The Legends Outlets will hold its 13th annual Legendary Tree Lighting Ceremony from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, at the shopping center at I-70 and I-435 in Kansas City, Kansas.
A 45-foot synchronized animated holiday tree at the Civic Courtyard Fountain near the theater will be the centerpiece of the event.
According to a spokesman, this year’s event will include a visit by Santa Claus, kids’ activities, free hot chocolate and s’mores, mascots roaming around, giveaways, and performances by five bands.
The masters of ceremonies for the event will include Rhiannon Ally and Mike Marusarz of 41 Action News, who will introduce musicians and Santa Claus around 6 p.m. The countdown to the tree lighting will be at 7:30 p.m.
Activities for children, from 5 to 8 p .m., will include face painting, balloon artists, make-and-take crafts, an elf on stilts, a magician and visits with Claire’s Clairebear and Olaf from “Frozen.”
The free hot cocoa and s’mores on a stick from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory will be available from 5 to 8 p.m. in the center courtyard on the east side, while supplies last, with one serving per family.
Live holiday music will be performed from 6 to 8 p.m., by Big Time Grain Company, J. Love Band, Rusty Laffoon and the Broken Wagon Band, Fast Times and Virgil Annie, and Red Guitar.
The Legends Outlets also has giveaways planned from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests who visit the Legends VIP tent in the center courtyard may enter to win one of several prizes, including a Yeti Roadie Cooler, a $300 H&M gift card, and a “Stay and Play” prize package featuring the Great Wolf Lodge. There is no fee necessary to enter. The winners will be randomly selected and notified throughout the ceremony. Winners must be present to claim a prize.
The Legends Outlets also will be giving away reusable hand warmers and Santa stress balls to guests on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.
Those attending the event may take selfies with Santa from 8 to 9 p.m. After the tree lighting at 7:30 p.m., Santa Claus will be available for photos, until 9 p.m. Guests who want a photo with Santa must provide their own camera and capture their own photo.
In conjunction with the holiday event, Legends Outlets is joining with the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department to collect donations for its COPPS unit holiday food and gift drive. Guests may drop off donations to the Legends Outlets’ VIP tent at the center courtyard during the tree lighting ceremony, from 6 to 9 p.m. Items such as new, unwrapped toys and nonperishable food are needed. For a full list of items that are needed, visit http://bit.ly/COPPSdrive.
The mayor’s Downtown Holiday Lighting Festival will take place from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, in front of Kansas City, Kansas, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas. More information will follow on the Dec. 1 event. That event includes the tree lighting ceremony, a visit with Santa Claus, crafts and games for kids, holiday movies and popcorn, performances by choirs, bands and dance groups, and goodie bags for the first 1,000 children. Those who would like to be volunteers for the Dec. 1 event may call 913-371-3674, Ext. 1324.