The holiday season officially began when Kansas City’s Plaza lights twinkled for the ninety-second time. Add these five free wintertime activities to your calendar and enjoy limitless indoor and outdoor fun this winter. Explore Kansas City’s winter events while taking in the festive ambiance by booking DTW flights.
Take the family on a museum visit to wow them.
Every year, the public can participate in more than sixty free educational programs at the Midtown-based Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, a Mexican-Canadian artist, has an exhibit called “Pulse Topology,” which simulates visitors’ heartbeats in a dimly lit space, although it requires personal involvement. Although there is no charge for admission, guests are advised to book tickets and masks because of the COVID-19 epidemic. Other shows at the museum are scheduled, such as “Natalie Frank: Unbound,” which uses Frank’s contentious fairy tales to examine feminism and identity.
Curl up and merge with the natural world.
For those who want to explore outdoors, Parkville, a quaint village with a main street that is reminiscent of a castle, provides an excursion to the north. Open year-round, the 115-acre Parkville Nature Sanctuary is maintained by volunteers and the city and features an open prairie, deep woodland, and marsh. A historic stone cellar that was once used to store winter crops is a popular destination for hikers. There’s a mile-long waterfall on the Old Kate Trail, and ADA accessibility is available on the Whitetail and Bluebird trails. English Landing Park in Parkville has five miles of paths for bicycling, walking, and running. To the southeast is a dog park.
Examine Kansas City’s past once more.
To highlight Kansas City’s rich cultural past and encourage inclusivity in the present, the Kansas City Museum, which is situated in the famed Scarritt Point neighborhood, has undergone renovations. Restore KC is a program that the museum created in partnership with other organizations. It tackles issues of systemic racism, recovering from isolation during the pandemic, and reorganizing the socioeconomic hierarchy. The 1910 Beaux-Arts mansion has been restored to architectural splendor on the first floor, while the second and third floors feature exhibits honoring Kansas City’s past. The entire $22 million restoration project was completed in 2008. By promoting an inclusive community, the museum hopes to combat structural racism.
At KCPL, pick up a few tips.
Art, literature, and history are the year-round themes of free programs held in early January at Kansas City Public Library. Take in a presentation that is available online and in person to learn about the French playwright Molière, who is regarded as the greatest theatre writer behind Shakespeare. Missouri painter and muralist Thomas Hart Benton’s home and studio will go on display on January 20, 2022, thanks to the efforts of photographers Michael Mardikes and Nick Vedros.
Explore a new community
For vacationers, Kansas City, Kansas, has a range of attractions. For those interested in learning more about the history of the city, the West Bottoms, which withstood flooding in 1903 and 1951, is a popular visit. First Friday weekends are popular in this neighborhood because of the diversity of businesses, restaurants, and thrift stores. After floods in 1904, Eastern European immigrants founded the Strawberry Hill neighborhood, which is renowned for its magnificent Victorian mansions and beautiful stained-glass windows. For those who want to explore without making a long drive, there are lots of activities available in other neighboring cities including Liberty and Independence. Make unique moments by scheduling a flight from Detroit to Kansas City and beginning your trip planning.