Kansas City, Kan. witnessed a remarkable transformation on Friday night. Legends Field, the home of the Kansas City Monarchs baseball team, was adorned with an enchanting display of lights and holiday cheer. The stadium light poles were wrapped in stripes of Christmas lights resembling candy canes, creating a visually stunning sight. The field was filled with a maze of LED designs that added an extra touch of magic. The third base was transformed into a snow tube hill, providing endless fun for visitors. And a towering tree of warm white lights stood above it all, reaching higher than any in the city. It's important to note that no real trees were chopped down for this 21st-century creation.

Jingle! - A Second Year of Light Display

This is the second year for the light display at Legends Field, but it is the first year under local ownership. This year, new elements have been added, including a tubing slide. Another exciting addition, expected to open next week, is a half-mile ice skating trail. Mark McKee, the Chief Merriment Officer, played a crucial role in this project. He said, "It's a lot of work. We had 60 semi trucks full of decorations and lights. We were building for 50 days, with 10 people working each day." McKee was the CEO of the Monarchs for four years and arranged for Enchant to set up a site on the field. The company now has branded light mazes operating in Seattle, San Jose, and Las Vegas. After retiring from baseball, he created the Jingle! brand and contracted with Enchant for the light maze. He then added elements like pop-up bars, professional performers, and various other activities.

12 DAYS OF GIVING

Jingle! is a for-profit venture open for 27 nights through New Year's Eve. Alongside the holiday fun, they are also promoting several charities during their 12 Days of Giving. Each of these 12 days is focused on a different charity, bringing attention to their cause. Special guests are invited for the nightly tree lighting on these days, and a portion of the ticket sales is donated to the designated charity. The grand opening on Friday was for Children's Mercy Hospital and Big Slick. Actor, comedian, and Shawnee Mission South grad Rob Riggle flipped the switch. He said, "Anything that's Children's Mercy, count me in. I love what they do and what they mean to this city, and this is by far the most spectacular way to start the season." Riggle gave due respect to the longer-standing light displays in the metro but emphasized that there is enough room for all the merriment.Saturday's charity is Steps of Faith. There is no word yet on whether Steps of Faith ambassador and THUNDERGONG! co-host Jason Sudeikis will be part of the lighting. Other upcoming 12 Days of Giving charities include Seven Days, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City, and the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. A full list can be found on the 12 Days of Giving page. Reservations are recommended. You can find a list of activities and buy tickets at jingleholiday.com.