Kansas City at Christmas
Many of us yearn for a place that takes us back in time to a magical moment from our past. During the holiday, that yearning only gets stronger. There is truly something special about Christmas in Missouri. Of course, it is all very subjective because the best place for you is likely where your friends and family are. Small towns go all out with decorations and school concerts. Big cities put on their best shows to entertain the masses. So, if you are up for a little road trip to get you in the holiday spirit, here are the Best Towns in Missouri for Christmas.
There is no better place in the country to celebrate Christmas than Branson. Period! The entire area is decked out to take us back in time for an Ozark Mountain Christmas. Silver Dollar City puts on a holiday party second to none called An Old Time Christmas. The theaters on the 76 Strip are more “lit up” than normal with special Christmas performances. And Branson Landing has plenty of shopping options while you stroll with hot chocolate and special Christmas treats during their Winter WonderLanding celebration. There are plenty of places for the whole family to stay, but a weekend at Big Cedar Lodge during this time of year may be more magical than ever as they take you Home for the Holidays! No wonder millions of people come to Branson every year to get them into the Christmas spirit.
The small town in the very southwest corner of Missouri is built for this time of year! It has become known as “The Christmas City” as thousands of people flock to the town of 1,800 residents to get their holiday mail stamped with the one-of-a-kind Noel postmark. The town has embraced the nationwide notoriety over the years and now rolls out the red carpet to offer guests a slower pace during the Christmas rush. But just be advised, it is pronounced “nole”, not “no-el”. But this time of year, nobody will correct you.
There is something special about the historic downtown area any time of year. But during Christmas, the brick lined streets, small shops, and cute restaurants become magical like something out of the Victorian era. The city hosts and event called St. Charles Christmas Traditions, and it is top-notch. This is like stepping back in time to stroll the sidewalks, taste the hot chestnuts, listen to carolers, and be enchanted by Missouri’s past. There is a beautiful tree lighting, a Santa parade, and so much more. And if you want to make your plans now, 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the celebration, so it is expected to be better than ever.
This small town is so special that they even made a Hallmark movie about it in 2023, “A Christmas Vintage”! We all know the quaint town along the Missouri River as being the center of Missouri’s wine industry, especially during summer events and Octoberfest. But you really need to check out Hermann during the holidays. The German inspired village puts on an event called Christmastime in Historic Hermann, and it really does take you back in time. The downtown area is lit up for the Cookie Walk, the holiday house tour, and a visit from Santa. Make the trip complete with a stay in one of the numerous Bed and Breakfasts, then a tour of the historic wineries, and your trip is complete!
The St. Louis area has so many special Christmas events that it is nearly impossible to do them all. So if you have to pick one, pick St. Louis Union Station. You truly have to see it to believe it. The historic train depot transforms into a giant Christmas party during the month of December. Here is a small list of everything you can do all in one place.
This is everything you need in one place. And if you don’t want to leave, don’t! Make it an entire weekend celebration by staying in the Union Station Hotel and enjoy the laser light show in the Grand Hall with drinks to cap off your stay.
Warrensburg has one of those downtown areas that is nice any time of year, but extra special around the holidays. The city officially kicks off the festival season at the beginning of December and doesn’t stop for the next four weeks. The seasons begins with the Dickens Christmas event harkening back to the 1840s with horse drawn carriage rides, Christmas carolers, a lighted holiday parade, and plenty of festive treats. Following that event, the city stays in Holiday Mode around the downtown courthouse. There are many new businesses opening downtown, so the party gets a little better every year.
The Old Town Cape Christmas events has a little something for everyone in the Missouri Bootheel. The historic district of Cape Girardeau is seeing a renaissance with new shops, restaurants, and night spots. And during the holidays, it adds a little extra luster with all the lights and storefront displays. The city hosts a Parade of Lights, a Holiday Open House, and plenty of small businesses to pick up one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays. It is a little bit of Christmas in Missouri, with a bit of a southern feel as well!
Christmas is a time to slow down, enjoy family, and truly remember the reason we celebrate. One of the best places in Missouri to do that is in the town made famous by Mark Twain, Hannibal. Their Victorian Festival of Christmas is a snapshot of life that truly takes you back in time. The festivities begin right after Thanksgiving and continue weekly through Christmas. You can enjoy Carriage Rides, a Mark Twain Mustache Contest, visits from Santa, a Feztival of Trees on Main Street, Historic Homes Tours, and plenty of live music and shopping in the historic district.
It doesn’t get any better this. Even when I was a child decades ago, everyone talked about going to Kansas City to see the lights. And today, the Kansas City Plaza Lights are still epic. It started with a single strand of lights for the Plaza Lighting ceremony back in 1930 and gets better as the decades go by. In addition to the amazing sights, you also have the quaint stores and restaurants that truly put on the best performances during Christmastime. There are also plenty of hotels nearby to make your trip one you will forever remember.
The area is called the Kingdom of Callaway, and the light spectacular in Fulton is worthy of a crown. The “Ultimate Callaway County Holiday Weekend” kicks things off in early December and the fun doesn’t really stop until after Christmas. America’s National Churchill Museum is a national treasure and they put on quite the show with musical performances and beautiful elegance annually. Residents and businesses of Fulton also put on fun shopping events, concerts, and a parade throughout December. But one of the most popular events are the lights. The “Field of Joy Holiday Lights” along with a stroll down the historic Brick District highlights how central Missourians get into the holiday spirit.
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