Hallmark Christmas Experience Returns to Kansas City for Festive Fun

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Kansas City. This year, the Hallmark Christmas Experience (HCE) is transforming the city’s Crown Center district into a snow-globe-worthy celebration of everything merry, bright, and just a bit over-the-top.

Think of it as Comic-Con with a peppermint twist—four weekends of movie magic, celebrity meet-and-greets, twinkling lights, and holiday charm. Whether you’re a die-hard Hallmark movie devotee or just someone who can’t resist the scent of cinnamon and cocoa, this immersive event promises something for everyone.

Packages run the gamut from cozy to all-out luxurious. There’s a new lineup of competitions, workshops, and film previews, and the 2025 edition of HCE is shaping up to be the ultimate destination for festive fanatics from all over.

The Hallmark Christmas Experience Returns to Kansas City

After a wildly successful debut in 2024, the Hallmark Christmas Experience is back for its second year. It’s bigger, brighter, and somehow even more magical.

The event runs from November 28 through December 21, filling four weekends with a sleigh-load of activities. Crown Center, already a holiday hotspot, transforms into a Hallmark wonderland with themed markets, cozy hotel suites, and a bustling lineup of interactive events.

Organizers expect to surpass last year’s attendance, which drew visitors from all 50 states and 23 countries. As of Thanksgiving week, tickets have already been sold to guests from 49 states and 11 countries for this year’s festivities—a clear sign that the Hallmark magic is still spreading far and wide.

Packages That Make Spirits Bright

HCE offers two main ticket packages: Be Merry ($259 per guest) and Find Magic ($699 per guest). Each is packed with perks designed to make your Christmas dreams come true.

From guided light walks to exclusive movie watch parties, these packages are golden tickets to a world of seasonal joy. The Find Magic experience goes all out with premium access, special discounts, and behind-the-scenes workshops.

If the main packages are sold out, you can still grab à la carte tickets for individual events, ranging from $5 to $250. That means you can build your own winter wonderland itinerary without missing a beat.

Star Power and Screen Moments

The Hallmark Christmas Experience wouldn’t be complete without the faces fans adore. Attendees can meet beloved Hallmark stars like Tamera Mowry-Housley, Sarah Drew, and Andrew Walker.

These meet-and-greets are a chance to chat, snap photos, and maybe even get a few insider tidbits about upcoming movies. During the first weekend, Hallmark Channel will be filming *A Hometown Holiday Christmas Special*, hosted by Benjamin Ayres and featuring musical performances by Brad Paisley and others.

The special will air on December 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with streaming available the next day on Hallmark+.

Behind the Scenes of Holiday Movie Magic

Fans last year got exclusive previews, including the debut of *Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story*, a Kansas City-set romance that mixed football fandom with festive cheer. This year, expect even more sneak peeks and Hallmark surprises.

If you’ve ever wondered how the network captures that signature warm glow and perfect snowfall, the event offers a rare peek into the production magic that fuels the Hallmark holiday empire.

New This Year: The Mr. Hallmark Christmas Experience Competition

One of the most talked-about additions for 2025 is the first-ever Mr. Hallmark Christmas Experience competition. Inspired by the hit reality series *Finding Mr. Christmas*, this live event will feature eight contestants competing for the title of Mr. HCE.

The challenges? They’ll test each participant’s kindness, charisma, and creativity—qualities that define every Hallmark hero. Expect plenty of humor, heart, and high-energy moments as contestants vie for the crown.

The Prize Package Worth Celebrating

The winner won’t just get bragging rights. The grand prize includes a Balsam Hill Christmas tree, a meet-and-greet with Hallmark favorites Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman, and two coveted Be Merry ticket packages for next year’s event.

It’s the sort of prize that would make even Santa a little jealous. For fans in the audience, it’s another chance to revel in the good-natured fun and heartfelt competition that make Hallmark’s holiday storytelling so irresistible.

Festive Fun Beyond the Screen

There’s so much more to the Hallmark Christmas Experience than movie screenings and celebrity sightings. The event’s expanded vendor market now stretches into Grand Boulevard, offering even more opportunities to shop for handcrafted gifts, ornaments, and seasonal treats.

Shoppers are encouraged to remember the most important person on their list—themselves! The market’s expansion really shows the event’s growing popularity and the organizers’ commitment to making it a full-scale holiday extravaganza.

Workshops, Crafts, and Creative Cheer

If you love to get hands-on, HCE offers a variety of creative workshops. Guests can make their own ornaments, design personalized gift tags, and even attend writing sessions led by Hallmark’s card-writing experts.

Imagine learning the art of crafting the perfect heartfelt message just in time for your annual holiday letter. These sessions combine inspiration with creativity, and you’ll leave with keepsakes—and skills—that last long after the event ends.

Making Kansas City the Heart of Christmas

HCE has quickly become one of Kansas City’s most anticipated seasonal events. The city itself plays a starring role in the festivities, offering a backdrop that’s as charming as any Hallmark movie set.

From the twinkling lights of the Country Club Plaza to the grandeur of Union Station’s Holiday Reflections experience, visitors are surrounded by the kind of holiday atmosphere that feels straight out of a script. Union Station even boasts the largest indoor Christmas tree in the city, making it a must-see stop for anyone visiting during the season.

Beyond Hallmark: Classic Kansas City Holiday Highlights

If you’re looking to mix in a little traditional holiday culture, Kansas City’s performing arts scene delivers in spades. The KC Repertory Theatre presents *A Christmas Carol* through December 27, while the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts hosts *The Nutcracker* from November 29 to December 24.

These timeless productions add a touch of classic sophistication to a weekend otherwise filled with Hallmark’s signature sweetness.

Where to Eat, Stay, and Soak Up the Cheer

All that festive fun is bound to work up an appetite, and Kansas City’s culinary scene is ready to deliver. After a day of peppermint lattes and sugar cookies, visitors can balance out the sweetness with some world-famous barbecue.

Local favorites like Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque and Jack Stack Barbecue are perfect for refueling before diving back into the tinsel and twinkle lights. For those hoping to stay close to the action, Crown Center’s hotels offer themed suites that keep the holiday spirit alive around the clock.

A Celebration That Keeps Growing

The Hallmark Christmas Experience isn’t just another event. It’s turning into a holiday tradition people actually look forward to.

There’s a mix of celebrity sparkle, that cozy community vibe, and a dash of small-town charm—except it’s all happening on a big-city stage. That’s part of what makes Hallmark’s holiday world stick around in people’s hearts, year after year.

Maybe you’re drawn in by the stars, or you love the shopping, or you’re all about those hands-on workshops. Or heck, maybe you just want to soak up the glow from a thousand twinkling lights.

Honestly, Kansas City feels like it’s staked its claim as the true heart of Christmas magic in America.

So, why not wrap up in your softest scarf, grab some hot cocoa, and dive in? You might just make a memory that feels like it jumped right out of a Hallmark movie.

At the Hallmark Christmas Experience, sometimes things really do look as perfect as they feel.