Discover the best holiday events in Shawnee! Explore all the must-see festive highlights with our guide. From Shawnee devotees to casual admirers, this guide ensures a magical yuletide experience.
Popular events this season include the Union Station Holiday Market, a vibrant marketplace filled with unique crafts and holiday treats. Another attraction is the Christkindlmarket in Leawood, known for its European-inspired festive stalls and authentic German food. And the KC Rep presents A Christmas Carol is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a classic tale of holiday spirit that captivates audiences of all ages. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Shawnee
- Union Station Holiday Market (Kansas City)
- Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony (Kansas City)
- KC Rep presents A Christmas Carol (Kansas City)
- Christkindlmarket in Leawood (Leawood)
- Crown Center Ice Terrace Opening (Kansas City)
- Zona Rosa Holiday Market (Kansas City)
- Strawberry Hill Christmas Mart (Kansas City)
- Shawnee Christkindlmarkt
- Holiday Treasures Craft Festival
- Dia De Los Muertos (Kansas City)
See these and even more events listed below!
Shawnee Holiday Light Displays
Strawberry Hill Christmas Mart
What to Expect:
Illuminated Victorian Mansion with special Christmas lights.
Description:
The Strawberry Hill Christmas Mart features the Victorian Mansion illuminated with hundreds of special Christmas lights, offering a unique and festive atmosphere.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Strawberry Hill Christmas Mart
Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Synchronized lighting of historic marketplace buildings.
Description:
The Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony is a 15-block holiday spectacle on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, featuring thousands of glimmering lights illuminating each dome, tower, and window.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony
Shawnee Holiday Markets and Shopping
Union Station Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday experience with a large indoor holiday tree and interactive activities.
Description:
Union Station Holiday Market offers a variety of holiday activities, including an indoor holiday tree, walk-through Holiday Reflections Experience, holiday plays and performances, breathtaking decorations, and family photo ops. The event features holiday movies, planetarium shows, mini train rides, exhibitions, and displays for the entire family.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Union Station Holiday Market
Christkindlmarket in Leawood
What to Expect:
Traditional European Christmas market with handcrafted goods and live music.
Description:
Christkindlmarket in Leawood offers a traditional European Christmas experience with handcrafted goods, German sausages, and live music. Visitors can find unique gifts and enjoy festive foods while strolling through beautifully decorated stalls.
Where: Leawood | More Info: Christkindlmarket in Leawood
Zona Rosa Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Unique shopping experience with local vendors.
Description:
Zona Rosa Holiday Market offers a variety of local vendors selling unique gifts and seasonal items, creating a vibrant shopping experience.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Zona Rosa Holiday Market
Shawnee Christkindlmarkt
What to Expect:
Traditional German market with local artisans and cuisine.
Description:
Shawnee Christkindlmarkt features local crafts, live music, and a variety of food options in downtown Shawnee.
Where: Shawnee | More Info: Shawnee Christkindlmarkt
Holiday Treasures Craft Festival
What to Expect:
Unique handcrafted holiday gifts.
Description:
The Holiday Treasures Craft Festival is a premier event where you can find unique, hand-crafted holiday gifts. The festival features a variety of handmade crafts including holiday decor, fine arts, wood crafts, jewelry, clothing, fabrics, ceramics, candles, books, music, food, and floral arrangements. Admission is free, making it an ideal place to shop for perfect holiday gifts.
Where: Shawnee | More Info: Holiday Treasures Craft Festival
Shawnee Holiday Shows and Entertainment
KC Rep presents A Christmas Carol
What to Expect:
Redemptive journey with Christmas spirits.
Description:
Join Ebenezer Scrooge on his redemptive journey with Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Meet the Cratchits, Tiny Tim, and the irresistible Fezziwigs, and hear the haunting and joyous Candlelight Carol. This classic adaptation by Stuart Carden and Jason Chanos, directed by Jason Chanos, brings heart and spectacle to the holiday season.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: KC Rep presents A Christmas Carol
Arkansas vs Illinois
What to Expect:
Live broadcast on CBS and Paramount+.
Description:
The Arkansas vs. Illinois men's college basketball showdown takes place on Thanksgiving Day at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The game will be broadcast live on CBS at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT and streamed on Paramount+.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Arkansas vs Illinois
Shawnee Other Holiday Activities
Crown Center Ice Terrace Opening
What to Expect:
Free ice skating with complimentary coffee and hot chocolate.
Description:
Join the excitement of the season at the Crown Center Ice Terrace with FREE skating, coffee, and hot chocolate from 6 am to 9 am on opening day, November 1, 2024.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Crown Center Ice Terrace Opening
Dia De Los Muertos
What to Expect:
Cultural celebration with live music, puppetry, and community altars.
Description:
The 11th Annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration at the Kansas City Museum features live music, puppetry, dance performances, and face painting. It explores the history and cultural traditions of Mexico with community altars, local vendors, and food trucks.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Dia De Los Muertos
NWSL Championship
What to Expect:
First women's professional sports stadium in the world.
Description:
The 2024 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, will be hosted at CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current, the world's first soccer stadium purpose built for a women's professional team. The championship will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: NWSL Championship
Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too
What to Expect:
Adults-only event with local brews and wineries.
Description:
An adults-only evening featuring live music, free sampling from over 35 local breweries and wineries, and food trucks, with access to GloWild: Legends & Lore, an immersive lantern festival.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Brew at the Zoo and Wine Too
Cornucopia
What to Expect:
Interactive activities for families and thrill-seekers.
Description:
Cornucopia is a vibrant fall festival in the Power & Light District, featuring carnival rides, live music, a petting zoo, seasonal food vendors, and shopping opportunities.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Cornucopia
Planet Anime Kansas City
What to Expect:
Anime-centric destination with a wide range of panels and cosplay activities.
Description:
Planet Anime Kansas City is an anime-focused event featuring voice celebrities, exhibitors, special events, panels, cosplay, and a cosplay contest. The event includes various sections like Celebrity Row, Artists Alley, Crafter Alley, Cosplay Showcase, and the Anime Entertainment Zone.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Planet Anime Kansas City
Garmin Kansas City Marathon
What to Expect:
Iconic landmarks and neighborhoods tour.
Description:
The Garmin Kansas City Marathon is a premier annual event that takes runners on a tour through Kansas City's coolest neighborhoods and past its most beautiful landmarks, including the World War I Museum & Memorial, the Country Club Plaza, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Recognized as the "Best Marathon in Missouri" by RaceRaves and one of the top 20 marathons by BibRave.com, this event ensures participant safety by requiring accurate registration information.
Where: Kansas City | More Info: Garmin Kansas City Marathon
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Overland Park (5 miles)
- Prairie Village (6 miles)
- Lenexa (6 miles)
- Kansas City (7 miles)
- Leawood (8 miles)
- Kansas City (9 miles)
- Olathe (12 miles)
- Raytown (14 miles)
- Gladstone (14 miles)
- Grandview (15 miles)
- Independence (17 miles)
- Belton (19 miles)
- Gardner (19 miles)
- East Independence (20 miles)
- Lee's Summit (20 miles)
- Liberty (21 miles)
- Leavenworth (22 miles)
- Raymore (22 miles)
- Blue Springs (24 miles)
- Lawrence (28 miles)