KCKidsFun

If your kids are clamoring to see the big guy in a red suit, you have a HUGE list of places to catch him around the Kansas City metro area this season!

Month-long Appearances

• Crown Center – Santa’s Crayola Christmas Land and Santa’s Gingerbread Village – thru December 31

• Town Center Plaza (Leawood, KS) – thru December 23 (and check out Town Center’s Sensory Friendly Santa page for those who need a little extra time, a bit of preparation and no lines)

• Oak Park Mall (Overland Park, KS) – thru December 24

• Zona Rosa (Northland) – thru December 24 (ZR also has holiday carriage rides throughout December and the Fairy Princess through December 1st)

• Independence Center (Independence, MO) – thru December 31

• Metro North Mall (Northland) – thru December 24 (Check out the Tinsel Time Express Train too!)

• Legends Outlets (Kansas City, KS) – Saturdays thru December 17 at Books-A-Million

• Great Mall of the Great Plains (Olathe, KS) – thru December 24 (photo package info)

• Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops (Olathe, KS and Independence, MO) – thru December 24

• Cabela’s (Kansas City, KS) – (waiting on an update for this one, usually the last two weekends before Christmas)

Shorter Appearances

December 2

• Holiday Lights & Festive Sights, Mission KS – 6:15pm to 8:30pm – tree lighting, Santa  and musical fireworks!
• KCMO Parks & Rec presents Santa’s Wonderland – Gillham Park, 6pm to 8pm

December 3

• A Visit from St. Nicholas, Shoal Creek Living History Museum, Kansas City north – a 19th Century Christmas experience! Take a horse drawn sleigh ride and meet St. Nicholas
• JCPRD’s Breakfast with Santa – 8:30am and 10:30am – Roeland Park Community Center – breakfast, games, crafts and SANTA!
• Breakfast with Santa, Leawood KS – 8:30am or 10:30am at The Lodge at Ironwoods Park
• Holiday WILD – meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Kansas City Zoo (indoors)! – 10am to 2pm
• Santa Train, Belton Grandview & Kansas City Railroad, 9am, 11am, 1pm & 3pm – online tickets required
• Mayor’s Holiday Carnival – Sermon Community Center, Independence, MO – 9am to 12pm – games, moonwalks, face painting, visits with Santa
• Santa Claus Express, Midland Railway, 10am, 1pm & 3pm
• Santa & Me at Paradise Park, Lee’s Summit – 10am to 2pm
• Fairy Princess at Kansas City Museum, 10am to 4pm
• KCMO Parks & Rec presents Santa’s Wonderland – Penguin Park, 4pm to 6pm
• Holiday Fun with Santa, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO – 9am to 12pm (breakfast until 10:30am)
• Christmas on the Farm, Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, Lawson, MO – 2pm to 7pm – caroling, treats, arts & crafts and Father Christmas – FREE!
• Lawrence (KS) Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade – 11am – horse-drawn carriages, wagons & coaches and SANTA!
• Whoville Holidays at City Market (KCMO) – 11am to 2pm – activities, projects, canned food drive,  photos with the Grinch! (Okay, so this one isn’t exactly Santa…)
• Visit with Santa, Downtown Lee’s Summit, 3pm to 5pm
• Free Photos with Santa, Cafe at Briarcliff (KCMO North), 1pm to 4pm
• Breakfast with Santa at The Café at Briarcliff Village, 8am to 10am – Activities include breakfast, pictures with Santa (charity donation suggested), holiday story time with Lauren Alexandra, and live reindeer outside. Ticket proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City. $10 for children and $12 for adults.
• Breakfast with Santa at Independence Center, 8:00am – 10:00am. Free to Kidgits Club members. Membership is $5 per child for a full year. Ages: 0-8. Food Court at Independence Center, Independence, MO. Join Radio Disney and The Big Guy himself for breakfast, games, giveaways and tons of fun! Space is limited. RSVP to ctuggle@simon.com or 816-795-8602. Breakfast and giveaways while supplies last.
• A Country School Christmas at Lanesfield School Historic Site, Edgerton, KS. 1:00-4:00 p.m. Enjoy stories from storyteller Jo Ho, see a Christmas program given by local schoolchildren, enjoy free refreshments, practice penmanship and make your own ornament to take home. A visit from Santa completes the afternoon– bring your cameras! FREE.

December 4

• KCMO Parks & Rec presents Santa’s Wonderland – Longview Tract, 4pm to 6pm
• Holiday WILD – meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Kansas City Zoo (indoors)! – 10am to 2pm
• Fairy Princess at Kansas City Museum, 10am to 4pm

• Santa Claus Express, Midland Railway, 10am, 1pm & 3pm

December 10

• Santa & Me at Paradise Park, Lee’s Summit – 10am to 2pm
• Fairy Princess at Kansas City Museum, 10am to 4pm
• Holiday Fun with Santa, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO – 9am to 12pm (breakfast until 10:30am)
• Holiday WILD – meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Kansas City Zoo (indoors)! – 10am to 2pm
• Whoville Holidays at City Market (KCMO) – 10am to 2pm – activities, projects, canned food drive, photos with the Grinch!
• An Olde Fashioned Holiday (and Breakfast with Santa!) presented by Theatre in the Park at Mildale Farm, Edgerton KS

• Free Photos with Santa, Cafe at Briarcliff (KCMO North), 1pm to 4pm

December 11

• Holiday WILD – meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Kansas City Zoo (indoors)! – 10am to 2pm

• An Olde Fashioned Holiday (and Breakfast with Santa!) presented by Theatre in the Park at Mildale Farm, Edgerton KS

• Fairy Princess at Kansas City Museum, 10am to 4pm
• Visit with Santa, Downtown Lee’s Summit, 3pm to 5pm

December 16

• Kansas City Southern Holiday Express, Union Station – an amazing Santa visit via train! FREE

December 17

• Skate with Santa, Line Creek Community Center, Kansas City North
• Kansas City Southern Holiday Express, Union Station – an amazing Santa visit via train! FREE
• Fairy Princess at Kansas City Museum, 10am to 4pm
• Santa & Me at Paradise Park, Lee’s Summit – 10am to 2pm
• Holiday Fun with Santa, Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO – 9am to 12pm (Chris Cakes pancake breakfast until 10:30am)
• Santa visits Kidscape at the Johnson County Museum in Shawnee “retro style” – 2pm to 4pm
• Whoville Holidays at City Market (KCMO) – 10am to 2pm – activities, projects, canned food drive,  photos with the Grinch!

• Free Photos with Santa, Cafe at Briarcliff (KCMO North), 1pm to 4pm

December 18

• Kansas City Southern Holiday Express, Union Station – an amazing Santa visit via train! FREE
• Fairy Princess at Kansas City Museum, 10am to 4pm
• Holiday Open House with Santa at the Agricultural Hall of Fame, Bonner Springs, KS (MEMBERS ONLY – but you can join now!)
• Father Christmas at the Toy & Miniature Museum (KCMO), 1:30pm

Did we miss your favorite Kansas City Santa? Let us know in the comments!

CONGRATULATIONS TO RACHEL WHITMAN–  OUR LUCKY WINNER!  HAVE A GREAT TIME!

Our advertising partners at Paradise Park are behind our latest giveaway…and it’s a great one!  Especially with Thanksgiving break and Winter Vacation upon us.  One lucky winner will receive a FULL day of fun for a family of four! Specifically, the winner will receive 4 “Max Pak” wristbands, which sell for $28.95 each. With the wristband, you get unlimited use of the indoor and outdoor attractions on the day of your choice!

Paradise Park, located in Lee’s Summit, MO off I-470 and Colbern Road, is an amazing family-friendly place with TONS to do.  My kids especially like the Foam Factory–it’s great for letting off excess kid energy!  There is also a Children’s Edutainment Center, Rock Climbing Wall, Bumper Cars, Miniature Golf and Go Kart Rides.

How to enter?  Simply leave a comment below and let us know if you have any Thanksgiving traditions for AFTER the big meal! Football in the back yard? A long walk?  A long nap?  A family viewing of Christmas Vacation?!?  Entries will be accepted until 9pm CDT, on Monday, November 21, 2011. Good Luck!  Have a great weekend.

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Must be 18 years of age to enter and win. Only one entry per household will be considered. No substitutions or transfers. Giveaway prize is not redeemable for cash. By entering, winner consents to allow the use of his/her name for promotional purposes without further compensation. Winner releases all sponsors of liability regarding use and enjoyment of the prize. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

ONE (1) winner will be randomly selected, and will receive a 4-pak of “Max Pak” unlimited indoor/outdoor attractions wristbands. Prize has a value of $116.00 ($28.95 each).

So I have to admit, I haven’t been out to the Kansas City Zoo since the NEW African Sky Safari opened.  My kids are dying to go and we will get there before school begins.  Readers– have YOU been?  What did you think? Here’s the scoop you need to know before planning your trip.

Cost is $4 per round trip; $2 each way and ages 2 and under are free with a paying adult. Riders will go high above the African Plains and you’ll be super close to cheetahs, lions, giraffes and rhinos!  The ride exits near one of the best chimpanzee exhibits in the world.  The journey crosses approximately 1,500 feet at 35 feet above ground and lasts about 7 minutes in each direction.  

There are some guidelines for riding the African Sky Safari:
- Children under 42″ tall must ride with an adult
- All riders must be able to sit up without assistance
- Flip flops must be carried; all items must be secured including food, drink, cameras and sunglasses (dropped items will not be immediately retrieved and will not be returned in the same condition; the animals will probably consider them “bonus snacks!”)
- Maximum 3 people and 400 pounds per chair
- Only umbrella strollers will be transported on the African Sky Safari; you may check your stroller at the employee-monitored stroller check at the ticket booths.