While we love this town in all seasons, Kansas City is particularly cool in the winter.

Not just in temperature, of course, but in how many exciting things there are to do. We asked our UMKC community on Instagram what their favorite thing to do is in Kansas City in the wintertime, and we’re sharing the best of them here for your own cold-weather enjoyment!

KC Rep’s A Christmas Carol

The Kansas City Repertory Theater and UMKC have a long history. Located on UMKC’s Volker campus the Rep is a popular place during the holiday season for it’s well known tradition of putting on A Christmas Carol, a musical version of the classic Charles Dickens tale. With stunning performance, sets and costumes, it is sure to wow and warm the heart of any Scrooge.

UMKC Basketball Games

When the weather outside is frightful, there’s nothing more delightful than catching a game at the Swinney Center, where our players are always heating up! You can catch men’s and women’s basketball games all season long. Don’t forget to check the athletics site for the latest info and to get your tickets!

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium 

One of Kansas City’s favorite outdoor attractions is not just for summertime! This is one of the best seasons to see the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. There’s an outdoor polar bear exhibit, and on Saturdays and Sundays, you can watch the Penguin March at 11 a.m. It’s one of the zoo’s most popular events.

Crown Center

This city district, just west of our Health Sciences campus, is the holiday headquarters of Kansas City. It’s home to the Mayor’s Christmas Tree, and the beloved Ice Terrace, the premiere spot for ice skating in town. Warm up inside with some holiday shopping, delicious food and festive special performances in their two theaters.

See the Lights

It can be a bit of a downer when the sun sets before 5 p.m. each night, but what better to lift low spirits than twinkling lights. There’s so many to see all through Kansas City. From public walkthrough displays, like Powell Gardens Festival of Lights, to drive-through spectacles like Winter Magic at Swope Park, there’s a glow out there for everyone. Short on cash? Drive by Ward Parkway or Candy Cane Lane, a neighborhood light spot that’s been a Kansas City area staple for more than fifty years. And speaking of lights…

The Plaza Lights

We’d be remiss not to mention the world-famous Country Club Plaza Lights, within walking distance of our Volker campus. Kansas City has kicked off the holiday season with a lighting ceremony here since the 1930’s. Grab a hot beverage and enjoy them while you frequent the many Plaza shops, or just take the most festive walk of the season.