By Kristina Light
South Kansas City offers a festive blend of longtime traditions and new celebrations. From candlelit nativities and nostalgic stage productions to Santa sightings, festive pop-ups, and old-fashioned Christmas charm, there are great ideas to enjoy.
Curtain Up on Christmas: Live Shows & Seasonal Performances
The local performing arts scene comes alive, offering timeless classics and new takes on Christmas classics.
Dickens’ A Christmas Carol returns to the Main Street Belton Theatre on weekends, December 5–21, bringing Scrooge’s journey from miser to kindhearted soul to the stage.
Music lovers may experience the Grammy-winning Kansas City Chorale’s concert adaptation of the classic on December 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Country Club United Methodist Church, where vocal harmonies add depth to the Victorian tale.
Choral Spectrum presents “Brass & Class” when it performs John Rutter’s “Gloria” , a composition celebrating the angels’ song announcing Jesus’ birth. The combined sounds of choir, brass, percussion and organ is on December 12-14 at Holmeswood Baptist Church near 99th and Holmes Rd.
Families with younger children can enjoy free fun at Mid-Continent Public Libraries: The Grandview Branch hosts Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus on December 16 at 10:30 a.m., and Blue Ridge Branch presents How the Grinch Stole Storytime on Dec. 18 at 10 a.m.
For those wondering what happened to the annual Martin City Melodrama Christmas performance, the Muttcracker Suite will be at the Englewood Arts Theater in Independence this year. The Howliday performances are from December 12 to January 1.
The season continues with Glad Tidings of Great Joy by Pinnacle Winds at First Church of the Nazarene on December 14 at 2 p.m., celebrating the beauty of winter through traditional and contemporary music.
Rounding out the holidays, May Milling Co. in Grandview hosts A Celtic Christmas Concert on Dec. 20 at 11 a.m., filling a historic feed store with lively Celtic and folk tunes.
Sacred Stories Come to Life: Living Nativities
Living nativities are a cherished tradition offering families a moment to reflect on the birth of Jesus. Area churches bring the story to life with immersive, free, family-friendly experiences.
First Baptist Church KC hosted a drive-through Living Nativity on December 7 with enjoy six narrated scenes from the comfort of their cars.
Colonial Presbyterian’s Walk to the Manger (December 14 at 9:00 and 10:45 a.m.) invites participants to bring unwrapped gifts to lay at the manger.
Step Back in Time: An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Those longing for a glimpse of Christmases past can find it at the John Wornall House Museum’s Victorian Christmas Traditions on December 12 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. This event invites guests to step inside the antebellum home, lit by candlelight and decorated for a 19th-century Christmas. Early Christmas cards, greenery, and storied customs bring the era to life.
Families may also enjoy Hearthside Story Time at the museum on December 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., as storytellers share historic holiday tales.
Where’s Santa? Festive Sightings Across South KC
Sharing their wish list with Santa is a tradition for little ones.
The Belton Historical Railroad offers Santa train rides on December 13 and 20, featuring decorated rail cars and sing-along music.
In Leawood, strolling Santa and Dickens carolers visit Park Place each Saturday before Christmas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meanwhile, Ward Parkway Center continues its tradition of free photos with Santa and his elf every Sunday through December 21.
There are multiple opportunities to celebrate the season with Breakfast with Santa events. Wear your coziest holiday pajamas.
The View in Grandview invites guests on December 20 at 8 a.m. for breakfast, crafts, and music at just $8 per person (or $10 day-of), while High Blue in Belton hosts a Picnic with Saint Nick the same day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., trading pancakes for hot dogs, chips, and cookies at $5 per person, with a STUCO Holiday Shop where students help children select gifts for loved ones.
Sip, Savor, and Sparkle: Christmas Pop-Ups & Holiday Dining
Holiday pop-ups at neighborhood restaurants, complete with festive décor, seasonal menus, and specialty drinks, create welcoming spaces for multi-generational gatherings all December.
Martin City Brewing Company’s Big Christmas, running through January 4, immerses guests in a winter wonderland accompanied by cheerful music. Iron Horse Grill’s Iron Christmas showcases handcrafted touches.
Tanner’s Bar and Grill presents the Twinkle Pop-Up featuring a Santa visit December 14, plus free toys for kids. Stroud’s in Overland Park adds its own Twinkle pop-up through January 3, with its classic fried chicken dinners. BB’s Lawnside BBQ pairs hearty barbecue with soulful entertainment.
A Season to Remember
Whether snapping photos with Santa, enjoying an old-fashioned holiday, or watching a live performance, the best Christmas memories are often found close to home.
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