Northeast News
Nov. 20, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — With the holidays fast approaching, the magic of the season comes to light for thousands of people at Jackson County Parks and Rec’s Christmas In The Sky and Christmas In The Park holiday events.

Jackson County Parks and Rec and 99.7 The Point’s Annual Christmas in The Sky event begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, when gates open at Longview Lake Beach. This holiday fireworks spectacular has provided the opening night festivities for Jackson County’s Christmas in The Park since 1997. This year’s event will include a special performance by Kansas City Superstar Finalist Maggie Marx, the arrival of Santa and the First Gift of Christmas, and a holiday stage show featuring over 100 singers and dancers from Monica’s School of Dance, before the colorful fireworks, synchronized to holiday music on 99.7 The Point, light the skies over Longview Lake. The holiday stage show is scheduled to start at 6 p.m., and the fireworks should light the skies around 7:30 pm. Admission is free. Longview Lake Beach is located two miles south of I-470 on Raytown Road.

After the fire in the sky, over 300,000 lights and 175 animated displays will illuminate the drive through Jackson County’s magical Christmas in The Park. Every year, a new and exciting display is added to the Christmas in The Park experience. While there is no charge for this drive-thru event, donations are accepted with a portion of the proceeds being divided among 35 local charities. Thanks to the generosity of our community, to date donations to local charitable organizations have nearly $1 million. This year, a portion of the proceeds will also be donated to the families of fallen firefighters Larry Leggio and John Mesh.

Since its opening in 1987, more than two million patrons have made a drive through Jackson County’s Christmas in The Park part of their annual holiday experience. Christmas in The Park is open nightly from Nov. 25 — Dec. 31, at Longview Lake Park, located two miles south of I-470 off of View High Drive. For more information, visit www.makeyourdayhere.com.