Join the Lighter Fare

11/25-11/26
The Plaza’s Season of Lights, which boasts more than 250,000 bulbs and 75 miles of wiring, kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday (4745 Central, 816-753-0100). No Kate Spade flipping the switch, however — this year’s honors go instead to, um, Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The to-do, which is touted as one of the city’s most popular holiday ceremonies (but is actually just a giant, gin-soaked clusterfuck), is followed at 5:30 p.m. the next day by the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting at Crown Center (2450 Grand, 816-274-8444), which claims merely 47,000 tiny bright whites — but we’d bet the spectators are getting just as lit there, too. — Annie Fischer

The Shining Path

THU 11/25

We wonder how, over the past 15 years, the Kansas City Sports Commission has convinced thousands of people to forgo hard-earned holiday indolence and shell out $25 to participate in its Thanksgiving Day 5K Family Stroll. We certainly would miss dozing through the Macy’s parade broadcast if we were to get up and huff around the Sprint campus (at 119th Street and Nall in Overland Park) for this year’s run. Perhaps the first 500 registrants do it for the free stocking caps, and the next 3,200 walkers for the long-sleeve shirts — together, enough winterwear to clothe around a third of the people Sprint laid off in ’02. Or maybe these bold trekkers are simply better at maintaining the Puritan tradition of Thanksgiving, remembering that pleasure must be earned through suffering. God save their swollen ankles. As for us, we’ll be at home with bird and beer. Call 816-474-4652 for information. — Jason Harper

Cometagious
Catch the tail.

SAT 11/27
After the baseball and football seasons end, fans must wait months to see these sports back in session. By contrast, soccer fans have it made. Two weeks after the Wizards’ run at the Major League Soccer Cup came up one goal short, the Comets kick off their home schedule Saturday at Kemper Arena (1800 Genessee) against the St. Louis Steamers. The Comets came close to winning the Major Indoor Soccer League title last year, and the squad retains a roster rich in regional and international talent. Spectators can go nuts for Brazilians (Sanaldo, James Koehler) and Macedonians (Dino Delevski) and root for hometown heroes (Chris Damico, Drew Perkins). Top talent Jamar Beasley is on loan to the U.S. National Team until December 5, but the resourceful Comets should still give their peptacular Galaxy Girls plenty of reasons to cheer. The match starts at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 816-474-2255.— Andrew Miller