Guide to a Holiday Weekend in Overland Park

Meet Sarah, mom of three and owner of the Kansas City Mom Collective. She’s the expert the locals go to for the best family friendly things to do, events, and advice. Follow her on Instagram at @kansascitymomcollective.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Overland Park! Although it’s going to be a different holiday season than year’s past, OP has enough holiday magic to create memories and maybe even find a new family tradition!

We like to kick off the holiday festivities with our favorite family tradition - The Luminary Walk at the Overland Park Arboretum. Walk through beautiful lit pathways to view gnome and fairy houses and festive light displays (and perfect family selfie spots!), listen to musical performances along the way and ride in a horse drawn carriage through the forest. Bring your stroller or wagon and load up on hot chocolate!

For another kid friendly light display, we love the Deanna Rose Farmstead’s holiday show! First, we stop by Pilgrim Coffee for a sweet treat and warm drinks. Then, we head to the farm to enjoy the interactive displays set to music from the safety of our car. Tip: You can use your cell phone to text messages that will show up within the display!

A holiday season in Kansas City isn’t complete without a spin around the iconic Crown Center Ice Rink. Opening Nov. 6, the ice rink is open thru mid-March. Make sure you go while the 100-ft tall Mayor’s Holiday Tree is up and take in the magical displays at Crown Center and Union Station, connected by the Link.

My husband and I try to support local while during our shopping, and there’s no better place than Fat Brain Toys at Prairiefire. We find unique games and learning toys, and the employees are experts at recommending age appropriate gifts. After shopping, we head next door to Decadent Dessert Bar for a cookie skillet or hot donut holes.

For stocking stuffers, we head to downtown OP where we find unique gifts at The General Store & Co., Ten Thousand Villages and Penzeys Spices. On our way home, we grab a few cutie pies from The Upper Crust, the sweetest pie bakery in the metro!

See more ideas from Sarah at her blog, Kansas City Mom Collective and follow her on Instagram at @kansascitymomcollective. Check out our other KC|OP city guides here.

*Some of these photos were taken in 2019. Visit OP and I worked together to ensure everything mentioned is open in 2020, but there may be mask ordinances or social distance requirements. Click the links for more information.*