Best Hotels in Kansas City for Christmas

Kansas City's Christmas centres on the Country Club Plaza lights, which have been a tradition since the 1920s and are switched on at a ceremony on Thanksgiving evening. Crown Center, Union Station and downtown add trees, markets and displays. December is cold, with some snow.

What's on

• Plaza Lighting Ceremony and Plaza Lights — Country Club Plaza. Thanksgiving evening: 27 November 2025 (ceremony 18:30, fireworks after the switch-on), with the lights on to 11 January 2026. 2026 date not yet confirmed; usually Thanksgiving evening (26 November 2026).
• Crown Center Christmas displays and Christmas market — Crown Center. Usually November to December: includes the 100-foot-plus Mayor's Christmas Tree, the Hallmark Christmas Experience and a makers' market over four weekends.
• Union Station holiday displays — Union Station. Usually late November to early January: model trains, the city's largest indoor holiday tree and the Holiday Reflections village.
• Merry Market — City Market, River Market. Weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas, with more than 75 local makers.

Dates and times change from year to year, so check the organiser's listing before you travel.

Where to stay

• Country Club Plaza: The Plaza Lights are on your doorstep, and shops, restaurants and the Nelson-Atkins Museum are nearby.
• Crown Center and Union Station: Holiday displays and the Hallmark attractions are within walking distance, with Union Station next door.
• Downtown and Power & Light District: The free KC Streetcar connects downtown districts, with restaurants and venues close by.

December weather

December highs run from about 49°F (9°C) early in the month down to about 40°F (4°C) by the end, with lows around 25 to 33°F (-4 to 1°C), and some snow.

How we picked: the 7 hotels in this guide are 4- and 5-star hotels and resorts in Kansas City with the strongest Booking.com guest scores, weighted by how many reviews they have. Scores and review counts were checked in October 2026.