Holiday Magic in Kansas City: Tinsel & ’Tinis and the Crown Center Lights

Greetings friends! I’m back with another holiday post – and this one is all about our last Saturday outing before Christmas. This past weekend, we headed downtown to Kansas City’s iconic Union Station for Holiday Reflections, and this year (once again) we scored the coveted Tinsel & ’Tinis tickets! These adults-only passes sell out quickly, and it's understandable – it was pure holiday magic.

The evening was filled with festive entertainment: Santa made an appearance, carolers strolled through the halls, live musicians played seasonal favorites, and a DJ kept the energy high. The pop-up cocktail bar was the star of the night, serving up themed, creative holiday craft cocktails. My favorite? The Peppermint Twistini – as delicious as it sounds! Russell Stover sweetened the night with complimentary hot cocoa kits and assorted chocolates, which added an extra cozy touch.

The atmosphere was enchanting. Union Station was decked out in dazzling lights, whimsical animatronics, model trains, and plenty of photo-worthy spots. We wandered through the holiday village, sipping cocktails and soaking in the sights while live music played in the background. It truly felt like stepping into a winter wonderland.

After our Tinsel and 'Tinis adventure, we walked through the skywalk to Crown Center, home to Hallmark’s headquarters, and enjoyed the Hallmark Christmas Experience. Late at night, the holiday market was mostly closed, but the ice skating rink was still open, and we got a spectacular view of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree. All of Crown Center was glowing with festive lights, adding even more magic to the evening.

Tonight, on Christmas Eve, we’ll keep our yearly tradition alive with a late-night reservation at The Cheesecake Factory in the Plaza. For over 100 years, Country Club Plaza has been a historic open-air shopping and dining destination in the heart of Kansas City. Each holiday season, the Plaza transforms into a breathtaking spectacle: 15 blocks of Spanish-inspired architecture illuminated by thousands of jewel-colored lights, highlighting every dome, tower, and window. It’s truly a sight to behold!

After enjoying appetizers and a festive cocktail, we’ll stroll through the Plaza lights and then drive down Ward Parkway and other neighborhoods known for their spectacular displays. It’s the perfect way to wrap up the holiday season in Kansas City.

As we soak in the glow and warmth of Kansas City’s holiday spirit, I’m reminded of how these traditions make the season so special. Whether you’re sipping cocoa by the tree, sharing laughter with loved ones, or simply enjoying the sparkle of twinkling lights, may your Christmas Eve be filled with joy, peace, and a little extra magic. Cheers to a beautiful holiday and a bright New Year ahead!

Our Christmas Eve Tradition

Greetings friends! One last 2024 Christmas post, as we prepare for the new year. Today (tonight), I am sharing photos from our annual Christmas Eve tradition. 

This yearly outing on Christmas Eve started when we moved to Kansas City in 2019, making this was our sixth year. Many of you know, my husband is in management for UPS and always works on Christmas Eve and usually on Christmas - this makes it impossible for us to travel during the holidays and nearly impossible to make any special plans. The first year in Kansas City, we decided when he got off work on Christmas Eve that we would drive downtown to the Plaza to see the holiday lights. It was nearing 10:00 PM when we arrived in the Plaza, and we were both hungry (we left right when he arrived home and neither of us had dinner). We started looking for an open restaurant and everything was closed...then we spotted the Cheesecake Factory with lights on and decided to take a chance. Turns out, they were open until 10:00 PM. We stopped in, hoping we could maybe get some food to go, but they actually had a table for us and told us they were closing very soon. Now every Christmas Eve, we make a reservation for as late as possible at the Cheesecake Factory and have appetizers and a cocktail…then walk around the Plaza and look at the holiday lights. Afterwards, my husband humors me and we drive around to see some of the best local lights. So, that is how we have decided to spend each Christmas Eve, if he can be home in time – if not the contingency plan is to have appetizers and a cocktail at home and watch a Christmas movie. It is always challenge to be apart from our families for the holidays, but after 26 years, we have gotten used to it and started our own tradition (which is incredibly special to us!).

After appetizers (Tex Mex Egg Rolls and Factory Nachos with Spicy Chicken) and a cocktail (a Pineapple Moscow Mule for me and a Stella Artois Beer for Travis), we walked the Plaza and enjoyed the lights. When we first got down there it was packed with people, but by the time we left the restaurant, the streets had cleared and it was quiet. We drove downtown to Crown Center to see the the giant Mayor’s Christmas Tree and the Hallmark Christmas Experience. Next, we drove through beautiful Brookside to Armour Hills (a KCMO neighborhood off of Ward Parkway) with some of the best lights in the city...and it did not disappoint. Before heading home, my husband suggested a place in Olathe that he sees lit up every day on his drive to work - it is at the Olathe Community Center and Stagecoach Park...it is called Glolathe. This year it had over 100,000 bulbs on over six miles of light strings. We visited at the perfect time; at 11:00 PM on Christmas Eve, it was quiet and we walked the sidewalks lined with luminaries almost completely alone. We chuckled when we got to the pond, as it was surrounded by geese and some were brave enough to be in the frigid cold water! It was the perfect place to wrap up our Christmas Eve tradition...

Union Station lit up for the Chiefs game on Christmas Day.

Thank you so much for spending your holidays with me! Planning a special event each Saturday in December and creating some fun designs/patterns to share made my holiday extremely special. Usually, December finds me a bit sad and alienated, but this year I focused on the true meaning of Christmas; it has been a true joy sharing it with you.

Now, we prepare for the new year ahead. We will be having a casual New Year's Eve gathering at our house - we have invited the neighbors on our street and our good friends in the area. I always create a large charcuterie board and a three-tier tray of treats...many attendees bring a dish to share...and everyone brings their own beverage. We set-up our garage for playing games and darts and everyone just mingles and enjoys the evening. We have found this is a great way to start the new year!

Thanks for visiting with me...I can't wait to catch up with you again soon...