It’s that time again - time to hang the lights and mistletoe, wrap presents, and eat massive amounts of bird. The holiday season is hot on our heels, and with all the expectations, anticipation, and anxiety involved in this time of year, you may find solace in the fact that there are many fun and stress-free activities around the Kansas City area for you and your loved ones.

If the sparkle of holiday lights is what you pine for, there are lighting ceremonies galore:

Long a Kansas City Thanksgiving tradition,the 77th annual Plaza lights were switched on amid a display of fireworks on November 23. Wiring for the lights is over 80 miles in length. They'll be on until January 14, 2007.

To impress the in-laws, go to www.visitkc.com for more information about the history of the ceremony and some interesting facts.

Also on Thanksgiving, the Mayor’s Christmas tree was lit. According to the Kansas City Calendar, the tree "stands 100 feet tall and is bedecked with 7,200 pristine white lights." The Mayor’s Christmas tree is one of the largest in the nation and is located in Crown Center Plaza at 2450 Grand Blvd. It will be there until January 1, 2007.

For those in the Northland, the Zona Rosa Shopping Complex, located on Interstate 29 and Barry Road, offers Northern Lights. Experience the ambiance of a vintage Christmas in Kansas City with their revival of large, ornate crowns hanging above the streets. The crowns had adorned Kansas City’s Christmas streets for 30 years until their retirement 20 years ago. Two years ago, Zona Rosa offered them their old job back. The crowns measure 17 feet wide and weigh in at 2,000 pounds each. They're joined by a 14-foot wreath and 50-foot Christmas tree. The decorations will be on display until early January. For more infomation, check out the same site mentioned earlier.

If it's romance you're looking for, Kansas City offers cute, fun places to cuddle up and get warm:

You don't even need to leave the car to create a romantic Christmas setting. Turn up 102.1FM and the heater and take a drive through Christmas Card Lane. More than 200 homes and families participate in this enormous greeting card and light spectacular. Located in a neighborhood north of 151st Street in Olathe, KS, the event takes place until January 1. For more information, call 913.764.2913.

You and your loved one can make it a night if you’re in the Crown Center area. After viewing the tree, you can cross the street to the Crown Center Ice Terrace, where you can strap on a pair of ice skates and glide under a white, well-lit canopy. Admission is $6 per person, and is free to adults over 60 and children under 5. Skate rental is $2, though bringing your own skates is permissible. The rink is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday throughout the month of January. The rink closes on March 18.

Also located in Crown Center is Santa Land. Sponsored by Crayola Crayons, Santa Land is an enchanting Christmas play place for children. Admission is free, and children are able to get their picture taken with Santa Claus himself, for a fee. Santa Land is open Monday through Saturday (Nov. 24-Dec 31) 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday noon to 6p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It is closed on Christmas Day.

Between opening presents and complaining about family, Kansas City has an array of different options for you to enjoy and to maybe give you a little holiday kick. Check local listings for your community’s celebrations.

Copyright 2006 Metropolitan Community College