We track 9 displays in Shawnee — the 4th-densest city for lights in Kansas. Every one of them is free to visit.
Displays here switch on around sunset. In Shawnee that means about 4:58 PM in early December and 4:58 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:28 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Shawnee typically drop to around 23°F.
| Date | Sunset | Fully dark |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1 | 4:58 PM | 5:27 PM |
| Dec 15 | 4:58 PM | 5:28 PM |
| Dec 25 | 5:03 PM | 5:33 PM |
We ordered every display in Shawnee into the shortest sensible driving loop: roughly 91.5 miles and 256 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 Shawnee cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 0 public car parks and 1 public toilet. Nowhere nearby for a hot drink — bring a flask.
FreeresidentialLight-O-Rama animationmusic on 88.3 FMsinging Christmas trees and snowman
The Bell family's Light-O-Rama show, on local tours off and on since 2012, returned in 2024 to this corner near Mize Road with music broadcast on 88.3 FM. Singing Christmas trees and a snowman handle the vocals, and the program runs from 5:30 PM until midnight.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeneighborhoodneighborhood-wide decoratingblow molds and hand-drawn cutoutsSanta drive-through nightfood bank donation drive
Most homes in this northwest Shawnee neighborhood decorate together, with many featuring blow molds and freehand-drawn cutouts made by resident Bill Barkemeyer. In 2024 the neighborhood hosted a December 7 drive-through evening with Santa and Mrs. Claus that collected canned goods and donations for the De Soto Food Bank.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidential40,000+ lights430 channels of computer controlmusic on 99.9 FMdonations to Kansas City Rescue Mission
One of the best shows in the area, the Williams Family Holiday Program has run at this Shawnee address since 2012 after a decade in Overland Park, reaching over 40,000 lights on 430 computer-controlled channels by 2018. Music plays on 99.9 FM from 5:30 to 10:30 PM, and contributions are accepted for the Kansas City Rescue Mission.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentialflashing lights with music on 91.9 FMlarge lotinflatables
Spread across a very large lot on a busy street, the Clark family's display flashes many of its lights to music on 91.9 FM. The 2024 show was notably larger and fuller, mixing inflatables with other features, in its eleventh year on the local tour.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentiallife-size Mr. and Mrs. Claus North Pole scenestockings on the porchflashing sleigh landing strip
A small but distinctive display featuring a North Pole scene with life-size Mr. and Mrs. Claus, stockings hung on the porch, and a flashing landing strip laid out for Santa's sleigh.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentialsynchronized lights on 97.7 FMdecorated surrounding neighborhood
The Boehm family's synchronized show broadcasts on 97.7 FM and once ran side-by-side with the Coleman family's show before the Colemans moved to Bonner Springs in 2023. Plenty of other nice displays fill the surrounding neighborhood.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentiallights coordinated to music via speakergarage-door lights that spell words
A long-running program that coordinates its lights to music played through an outdoor speaker rather than FM radio. A newer set of lights above the garage door can spell out short words.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentiallarge 'Joy' signcorner display at 51st and Quivira
Discovered by tour organizers in 2019 near 51st Street and Quivira Road, this display features a large lighted sign reading 'Joy' and looks even better in person than in photos.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidentialanimated lights synced to 100.1 FMlighted train centerpieceround window light panel
This animated Shawnee show broadcasts its music on 100.1 FM with lights that move to the beat. A lighted train forms the central feature, and it first drew attention as an entrant in the Shawnee Rocks holiday light contest in 2020.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Know a display we're missing in Shawnee?Add it to the guide.