Kansas City residents and visitors alike kicked off their Christmas season with a seasonal firework show called Christmas in the Sky. Christmas in the Sky is an annual firework show that has entertained families for many years and is held at Longview Lake Beach. 2023 marked the 26th anniversary of the event. It was held on November 22nd this year, the night before Thanksgiving. It serves as a kick-off to Jackson County’s other holiday events. This includes Christmas in the Park, which opens two and half hours before the fireworks begin. Christmas in the Sky is sponsored jointly by Jackson County Parks and Rec and 99.7 The Point, a music radio station in KC. The show starts at 8:00 pm and is scheduled to last 20 minutes. The fireworks are synchronized to popular holiday music played on 99.7 The Point such as, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and The Polar Express. The admission is free and the beach is open to the public for those who want to watch from there, but anyone who wants to sit there has to arrive a couple hours early due to the amount of people. Raytown Road is also an available spot to watch the fireworks. Many people hang in their car or sit out on the grass in chairs during the show. Since a large number of families come to watch Christmas in the Sky every year, there is traffic going in and out of Longview Lake Beach. Fortunately, there are police officers that guide traffic so it doesn’t get too bad. Michele Newman, the director of Jackson County Parks and Rec and an emcee for the show said Christmas in the Sky has become a family holiday tradition for the region. This event will always take place the day before Thanksgiving for the years to come.