Plaza Lights
From TheKCGuy
The 2009 Plaza Lighting ceremony is the 80th annual. As always, it's on Thanksgiving eve, this year on November 26th. The lights are expected to turn on at 7:30, followed by fireworks.
What are the Plaza Lights?
In case you're new to Kansas City, the Country Club Plaza shopping area is covered in holiday lights from Thanksgiving each year through sometime in January. When they are turned on on Thanksgiving evening, the Plaza is full of people celebrating the coming holiday season.
Enjoying the Show
The Plaza is pretty busy during the lighting ceremony. It pays to get down there early, and to bring warm clothes. Parking isn't actually too bad on the Plaza since there are so many free spots, but it gets pretty tight on nights like this one. You may have to park on the South side of Ward Parkway, or in one of the neighborhoods to the Southwest or to the North. If you prefer to take the bus, here is some information about the holiday bus schedule.
The stage is at 47th and Wyandotte, between Halls, Restoration Hardware, and the Cheesecake Factory. Seeing the stage is pretty tough depending on the crowd (which depends on the weather) but it's not entirely important. The revelry takes place throughout the Plaza since the lights extend for dozens of blocks.
The best way to see the show, especially for those of us who are afraid of the cold, may be to watch it from one of the nearby apartment buildings or hotels. Getting a downward view on the spectacle from a warm living room is one of the more memorable parts of the Kansas City holiday season.
More Information
- Plaza Lights page at the Plaza's official website
- about.com's Plaza lights page
- KC Kids Fun has some great information on the Plaza Lighting ceremony as well as others around town.
- Here's a great history of the Plaza Lights
