Union Station flips Grand Hall layout, adds 3,000 square feet to holiday display

Union Station in Kansas City is restructuring its main concourse to accommodate a larger holiday attraction. The venue will open Holiday Reflections on Nov. 20, with tickets currently available for purchase.

The most visible change involves the placement of the venue's 30-foot Christmas tree. Ashlynn Smith, the marketing and events coordinator for Union Station Kansas City, confirmed the tree will occupy the west side of Grand Hall this year. Smith noted that the tree has historically stood on the east side. The relocation creates space for new shopping markets on the west side. Entry to Grand Hall remains free for the public.

The paid Holiday Reflections experience is also expanding its physical footprint. A new area dedicated to children will add 3,000 square feet to the attraction. Smith described the new space as a frozen wonderland that has not been part of previous iterations of the event.

Other additions include a new gazebo designed for live entertainment during the run of the show. The venue is also installing new light ribbon fixtures throughout the space. Petticoat Lane, a historical walkway that has been a fixture for the past two years, will expand this year. Smith said the expansion will include a super-sized streetcar.

Smith stated that the team aims to change the scenery annually to keep the display fresh. The combination of the repositioned tree, the new children's area, and the expanded historical lane marks a substantial physical change to the venue's holiday layout.