What to do with kids in Kansas City over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: none of them opens on Christmas Day. Plus ten dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Crown Center Shops, Level 1 Showplace · 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108
Good to know: New walk-through candy-cane forest exhibit leads to Santa's village. Indoors.
Union Station Kansas City · 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108
Good to know: Santa roams the walk-thru village for informal photos; he is not seated for traditional visits. Card only, no cash.
Union Station Kansas City (inside Holiday Reflections) · 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108
Good to know: Small ride-on train for little kids and preschoolers, plus an 800-foot model rail exhibit included with admission.
Independence Center · 2035 Independence Center Dr, Independence, MO 64057
Good to know: Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot).
Platte Purchase Park · 10400 N Platte Purchase Dr, Kansas City, MO 64154
Good to know: About a mile of synchronized lights, tune to FM radio; pets welcome; no cash at the gate.
Longview Lake (starts at Frank White Jr. Softball Complex) · 3901 SW Longview Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64081
Good to know: 39th year; more than 1 million lights and 200+ animated displays built by Jackson County Parks + Rec. Weeknights early in the season have shorter lines.
Powell Gardens · 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, MO 64061
Good to know: Outdoor lighted path plus the Winter Holiday Train display in the Conservatory and a warming station.
Union Station Kansas City · 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108
Good to know: Indoor and daytime, so it works for early bedtimes. Includes model trains.
Crown Center Square, Blue Level · 2450 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
Good to know: Free skating, coffee and hot chocolate 6–9 a.m. on opening day, Nov 6. Outdoor rink; weather can close it.
Science City at Union Station · Union Station
Good to know: Pick Dec. 31 when you buy tickets. Full schedule coming soon.
Lenexa Public Market · 8750 Penrose Lane, Lenexa, KS 66219
Good to know: Come in pajamas for board games, coloring, a time capsule activity, kids’ giveaways, a balloon drop and a noon sing-along of Auld Lang Syne.
Blue Valley Rec Activity Center · 6545 W. 151st St., Overland Park, KS 66223
Good to know: For ages 5–12. Kids start with swimming and gymnastics free play, then a craft. At noon there's a balloon drop and confetti, plus a photo booth.
Platte Purchase Park · 10400 N Platte Purchase Dr, Kansas City, MO 64154
Good to know: About a mile of synchronized lights, tune to FM radio; pets welcome; no cash at the gate.
Powell Gardens · 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, MO 64061
Good to know: Outdoor lighted path plus the Winter Holiday Train display in the Conservatory and a warming station.
Union Station Kansas City · 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108
Good to know: Indoor and daytime, so it works for early bedtimes. Includes model trains.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in KCEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in KCEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in KCFree days, free events and places that never charge
Free museum days in KCFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in KCIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in KCStorytimes for ages 0–6, by day and branch
Ice skating in KCHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in KCParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in KCKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in KCParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in KCPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in KCBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in KCChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas tree farms in KCChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesTree lighting in KCDates, times and what the organizer posts for kids
Playgrounds in KCParks with a playground, restrooms and shelters
Splash pads in KCSpraygrounds with addresses and last season’s hoursBirthday party places in KCStarting prices, ages and what’s included
Youth soccer, T-ball and basketball in KCSoccer, T-ball and basketball for kids under 6, with sign-up dates
More things to do with kids in Kansas City this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
Of the three places we checked, none posts Christmas Day hours as open; The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Arabia Steamboat Museum and Wonderscope Children’s Museum are closed. A park or a drive past the lights is the easy plan.
Open with posted hours: Wonderscope Children’s Museum (9 a.m.–noon). On the calendar: Santa Visits at Destination North Pole, Santa at Holiday Reflections, Mini Holiday Express ride-on train and Santa Photos at Independence Center.
None of the places that post New Year’s Day hours says it’s open.
On the calendar for Jan 1: Winter Magic, Evergy Festival of Lights and Holiday Reflections Walk-Thru Village. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
Winter Magic, Christmas in the Park, Evergy Festival of Lights, GloWild: Hidden Treasure and Holiday Reflections Walk-Thru Village. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
The month’s dated listings are on the December page, and rink dates and skate aids are on the ice skating page.
Choose-and-cut farms within about 40 miles, with wagon rides, Santa, cocoa and kid notes, are on the Christmas tree farms page.
Dates, times and what each organizer posts for kids are on the tree lighting page.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 21, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
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