Plaza in danger of losing its holiday lighting supremacy

TO: Highwoods Properties, Plaza Management Team
FROM: Mr. Green and Ms. White, co-presidents, Plaza Light Bulb Installers United
RE: Plaza Lighting Ceremony

Dear Country Club Plaza Overseers:

As the union representatives for the hard-working people who string up the Plaza’s fabled lights, we must write to express our grave concern about what’s happening here on the Plaza.

As you know, the Plaza Lighting Ceremony has been a Thanksgiving-night tradition in Kansas City for 80 years now. This year’s ceremony, from 7 to 8 p.m. on November 26, looks to be just as wonderful as always, in no small part due to the dedication of me and my co-workers. But we’re worried. Too many other outdoor shopping malls around here are starting to have their own ceremonies, and it’s threatening the Plaza’s status as Kansas City’s pre-eminent place for holiday lights. 

For example, tonight, November 19, there’s the “City Lights Annual Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony” from 5:30 to 6:25 p.m. at Barney Allis Plaza. It presents stiff competition in the entertainment line-up: There’s a countdown to the lights going on; one of the cast members of Wicked is supposed to “perform a holiday song”; and the Ray-Pec Panther Pride Marching Band is supposed to perform. How can you beat that? Downtown is also gunning for us in the do-gooder department, since it’s the kickoff for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Campaign. And there’s FREE cookies, FREE hot chocolate and FREE coffee. And they’re bragging about the “First Annual Santa Parade to Cosentino’s Market and the Power & Light District” after the festivities. 

It only gets worse.