Here are thirteen things to do in KC this Thanksgiving weekend, November 27—30 including Country Club Plaza Lighting Ceremony, The Nutcracker and Rec Deck the Halls.
Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting
The Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting is a tradition over 50 years in the making. Joined by Hallmark actors, Mayor Quinton Lucas will light up Crown Center with a dazzling 100-foot evergreen. The free event also promises fireworks, an outdoor holiday market and festive food and beverage available for purchase.
November 28. 6 pm. Crown Center.
Rec Deck the Halls
Celebrate the season with Boulevard Brewing Company’s holiday pop-up bar Rec Deck the Halls. Returning for its fifth year, the concept features festive cocktails, Quirks, barrel aged beers and light snacks on the menu, with shuffleboard courts, keepsake glassware and reservable cabana-style candy cottages. A portion of the $5 cover charge will benefit Guadalupe Centers and Kansas City G.I.F.T.
November 28–December 27. Times vary. Boulevard Brewing Company.
Elf in Concert
Spread holiday cheer with the ever-enthusiastic Buddy the Elf in this modern classic at the Kauffman Center. In tandem with the screening, the Kansas City Symphony—led by guest conductor Justin Freer—performs John Debney’s whimsical and grandiose score.
November 28–30. Times vary. Helzberg Hall.
Country Club Plaza Lighting Ceremony
In 1925, maintenance worker Charles “Pete” Pitrat hung a single string of lights above the Country Club Plaza’s Mill Creek Building on Christmas Day. Four years later, just a month after the onset of the Great Depression, the first official lighting ceremony took place. Now, a century later, the display includes over 200,000 gleaming lights, with crews starting to string the bulbs shortly after Labor Day. After getting your fill of turkey, head to the Plaza for this quintessential Kansas City holiday tradition, complete with live music and fireworks.
November 27. 5 pm. Country Club Plaza.
Winter in the Westside
KC’s Westside transforms into a gingerbread village at this Small Business Saturday celebration. Over 20 neighborhood businesses including Goat Hill Coffee & Soda, Fetch and Zero Zero Handmade Pasta will participate in a day of carolers, Santa photo opps, special discounts and crafting gingerbread houses.
November 29. 10 am. Westside.
The Nutcracker
A holiday tradition that never loses its magic, The Nutcracker returns to the Kauffman Center in a dazzling production by the Kansas City Ballet. Choreographed by artistic director Devon Carney, the enchanting ballet reimagines E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic with glittering costumes, spectacular sets and Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky’s iconic score.
November 29–December 24. Times vary. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
A Christmas Carol
As always, KCRep welcomes the holiday season with one of Kansas City’s most cherished annual productions, A Christmas Carol. But this year’s show carries a special significance. After more than 1,100 performances since 2000, Gary Neal Johnson will take his final bow as Ebenezer Scrooge. Honoring both the tradition and the man who has been its beating heart for more than two decades, this Charles Dickens classic is the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit.
November 22–December 27. Spencer Theatre.
Festival of Lights
The only thing more beautiful than Powell Gardens in the spring is the botanical garden in the winter, shining with holiday lights. The Festival of Lights is a great opportunity to appreciate the garden’s landscape and architecture while ushering in the holiday spirit. Attendees may enjoy other attractions such as winter plants like poinsettias, local artwork, opportunities to visit Santa and even workshops on how to make holiday decorations and special musical performances.
November 20—January 3. Powell Gardens.
Raven Halfmoon
Building on the Kemper Museum’s legacy of visionary commissions, the museum will present a solo exhibition by artist and Native American Raven Halfmoon. Known for her monumental ceramic sculptures, Halfmoon has emerged as a leading artistic voice. Born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma, Halfmoon’s influences range from ancient Indigenous pottery, Moai monoliths and elements of Western culture, such as cowboy hats. For this exhibition, she explores the various cultural histories that make up Kansas City.
November 14–April 19, 2026. Times vary. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
Parkville Small Business Saturday
Celebrate Small Business Saturday in charming downtown Parkville. Before roaming the historic district’s boutiques and eateries, pick up a shopping passport at Pocket Park. Shoppers who collect stamps from four of the participating businesses receive a $10 gift card.
November 29. 9 am. Downtown Parkville.
Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big KC MO Christmas Show
Directed by Ernie Nolan, Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big KC MO Christmas Show is back at the Unicorn Theatre, and it’s anything but your run-of-the-mill Christmas Carol. Set not in London but right here in KC, this playful retelling features just five actors taking on dozens of the classic roles, including Scrooge, Tiny Tim, the ghosts and more. It may not be traditional, but it’s sure to make you laugh and get you ready to celebrate the holiday season.
December 3–28. Times vary. Unicorn Theatre.
Titanic: An Immersive Voyage
At Titanic: An Immersive Voyage, step aboard this famed and fateful 1912 expedition. The exhibit pairs over 200 artifacts with 3D visuals, life-sized replicas and immersive video.
November 8—April 19. Times vary. Union Station.
Magic Valley Community Theatre’s Little Women
If you’re looking for something new, Magic Valley Community Theatre’s Little Women makes its world premiere this fall at the Unicorn Theatre. After a workshop last year with Clubbed Thumb and Concord Theatricals in NYC, the final version of this play is ready for the stage. A play within a play, the story follows the actors playing the March sisters on closing night of Little Women, but the real drama is happening offstage, where personal chaos unfolds as they scramble to make their dreams come true and perform the play at “nationals” in Rochester. It might just have you wondering what’s going on behind the scenes of the show you’re watching.
November 12–December 7. Times vary. Unicorn Theatre.
