Looking for a festive stop on your holiday road trip? Check out these top spots in the Great Plains.
KANSAS
Enchant Christmas
November 24 to December 31
A light maze with larger-than-life props is the focus of a new pop-up village at Legends Field in Kansas City. The ballpark also has Santa visits, ice skating, a play area, and food and craft vendors. EnchantChristmas.com
Botanica Illuminations
November 24 to December 30
More than 2 million lights, 8,000 luminaries, 300 lighted trees and a 62-foot-tall tree programmed with holiday graphics and set to music transform the gardens of Botanica Wichita into a walk-through wonderland. Experience live music, Candy Cane Lane, Santa’s Village and food trucks serving tasty treats. Botanica.org
MISSOURI
Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas
November 4 to December 30
The 1880s-style theme park in Branson is known nationwide for its holiday festival. Among the reasons: more than 6.5 million lights, an eight-story tree with LED animation, a nightly light parade, live productions, rides, craft demonstrations and seasonal treats. SilverDollarCity.com
Holiday Reflections
November 20 to January 1, 2024
Kansas City’s Union Station hosts one of the region’s largest indoor light experiences with a 27,000-square-foot walk-through village in its Grand Plaza. Take photos in front of floor-to-ceiling light installations, massive mirrored ornaments, a 40-foot-tall tree and more. UnionStation.org/event/holiday-reflections
OKLAHOMA
Downtown in December
November through January 2024
Each downtown Oklahoma City district offers a different festive light experience, from 600,000 LED lights draped in Automobile Alley to the light/music show in Scissortail Park. Despite the event’s name, it offers three months of events that range from Nordic adventures to pop-up shops. DowntowninDecember.com
Chickasha Festival of Light
November 18 to December 31
It’s free to walk or drive through Chickasha’s Shannon Springs Park to see the 172-foot-tall tree and animated displays twinkling with 3.5 million lights. Also available (for purchase) are horse-drawn carriage rides, ice skating and more. Don’t miss the 50-foot-tall leg lamp replica from A Christmas Story on display downtown year-round. ChickashaFestivalofLight.org
SOUTH DAKOTA
Winter Wonderland
November 17 to January 7, 2024
Sioux Falls’ 123-acre Falls Park surrounding the falls of the Big Sioux River turns into a free holiday experience with the addition of 275 light poles, 270 decorated trees, 40 wreaths and more than 25 miles of string lights. The view atop the five-story observation tower is a showstopper. ExperienceSiouxFalls.com/winter-wonderland
Christmas at the Capitol
November 22 to December 26
Explore an indoor forest of more than 100 ornately decorated trees in the 1910 capitol building in Pierre. Live music is presented most days. ChristmasattheCapitol.sd.gov
