KANSAS CITY, MO. (October 16, 2024) — The Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony returns on Thursday, November 28, celebrating 95 years as a beloved holiday tradition in the community. Kansas City Chiefs Chairman & CEO Clark Hunt and his wife Tavia Hunt will “flip the switch” to illuminate Country Club Plaza in thousands of twinkling lights. Ceremony partner KMBC will again present the live broadcast that starts at 6 p.m. with Lara Moritz as host.
“We are so excited to kick off the holiday season at Country Club Plaza,” said Clark Hunt, Chairman & CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs. “Tavia and I have so many great memories of the holidays in Kansas City, so we are honored to ‘flip the switch’ and light up the Plaza on Thanksgiving night to bring in the season.”
“We are honored to continue the great tradition of the Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony at the historic Country Club Plaza,” said Ray W. Washburne, Managing Director of HP Village Management, LLC. “We look forward to welcoming Clark and Tavia Hunt as this year’s guests of honor to signal the start of another great holiday season with the Kansas City community.”
In addition to the longstanding tradition of flipping the switch, the event will feature performances by DJ Kirby, Quixotic, and Monica’s School of Dance, along with a fireworks show. Evergy returns this year as the presenting sponsor.
“We are thrilled to again bring the Evergy Plaza Lights, a cherished tradition that brings holiday joy, to the region,” said Chuck Caisley, Chief Customer Officer and Executive Vice President of Evergy. “At Evergy, we believe in the power of community and the magic of the holiday season. This event illuminates the city and warms the hearts of all who visit.”
Event Details
Schedule*
5–6 p.m. Pre-lighting performances and giveaways from the main stage
6–7:05 p.m. 95ᵗʰ Annual Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony, broadcast LIVE on KMBC featuring news anchor Lara Moritz
7:05 p.m. Flip of the switch by Clark and Tavia Hunt, followed by fireworks
7:15–8 p.m. Post-ceremony show with DJ Kirby
*Schedule is approximate and subject to change.
Special Guests Clark and Tavia Hunt
Fresh off the Kansas City Chiefs’ third Super Bowl win in five years, Clark and Tavia Hunt will perform the honored tradition of flipping the switch at this year’s Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony. Clark Hunt has been the driving force behind the resurgence of the Chiefs, transforming the iconic franchise into one of the most successful teams in the National Football League.
Entertainment
The Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony is a nostalgic tradition and perfect way for families to kick off the holiday season. People of all ages can enjoy live entertainment including musical performances from DJ Kirby, Quixotic, Monica’s School of Dance, Church of the Resurrection and more. The ceremony is produced by Evergy.
Best Views and Parking
The stage will be located at the intersection of Nichols Road and Pennsylvania, with the best views along Nichols Road between Pennsylvania and Broadway. Free parking will also be offered at several nearby garages, including:
- Valencia Garage (by H&M) on the north side of 47th Street and Pennsylvania
- Balcony Garage on Wornall near 46th Street
- Seville Garage, entrance on 47th Street between Jefferson and Summit
- Time Building Garage north of True Food Kitchen on Pennsylvania
The Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony is open to the public and free to attend. The Evergy Plaza Lights will stay on through Jan. 12, 2025.
Holiday Information
Stay up to date on all things Evergy Plaza Lighting Ceremony, store hours, sales and festive pop-up shops throughout the holiday season by following Country Club Plaza on Facebook and Instagram, or visiting the Country Club Plaza website.
Holiday Hours
Country Club Plaza will be expanding operating hours during the holidays. Please visit Country Club Plaza’s website for more information.
About Country Club Plaza
The Country Club Plaza originally opened in 1923 as the first planned suburban shopping center to accommodate shoppers arriving by car. It was designed by prominent architect Edward Delk in Baroque Revival and Moorish Revival styles, to mimic the architecture of Seville, Spain, one of Kansas City’s sister cities. The historic, 15-block, 1.3 million-square-foot mixed-use retail property is located in the heart of Kansas City featuring unique-to-market tenants. The Plaza features a dynamic mix of retailers including Anthropologie, Apple, Coach, Free People, J. Crew, Johnny Was, Lululemon, Madewell, Nike, Sephora, Tiffany & Co, Tivol, Tommy Bahama, Tumi, Warby Parker, and West Elm. In addition, there are more than 25 dining options including Cooper’s Hawk Winery, Gram & Dun, Jack Stack Barbecue, Rye, The Capital Grille, and TrueFood Kitchen.
