Entrepreneur behind Soul of Santa aims to create Rockefeller Plaza holiday experience on KC’s east side
October 31, 2024 | Startland News Staff
Tucker Lott hopes an outdoor ice skating rink at 2000 Vine — the home of Vine Street Brewing — will help solidify a new holiday tradition in the 18th and Vine entertainment district, the veteran entrepreneur said.
“We wanted to create a holiday atmosphere where families could gather and have fun,” said Lott. “The entire idea is to create a holiday experience like at Rockefeller Plaza in New York but on the east side of Kansas City.”
The Soul of Santa Winter Wonderland is set to open Friday, Nov. 15 and run through Jan. 5.
Tickets begin at $10 for adults and children older than 5. All proceeds benefit Lott’s The Soul of Santa “Do Good” Foundation, which primarily connects high-functioning individuals with disabilities, as well as their parents or caregivers, to resources such as holistic workforce development plans, food, transportation, clothing and financial literacy.
“The Soul of Santa ‘Do Good’ Foundation seeks to create a world where no one ever feels forgotten or overlooked due to their disability,” said Lott, president and founder of Tucker Lott Cards, LLC and the founder and creator of The Soul of Santa Brand. “It is our soul brand purpose for each and every person to feel love, joy and acceptance.”
The foundation was inspired by Lott’s late daughter Aria Lott, who lived with epilepsy. She has six songs on The Soul of Santa Christmas album compilation including “Fingers in the Snow” and “Diversity.”
“The Soul of Santa symbolizes the privilege each and every one of us has to celebrate Christmas in a manner that reflects our heritage and our belief in the spirit of the holiday known as Christmas, and all that it represents,” Lott said.
Hours for the ice skating rink will vary by day. Click here for more information on group rates and availability.

2024 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
How ’bout those cheeeeeese mochis? Korean chicken spot gets into the game with its own head-turning plays
After their decade of conversation got old, three lifelong friends finally achieved their dream of opening a restaurant together, Kue-Jin Hwang shared. Now they’re hoping to capture Chiefs’ fans’ hunger for a three-peat at their Overland Park restaurant. Hwang, Kyoungmin Kim, and Sung Jo — friends for more than 30 years (each represented in the…
KC startup founder pivots into pickleball haters’ biggest complaint, eliminating court noise
SLN/CR is serving the sweet sound of silence to neighbors of outdoor pickleball courts, said Eliot Arnold, a serial entrepreneur-turned avid pickleball player who’s taking a swing at the source of critics’ irritation. His Kansas City-based startup — pronounced “silencer” — offers a fabric-based noise mitigation system that uses nanotechnology to absorb nuisance noise, said…
Kansas student’s mobility tech for visually impaired users wins Congressional App Challenge
An Overland Park eighth grader’s app idea — using object detection and text-to-speech technology to help visually impaired individuals navigate their surroundings — earned him a visit to the principal’s office, then an opportunity to showcase his innovation in Washington, D.C. “I actually came across a video online, and it was about this blind woman…
Chatterbox speaks the language of reluctant learners: games featuring global cast of AI tutors
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. WICHITA — A Kansas-built language-learning app takes a gamified approach to fluency — inspired by travel and the simple joys of players feel when competing in traditional board games, said…

