The KC Renaissance Festival’s village turns into a winter wonderland
The holiday season is an enchanted time at the Renaissance Festival’s village. With fairy houses, a castle, a pirate ship and a village of old bedecked with millions of twinkling lights, it truly becomes a magical place.
The festival village is set up for strolling and packed with shops, food vendors and activities to explore, such as visits with Santa Claus and cookie decorating. This season, the festival will also have several special events, including the Feast of Lights, where a lavish three-course meal along with live entertainment can be had inside an igloo.
There will also be fun activities, including a costume contest, a 12 Days of Christmas themed event, glow-in-the-dark putt-putt and Snowball Alley, where people can have snowball fights. On Saturdays, there is a character parade and magic show.
A special New Year’s Eve celebration is also planned. For ticket information, visit kcrenfest.com.
GO: Nov. 29–Dec. 31, Fridays and Saturdays, 5:30–10 pm; Sundays, 5:30–9 pm.
1
Red Reminds Me….
Stray Cat Film Center is partnering with Visual AIDS for Day With(out) Art 2024 and presenting Red Reminds Me…, a program of seven videos reflecting the emotional spectrum of living with HIV today. The lineup features new work by Gian Cruz, Milko Delgado and more in honor of this day of mourning, reflection and action, which uses art to respond to the ongoing crises. December 1. 7 pm. Stray Cat Film Center.
2
Hear the Angel Voices
Hundreds of youth and adults unite their voices for Millennial Choirs and Orchestras’ heartwarming Christmas performance, Hear the Angel Voices. The choir will sing classic holiday songs and gospel hymns, including a breathtaking rendition of “O Holy Night.” Audiences are asked to think of the deeper meaning of the season while enjoying the timeless carols, soulful contemporary pieces and awe-inspiring orchestral arrangements. December 2. 5 & 8 pm. Helzberg Hall.
2
Suki Waterhouse
First a model, then an actor, now a singer, Suki Waterhouse has cemented herself as a major figure in the solo indie scene in just a few years. With several hits that oscillate between poppy sounds and moody yearning, Waterhouse has become the certified cool girl of the alternative scene today. She’s hitting KC on The Sparklemuffin Tour in support of her recently released album of the same name. Bully opens. December 2. 8 pm. The Truman.
3–8
Funny Girl
Originally performed on Broadway in 1964, Funny Girl was adapted shortly thereafter for the screen starring the iconic Barbra Streisand. It has since become one of the most beloved musicals and subsequent film adaptations of all time. Based on the real life of comedian Fanny Brice and her rise to fame, the musical brings raucous energy with classic songs like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “People.” December 3–8. Times vary. Kansas City Music Hall.
5–8 & 11–14
Jawbone Crack Quick
KC Melting Pot Theatre, a professional theater company based in KC, is closing the first half of its season with Jawbone Crack Quick, directed by Ile Haggins and written by playwright Lewis Morrow, the Melting Pot’s director of new play development. In this riveting drama, a small-town community deals with the aftermath of a tragic event, which reveals the tensions and secrets that are boiling underneath the facade of their seemingly idyllic lives. December 5–8 & 11–14. Times vary. Just Off Broadway Theatre.
6–8
Handel’s Messiah
With over 150 musicians and voices performing, this Baroque-era oratorio creates a triumphant two-hour musical spectacle. Messiah, a once-elaborate opera production originally composed for Easter, is now a cherished Christmas classic. It’s regarded as a choral masterpiece, especially the iconic “Hallelujah Chorus,” which is sure to inspire holiday spirit. December 6 & 7, 7 pm; December 8, 2 pm. Helzberg Hall.
7
Artists in Conversation
At this event, you can meet the 2024 awardees of the annual Charlotte Street Visual Artist Awards, which supports outstanding visual artists living in Kansas City through cash awards. This year, the artists—Kevin Demery, Juan Diego Gaucin and Aleah Washington—will introduce their practices and work at the Nelson-Atkins museum. There will then be a moderated conversation followed by a celebration of the artists over coffee and dessert in the Bloch Lobby. December 7. 2–3:15 pm. Nelson-Atkins museum, Atkins Auditorium.
7
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Ultimate winter rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra has dominated the super-niche holiday-progressive metal genre for almost 30 years. With their unassuming instruments like guitar, drums and strings, the huge powerhouse group is an anomaly. TSO is the first major rock band to go straight to theaters and arenas—they have never played at a club, have never had an opening act and have never been an opening act. December 7. 3 & 7:30 pm. T-Mobile Center.
10
Christmas With The Celts
After 14 years of national touring, beloved Irish musicians have teamed up with Nashville musicians to create a new, exciting group, The Celts. They perform a hybrid of Irish-Americana music, combining vocal harmonies with traditional Irish instrumental sound. In this show, they fuse ancient Irish Christmas carols and lively Irish dance, performing new Christmas hits, Celts originals and Irish dance tunes for an always-exciting performance. December 10. 7:30 pm. Yardley Hall.
13
Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
This classic candlelight concert features the Fountain City Quartet to bring the magic of a live, multisensory musical experience to the holiday season. Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings features classic holiday songs like “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night” under the warm glow of candlelight. December 13. 6:30 & 8:45 pm. The Gem Theater.
13
The Texas Tenors
The Kansas City Symphony presents Emmy Award-winning vocal group The Texas Tenors as they perform their heartwarming holiday concert, “Deep in the Heart of Christmas.” From classic seasonal favorites like “O Holy Night” to the crowd-pleasing original hit “Bootdaddy,” the group blends harmonies and arrangements for this special holiday performance. December 13. 8 pm. Helzberg Hall.
14, 15
Vintage Holidays
Presented by Mid America Freedom Band at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Vintage Holidays combines holiday music with vintage Hallmark artwork. In collaboration with the Hallmark Archives, vintage holiday cards from throughout Hallmark’s extensive past collections will be projected while the symphony reimagines beloved Christmas carols. December 14, 5–7 pm; December 15, 2–5 pm. Lyric Opera of Kansas City.
15
The Allman Betts Family Revival
The Allman Betts Band formed over half a decade ago. Consisting of three sons of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band, they keep the family legacy and memory of the beloved group alive. The new band holds a yearly celebration that brings together various blues, Americana, country and rock artists to perform the original band’s timeless catalog. December 15. 8 pm. Uptown Theater.
19
The King’s Singers in Holiday Concert
Part of the Harriman-Jewell Series, The King’s Singers in Holiday Concert takes the 50-plus-year tradition of the five-man acapella group and puts a holiday spin on both classic Christmas hits and contemporary favorites. December 19. 7 pm. Folly Theater.
20
Justin Timberlake
Beginning his career at the apex of boy band fever, Justin Timberlake rose to stardom as the dreamy, ramen noodle-haired frontman of NSYNC. His fame catapulted to new heights during his drama-filled relationship with Britney Spears and his split from NSYNC to pursue a solo career. Timberlake quickly became a pop sensation with his sultry, catchy tunes like “SexyBack” and “Rock Your Body.” He’s fallen from grace in the last decade, with allegations of problematic behavior and a recent DUI, but he’s attempting to make his comeback with his perhaps too-on-the-nose The Forget Tomorrow World Tour. December 20. 7:30 pm. T-Mobile Center.
23
Frozen in Concert
The Kansas City Symphony’s wildly popular film and live orchestra series closes out this year with the family-favorite film, Frozen, screened with live orchestral accompaniment from the symphony. In the beloved cartoon, fearless Anna embarks on a snowy journey with a ragtag gang of winter misfits to find her sister, Elsa, who’s trapped in an eternal winter. December 23, 7 pm; December 24, 11 am. Helzberg Hall.
