Embrace the holiday giving season with this guide that’s got something for everyone, including local finds. | Graphic by 6AM City
Season’s greetings, Kansas City. Holiday shopping time is upon us — look no further than these 90+ gift ideas, including unique local treasures and the season’s hottest items.
Gifts for singles
Local pick:Embroidered KC Icons Sweatshirt | $65 | They already wear their KC Heart on their sleeve, except this time it’s Comfort Colors.
Local pick:PT’s Coffee Subscription | $38/month | Make mornings a little easier with their favorite roast always on hand.
Ceneda large cooler bag | $24.99 | This insulated, leak-proof tote is perfect for family road trips, beach trips, and everything in between.
Car backseat organizers | $34.99 | These backseat car organizers are every parent’s best friend + include tablet holders.
Gifts for young people
Local pick:Friendship bracelet making kit | $30 | Choose between Chiefs red, KC Current teal, and Royals blue when picking out the perfect colorful kit.
Spikeball set | $67.99 | A popular yard game they’ll want to play immediately after unwrapping.
Gifts for homebodies
Local pick:Kansas City Puzzle Company | $20+ | Craft beer, Christmas lights, and McLain’s butter rolls — these’s aren’t your grandma’s puzzles (though we’re sure she’d love them).
Cotton waffle bathrobe | $131.40 | A luxury hotel + spa-quality waffle robe crafted from 100% cotton and silk.
Teabloom flowering tea set | $69.95 | A beautiful glass teapot and a set of flowering teas that bloom right in the pot.
Gifts for your significant other
Local pick:Untamed Candle Supply | $25 | Set the mood for your special someone with their favorite pure soy wax scent.
November Brewfest | 5-8 p.m. | 11924 W. 119th St., Overland Park | Menu price | Embrace the season with a few good friends and sample winter brews, like KC Bier Company’s Rieger Barrel Aged Eiss Weiss, along with multiple swag raffles.
Paint Your Pet Class | 6-8 p.m. | 3Halves Brew Pub & BBQ, Liberty | $35 | Unleash your inner artist and paint a full-on (pre-traced) masterpiece for your furry friend — perfect for a funny, yet heartfelt holiday present.
Thursday, Nov. 14
Take Me Home Tour | 7 p.m. | T-Mobile Center | $18+ | Listen up “Happy People,” Little Big Town + Sugarland are bringing their pop country pipes to KC — “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” not included in the ticket.
Friday, Nov. 15
Holiday Sip and Shop | 5-8 p.m. | 6040 Slater St., Merriam | $5+ | Keep spirits high with a few adult-only sips while checking off local handmade gifts from your list.
Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting Festival | 4-8 p.m. | Memorial Hall, KCK | Free entry | Watch the lights flicker on with Wyandotte County Mayor Tyrone Garner, and stick around for food trucks, hot cocoa, holiday movies, and a meet-and-greet with the big man up north.
Saturday, Nov. 16
Basset & Beagle Derby | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Bar K | $0+ | Watch these floppy pups dash down the track while raising money for Basset & Beagle Rescue of the Heartland.
816 Bike Collective Fund-RAGER 2024 | 6-11 p.m. | 816 Bicycle Collective | Donation requested | Keep KC’s community bike shop running through the winter with an all-ages party, featuring live entertainment, beer from Big Rip + Boulevard, Providence Pizza, and plenty of prizes.
Sunday, Nov. 17
KC Mom + Baby, A Local Baby Fair | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Olathe Conference Center | $10+ | Have you recently welcomed a baby into the family? Meet the businesses + try the products you need to navigate this new chapter, plus sample the “Cravings Table” and grab free swag.
Mount Pleasant offers luxury resorts that have been featured in Condé Nast Traveler as top places to stay. | Photo provided by Experience Mount Pleasant
If being near the ocean is your idea of a holiday paradise, consider planning a visit to Mount Pleasant, SC (just a four-hour flight from Kansas City).
Nestled along the Charleston Harbor, this cozy town lights up for the season and offers the perfect blend of Southern cuisine, waterfront views, and festive fun. Need some planning inspo? Here are a few highlights:
Holiday Market & Craft Show | Saturday, Dec. 14 | Shop locally-grown produce, seasonal treats, and original works of art by local artisans.
For the third consecutive year, Kansas City Public School reports major leaps in enrollment. An additional 570 K-12 students since last year’s official count brings the district’s numbers beyond 14,000 — the first time its reached this threshold post COVID-19 pandemic. Read how these changes also spell new demographics for the district. (Missouri Independent)
Sports
Just like their NFL counterparts, the Kansas City Chiefs Wheelchair Football Team are undefeated and playoffs-bound. Listen to KCUR Up to Date’s interview with the adaptive team’s quarterback Matt Bollig + offensive lineman John Teegarden ahead of their Nov. 23 national championship game against the Chicago Bears WFT.
Award
“Here’s Grammy!” The Lyric Opera of Kansas City received its first-ever Grammy nod this year for its operatic adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Shining.” Listen in to the 2025 “Best Opera Recording” nominee through Pentatone or on digital streaming platforms, like Spotify or Apple Music.
Civic
One way city leaders are looking to revitalize our community? A vacant land tax. Shared by Mayor Q in a recent social post, the measure would target blighted lots + structures “neglected often by resourced owners banking land, creating long-term harms for all, not by those lacking means.” (FOX4)
Real Estate
Eight luxury townhomes are coming to Walnut and East 36th, once the site of Walt Disney’s former parish, Westminster Congregational Church. The Westminster Reserve project plans to blend in with Hyde Park’s historic architecture, and is expected to complete the first phase of construction by 2025. Homes will start at $700,000. (Kansas City Star)
Open
Discount retailer Gabe’s has taken over KC’s former Old Time Pottery location, offering brand-name clothing, homegoods, and pet supplies for a fraction of the price. The 14221 E. U.S. Hwy 40 storefront is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday. (Kansas City Star)
Kansas Citian
DYK — the nation’s No. 1 ranked air guitarist lives right here in KC? Cole Lindbergh is a corporate trainer by day, world-class air guitarist “Slappy Nuts” by night. As the 2024 U.S. Air Guitar champ, the pantomiming player shredded on the world stage this August... and it’s better than you could ever imagine. (Kansas City Star)
Announced
All the usual suspects — Heidi Gardner, David Koechner, Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Eric Stonestreet and Jason Sudeikis — are set to return for the 16th Big Slick Celebrity Weekend. Announced yesterday, dates have also been decided for the celebrity game and headliner show: Friday, May 30 + Saturday, May 31. (Kansas City Star)
Try This
Experience a Kansas City Christmas through the ages at Shawnee’s Wandering Vine Castle. Along with its year-round selection of top-notch cuisine, cocktails, and wine, the historic restaurant now offers holiday specials made popular in the early 20th century, like Baked Alaska and Grasshopper Cocktails. (Kansas City Magazine)
Pets
Consider this your new hangout spot, Kansas City. This local dog bar and park offers 40,000+-sqft of outdoor and 10,000+-sqft of indoor space for your four-legged friends to roam. The best part? Pet parents can enjoy food and drinks from local vendors. Let’s raise the woof.*
Read
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Shop
Unwrap the season’s best audience exposure with us. Our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide is the perfect place for your product to be seen by 86,165+ potential shoppers looking for gifts. Secure your spot just in time for the season’s festivities.
In case you’re not constantly monitoring social media, you might have missed Charlie Hustle’s major 100,000 follower giveaway. With five boxes including items + giftcards from Rally House and The Big Biscuit to Breakout KC and Billie’s Grocery, there’s a little something for everyone.
Whether you win or not, keep an eye out for KCtoday’s own 100,000 giveaway, launching in the next few weeks.
