Festival of Lights
Friday, November 29, 2019, through Sunday, January 5, 2020
Thursdays through Sundays | 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Mark your calendars for the third annual Festival of Lights, a holiday lighting exhibition, artfully curated by Powell Gardens’ staff. This year’s display takes on a new twist as it guides visitors through the Heartland Harvest Garden and follows the theme of Luminosity, offering a dazzling wonderland of color installed in special moments throughout the mile-long walk. (Paths are accessible). Enjoy Santa and roving carolers on select evenings and enjoy children’s activities daily. Grab a hot chocolate (spiked or original) for your stroll through this festive garden display.
Video Courtesy: Open Sky Video & MappingThis Experience is Illuminated by:
Cafe Thyme
Visitor Center, Thursdays-Sundays of the Festival
4:00-9:30 p.m.
Cafe Thyme is cooking up all the usual favorites (hot dogs, brats, nachos, and house-made soups) as well assorted desserts and Christmas Cookies.
Vegan and gluten-free options available.
Carolers of Note
Saturdays of the Festival: November 30, December 7, 14, 21
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Enjoy the holidays sounds of roving carolers as you stroll through the gardens.
Santa in the Gardens
Fridays & Saturdays of the Festival, 5-9 p.m.
Fridays: December 6, 13, 20
Saturdays: December 7, 14, 21
Join Santa for a walk through Winter Wonderland. Snap a picture and tell him what’s on your wish list!
Holly Jolly Rest Stop
Heartland Harvest Garden, Thursdays-Sundays of the Festival
4-10 p.m.
Enjoy the warmth of the heaters while grabbing a sugar cookie and hot drink (spiked or not) at the bar. Enjoy the train display, artfully installed by the Mo-Kan Garden Railroaders Group, and wander up the steps of the Missouri Barn Silo for the best view in the house! Hop a ride on the bedecked tram ($3 per person) back to the Visitor Center.
Santa’s Workshop
Education Building, Thursdays-Sundays of the Festival
4-10 p.m.
Make a colorful ornament to take home and hang on the tree. Play a life-sized board game featuring a race against time to complete Santa’s journey around the world!
| ADMISSION | COST |
| Adults | $12 |
| Youth (5-12) | $5 |
| Children 4 & Under | Free |
| Festival Parking | $5 |
Additional Holiday Events
Holiday Home Décor: Wreath Making
Saturday, November 30, 10 a.m.-noon OR 1-3 p.m.
Colonial Gardens, 27610 E. Wyatt Road, Blue Springs, MO 64014
Get your greens going and get inspiration for decking your halls for the holiday season. Join David Breedlove, Powell Gardens’ seasonal display specialist, in the classroom at Colonial Gardens for a hands-on workshop that will provide ideas for integrating a variety of materials into a wreath you can display on a door or use as a focal point of a centerpiece. All materials are included. (Make this a full day of design by registering for Holiday Home Décor: Holiday Container Design as well.)
Space is limited to 30 participants. Please register by November 25, 2019.
$55 per person (Powell Members less 10%)
Holiday Home Décor: Holiday Container Design
Saturday, November 30, 10 a.m.-noon OR 1-3 p.m.
Colonial Gardens, 27610 E. Wyatt Road, Blue Springs, MO 6014
Get your greens going and get inspiration for decking your halls for the holiday season. Colonial Gardens staff will lead a workshop in which participants learn how to arrange greenery and other festive elements to create a show stopping outdoor container. Enjoy Mimosas while you work. Materials provided will accommodate a 14″ container. (Participants can bring a container from home, or purchase one in the shop. Additional greens and decor items are available for purchase as desired.
Space is limited to 30 participants. Please register by November 25, 2019.
$55 per person (Powell Members less 10%)
Chapel Concert – Keith Stanfield Duo
Saturday, December 21, 7-8 p.m.
Powell Gardens, Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel
Keith Stanfield began playing the violin at the age of three, and made his solo debut at the Royal Festival Hall in London (England) at age six. He made his TV debut on the BBC aged 9, and his concerto debut aged 12. He is a graduate of the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.
Keith is Concertmaster of the Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra, Northland Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Concertmaster of the Saint Joseph Symphony, as well as a member of various other orchestras in the region. He currently teaches at Benedictine College, Cottey College and maintains a small private studio in Kansas City. His recordings of Mozart and Bach are available on iTunes.
Seating is limited to 80 guests.
$10 for members and non-members. (Concerts not included with Festival admission.)
Gingerbread House & Landscaping Workshop
Sunday, December 8, 2:30-:30 p.m.
Powell Gardens, Visitor Center Multipurpose Room
Spend an afternoon designing your gingerbread dream house and landscape with chef Melissa Fahlstrom of Sugar Whipped Bakery. Receive instruction on assembling a pre-baked gingerbread house (dimensions estimated 10 x 10 x 10 inches) and some fabulous tricks of the trade, including how to make windows look like stained glass and cookies look like snowy shingles. Finish off your masterpiece with a variety of frostings and ready-made candies. Participants will receive recipes for gingerbread dough and frosting, and how-to demos to take home.
We recommend no more than two children per gingerbread house. Best for children ages six and older.
Space is limited to 60 persons, with space for up to 20 gingerbread house kits. Please register by December 2.
$60 per family (class includes festival admission as well as gingerbread house and all edible decorations)
Family Frolic: Winter Wonderland
Sunday, December 22, 4-7 p.m.
Powell Gardens
Join in the family fun and enjoy the festive family activities during this drop-in event. Create nature-themed ornaments and play a life-sized board game featuring a race against time to complete Santa’s journey around the world. Paint your own flower pot and begin growing a Christmas cactus, for a small fee. Holiday-themed sugar cookies are available for purchase for the kids and Boozy Botanical drinks are available for purchase for moms and dads. Round out the evening with a walk on the magical trail of the Festival of Lights and a visit with Santa.
Free with garden admission
Chapel Concert – Crossroads Saxophone Quartet
Saturday, December 14, 7-8 p.m.
Powell Gardens, Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel
Crossroads Saxophone Quartet is a rising chamber ensemble based in Kansas City, Missouri. Formed at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, Crossroads is made up of graduate students from all over the country. Throughout their time together, Crossroads has performed at conferences such as the national North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) conference in Cincinnati, OH, and the regional NASA conference in Fayetteville, AR. Crossroads has also performed locally at various events including Kansas City’s annual Porch Fest and at several UMKC Conservatory events.
Crossroads is dedicated to performing standard saxophone quartet repertoire, but is also passionate about commissioning new works for this type of ensemble. In addition to performing, Crossroads is devoted to community outreach. The quartet has performed and presented masterclasses at various high schools in the KC area.
Seating is limited to 80 guests.
$10 for members and non-members. (Concerts not included with Festival admission.)
Dog’s Day Out
Sunday, December 29, 4-10 p.m.
Powell Gardens
Join us for this special day and bring your furry friends for a stroll through the Festival of Lights. Dogs must have current vaccinations and remain on a leash at all times. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pooch.
Festival admission applies.
Chapel Concert – The Kansas City Flute Choir
Saturday, December 21, 7-8 p.m.
Powell Gardens, Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel
The Kansas City Flute Choir is a non-profit community organization that is passionate about providing an enriching musical experience for flutists of all ages through programs that engage and educate audiences. Under the direction of Gina Hart-Kemper, this concert will feature a variety of flutes showcasing holiday repertoire, including excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.
Seating is limited to 80 guests.
$10 for members and non-members. (Concerts not included with Festival admission.)
Chapel Concert – The Wires
Saturday, December 28, 7-8 p.m.
Powell Gardens, Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel
Take a break from the mayhem of the holiday season and join The Wires for a meditative, introspective exploration through the darkest time of the year, The Winter Solstice, to the hopeful renewal of the New Year.
The Wires are an alternative exploration in string sound. Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, The Wires compose and perform original music for violin and cello. Inspired by a myriad of genres and eclectic sounds, The Wires are not your typical strings group. The project encompasses a blend of wide-ranging styles, from tango to gypsy, jazz to rock and infused with the precision of classical form. The music is created, composed and performed by Laurel Morgan (violin) and Sascha Groschang (cello). The Wires released their debut album in 2013, and are creators and executive directors of Wired In – Creative Strings Workshop, a summer program for string players interested in learning new styles and techniques.
Seating is limited to 80 guests. Cost is $10 for members and non-members. (Concerts not included with Festival admission.)
Members Receive FREE Festival Admission
Tuesday, November 26
4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Enjoy an exclusive members-only preview night before opening to the public on November 29.
Additional Support is Provided By:
