Event Overview
If you’re visiting Kansas City during Thanksgiving, you’re just in time to catch the annual kickoff to the Christmas holiday season, the Plaza Lights event at the Country Club Plaza. Since its first ceremony in 1930, this annual celebration has become one of the most spectacular holiday traditions in the region.
The lighting event occurs on Thanksgiving evening and marks the official start of Christmas in Kansas City. The lights, turned on by a celebrated guest, stay illuminated until mid-January.
In preparation, workers from the Kansas City Power and Light Company (KCP&L) string over 80 miles of lights featuring 280,000 glittering jewel-tone bulbs for the holiday display. Once lit, these lights brighten 15 blocks of the Spanish-inspired Country Club Plaza shopping district, outlining every dome, tower, and window to create a dazzling Christmas wonderland for tourists.
Schedule and Main Attractions
The ceremony itself takes place on a large stage located at the intersection of Nichols Road and Pennsylvania Ave, in front of Brio and Burberry. Performers, musicians, and the Plaza Lighting Ceremony orchestra provide entertainment throughout the event. As the lights illuminate the district, helicopters fly overhead, allowing a unique viewing experience for those seeking a closer look at the spectacle.
If you can’t attend the event in person, you can watch it live on KSHB Channel 41, which typically hosts the ceremony. For the latest information on times and location, visit the Country Club Plaza website.
The event kicks off with a pre-show featuring giveaways and performances by local talent, followed by the official lighting ceremony, where an honorary guest flips the switch to illuminate the district’s lights.
A post-show concert concludes the evening, and the lights remain on every night for the rest of the year. Therefore, if you miss the main event, you can still explore the beautifully lit Country Club Plaza at your convenience during the holiday season.
Other Attractions and Accommodations
If you plan on staying in Kansas City for Thanksgiving to experience the annual Plaza Lights event, there are numerous other activities to enjoy while you await this holiday tradition.
The Country Club Plaza features an array of shops, several hotels, fine dining establishments, and numerous moderately priced restaurants and bars. While you wait for the lights to illuminate, stroll through the enchanting Spanish-inspired streets and soak in the offerings of this vibrant shopping district.
After indulging in a hearty Thanksgiving feast, consider accommodations at a variety of local hotels such as the Courtyard by Marriott, Embassy Suites, The Fontaine, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, The Intercontinental Hotel, Kansas City Marriott, The Raphael Hotel, Residence Inn, Sheraton Suites, and the Southmoreland Inn.
