Things to Do in Kansas City This Week (November 11)

What’s happening around Kansas City this week?

Short answer: The holiday season is officially warming up. This weekend brings a brand-new Christmas market on the Independence Square and a Lee’s Summit Holiday Mart, and next weekend is stacked: tree lightings in Overland Park, Lee’s Summit and the Northland, the Kansas City Holiday Boutique, Powell Gardens’ Festival of Lights and the Chiefs back at Arrowhead.

Here’s what our team has on the calendar for November 11 through 22, grouped so you can plan around it. Times can shift, so give the organizer’s page a quick look before you head out.

This weekend: November 13 to 15

• Recycle your old electronics, Friday, Nov. 13. T-Mobile Center’s America Recycles Day e-waste and book drive runs 8 a.m. to noon at 1407 Grand Blvd. If you’ve got a closet full of dead chargers (we all do), this is your sign. Gently used books go to their tour library.
• Independence Square Christmas Market, Saturday, Nov. 14. It’s the first-ever Christmas market on the historic Square, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A lot of the vendors are SantaCaliGon makers who got rained out this fall, so it’s a nice way to shop small and help them make up for it.
• Holiday Mart in Downtown Lee’s Summit, Saturday, Nov. 14. The farmers market goes holiday mode from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Green Street, 209 SE Green St. Details are on the Downtown Lee’s Summit site. Grab coffee downtown and make a morning of it.
• Chiefs at Falcons, Sunday, Nov. 15. It’s a road game with a noon kickoff on CBS, so it’s a good excuse to try a new local spot for the watch party. Our game-day spots near Lee’s Summit post has a few ideas.

Concerts worth leaving the house for

• Jon Pardi, Saturday, Nov. 14 at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, 7 p.m., with Alexandra Kay and Sadie Bass. Boots encouraged.
• MercyMe with Jeremy Camp, Saturday, Nov. 14 at T-Mobile Center, 7 p.m.
• The Neighbourhood, Monday, Nov. 16 at T-Mobile Center, with Nessa Barrett. Yes, they’ll play “Sweater Weather,” and yes, it’s finally sweater weather.
• Brandi Carlile, Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Uptown Theater, 8 p.m. It’s her all-request tour, so the crowd picks the songs. Kansas City Magazine has the rundown along with a bunch of other November shows.

Holiday shopping and lights: November 18 to 22

• Kansas City Holiday Boutique, Nov. 18 to 22. More than 300 vendors take over the Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd. Wednesday night is the VIP shopping night, kids 12 and under get in free, and adult tickets are cheaper online through Nov. 18. Hours and tickets are here.
• Evergy Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens, opens Thursday, Nov. 19. Select nights from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 3 out near Kingsville. Buy tickets ahead, since weeknights cost a little less than Fridays and Saturdays. Dates and details.
• Holiday Reflections at Union Station, opens Friday, Nov. 20. The walk-through village is bigger this year, with a vintage KC Christmas streetscape and the model train gallery included. Monday through Thursday tickets are the better deal. Tickets and hours.
• Holiday Swing at Union Station, Nov. 21 and 22. The Strawberry Swing’s open-air holiday market is back for its 16th year, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and it’s free to get in. Event info.

Tree lightings

• Mayor’s Holiday Festival in Downtown Overland Park, Friday, Nov. 20, 5 to 8 p.m. at Clock Tower Landing, 7950 Marty St. The tree lights between 5:30 and 6, then there’s live music, a makers market, a free train ride and photos with Santa. Festival details.
• Mayor’s Tree Lighting in Downtown Lee’s Summit, Friday, Nov. 20, 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Green Street. The 45-foot tree lights at 6. Event page. Overland Park and Lee’s Summit on the same night means you’ll have to pick a side (or drive fast).
• Zona Rosa Holiday Lighting, Saturday, Nov. 21, 3 to 6 p.m. in North Park. It’s free, with train rides, a snowball fight with 1,000 fake snowballs, and Santa flipping the switch at 6. Zona Rosa’s page.

Game day: Chiefs vs. Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 22

The Chiefs are home at Arrowhead against Arizona with a noon kickoff. Parking lots open 4.5 hours early, so tailgaters, set those alarms. Game info from Arrowhead.

Coming up: the Plaza Lights

Mark Thanksgiving night. The 97th Plaza Lighting Ceremony starts earlier this year, at 5 p.m. on Nov. 26, with Royals catcher Carter Jensen flipping the switch around 6:25 so everyone’s home in time for the Chiefs in Buffalo.

Thinking about a move?

If a weekend of tree lightings has you picturing where you’d like to be next holiday season, we’d love to help. Tell us what you’re looking for on our Find Your Home form or reach out to our team. We know these neighborhoods because we live in them, and we’ll happily point you to the best hot cocoa on the way.