The Enchanting History of Country Club Plaza Christmas Lights

Back in 1925, a string of lights at Country Club Plaza in Kansas City was lit. That small event paved the way for a Christmas tradition that continues today.

The Christmas Light at Country Club Plaza are just different. In fact, one of the most magical places in Missouri at Christmas is Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. The annual tradition brings thousands of people to the shopping center in the weeks leading up to the holiday. But it started small!. It was just a strand of lights over the doorway of the Mill Creek Building and a few Christmas trees. But that small display turned into a beloved annual event.

At the time, the shopping center was still a new development by J.C. Nichols. The development was struggling at the time because it was in a remote part of the city. The nation’s first suburban shopping center was even dubbed “Nichols’ folly,” as most thought it would fail miserably.

That first year was a relative success. So in the coming years, the maintenance supervisor began hanging more lights. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Today, for thousands of Missourians, Christmas isn’t finished without a trip to see the Country Club Plaza Lights. And the Plaza certainly wasn’t a folly. Today, it is one of the hottest shopping and residential areas in Missouri.