Hallmark Experience—Kansas City

Hallmark has its headquarters in Kansas City. Last Christmas they hosted their inaugural event titled, “Hallmark Christmas Experience”, and its popularity brought it back this year. There are many experiences fans can purchase that include personal experiences with actors from the Hallmark movies…and there are free options. I chose free (surprise!!!)

Several friends posted their pictures from the event on social media, but I became convinced to try it out when I met a couple touring the Truman Home with me. They lived in Chicago but drove to Kansas City specifically to take part in the Hallmark Christmas Experience (HCE). I could tell Patty was a true fan, and Bob was her supportive husband. They loved that I knew where last year’s shooting locations were for “Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story,” and Patty’s excitement drove my desire to visit Crown Center.

I contacted my friend Sarah to see if she and her kids wanted to go, and she agreed. We decided to meet there on a Friday evening. I arrived half an hour earlier than they did and easily found a parking spot. FYI…The parking lot cost money, however, validation coupons are available inside Crown Center.

As I entered the Crown Center square, a live band filled the area with festive music. A large Christmas tree stood in the center of it all. The Hallmark-like shopping village surrounded the tree while ice skaters took their place on the outskirts. People filled the spaces as shopping and eating added to the experience.

Sarah and Henry, 12, arrived without Henry’s brothers in tow, so the three of us began our adventure. Many local vendors filled the village with novelty and homemade items that would easily fit under someone’s tree.

We found “Send Some Love” and picked a free Hallmark card to send to loved ones—Hallmark would cover the stamp. I chose to write my postcard to my relatives in New Jersey while Henry wrote a lovely card to his grandmother in a nursing home. Sarah filled her card with love for her parents. After I saw the two mailboxes, I was tempted to tear up the first letter and send a letter to Hallmark movie actor Ryan Paevy instead 😂. My relatives would have understood.

In case you have a person who does not know how to address an envelope, Hallmark provides a tutorial on their tent wall. Thankfully Henry had a mom who has sent a letter or two before 😉, so she provided an exceptional lesson.

We moved from one letter-writing experience to another as USAA sponsored a tent that let us send a Christmas letter to the troops abroad. I loved that we could write a letter, and a soldier would receive it for Christmas.

I found the Hallmark truck, so we took a picture. Then, almost immediately after, the square had the hourly lighting of the Christmas tree. Fellow actors Rachel Boston and Hunter King joined the emcee on stage and began the countdown to the tree lighting.

Once all those festivities concluded, we waited in line for ice skating. Henry plays hockey and wanted to try out the ice. Sarah and I needed time to talk, so it worked out perfectly. We watched Henry quickly and adeptly skate through the crowds of leisure skaters. His joyful skating gave us time to visit.

Though I’ve not rated any of my other experiences, I’d say this was a fun family outing that I wouldn’t hang my heart on attending every year. With a little more time, though, I’d add a visit to Union Station to see all their amazing decorations. I think that, and a little more hot chocolate, would bring me back again!

To all those celebrating, may you have a Merry Christmas!