Lee’s Summit is lighting up downtown this December as the community comes together to celebrate the global excitement of the 2026 world soccer tournament. LSGoal26, a local nonprofit coalition dedicated to showcasing Lee’s Summit during the tournament year, will host “Lee’s Summit Lights Up the Pitch” on Thursday, December 5, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Green Street in Downtown Lee’s Summit.

Presented by Sporting Lee’s Summit, the free, family-friendly event will blend the energy of international soccer with the warmth of Lee’s Summit’s holiday traditions.

“Draw Day is when the world learns which nations will play in which cities for 2026,” said LSGoal26 Chair, Laura Maxwell. “By the evening, we’ll already know where the matchups are set — and that’s when Lee’s Summit gets to celebrate together, right here in the heart of our community.”


The community celebration will include:

• Mini soccer challenges for kids and families (penalty kicks, dribble relays, and juggling fun)
• Interactive “Prediction Wall” and “Where Will You Be in 2026?” stations for community input and photos
  
  
  
• Food trucks and warm beverages including cocoa and cider for a cozy December night; Food vendors include: Jazzy B’s, Chef Aristo’s, LeVante, Whistlestop, Grains & Taps, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Embrace the Grape, and Fringe.

 

• Music and live entertainment featuring a DJ with global flair
  
  
  
• Cultural displays and flag décor representing nations from around the world
  
  
  
• Holiday fun near the Mayor’s Christmas Tree, including Santa photos and festive lights

The evening will also highlight Green Street as Lee’s Summit’s newest community gathering space and future home to upcoming Futbol Fridays — a summer series planned for 2026 to welcome fans, families, and visitors during the global tournament.

“Our goal is to show the world what makes Lee’s Summit special,” Matt Baird, LS Chamber President said. "This event is a first step toward building that excitement, connecting our neighbors, and preparing to host the region in 2026.”

The celebration is organized by LSGoal26, a nonprofit coalition including the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, Inc., the City of Lee’s Summit, and dedicated community volunteers.

The event is free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, this event will be held entirely indoors at Green Street.

With the holidays fast approaching, residents are invited to enjoy the magic of the season at two beloved traditions — the 27th Annual Christmas in the Sky and the 38th Annual Christmas in the Park.

On Wednesday, November 26, the holiday season officially kicks off at Longview Lake Beach with Christmas in the Sky, a free celebration presented by Jackson County Parks and 99.7 The Point. Since 1997, this spectacular event has marked the opening of Christmas in the Park with fireworks, live entertainment, and festive fun for all ages.

The evening begins with a holiday stage show featuring 100 talented performers from Monica's School of Dance in Lee’s Summit, who have participated every year since the event’s inception, along with the cast of Quality Hill Playhouse’s “Christmas in Song” and Soul Harpist Calvin Arsenia.

Santa will make a special appearance to present the “First Gift of Christmas” to a Dream Factory child before a breathtaking fireworks show synchronized to holiday music on 99.7 The Point. Following the fireworks, guests can enjoy a drive through the 38th Annual Christmas in the Park, featuring more than 1 million lights and 200 animated displays.

27th Annual Christmas in the Sky
When: Wednesday, November 26
Time:

• 5:00 p.m. – Gates Open
• 6:00 p.m. – Holiday Stage Show
• 8:00 p.m. – Fireworks

Where: Longview Lake Beach, 11101 Raytown Road (Two miles south of I-470)

38th Annual Christmas in the Park
When: Wednesday, November 26 – Tuesday, December 31
Time:

• Sunday–Thursday: 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• Friday–Saturday: 5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

​The entrance is located at the Frank White, Jr. Softball Complex, 3901 SW Longview Park Road (two miles south of I-470 off View High Drive).

While admission is free, voluntary exit donations are gratefully accepted. A portion of the proceeds benefits 36 local charities this year. Thanks to the generosity of visitors, the event has raised over $1.3 million for more than 1,000 area charities since its inception.

by Jill Pritchard, Missouri Department of Conservation 


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – After a hot summer, most are welcoming the fall season with open arms. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages everyone to enjoy fall foliage through camping, hiking, driving tours, or even floating. To help, MDC offers weekly online fall color updates from agency foresters all over the state at mdc.mo.gov/fallcolor.

“Our weekly fall color updates are a great resource for the public,” said MDC Forestry Field Programs Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “Foresters begin posting reports in mid-September that show users where trees are beginning to turn and even suggest great places to see changing leaves.”

Hinnah said the dry summer conditions will likely cause fall color to start sooner than normal.

“Due to recent dry weather across central and southern Missouri, we’re already starting to see trees change and some may even lose leaves early,” he explained.

The chilly evenings we see in the fall season are critical for leaves to change color.

“Sugars produced by photosynthesis are trapped inside leaves by the cool autumn nights,” Hinnah explained. “Those sugars are the building blocks for the rich red, yellow, orange, and purple pigments. Chilly nights
cause the breakdown of green pigments, allowing the fall colors to show through.”

Missouri trees first begin changing color in the northern part of the state, then move southward. Sassafras, sumac, and Virginia creeper are some of the earliest to change in mid-September. In late September, black gum, bittersweet, and dogwood are turning. The peak of fall color usually hits around mid-October.

“Trees like maple, ash, oak, and hickory are at the peak of their fall display by the middle of October,” Hinnah noted. “Normally by the end of the month, colors are fading and leaves are falling.”

Missouri’s fall color can be enjoyed from almost anywhere. For spectacular vistas, choose routes along rivers with views of forested bluffs, and along ridges with sweeping scenes of forested landscapes.

“MDC conservation areas or Missouri state parks are wonderful places to take in the fall color,” suggested Hinnah.

And fall color isn’t just limited to trees. Prairies and roadsides display beautiful shades of gold, purple, olive, and auburn with autumn wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses. In cities and towns, enjoy places with mature trees such as older neighborhoods, parks, and even cemeteries.

​MDC provides its annual fall color update at mdc.mo.gov/fallcolor. The weekly reports include what species of trees are turning and suggestions on best places to see them. The updates run September through November.

by Erin Woodiel, Missouri Department of Conservation 


BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) requires hunters at certain conservation areas to use non-toxic shotshells while hunting for waterfowl and various other game species. Hunters seeking to improve their skills with non-toxic shot are invited to attend a fundamentals clinic from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Lake City Shooting Range.

This class will help migratory and upland bird hunters become more efficient and ethical at harvesting game while using non-toxic ammunition. This free, all-day program includes an introduction to wingshooting fundamentals, distance estimation, non-toxic shotshell ammunition selection, and shotgun patterning. Instructors will teach participants how to choose the correct choke, load, and shot size for different game, how to estimate shooting distances, and how to effectively lead their target. This program includes shotgun safety, operation, maintenance, and safe storage.

Registration is required. Participants must be at least 15 years old. Visit https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/210472 to register. Participants are responsible for bringing their own food and drinks for the day and are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

For more information on the nontoxic shot regulation, you can visit https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/nontoxic-shot-regulations.

Lake City Shooting Range is located at 28505 E Truman Road, Buckner Mo., near Blue Springs. For any questions regarding the program, contact MDC Conservation Educator Adam Brandsgaard at [email protected]

by Erin Woodiel, Missouri Department of Conservation 

Monarch butterflies are an important species to our state, and they depend on milkweed. Join the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for a course about the relationship between milkweed and monarchs from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs.


Participation in this program may be done in-person or virtually. This course is intended for ages 18 and older, and registration is required.

To register for the in-person course, visit https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/208711.
To register for the virtual course, visit https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/208712. A link to the webcast will be sent to registered participants prior to the program.

​MDC staff will discuss the 13 native species of milkweed found in Missouri, as well as how to grow them at home to help monarch butterflies.

by Erin Woodiel, Missouri Department of Conservation


The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites anyone interested in learning how to fish for catfish on the Missouri River using alternative methods such as trotlines, jug lines, and limb lines to a free two-day clinic. The clinic will be on Saturday, June 14, and Sunday, June 15, in the Blue Springs area.

The “Big Muddy Alternative Methods Catfish Clinic” will start at 10:00am on June 14, at MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center in Blue Springs. MDC staff will lead an orientation session on using various types of set lines to target blue, flathead, and channel catfish.

Participants and staff will then go out on the Missouri River on Saturday afternoon in MDC boats to set trotlines, jug lines, and limb lines for catfish. The day will end around 7:00pm.

There will be time to eat lunch between the orientation session and the time on the river. Participants should bring snacks and water and dress appropriately for the weather. 

Sunday morning, June 15, at 8:00am, participants and staff will return to the Missouri River, meeting at the LaBenite Park River Access to collect fish caught overnight. Staff will then demonstrate how to clean catfish for eating. The day will end around noon.

This program is appropriate for adults and families with children aged nine years and older. MDC will provide all equipment, including life vests for each person. Participants are welcome to bring their own Coast-Guard-approved life vest if they prefer. Life vests are required at all times on MDC boats. 
​
Registration is required for this clinic. Interested participants must be able to attend both days. Register at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/208570.