December 2026Kansas City · The City of Fountains

December in Kansas City with little kids.

24 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Kansas City in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.

24 listings · 5 free

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

7 listings

Dec 1 to Dec 6

Dec4Fri

GloWild

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium · Kansas City

When
Dec 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13
Time
6–10 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday
Price
See the zoo's ticket page
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec5Sat

Bank of America Museums on Us weekend

Science City at Union Station, National WWI Museum and Memorial, and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum · Kansas City

Free dayFree
When
Dec 5 and 6
Price
Free general admission for Bank of America, Merrill and Private Bank cardholders (one per card, with photo ID)
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec5Sat

Breakfast with Santa in Leawood

The Lodge at Ironwoods Park · 14701 Mission Road, Leawood, KS 66224

Santa
When
Saturday, Dec 5
Time
Three sessions: 7:45–9 a.m., 9:30–10:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Price
$17 Leawood residents; $19 non-residents
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

2 listings

Dec 7 to Dec 13

1 listing

Dec 21 to Dec 27

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

3 listings

Dec 28 to Dec 31

Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

11 listings

Open for weeks at a time

Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.

Dec1to 31

Winter Magic

Platte Purchase Park · 10400 N Platte Purchase Dr, Kansas City, MO 64154

Holiday lights
When
Nov 4 to Jan 2
Time
From 6 p.m.; closing time varies by date
Price
$20, $25, $30, or $40 by date ($40 peak December Saturdays, $30 high-demand, $25 early December, $20 value and late-season)
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

Evergy Festival of Lights

Powell Gardens · 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, MO 64061

Holiday lights
When
Nov 19 to Jan 3
Time
5–10 p.m.
Price
Adults $19 Wed/Thu/Sun, $22 Fri/Sat; youth 5–12 $10/$12; 4 and under free; nonmember parking $10
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

Holiday Reflections Walk-Thru Village

Union Station Kansas City · 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108

Holiday lights
When
Nov 20 to Jan 4
Time
10 a.m.–8 p.m.; last entry 1 hour before close
Price
$10 Mon–Thu, $12 Fri–Sun and Dec 21–Jan 4; members $9; plus 10% fee; 12 months and under free
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

Mini Holiday Express ride-on train

Union Station Kansas City (inside Holiday Reflections) · 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108

Santa
When
Nov 20 to Jan 4
Time
10 a.m.–8 p.m. (closed Nov 26 and Dec 25; shorter hours Dec 4, 11, 24)
Price
$5 per rider (members free) plus a Holiday Reflections ticket
Ages
Riders under 48 inches
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa at Holiday Reflections

Union Station Kansas City · 30 W. Pershing Rd., Kansas City, MO 64108

Santa
When
Nov 22 to Dec 24
Time
10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Price
Holiday Reflections ticket: $10 Mon–Thu, $12 Fri–Sun and Dec 21–Jan 4, members $9 (plus 10% preservation fee); 12 months and under free
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 31

Christmas in the Park

Longview Lake (starts at Frank White Jr. Softball Complex) · 3901 SW Longview Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64081

Holiday lightsFree
When
Nov 25 to Dec 31
Time
5:30–10 p.m. Sun–Thu; 5:30–11 p.m. Fri–Sat
Price
Free; donations at the exit
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Photos at Independence Center

Independence Center · 2035 Independence Center Dr, Independence, MO 64057

Santa
When
Nov 27 to Dec 24
Time
Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
Price
See photo packages on the booking page
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec1to 24

Santa Visits at Destination North Pole

Crown Center Shops, Level 1 Showplace · 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108

SantaFree
When
Nov 27 to Dec 24
Time
Mon–Thu 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Fri–Sat 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun noon–6 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Price
Free visit; own photos free; professional photo packages from $12
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Dec5to 13

Santa at Twinkle Christmas pop-ups

Twinkle pop-ups at Blue Moose (Lenexa), Barley's (Shawnee and Overland Park) and Stroud's (Overland Park) · Lenexa, Shawnee and Overland Park, KS

Santa
When
Dec 5 to Dec 13
Time
Blue Moose Lenexa Sun Dec 6 & 13 10 a.m.–noon; Barley's Shawnee Sun Dec 6 & Sat Dec 12 2:30–4:30 p.m.; Barley's Overland Park Sat Dec 5 noon–2 p.m. & Sun Dec 13 2:30–4:30 p.m.; Stroud's Overland Park Sat Dec 5 2:30–4:30 p.m. & Sat Dec 12 noon–2 p.m.
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

Guides

More December guides for KC

Santa visits in KCBreakfasts, photos and Santa trainsChristmas lights in KCDrive-thru and walk-through displaysIndoor play for toddlersThings to do with toddlers in KCChristmas train ridesDates, ages and ticket pricesIce skating for kidsHoliday rinks, prices and skate aidsChristmas break with kidsWhat’s open Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Noon Year’s EveA noon countdown on Dec 31Every year in KCAnnual events by month, with last year’s dates

Keep planning

More for little kids in KC

November: things to do in KCEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in KCFree days, free events and places that never chargeFree 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 pricesLibrary storytimes in KCStorytimes for ages 0–6, by day and branchIce skating in KCHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesThanksgiving weekend in KCParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in KCKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas 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 flaggedChristmas markets in KCChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursChristmas tree farms in KCChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesTree lighting in KCDates, times and what the organizer posts for kidsChristmas break in KCWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1Playgrounds in KCParks with a playground, restrooms and sheltersSplash pads in KCSpraygrounds with addresses and last season’s hoursBirthday party places in KCStarting prices, ages and what’s includedYouth soccer, T-ball and basketball in KCSoccer, T-ball and basketball for kids under 6, with sign-up datesMore things to do with kids in Kansas City this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

December in KC: the FAQ

24 dated listings so far, including Christmas in the Courtyard (Dec 4), GloWild (Dec 4, Dec 5, Dec 6, Dec 11, Dec 12 and Dec 13), Bank of America Museums on Us weekend (Dec 5 and Dec 6) and Breakfast with Santa in Leavenworth (Dec 5). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.

Christmas in the Courtyard (Dec 4), Bank of America Museums on Us weekend (Dec 5 and Dec 6), Noon Year’s Eve Pajama Party Countdown (Dec 31), Christmas in the Park (Nov 25 to Dec 31) and Santa Visits at Destination North Pole (Nov 27 to Dec 24). For free days and places that never charge, see free things to do in KC.

Cold or rainy days are on indoor play for toddlers in KC, with ages, prices and hours from each place’s own site.

Season dates, prices and skate aids are on the ice skating page.

Holiday hours for Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 are on the Christmas break page.

Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.

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 Nov 12, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.

The checked list, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in KC that weekend.

Kansas City skyline