The holidays bring us close together with family and friends. Sometimes after several days that closeness begins to wear on everyone’s nerves so it’s good to have some plans for getting out of the house.
Here are some free and cheap ways of keeping your out of town holiday guests entertained.
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Check Out the Holiday Lights
Kansas City has tons of beautiful holiday light displays, and almost all of them are FREE! And with a little advanced planning, you can hit several in one night.
Hours: The larger displays are open nightly through the end of the year, but you might want to check their schedules before you head out.
Visit Union Station
Union Station in Kansas City is all decked out for the holidays. It’s FREE to enter and just look around. The Station boasts the “largest indoor holiday tree,” and “breathtaking decorations and family photo ops.” There are also multiple holiday activities at Union Station, many are FREE or moderately priced.
Go Ice Skating at Crown Center
The Crown Center Ice Terrace is set among downtown Kansas City’s skyscrapers, beautifully decorated Crown Center and the Mayor’s Christmas Tree, making it feel like Christmastime in the city.
Hours:
November, December and January
Sunday – Thursday, 10am – 9pm
Friday – Saturday, 10am – 11pm
February and March
Sunday, 10am -9pm
Monday – Thursday, 11am – 9pm
Friday, 11am – 10pm
Saturday, 10am – 10pm
Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving Day, 3pm – 10pm
Christmas Eve, 10am – 6pm
Christmas Day, CLOSED
New Year’s Eve, 10am – 6pm
New Year’s Day, Noon – 9pm
Call 816-274-8411 for more information.
Adults and children 4 and older – $9
Children under age 4 are FREE with paid admission.
Skate Rental – $6
Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Season Pass: $130
Walk the Country Club Plaza
You never know what the weather will be like, but if it’s nice a walk around the Country Club Plaza is a good option. Everyone may have had their fill of shopping but it’s the Spanish architecture that makes this stroll worthwhile.
This Country Club Plaza Walking guide offers suggestions and historical background for several highlights.
Visit a Winery, Brewery or Distillery
There are a number of places in and around Kansas City where you can go take a tour of a winery, brewery, or distillery. Here’s a sample of some of those that offer FREE or “on the cheap” tours or tastings.
Amigoni Urban Winery: Sample five wines in their tasting room located in the West Bottoms.
Boulevard Brewery: Pay for a 45-minute walking tour of the brewery that concludes with samples.
Lifted Spirits Distillery: Take a FREE tour to find out how small batches of whiskey, gin, vodka and absinthe are made.
Rowe Ridge Winery: Located just north of the Kansas Speedway and Legend’s Outlet Mall. Tastings are offered and include six to eight wines and a souvenir logo wine glass to take home. The gift shop is small, but full of fun stuff.
Tom’s Town Distilling Company: Try a one-hour tour that gives a look at the distilling process, a quick history lesson of Kansas City and tastings.
Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery: Enjoy live music and wine.
Listen to Live Jazz
Jazz is a Kansas City tradition; the city is full of great jazz musicians. And there are plenty of places to hear live jazz that don’t have a cover charge. Of course, you’ll be expected to buy food and/or drinks, but you’ll probably want to eat out once or twice while your guests are in town anyway.
Hours: Vary by establishment.
Tour the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a favorite of local and visitors alike The museum features traveling exhibitions in addition to its own collection of more than 33,500 objects.
Museum admission is always FREE, but there may be a charge for some of the special exhibits.
The museum will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Don’t forget to check our full list of Marvelous Museums in Kansas City.
Eat Some Barbecue
This one requires no explanation. If it does, you’re probably not from Kansas City. We’re proud of our barbecue because it’s amazing. When your guests are tired of turkey and the traditional holiday trimmings, check out our list of Top 10 Barbecue Restaurants in Kansas City.
