50-$249.50). t-mobilecenter.com.

▪ Electric Glow, 4:30-8 p.m. Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens ($10). artsandrec-op.org.

More entertainment

▪ The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City will stage “Chicken & Biscuits” at Whim Space, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24-25, 3 p.m. Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 3 p.m. Dec. 3 ($30). brtkc.org.

▪ The Theatre for Young America will present “Three Wise Cats on Broadway” at the City Stage Theatre in Union Station, opens 2 p.m. Nov. 25; runs through Dec. 23 ($12). tya.org.

▪ “Can’t Let Go” Gospel Stage Play will run at the Gem Theater, 3 and 7 p.m. Nov. 25 ($20). eventbrite.com.

▪ The national tour of “Annie” will come to the Lied Center, 7 p.m. Nov. 28 ($21-$60). lied.ku.edu.

▪ The Unicorn Theatre will produce the world premiere of “Journey to the Poles of Inaccessibility,” opens 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29; runs through Dec. 17 ($42-$52). unicorntheatre.org.

Legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel will perform Nov. 28 at the Uptown.
Legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel will perform Nov. 28 at the Uptown.

More music

▪ Kansas City Symphony, “Through the Lens,” 8 p.m. Nov. 24-25, 2 p.m. Nov. 26, Kauffman Center ($25-$99). kcsymphony.org.

▪ Tenor Juan Diego Flórez, 3 p.m. Nov. 26, Folly ($12.50-$90). hjseries.org.

▪ Tommy Emmanuel with Jerry Douglas, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28, Uptown ($35-$55). uptowntheater.com.

▪ Dvsn, 8 p.m. Nov. 29, The Truman ($30-$60). thetrumankc.com.