KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Monday, the historic 18th and Vine District welcomed a Christmas tree for its first ever tree lighting event.
The tree arrived on a truck a little before 5:30 a.m.
The public is invited to join Phenomenal Kids Pre-School and Sports 810 The W's cohost, Steve Walls to decorate and trim the tree at 5 p.m. Monday where it will be standing, near the corner of 18th and Paseo.
The "Lights Up the District" with the Soul of Santa tree lighting event will happen next Friday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m.
The Soul of Santa, created by Tucker Lott, was an idea Lott had 22 years ago. The concept behind it was to bring community together and create a movement of acceptance with diversity and inclusion for the Kansas City community.
"The whole idea behind it was not to leave any children behind at Christmas time," Lott said. "When you grow up under privegeled, you look at things differently so I look at Christmas from the inide out. My whole idea is that if people would look from the inside out, then you will have a lot less problems for Christmas time."
Lott says it's all about your heart and your spirit during the holidays.
"Our country is a bit divided," Lott said. "If we look at it differently and bring all our cultures together then we have a different vibe, and a different feeling. And that's what we're directing this energy down to 18th and Vine - this historic area and we're trying to make a basis for a better Kansas City."
Several events will be happening on Dec. 6 and 7 to celebrate the first tree lighting event, including a Diversity Christmas Concert that Friday.
The concert, produced by Joseph "Jo Blaq" Macklin, will be held at the Historic Gem Theater, at 1615 E. 18th Street, KCMO.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 8:00 p.m. For more information on this concert, visit the website.
There will also be a Soul of Santa Community Breakfast with Santa at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
To learn more information about all the events, click here.
