I’m back with one of those cheerful December posts I promised! If you’re new here, you might not know that my husband has worked in management for UPS for over 25 years. That means the holiday season is always a little different for us—his schedule is packed, and with family far away, we don’t do much traditional celebrating. But instead of letting that dampen the holiday spirit, I’ve made it my mission to create festive moments that make each season sparkle.
In keeping with my annual tradition, I decided to plan something special every week to get us out of the house and soak up the magic of Kansas City at Christmastime.
Earlier this month, we headed to one of my favorite holiday traditions—the Luminary Walk at Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, now celebrating its 26th anniversary! This year, I bought tickets for the Adults Only Candlelight Stroll. It’s such a beloved event, and this year was no exception. The weather was crisp but comfortable, and the grounds were absolutely glowing with thousands of twinkling lights and candles.
Here’s a peek at what made the evening magical:
- Illuminated pathways lined with real candlelit luminaries in glass enclosures
- A candlelit woodland walk for quiet reflection
- A colorful children’s walk and whimsical gnome village
- Holiday trains chugging through the train garden
- Live musical performances filling the air with festive tunes
- Cozy fire pits, seasonal treats, and warm drinks
- And of course, a visit from Santa
The event is always busy/sold out, but the Arboretum’s spacious trails make it easy to enjoy a leisurely stroll without feeling crowded. We spent about an hour and a half wandering through the glowing gardens, then settled at a fire pit with cocktails and roasted candied nuts. It was pure holiday magic.
As promised, here are some of the photos I captured along the way—because words can’t quite do justice to the beauty of thousands of flickering lights under a winter sky.
