We track 5 displays in Kansas City — the 5th-densest city for lights in Kansas. Every one of them is free to visit.
Displays here switch on around sunset. In Kansas City that means about 4:57 PM in early December and 4:57 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:27 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Kansas City typically drop to around 26°F.
| Date | Sunset | Fully dark |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1 | 4:57 PM | 5:26 PM |
| Dec 15 | 4:57 PM | 5:27 PM |
| Dec 25 | 5:02 PM | 5:32 PM |
We ordered every display in Kansas City into the shortest sensible driving loop: roughly 11.4 miles and 47 minutes of driving, before you count time spent parked and looking. Start wherever is closest to you and follow it round.
Residential displays have no facilities of their own — no parking, no toilets, nowhere to warm up — so it is worth knowing what is around. Within about three miles of the Kansas City cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 1 public car park and 0 public toilets. Only 3 cafés or takeaways nearby, so bring a flask if you want one. Note the lack of public toilets in particular if you are taking children.
Freeresidentiallights flash to music on 90.5 FMlarge rural lottribute show
The Coleman family relocated their show from Shawnee to this rural lot north of Bonner Springs, where lights flash to music broadcast on 90.5 FM in a program honoring Don Willems. The 2024 run went December 2 through January 6, closing at 9:30 PM Sunday through Thursday and an hour later on weekends.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentialinflatablesfixed decorationslights
This south Wyandotte County home mixes inflatables with lights and fixed decorations in a balanced arrangement that tour reviewers found more aesthetically pleasing than displays relying heavily on blow-ups. It joined the local light tour in 2017.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentialsmall nativitysnowflake lightsSanta's sleigh and reindeer rooftop lights
A compact but attractive display featuring a small nativity, snowflake lights, and a Santa's sleigh with reindeer lit above one side of the house. It is striking even in daylight.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentiallarge backlit cut-out nativityretro plastic choir figures and candles
The centerpiece here is a large backlit cut-out nativity that appears handmade, flanked by retro plastic choir figures and candles. The display grows a little each year.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentiallong-running family displayexpanded at new location since 2016
Terry and Vicki Deckard built an impressive display at a modest house near the Johnson County line before moving in 2016 to this roomier property, where the show has grown even larger.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Know a display we're missing in Kansas City?Add it to the guide.