Where to see Christmas lights in Overland Park
THE route to take when on a Christmas light hunt in the Kansas City metro!
Yes, sometimes we are even tourists in our own hometown. Especially when on the hunt of where to see Christmas lights in Overland Park, KS.
Jump to:
1. Making memories; On the hunt for Christmas lights.
The magic of Christmas lights always puts in me in the holiday spirit! My kids are old enough now that they choose to opt out of this tradition and I don’t think it was ever Ryan’s favorite, but that doesn’t stop me!
When the kids were young we would load up the car, kids in their PJs, blankets over their laps as they were strapped into their car seats. I would make hot chocolate and we would set out on our adventure.
I don’t remember being super organized. A plan? What’s that?
2. Keep on keeping on….despite the circumstances.
Last year my mom was struggling with a bad hip. She was awaiting hip surgery in January and had been walking with a walker for several weeks (months?). I remember her saying she didn’t think she would ever walk without a walker again.
That, plus the fact that Covid/social distancing was still a central part of our life, made the holiday activity of being in your own car and driving around to see festive lights one of the best ways to celebrate the holiday season!
Even when we couldn’t have big parties or gatherings, we could share the Christmas joy. That is why I think finding where to see Christmas lights in Overland Park is so important!
My mom and I set out on the journey again last night and as she practically sprinted to my car with excitement we counted the blessing that she is feeling like a new woman again with her hip. I know she was hesitant to get the surgery, but states now it was one of the best decisions she made. It really was life changing.
3. Start with a base of good information.
I did some searching before we set out and found this list of options. It is a great starting point and I love how they have separated the list into areas of the city.
My mom lives in the South Johnson County area so that is the area we focused on.
Now that we have driven the route a couple of times we have found a couple of downfalls that I want to pass along so your evening of where to find Christmas lights in Overland Park is a smooth one.
4. Change as needed; Where to see Christmas lights in Overland Park.
First while the list on that site give addresses, there is no clickable map. You have to enter each address separately.
My car’s navigation only allows for one destination at a time, not the long list we wanted. We have found that Google maps lets you have multiple destinations fairly easily. I’m going to share my Google route here.
I hope the route remains available for you to use, but in case it doesn’t know that is probably your best mapping option.
I am also including all addresses or intersections for your reference.
We’ve also decided that a few of the destinations on that starter list should be purged and others rearranged the order. So here it is, in our opinion, the BEST route!
5. Wait, how long will this take? And when should we go?
Hold up, before we go any further you may have already clicked on the route and said, 35 minutes. Great! We’ll be done before the kids bed time.
While I have not done this exact route (you’ll learn why below) we often start with a route that is approximately 45 minutes, but in reality takes us 2 hours.
YES, 2 hours! Don’t worry you won’t even notice the time passing as we look down each year and wonder where it went.
I can’t recommend enough going on a week night. I don’t even want to imagine what the traffic is like at these light displays during a weekend night.
We’ve found that Mondays are an excellent night. Again plan your start time based on kids’ bedtimes if needed, but a two hour duration.
6. The BEST route of where to find Christmas lights in Overland Park
This well researched route will continue to be honed over the years. If you have a destination to add, please email me!
7. Begin with a BANG!
Honestly this is like starting with your dessert first. The lights at 11308 Mackey Street, Overland Park, KS 66210 are the creme de la creme of electronic light displays on a house, at least when it comes to where to see Christmas lights in Overland Park!
I was tempted to put this destination last, but the logistics of driving back this direction after jaunting around Johnson County, just make it impractical.
You may keep that in mind if you live towards this way and will be passing it on your way home.
Again, this is a great dessert, it may ruin your appetizer.
Tune into 107.1 to complete your experience.
8. Start in awe.
Sometimes if you go in the wrong order you will find yourself disappointed with a display that if you had seen earlier in the night would have left you in awe.
Not that there is ANYTHING WRONG with these displays at all, I commend all the hard work that each house has done for our enjoyment. That said there are some that may be better appetizers than dessert.
117th Street just northwest of 119th Street and Antioch is a great appetizer. There are three marque houses on this street and it is a great taste and appreciation of what is to come!
The marque houses are: 9508 W 117th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212; 9606 W 117th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212; and 9622 W 117th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212.
Again, I hesitated to put the Mackey Street house before these as I don’t want you to find yourself disappointed. 117th Street is a JOY.
9. Treat time!
What Christmas lights tour, especially where to see Christmas lights in Overland Park is complete without a hot beverage treat?
Learn from my mom and I, who mistakenly have gotten our hot drinks before we mapped our route and started on our way. We’ve decided we need to rectify that mistake next year.
Now that you’ve seen a few displays, swing through the Starbucks at 119th Street and 69 Highway for the treat of your choice.
My mom gets a peppermint latte. I hope for a salted caramel mocha, but they frequently are out of the toffee nut syrup needed so a traditional mocha is more likely.
I only treat myself to a “fancy” coffee for special events like this. I’m typically a straight black coffee girl!
Oh, remember to order your’s decaf unless you want to be up all night! We also like to ask for ours extra hot so we can savor them for the rest of the drive.
10. Wow, this is a neighborhood!
This stop isn’t on the great Johnson County list. My mom heard about it from a friend and we were happy we stopped!
You should be heading south on Switzer from the Starbucks so turn right onto 126th Street (before 127th). From there stay to the right and continue on 125th Terrace until you reach Goddard Ave.
The neighborhood is clearly coordinated with their lighting. The house at 125th Terrace and Goddard Ave even has beautiful up-lights that seem to unify the whole neighborhood.
Wander south from there on Goddard until you are on 127th Street.
11. Not a Naughty Nottingham!
The Nottingham by the Green subdivision is certainly on Santa’s nice list! Take a turn south on Richard Street from 127th and make your way through the neighborhood until you reach 135th.
Again I’m sure there is a whole committee that has organized these houses and it is fun to see how they have worked together!
12. Bright and flashy! Where to see Christmas lights in Overland Park?
Apparently Christmas on Bradshaw is fairly new, but well done. I am confident we visited last year, but unfortunately we overlooked this stop last night!
I definitely wanted to include it here so we don’t forget to see it next year. I may also have to make a pit stop this year if I’m in the area!
13. Now it’s time for the BIG show!
#IYKYK If you are from Overland Park or even greater Kansas City, you know where to see Christmas lights in Overland Park!
It is the same place that entertains our young children all summer long. Deanna Rose Farmstead!
While I originally thought this would be cheesy and not my scene, I am mesmerized year after year. Honestly this is one of the best Christmas light displays I have ever seen.
Learn from me and turn OFF your headlights just as you enter the “tunnel” gate of the parking lot. Also tune into 90.5 FM on your radio.
If you are there on a weeknight (as I suggest) you shouldn’t have a hard time finding a parking spot, even with your headlights OFF.
I’ve forgotten to turn my lights off until I’m already in the space, but quickly realize that it impacts the cars that arrived before me and gulp to myself.
There are so many stories and songs, honestly you could stay here all night! I suggest planning 20 minutes or so in order to see at least a few of the complete vignettes.
14. But wait….there’s more!
You’re still on the high that is the Deanna Rose display, but let’s hit one more stop on the way home. The Christmas Place at 131st Place and Antioch is two dead end streets that have an amazing display.
You need to be going south on Antioch to turn onto 131st Place. Don’t worry my map shows you how to get there.
We turned our headlights off on this street too.
Be sure to drive slowly and even make a pit stop at the Salvation Army collection kettle! A neighborhood celebrating Christmas and giving back?
What a great way to conclude the evening.
15. Until next year…
I’ll be sure to update this list as it changes. If you have a destination suggestion please be sure to email me.
If you are interested in all things family travel, including “you can do it too” international travel with kids, (Like this trip!) be sure to subscribe to my email list and follow me on Instagram!
