Category: Bonner Springs

At Santa’s Express in Lights

A sign at Lucy the camel’s place at Santa’s Express in Lights says, “Hi, I’m Lucy, I promise not to run away again!” Sunday was the last night for Santa’s Express in Lights at the Ag Hall, 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs, which closes at 9 p.m. Admission is $10 per car for the drive-through event. (Photo by Christine Rupert)
A living nativity scene at Santa’s Express in Lights Sunday night at the Ag Hall, 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs, which closes at 9 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Christine Rupert)
Santa CLaus and helpers greet cars at Santa’s Express in Lights at the Ag Hall, 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs, on Sunday night. (Photo by Christine Rupert)

Faith news

Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King Catholic churches will hold Masses on Sunday, Dec. 12. Sunday Masses at Christ the King are at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and at Blessed Sacrament, Sunday Masses are at 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. For more information, visit the churches’ websites or Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/Christ-the-King-Parish-KCKS-1392808997677579 and www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck.

Casa – Worship House Christian Church, 5217 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, will have Sunday services at 11 a.m. Dec. 12. A Christmas family event is planned at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18. Santa Claus will make an appearance. Those who are 12 and younger may play games and receive gifts, while items last. See details at www.facebook.com/casadealabanzaKCKS. For more information, visit Facebook @casadealabanzaKCKS.

The First Christian Church of Bonner Springs, 148 N. Nettleton, plans a Community Blood Center blood drive from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, in the fellowship hall. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.

The Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont, Kansas City, Kansas, will hold a program, “The Gospel of Non-Violence,” led by Peg Burns, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15. Pre-registration is required to 913-689-9375. For more information, visit https://www.mountosb.org/ministries/keeler-womens-center/.

London Heights Baptist Church, 734 N. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will be the site of a Christmas concert by the Kansas City, Kansas, Community Orchestra at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17. The concert is open to the public and is free, and donations will be accepted. The orchestra will perform Christmas favorites.

Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 12. See details at https://www.facebook.com/ORMBCKC or http://ormbc.org/church-online/.

Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services in person at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, and livestream at https://www.facebook.com/opendoorkc/ and https://www.opendoorkc.com/. Open Door is planning a free Christmas concert by the Ball Brothers at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, at the church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace.

Our Lady and St. Rose Catholic Church, 2300 N. 8th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will hold a Mass in English at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/ourladyandsaintrose.

Free COVID vaccines will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at Sacred Heart Church, 2646 S. 34th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Participants may receive the first, second or third dose. Three COVID vaccines will be available. Participants who are Wyandotte County residents may win a $25 gift card per person, or $100 per family. Vaccines are available for anyone 5 years and older, and booster shots for anyone 18 and older. Free hams and chickens, one per Wyandotte County family with at least one vaccinated person, will be given away while supplies last. Also, participants who receive a vaccine will receive a free order of tacos.

Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will have services at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. Services also will be livestreamed on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StonyPointChristianChurch. Sunday school will be at 9 a.m. There will be a welcoming reception for the Rev. and Mrs. Caleb Plumb on Sunday, Dec. 12, in the coffee shop following a congregational meeting.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will hold Mass at 7:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m. in Spanish and 2:30 p.m. in Burmese on Sunday, Dec. 12. St. Patrick Church will have an evening of Advent and Christmas music in church at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16. St. Patrick Church plans a Community Blood Center blood drive from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/StPatrickKCK.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will have services at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. The service will be available online. See more information at https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsKCK/ or https://www.stpaulskck.org/.

Sunset Hills Christian Church, 6347 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, will have services at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. For more information about this Sunday’s plans, visit the Facebook page of Pastor Mike Barnett, https://www.facebook.com/mike.barnett.528. Services are also provided through checkout of DVD or SD Card and can be sent by email upon request. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/sunsethills.christianchurch.

Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, will have a worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12. A video of the service will be at https://www.facebook.com/Wyandotteumc. Wyandotte UMC will have a Christmas Eve service with candlelighting and communion at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24. On Sunday, Dec. 26, the church will have a hymn sing with Christmas carols.

Information about other church services in Wyandotte County may be available from the church’s social media page.
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Saturday events

Free COVID vaccines available for children 5-11 today at Donnelly

Free COVID vaccines for children 5-11 years old from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Donnelly College Event Center, 608 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas. The clinic is open to children. Signups are at https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/697014812138174049/false#/invitation.

COVID vaccines, testing, flu shots and free food today at Mt. Carmel Church


A COVID vaccine drive-through event is planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Mt. Carmel Church, 2025 N. 12th St., Kansas City, Kansas. This event will have COVID vaccines, testing, flu shots and free food. COVID vaccines are for ages 12 and older, while flu shots are for ages 3 to 65. Everyone who receives a COVID vaccine will get a $25 gift card, and the first 100 people will receive two gift cards. The first 300 people to get a COVID test, COVID vaccine or flu shot will receive a free frozen chicken. The food and giveaways are available until supplies run out. The Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force is a sponsor of this event, with several other groups.

Winter Speakers Series to start Saturday at Grinter Place

Grinter Place will kick off its Winter Speakers Series at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. David Meditz will speak about George Washington Jackson, a Wyandotte County citizen who had ties to the late President U.S. Grant. The Dec. 11 presentation will include information about a Spanish-American War infantry unit with almost all Wyandotte County residents. Grinter Place is a state historic site at 1420 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas. The museum is the 1857 home of Moses and Annie Grinter. There is no admission charge for the speakers series. Questions and answers will follow the program, which is expected to be 30 to 45 minutes long. Tours of the Grinter House will be available. The historic house is decorated for Christmas in the style of the 1850s. Light refreshments including cinnamon rolls, coffee and tea, will be served on Dec. 11.

Olde World Christmas tours at Strawberry Hill Museum

The Strawberry Hill Museum, 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas, is decorated for the holidays, and is offering tours of the museum. There are scheduled tours only available. For more information and tickets, visit https://strawberryhillmuseum.org/.

Santa’s Express in Lights continues at Ag Hall


This is the last weekend for the Ag Hall’s drive-through holiday light show, Santa’s Express in Lights, from Dec. 10-12 at 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs. People will stay in their cars. The family-friendly show from 5:30 to 9 p.m. will feature a drive-through living nativity, with animals including sheep, goats, camel, cow and donkey. Christmas trees will be decorated, and the Ag Hall buildings and train will be lighted. Kids can wave to Santa Claus, and can drop off letters in Santa’s mailbox. People may drop off canned goods for area food pantries. The admission charge will be $10 per car, with proceeds benefiting the Ag Hall. See Ag Hall, https://www.aghalloffame.com/events/santas-express-in-lights

Knights of Lights celebration at Renaissance Festival

The Renaissance Festival returns with Knights of Lights Holiday Celebration from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday, on the festival grounds, 130th and State, Bonner Springs. Patrons may walk through the Renaissance Festival grounds, viewing lights, enjoying performances, and buying food. The cost will be $14.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids 5-12 in advance. At the gate, prices are $18 for adults and $13 for kids 5-12. Producing the Renaissance Festival’s light show will be Landers’ Visions.
Hours at the Renaissance Festival will be Thursdays and Sundays: 5-10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays: 5-11 p.m., Dec. 20-24: from 5-10 p.m. Closed Christmas Day. On New Year’s Eve, open for a special celebration from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. See Renaissance Festival, https://www.kcrenfest.com/2021-knights-of-lights/

Holiday Light and Magic show in the park

New this year at 126th and State will be the Unified Government’s Parks Department’s drive-through Holiday Light and Magic show, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, in Wyandotte County Park, 126th and State, Bonner Springs.
With the UG’s mile-long drive-through contact-less lighting show, patrons will buy advance tickets online for a time slot per day. The time slots are aimed at controlling traffic. For example, tickets are available for 6 p.m., 7 p.m. 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. The cost of the tickets will be $25 per car, $35 per commercial van, and $45 per bus on Fridays and Saturdays. The holiday light shows will go through Jan. 2.
People at the UG’s light show will stay in their cars. Tickets for the UG’s Holiday Light and Magic show will not be sold in person at the gate. All tickets are sold in advance online. Proceeds go to the UG Parks. See UG Parks Department, https://holidaylightandmagic.com/

It’s recommended to visit the website for the holiday light show you’re interested in before going. Also, look at the maps, directions and other information posted online to make sure you’re in the right place.