6 minute read
Light Up Leawood
City offers holiday events, decorations to foster a sense of community.
By Kari Williams
Photos courtesy City of Leawood
Stepping into the restored one-room schoolhouse in Ironwoods Park is a return to the 1800s. And this winter season, it will again be awash with holiday cheer, games, crafts of the time, and Christmas tree decorating.
“For me, it’s the smells,” says April Bishop, chair of the Leawood Historic Commission. “The spiced cider and kids having fun … It’s just fun to see kids be creative. For me, that’s special.”
The annual Holiday Traditions on the Prairie event at the Historic Oxford Schoolhouse returns December 7, giving children the opportunity to make crafts “logical for the time period.”
“Think late 1800s, so paper chains were common. (You can) make your own Christmas cards, you can cut snowflakes out of paper,” Bishop says.
Plus, there are always a few snacks. But, again, logical to the time period.
“So no chocolate chip cookies,” Bishop says, noting those weren’t created until 1938.
Leawood Traditions
Those with a hankering for cookies can whet their appetite for the Ironwoods Park Breakfast with Santa, which coincides with Holiday Traditions on the Prairie and the Nature Center Holiday Open House.
As the holiday season approaches, these traditions are among several experiences for Leawood residents and the surrounding communities. From festive light displays to participating in charitable toy drives, the residents have ample opportunity to get into the festive spirit, no matter which holiday they celebrate.
The decorations and other events are great examples of how the city’s neighborhoods come together, whether for city- or neighborhood-initiated activities, says Beth Breitenstein, Leawood’s strategic communications director.
“I think the holiday season draws out community togetherness and brings that to the forefront,” she says.
On November 18, Mayor Marc Elkins will have his inaugural night at the helm of the City Hall holiday lighting ceremony. The decor will be unveiled as carolers bring Christmas classics to life and attendees enjoy food and refreshments sure to put them in a festive mood.
School choirs and the Leawood Stage Company have provided music and entertainment at past events.
Roughly 200 people typically attend the event, according to former mayor Peggy Dunn.
“It really is a time to come together,” Dunn says. “Town Center Plaza tried to, on a number of occasions, light their center at the same time as we did, and it just kind of sparked that festivity throughout the whole area and gets everyone in the holiday spirit and attitude. It’s a really nice tradition.”
The holiday lighting is an all-handson-deck event across departments, Breitenstein says. Though Dunn, who had served as mayor since 1997, says it’s “driven by the Parks and Rec department.”
“I think we have an exceptional Parks and Recreation Department, and I’m really always grateful to their attention to detail,” Dunn says. “When I was there doing the countdown with all the children who were in the audience I never had a doubt that (the lights) would turn on … They’re very dedicated to what they do.”
When Dunn would speak to the crowd before the official lighting, typically held the night of a city council meeting, she says she spoke of the myriad holidays being celebrated throughout the season, such as Hanukkah, Kwanza and Thanksgiving.
Sister City
For more than a decade, Leawood has honored its sister city, I-Lan, Taiwan, with a Lunar New Year celebration.
Rebekah Bonde, the I-Lan Sister City Committee’s publicity chair, says she was always interested in the fabric and makeup of a community.
“It’s so important to recognize who is living in our community and these deep relationships that we have … Our sister city relationship is more than ceremonial,” Bonde says.
The draw for people who don’t typically celebrate Lunar New Year, Bonde says, is the intrigue and the thrill of discovering something new.
“For the most part, people are just enjoying the experience and enjoying the exposure,” she says. “We all love Leawood together and all bring a little something special.”
That togetherness also occurs with the Menorah Lighting and Gelt Drop organized by Chabad House Center of KC. The Leawood Fire Department provides its platform ladder truck for the event. A date for this year’s event has not yet been announced.
Fire Chief Colin Fitzgerald says the department provides its platform ladder truck for the gelt drop at City Hall.
“That’s always fun and very well attended,” he says.
Leawood also participates in KSHB 41’s Salvation Army Season of Hope Toy Drive, and its three fire stations serve as drop-off locations for donations.
For more information, download the Parks & Rec program guide at www.leawood.org/DocumentCenter/View/1042/2024-Fall-Winter-ProgramGuide-PDF?bidId=.
Schedule of Events
November 18
Holiday Lighting Ceremony
Outside Leawood City Hall
4800 Town Center Drive
6 p.m.
Enjoy caroling, refreshments and other entertainment to kick off the holiday season with City Hall’s annual lighting ceremony.
December 5
Present-Making
Maple Room | Leawood Community Center | 4800 Town Center Drive
6–7:30 p.m.
Ages 6–12
resident $20 / nonresident $25
Make (and wrap!) a photo frame, coffee mug, clay sculpture and ornament for family and friends.
December 7
Breakfast with Santa
The Lodge at Ironwoods
Ironwoods Park | 14701 Mission Road
Three sessions to choose from:
7:45–9 a.m.; 9:30–10:45 a.m.; 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
resident $15 / nonresident $17 / Children 12 months and younger are FREE. Registration required.
Register by November 27
Meet Santa and enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat pancake and sausage breakfast provided by the Leawood Lions Club. Santa will be available for photos and to hear your Christmas wishes.
December 7
Holiday Traditions on the Prairie
Historic Oxford Schoolhouse
Ironwoods Park
Free admission
8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Enjoy holiday music, crafts and decorating the schoolhouse tree.
December 7
Nature Center Holiday Open House
Prairie Oak Nature Center
Ironwoods Park
Free admission
8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Visit reptiles, amphibians, and fish and see what birds are outside at the feeders. Staff will be available to answer nature and program questions and assist with crafts. Refreshments will be provided.
December 18
Present-making
Maple Room | Leawood Community Center | 4800 Town Center Drive
10–11:30 a.m.
Ages 2–5 | resident $20 / nonresident $25
Make (and wrap!) a photo frame, coffee mug, clay sculpture and ornament for family and friends.
December 19
Old Fashion Holiday: Bake three classic Christmas recipes
Maple Room | Leawood Community Center | 4800 Town Center Drive
Little Chefs of Leawood: 4–7 years | 4:30–5:45 p.m.
Culinary Artists of Leawood: 8–14 years | 6:15–7:45 p.m.
resident $25 / nonresident $30
December 26–January 26
Christmas Tree Recycling
Three locations:
Leawood City Park | 10601 Lee Blvd.
Ironwoods Park | 14701 Mission Road
Tomahawk Park fields | 119th & Tomahawk Creek Parkway
Christmas trees only. Must be free of all decorations, lights and stands. Remove trees from plastic bags and discard bags in trash. No artificial trees.
January 31, 2025
I-Lan’s Lunar New Year, the year of the snake
Vista 154 at Ironhorse Golf Club | 15400 Mission Road
Begins at 6 p.m.
$40/person
Reservations accepted after December 16
Reservation deadline: January 20, 2025
