Crown Center decks the halls for the season like no other, creating some of Kansas City’s favorite holiday traditions.

Photo courtesy of Crown Center

This article is presented in partnership with Crown Center

The fun starts in early November with the opening of the Crown Center Ice Terrace and continues with the lighting of the 100-foot-tall Mayor’s Christmas Tree on Crown Center Square the day after Thanksgiving. The festive decorations set the stage for a holiday season filled with live theater, shopping, dining, and more at Crown Center.

“When you visit Kansas City, Crown Center offers so many opportunities to experience the magic of the holidays, whether that’s ice skating, shopping for gifts, looking at the lights, or taking in a show,” said Stacey Paine, president of Crown Center. “We invite families to enjoy all Crown Center has to offer and make unforgettable holiday memories together.”

See Thousands of Lights and a 100-Foot-Tall Christmas Tree

Since 1973, Crown Center has hosted the Mayor’s Christmas Tree on Crown Center Square as a symbol of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund, which assists Kansas City residents in need during the holidays. The 100-foot-tall tree – always one of the tallest in the nation – is the centerpiece of holiday celebrations at Crown Center. For the 50th year of lighting the Mayor’s Christmas Tree, Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Quinton Lucas and a celebrity guest will flip the switch to illuminate the tree and 30,000+ white lights on Friday, Nov. 25, followed by a festive fireworks display. The lights remain on display through Jan. 2.

Visit Santa Claus at Gingerbread Station

Santa Claus arrives at the Crown Center Shops in a horse-drawn carriage on Friday, Nov. 25, to greet his fans and take up residence in Santa’s Gingerbread Station, where kids and families can have their photo taken with him through Christmas Eve.

Lace Up for Outdoor Ice Skating

The Crown Center Ice Terrace, Kansas City’s original outdoor ice rink, celebrates its 50th season of ice skating fun. The Ice Terrace overlooks the Mayor’s Christmas Tree and other holiday decorations on Crown Center Square for a festive and active way to spend time together. The Ice Terrace offers daily skating times with skate rental onsite.

Commemorate the Trip with a Special Ornament

The 2022 Mayor’s Christmas Tree ornament, made each year from the wood of last year’s tree, is called “Celebrating 50 Years,” a nod to Crown Center’s 50th year of hosting and decorating the Mayor’s Christmas Tree. The proceeds from the sale of the ornament benefit the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund, which assists the people of Kansas City in need during the holidays.

The wooden ornament is designed by Hallmark artist Sheyda Best and made in Kansas City by Hallmark Cards, Inc. The laser-cut design features the Mayor’s Christmas Tree in green with some of Crown Center’s iconic holiday decorations in gold, silver, and white. It’s the perfect way to bring a little bit of Kansas City back to your home.

The 2022 Mayor’s Christmas Tree Ornament goes on sale Friday, Nov. 25, at Crown Center Customer Service for $16.95 plus tax. Limits apply. Ornaments also can be shipped, and orders may be placed by completing this order form.

Visit CrownCenterChristmas.com for a detailed listing of all Crown Center events and activities during the holiday season.