Spending the holidays in Overland Park can feel magical, especially when you have kids in tow. So, pack your bags and bring the kids to Overland Park to make lasting holiday memories.
Your little ones will be awed by the sparkling charm of Downtown Overland Park’s Christmas tree (have them drop off a letter to Santa and he’ll write you back!) Or on the south end of OP, bundle up the family with hot cocoa in-hand for Overland Park’s Arboretum & Botanical Garden’s Luminary Walk. There is no shortage of sweet memory-making options here in OP.
So, without further ado, here’s your bucket list of the best kid-friendly holiday activities in Overland Park!
Holiday Lights on Farmstead Lane
This free, dazzling light show at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is synchronized to all your favorite holiday music and has quickly become one of our top, newer traditions as a family. Located at the main entrance of the Farmstead, you don't even have to get out of the car for these holiday festivities.
We absolutely love spending quality time together, snuggled up watching the lights dance to the music! One of my favorite things about the show is how often it runs, so you have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the lights.
Pro tip: Stop by a local coffee shop on your way to bring your own cocoa and snacks! And don't forget the blankets as you view the lights from the warmth of your car.
Ice Skating at Chicken N Pickle
One of our favorite places to visit any time of year as a family is Chicken N Pickle in Prairiefire. We love their clean eating food, playing a game of pickleball and the fun turf area that is great for children to play in the summer.
In the winter, it gets even better when the turf turns into ice skating! Skates are available to rent so you can be sure to get that magical photo on the ice under the twinkling lights. We can’t wait to enjoy our go-to family hangout spot with a different winter twist this season. And we may have to go back without the kids to visit their Holiday Hideaway pop up bar!
Oak Park Mall
You can knock out your whole holiday shopping list at Oak Park Mall while the kids have fun at the same time. Stop by Santa's Workshop and enter the festive world of Santa Claus where you can have your photo taken and hand deliver your letter to the man in red himself.
Oak Park Mall also has fun stores for children to enjoy like the Lego Store, Build-A-Bear Workshop, KingCade arcade, and Sugah Rush Berries, where they specialize in high-quality sweet treats. We think they have the best chocolate-covered strawberries around!
When you need a break from the stores, there’s a play area for smaller children right next to their carousel in the center of the mall and on the upper level you'll find all your favorites at the food court.
Luminary Walk at the Arboretum
The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is pretty any time of year but during the winter, it offers a spectacular twinkling glow of thousands of lights. The Luminary Walk at the Arboretum is a family-friendly walk through the gardens where the kids will love exploring the candle-lit paths of the quiet woods and the bright colorful lights of the gardens.
You’ll find gnome and fairy villages and a colorful Children's Garden. There's also musical performances to enjoy in four different locations throughout the gardens and Santa to visit in his Woodland Depot.
The Holidays at Prairiefire
Prairiefire is always a top destination when we're looking for things to do as a family, especially during the holiday season. The Museum at Prairiefire is a great, indoor spot that will get your little ones exploring the world around them like you’ve never seen. And for those older kids, there's also a virtual reality experience (now playing Jurassic World)!
Starting November 30th and going through December 21st, the museum hosts SciFun Holidays Around the World, free family-friendly events that explore holiday traditions from across the globe.
When you’re done at the museum, you can catch dinner and the latest movie at the AMC Dine-In Theatre, visit FatBrain Toys or even enjoy a game of bowling at Pinstripes!
For more festivities, check out the Holidays at Prairiefire where you'll find a variety of fun every weekend, also starting November 30th and going through Monday, December 23. Drop off letters to Santa, take a wagon ride and enjoy other holiday surprises for the kids!
