Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Leavenworth, KS for 2026, and here is what he found: 3 family events, 1 of them free. They are Indoor Holiday Market (November 14), Creation Station: Popsicle Stick Gingerbread Houses (December 9) and Saturday with Santa (December 12). We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Kansas Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Leavenworth
- 3 Christmas events for kids in Leavenworth
- 1 free event, including Indoor Holiday Market
- Meet Santa: Saturday with Santa (December 12)
- Also on the list: 1 Christmas market and 2 craft workshops
- Season: November 14 (Indoor Holiday Market) to December 12 (Saturday with Santa)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
What are you looking for?
All 3 events
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Rally’s Christmas research
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- 2 Crafts
- 1 Santa
- 1 Markets
- 1 Breakfast and treats
- 1 Free
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Free Christmas events for kids in Leavenworth
Holiday marketFree
Indoor Holiday Market
- When: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 10 am to 4 pm
- Where: Riverfront Community Center, 123 S. Esplanade, Leavenworth, KS 66048 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free admission
Expand to see the parent tip
Leavenworth Parks and Recreation fills the Riverfront Community Center with vendor booths for the market it holds each November. Booths are set up in the gym and along the indoor track, so families can walk the whole building while they get a head start on Christmas shopping. The city does not allow vendors to sell homemade food items here.
The market is Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 123 S. Esplanade, with doors opening to the public at 10:00 am and the day wrapping up at 4:00 pm. Admission is free. The registration mentioned on the city's page is for vendors only, so shoppers can simply walk in.
Parent tip: Vendors set up from 8:00 am and the doors open at 10:00 am, so a morning visit catches every booth staffed and stocked. Booths are split between the gym and the track, so pick a meeting spot with older kids before anyone wanders off.
- Host
- Leavenworth Parks & Recreation (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Riverfront Community Center, 123 S. Esplanade, Leavenworth, KS 66048 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Leavenworth events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Leavenworth daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Leavenworth.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 2 more Leavenworth events 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 Leavenworth.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Leavenworth 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 Crafts
- 1 Santa
- 1 Markets
- 1 Breakfast and treats
- 1 Free
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Leavenworth every week.
Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Leavenworth
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Holiday crafts
Creation Station: Popsicle Stick Gingerbread Houses
- When: Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 4 to 6 pm
- Where: Leavenworth Public Library, East Room, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page
- Ages: Elementary age; children under 9 need a parent, guardian or caregiver 16 or older
Expand to see the parent tip
Creation Station is the library's regular Wednesday program for elementary-age children, and this session swaps baked gingerbread for popsicle sticks. Kids put together a small house from the sticks and then dress it up with decorations, which keeps the mess of baking out of the picture.
The session is Wednesday, December 9, 2026 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in the East Room at 417 Spruce St. The listing shows no price and no registration step. Children under nine have to be accompanied by a parent, adult guardian or a responsible caregiver aged 16 or older.
Parent tip: The session sits in a two-hour slot after school, so call the youth desk at (913) 682-5666 ext. 9300 if you need to know whether late arrivals can still build a house. If your child is under nine, plan to stay in the East Room the whole time.
- Host
- Leavenworth Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Leavenworth Public Library, East Room, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Leavenworth events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Leavenworth daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Leavenworth.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Santa visit
Saturday with Santa
- When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 10 am to noon
- Where: Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page
- Ages: Babies, preschool and elementary; children under 9 need a parent, guardian or caregiver 16 or older
Expand to see the parent tip
Santa spends a Saturday morning at the Leavenworth Public Library posing for photos with children. Every child goes home with a free book, and the library adds crafts, activities and holiday snacks around the visit.
The visit is Saturday, December 12, 2026 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at 417 Spruce St. The listing is for babies, preschoolers and elementary-age children and shows no price or registration. Children under nine need a parent, adult guardian or a caregiver aged 16 or older with them.
Parent tip: The library warns it cannot guarantee the snacks have stayed clear of peanuts, soy, tree nuts or other allergens, so pack your own if your child has an allergy. The page invites families to take a photo with Santa and does not mention a photographer, so bring a charged phone or camera.
- Host
- Leavenworth Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Leavenworth events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Leavenworth daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Leavenworth.
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 Kansas Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Leavenworth Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Indoor Holiday Market in Leavenworth on November 14; the last runs to December 12. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Indoor Holiday MarketLeavenworth · Nov 14
- Creation Station: Popsicle Stick Gingerbread HousesLeavenworth · Dec 9
- Saturday with SantaLeavenworth · Dec 12
Looking further afield? Our Kansas Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Lawrence, Overland Park, Olathe and Topeka. 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 Leavenworth
Leavenworth was founded in 1854 on the west bank of the Missouri River and became the first city incorporated in the Kansas Territory, growing up just south of the army post Colonel Henry Leavenworth established in 1827. Today the Christmas season in town begins at the Riverfront Community Center with a holiday market, then moves to the public library for crafts and a morning with Santa.
How Leavenworth celebrates
The season in Leavenworth opens in November. The city's Parks and Recreation department holds what it calls its annual Indoor Holiday Market at the Riverfront Community Center on November 14, with free admission and vendor booths in the gym and on the track, and its calendar lists a Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting on November 20 at 4:00 pm. In December the Leavenworth Public Library on Spruce Street takes its turn. Its Wednesday Creation Station program builds popsicle stick gingerbread houses on December 9, and Saturday with Santa follows on December 12 with photos, crafts, snacks and a free book for each child.
Fun facts about Christmas in Leavenworth
Leavenworth was founded in 1854 and was the first city incorporated in the territory of Kansas. It developed south of Fort Leavenworth, which began in 1827 as Cantonment Leavenworth, and the fort stayed outside the city limits until the city annexed it on April 12, 1977. The city sits on the west bank of the Missouri River about 25 miles northwest of downtown Kansas City and had 37,351 residents at the 2020 census. Its C.W. Parker Carousel Museum is listed among the 8 Wonders of Kansas Customs by the Kansas Sampler Foundation.
Traditions today
- Indoor Holiday Market: Parks and Recreation describes this November market at the Riverfront Community Center as an annual event, with free admission and booths in the gym and on the track.
- Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting: The Parks and Recreation calendar lists the Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting for November 20, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
- Saturday with Santa at the library: The Leavenworth Public Library invites families for photos with Santa on December 12, 2026 and gives each child a free book.
- Creation Station crafts: The library's Wednesday Creation Station for elementary-age children takes a holiday turn on December 9, 2026 with popsicle stick gingerbread houses.
A fact for kids
Leavenworth has a whole museum about carousels, the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum. Another museum in town, the First City Museum, shows off horse-drawn vehicles and a dugout canoe from the 1600s.
Questions about Christmas in Leavenworth
When was Leavenworth, Kansas founded?
Leavenworth was founded in 1854, according to its Wikipedia article, and was the first city incorporated in the territory of Kansas. It developed just south of Fort Leavenworth, an army post that had been established in 1827, more than a quarter century before the city itself.
How is Leavenworth connected to Fort Leavenworth?
Fort Leavenworth was established in 1827 as Cantonment Leavenworth by Colonel Henry Leavenworth, and the city developed to its south. The fort sat outside the city limits until April 12, 1977, when the city annexed its territory. It now occupies the northern half of the city's area and is the largest employer.
Where is Leavenworth located?
Leavenworth lies on the west bank of the Missouri River in northeastern Kansas, about 25 miles northwest of downtown Kansas City. It is the county seat and largest city of Leavenworth County and part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The city of Lansing is its neighbor to the south.
How many people live in Leavenworth?
The 2020 census counted 37,351 residents in Leavenworth, living in 13,143 households. Its Wikipedia article ranks it as the 10th most populated city in the Kansas City metropolitan area. About a quarter of residents, 24.6 percent, were under the age of 18 at that census.
What happens at Christmas in Leavenworth?
The pages used for this guide show an Indoor Holiday Market on November 14, 2026, a Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting listed for November 20, a popsicle stick gingerbread house craft at the library on December 9, and Saturday with Santa at the library on December 12.
Who organizes Christmas events for families in Leavenworth?
Two public bodies run the events in this guide. The City of Leavenworth's Parks and Recreation department holds the Indoor Holiday Market and lists the Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting on its calendar. The Leavenworth Public Library runs the Creation Station gingerbread craft and Saturday with Santa.
Where do Leavenworth's holiday events take place?
The Indoor Holiday Market is held at the Riverfront Community Center, 123 S. Esplanade, with booths in its gym and on its track. The gingerbread craft and Saturday with Santa both take place at the Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, with the craft in the library's East Room.
What is free at Christmas in Leavenworth?
The city says admission to the Indoor Holiday Market on November 14, 2026 is free. At the library's Saturday with Santa on December 12, each child receives a free book. The library's listings for that visit and for the December 9 gingerbread craft do not show any price.
What museums can families visit in Leavenworth?
The Wikipedia article lists the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum, the Fred Harvey Museum, the First City Museum, the Leavenworth County Historical Society's museum in the Victorian-era Edward Carroll House, and the Richard Allen Cultural Center and Museum. The First City Museum's displays include horse-drawn vehicles and a 17th-century dugout canoe.
Sources
- Leavenworth, Kansas, Wikipedia
- Indoor Holiday Market, City of Leavenworth, Kansas
- Creation Station: Popsicle Stick Gingerbread Houses, Leavenworth Public Library
- Saturday with Santa, Leavenworth 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 Kansas city.
Leavenworth Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Leavenworth, Kansas to start with?
Start with Saturday with Santa at the Leavenworth Public Library on December 12, 2026 from 10:00 am to noon, where children get a photo with Santa and a free book. Before that, the Indoor Holiday Market at the Riverfront Community Center on November 14 opens the season, and the library's gingerbread house craft follows on December 9.
Where can kids meet Santa in Leavenworth?
Santa visits the Leavenworth Public Library at 417 Spruce St on Saturday, December 12, 2026 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Families can take a photo with him, each child receives a free book, and the library sets out crafts, activities and holiday snacks. The listing is aimed at babies, preschoolers and elementary-age children.
Are there free Christmas events for families in Leavenworth?
Yes. The city states that admission is free at the Indoor Holiday Market on November 14, 2026 at the Riverfront Community Center. The library's listings for the popsicle stick gingerbread house craft on December 9 and Saturday with Santa on December 12 show no price, and each child at the Santa visit is given a free book.
Do any Leavenworth holiday events need tickets or sign-up?
None of the three listings asks families to register or buy tickets. The registration mentioned for the Indoor Holiday Market on November 14 applies to vendors, not shoppers. The library does require that children under nine attend its December 9 craft and December 12 Santa visit with a parent, guardian or caregiver aged 16 or older.
Is there a Christmas craft activity for children in Leavenworth?
The Leavenworth Public Library hosts Creation Station: Popsicle Stick Gingerbread Houses on Wednesday, December 9, 2026 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in its East Room. Elementary-age children build a house from popsicle sticks and decorate it. Saturday with Santa on December 12 also includes crafts and activities alongside the photos.
Is there a tree lighting in Leavenworth?
The Leavenworth Parks and Recreation calendar lists a Mayor's Holiday Tree Lighting on November 20, 2026 at 4:00 pm. The page seen for this guide gives only the date and time, so check the city's Parks and Recreation calendar for the location and program before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Leavenworth?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Kansas Christmas train rides guide. This Leavenworth 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.