Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Independence, MO for 2026, and here is what he found: 2 family events. They are Santa's Village (November 20) and Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus (December 1). We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Missouri Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Independence
- 2 Christmas events for kids in Independence
- Meet Santa: Santa's Village (November 20) and Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus (December 1)
- Season: November 20 (Santa's Village) to December 1 (Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Independence
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Santa and Mrs. Claus
Santa's Village
- When: Friday, November 20, 2026, 6:30 to 8 pm (Begins right after the Independence Square Association Lighting Ceremony)
- Where: Independence Uptown Market, 211 W. Truman Road, Independence, MO 64050 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page
Expand to see the parent tip
Santa and Mrs. Claus settle in at the Independence Uptown Market to have their picture taken with children, and there are reindeer games to play while families wait their turn. Hot cocoa and cookies are part of the evening, and kids leave with a goodie bag for as long as the supply holds out.
The village opens at 6:30 PM on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 211 W. Truman Road, and the city's listing shows it wrapping up at 8:00 PM. It follows straight on from the Independence Square Association's Lighting Ceremony. The city's Parks and Recreation page names no admission price and no sign-up.
Parent tip: Goodie bags go only while supplies last, so head to the Uptown Market as soon as the lighting ceremony ends. A 6:30 PM start runs close to bedtime for little ones, so get the Santa photo done first and save the reindeer games for afterward.
- Host
- City of Independence Parks and Recreation (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Independence Uptown Market, 211 W. Truman Road, Independence, MO 64050 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Independence events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Independence daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Independence.
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Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 1 more Independence event researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Independence.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Independence before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 2 Santa
- 1 Story time
- 1 Breakfast and treats
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Independence every week.
Story time with Santa
Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus
- When: Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 6 to 7 pm
- Where: Mid-Continent Public Library, South Independence Branch (Community Room), 13700 East 35th St S, Independence, MO 64055 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page; registration required
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
Santa and Mrs. Claus stop in at the South Independence branch to read a story aloud to the children. Once the book is closed, kids can go up to Santa, tell him what they are hoping for this Christmas, and have a photo taken if the family would like one.
The storytime is Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the branch Community Room. Registration is required, and the library asks you to sign up only the children who are taking part. It is listed for all ages, and the page shows no fee.
Parent tip: Put each child on the registration form but leave the adults off, which is how the library wants it done. The visit with Santa comes after the story, so little ones have to sit through the reading first, and a spot near the front helps them stay with it.
- Host
- Mid-Continent Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Mid-Continent Public Library, South Independence Branch (Community Room), 13700 East 35th St S, Independence, MO 64055 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Independence events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Independence daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Independence.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Missouri Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Independence Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Santa's Village in Independence on November 20; the last runs to December 1. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Santa's VillageIndependence · Nov 20
- Storytime with Santa and Mrs. ClausIndependence · Dec 1
Looking further afield? Our Missouri Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Kansas City, MO, Lee's Summit, Climax Springs and Columbia, MO. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Independence
Independence is known as the Queen City of the Trails, because wagon trains bound for the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails set out from here. These days the Christmas season sets out with the Independence Square Association's Lighting Ceremony, followed by Santa's Village at the Uptown Market.
How Independence celebrates
The city's Parks and Recreation department hosts Santa's Village at the Independence Uptown Market, 211 W. Truman Road, on Friday, November 20, 2026, right after the Independence Square Association holds its Lighting Ceremony. Families get pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeer games, hot cocoa, cookies and goodie bags. In December the Mid-Continent Public Library's South Independence branch brings Santa and Mrs. Claus in for a storytime on December 1, and its calendar also shows a holiday craft night on December 7 and a Grinch storytime on December 8.
Fun facts about Christmas in Independence
Independence was founded on March 29, 1827, and was named after the Declaration of Independence. It was the farthest point west on the Missouri River that steamboats could reach, which made it a starting place for traders heading overland. President Harry S. Truman grew up here, and his presidential library and museum are in the city. The Chicago and Alton Depot, built in 1879, is believed to be the oldest two-story frame railroad depot remaining in Missouri and now serves as a railroad museum.
Traditions today
- Independence Square Association Lighting Ceremony: The Independence Square Association holds a Lighting Ceremony, and the city's Santa's Village follows immediately after it.
- Santa's Village at the Uptown Market: Parks and Recreation sets up photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeer games, cocoa and cookies at the Independence Uptown Market.
- Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus: The South Independence branch of Mid-Continent Public Library hosts the couple for a read-aloud and a visit on December 1, 2026.
- Holiday programs at the library: The same branch lists a holiday craft night on December 7 and a Grinch storytime on December 8, 2026.
- Chicago and Alton Depot: For train-loving families, the 1879 wooden depot in Independence is a railroad museum.
A fact for kids
A wooden train depot built in 1879 still stands in Independence. People believe it is the oldest two-story frame railroad depot left in Missouri, and today it is a railroad museum.
Questions about Christmas in Independence
When was Independence, Missouri founded?
Independence was founded on March 29, 1827, and grew fast as a frontier town. Steamboats on the Missouri River could travel no farther west than here, which made it a natural place for traders and travelers to stock up before heading overland.
How did Independence get its name?
The town takes its name from the Declaration of Independence. The old main courthouse carries the theme further, since it was modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia. That courthouse also holds the former courtroom and office of Harry S. Truman.
Why is Independence called the Queen City of the Trails?
Three overland routes began here: the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails. Pioneers were outfitted in town before setting out, and the city still marks that history each Labor Day with the Santa-Cali-Gon Days festival, held continuously since 1973.
Which president came from Independence?
Harry S. Truman grew up in Independence and returned to the city after his presidency. His home is a National Historic Site, his presidential library and museum are here, and both he and First Lady Bess Truman are buried in Independence.
Is there a historic train depot in Independence?
Yes. The Chicago and Alton Depot was built in 1879 and is believed to be the oldest two-story frame railroad depot still standing in Missouri. The wooden building now serves as a railroad museum.
What happens at Christmas in Independence?
The season opens with the Independence Square Association's Lighting Ceremony, followed right away by the city's Santa's Village at the Uptown Market on November 20, 2026. In December the South Independence library hosts Santa and Mrs. Claus for a storytime, plus a holiday craft night and a Grinch storytime.
Where is Santa's Village held?
Santa's Village takes place at the Independence Uptown Market, 211 W. Truman Road. The 2026 date is Friday, November 20, starting at 6:30 PM, with photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeer games, hot cocoa, cookies and goodie bags for kids while they last.
Who organizes Christmas events in Independence?
The City of Independence Parks and Recreation department puts on Santa's Village, and its page names the Independence Square Association as a supporting partner and as host of the Lighting Ceremony beforehand. Mid-Continent Public Library runs the Santa storytime and other holiday programs at its South Independence branch.
Do kids need a ticket to see Santa in Independence?
The library's Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus on December 1, 2026 requires registration for each participating child. The city's page for Santa's Village on November 20 does not mention tickets or sign-up, only that goodie bags are handed out while supplies last.
How big is Independence?
The 2020 census counted 123,011 people, which makes Independence the fifth most populous city in Missouri and the largest suburb on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area. It sits on the south bank of the Missouri River.
Sources
- Independence, Missouri, Wikipedia
- Santa's Village, City of Independence, MO
- Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Mid-Continent Public Library
Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Missouri city.
Independence Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Independence, Missouri?
Start with Santa's Village at the Independence Uptown Market on Friday, November 20, 2026, where kids get photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeer games, cocoa and cookies. Then book Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the South Independence library branch on Tuesday, December 1, for a calmer evening with a story and a visit.
Where can kids meet Santa in Independence?
There are two chances. Santa and Mrs. Claus pose for pictures at Santa's Village, 211 W. Truman Road, on November 20, 2026, starting at 6:30 PM. They also read a story at the Mid-Continent Public Library's South Independence branch on December 1 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, and children can talk with Santa afterward.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Independence?
Neither organizer lists an admission price. The city's page for Santa's Village on November 20, 2026 mentions cocoa, cookies and goodie bags for kids without naming a fee. The library's Santa storytime on December 1 asks for registration and shows no charge. Check each page before you go.
Is there a holiday lighting ceremony in Independence?
The city's event page says Santa's Village on Friday, November 20, 2026 comes immediately after the Independence Square Association's Lighting Ceremony. The page does not give the ceremony's start time, so look to the Independence Square Association for that and plan to be at the Uptown Market for 6:30 PM.
Which Independence Christmas events need registration?
Storytime with Santa and Mrs. Claus on December 1, 2026 requires registration through Mid-Continent Public Library, and the library asks families to sign up only the children taking part. The city's Santa's Village on November 20 lists no sign-up, though goodie bags are limited to what is on hand.
What else is on at the South Independence library in December?
The branch calendar shows more holiday programs after the Santa storytime. Kids Create Art: Holidays Around the World is on Monday, December 7, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, and How the Grinch Stole Storytime is on Tuesday, December 8, from 5:30 to 6:00 PM. Both list registration as required.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Independence?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Missouri Christmas train rides guide. This Independence guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.