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.
Tucker Lott, Soul of Santa
“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
KC Rising red flag: Educated talent leaving KC, metro tech jobs unfilled
More college-educated workers are leaving Kansas City than being drawn to the region, according to a new KC Rising report. That means local companies are forced to look outward for qualified talent, said Ryan Weber. “Most of those tech firms are hiring; it’s just for skill sets that few people have,” said Weber, president of…
Students struck by KC gun violence search for solutions at MECA Challenge
Editor’s note: MECA Challenge and Startland News are both programs of the Kansas City Startup Foundation, though the content below was produced independently by Startland. For more information on the relationship, click here. Escaping the cycle of gun violence can seem impossible, said Lea Thompson, still wearing a cast on her hand after being shot…
STEAM Studio team coding best fit for boy’s 3-D-printed prosthetic arm
Four-year-old Hudson Borton extended his arm Wednesday, as his father fitted a 3-D-printed prosthetic to the boy’s upper arm and elbow. The light blue plastic piece mimicked the size and length of Hudson’s right arm, though his father and Mandi Sonnenberg, co-founder and director of STEAM Studio, agreed the new device wasn’t yet a perfect…
KC-based SouveNEAR vending machine startup prepping to scale up
SouveNEAR offers travelers a piece of KC — from KC, said co-founder Tiffany King. The Kansas City-based startup, which repurposes vending machines to sell locally made souvenirs, is in its fourth year of steady, organic growth, King said. As a member of ScaleUP! KC new class, SouveNEAR is preparing to grow the business and turn…