Lights, penguins & ice skating: 5 family-friendly KC holiday activities to check out

Joseph Hernandez
·2 min read

The holidays mean your kids may have some time off from school. Get outside and enjoy these holiday events with the family around Kansas City.

HOLIDAY REFLECTIONS

Union Station has a ton of family-friendly activities for the holidays. Watch holiday movies like ”Elf” and “Polar Express,” see Christmas-themed shows and walk through their holiday village. The movies cost $3.50 per ticket.

The mini holiday express train will also be in action for your kids to ride, but it’s only accessible if you bought a ticket to the light display, and it costs $5 to ride.

“Holiday Reflections” open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day until Jan. 1. Tickets cost $7 on Monday-Friday, and $9 on Saturday and Sunday.

PLANETARIUM

It doesn’t stop at “Holiday Reflections” for Union Station. The planetarium inside will be showing a special holiday-themed light show called “Laser Holiday Magic,” where lasers are synced up to classic holiday tunes.

CROWN CENTER ICE TERRACE

The ice rink is open from now until Mar. 12. Times will vary depending on the weather, but here’s the ice terrace’s schedule:

  • November, December and January: Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

  • February and March: Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, 11 a.m to 9 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Admission costs $8 for children older than 4 years old and adults. Ice skate rentals cost $5. Children under the age of 4 are free. Ice skating season passes cost $120.

You’ll have to make a reservation for a time to skate, and you can do that here.

LIGHT SHOWS

Kansas City turns on the lights for plenty of holiday displays. Your kids will be mesmerized by the bright lights on foot or in a car.

Check out this comprehensive list of light shows around the area, and pick as many as you’d like to go see.

Kansas City Zoo penguins previewed the animatronic dancing, singing penguins on display at Union Station’s Indoor, Walk-Thru “Holiday Reflections” on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021.
Kansas City Zoo penguins previewed the animatronic dancing, singing penguins on display at Union Station’s Indoor, Walk-Thru “Holiday Reflections” on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021.

PENGUIN PARADE

The march of the penguins happens every weekend from now until Christmas at the Kansas City Zoo. The flightless birds are released from their enclosures and waddle around the zoo grounds for 15 minutes, greeting everyone.

The parade is included in your zoo ticket, which costs:

  • $17-20 for all guests over the age of 3. It’s free for children 2 and under

  • $8.50-10 for Clay and Jackson County residents

  • $9-10 for Kansas City Zoo members

Is your favorite activity not included? Let us know at kcq@kcstar.com and we’ll add it to the list, so everyone can experience the holiday joy with their family.