Wichita-Area Christmas and Holiday Events

November and December are filled with holiday events in Wichita, including Christmas concerts, holiday shopping bazaars, visits with Santa, and even horse-drawn carriage rides. Many of these events make for an affordable day out with the family, a date-night with your spouse, or an evening with friends. This page will be updated continually throughout the holidays as new information comes in.

This post is sponsored by:

 A Celebration of Carols Christmas Concert

Emerald City Chorus
at the Scottish Rite Center, December 8, 2012.

A family-friendly, fun concert!

 

November 3

• Holy Cross Lutheran Church Shopping Bazaar,  600 North Greenwich, Wichita. FREE admission. (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Shopping

November 9

• Gingerbread Village, Beech Activity Center, 9710 E Central.  $8 advance, $9 at door, children 3 and under free. View professionally decorated gingerbread houses and build your own with graham crackers. (2 p.m. – 8 p.m.) Activity
• Salvation Army’s Mission of Hope, Red Kettle Kickoff, Old Town Square, 317 N. Mead, Wichita. Entertainment, free coffee and hot chocolate. Free and open to the public. (6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) Activity

November 10

• Gingerbread Village, Beech Activity Center, 9710 E Central.  $8 advance, $9 at door, children 3 and under free. View professionally decorated gingerbread houses and build your own with graham crackers. (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Activity
• Clearwater Christmas Fair 2012, Clearwater Middle School, 140 South 4th, Clearwater, Kansas. (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Shopping
• Andover Holiday Open House 1607 E. Central in Andover. Free admission. Vendors. (All day)
• 13th Annual Home for the Holidays Shopping Event, Cheney, KS (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Shopping
• 2012 Kidfest, Century II Expo Hall, 225 W. Douglas. Admission price unknown. (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Shopping, Activity
• Craftapalooza and Junk Market, Century II Exhibition Hall, 225 W. Douglas, Wichita. Free and open to the public. (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Shopping
• Crafts 4 Fun: Paper Wreaths, Central Library, 223 S. Main in Wichita. For ages 14 and up. Registration is required but admission is FREE. Call 261-8506 to register. (10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) Activity

November 11

• Gingerbread Village, Beech Activity Center, 9710 E Central.  $8 advance, $9 at door, children 3 and under free. View professionally decorated gingerbread houses and build your own with graham crackers. (12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.) Activity

November 17

• Santa’s Arrival at Towne East Square Mall Parade, activities, and Santa. Time TBD. Activity
• DSSW 3rd Annual Holiday Shopping Event Sedgwick County Extension Office, 7001 W. 21st Street North (in the Meadowlark and Sunflower rooms). FREE and open to the public. The event benefits the DSSW (Down Syndrome Society of Wichita.) Multiple vendors will sell their products and locally made crafts. (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Shopping
• Gingerbread House at Cambridge Market (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) Shopping, Activity
• Rolling Hills Country Club Holiday Open House, 223 S. Westlink, Wichita. Enjoy punch and cookies, holiday table displays, local art, and decor. (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) Activity
• Tree Lighting at Bradley Fair 35-foot Christmas tree, photos with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides. (5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.) Shopping, Activity

November 22

• Lights at St. Paul, Douglas and St. Paul in Wichita. Drive through approximately a half-mile of light displays and listen to synchronized music on your radio. Open every evening through December 28, 2012 at 5:30 p.m., closes at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (5:30 p.m.) Activity

November 23

• Botanica Illuminations 701 Amidon Street in Wichita. Open every evening through December 30, excluding December 24-25. Kansas’ largest holiday light display. Family-friendly. Live music, hot cocoa and cider. $7 adults; $5 youth (3-12). Group and member ticket discounts available. (5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.) Activity, Live Entertainment

December 1

• Gingerbread House at Cambridge Market (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) Shopping, Activity
• Goodwill Festival of Trees Sneak Peek Day, Century II Exhibition Hall Balcony 225 W Douglas Ave, Wichita. $2 (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) Activity
• Museums on the River Holiday Shopabout A day of “lively demonstrations, performances, and deep discount shopping” at the Wichita Art Museum, Botanica, Cowtown, Exploration Place, and Mid-American All-Indian Center. Members will receive a 20% discount on gift shop merchandise; non-members will receive a 10% discount. (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Shopping, Live Entertainment
• Christmas in Delano Store specials, live entertainment throughout the day, kids’ activities, a lighting ceremony, pet photos with Santa Paws, Lights on the River fireworks and boat parade, more. The Delano District is located just west of Downtown Wichita along W. Douglas Ave. between McLean and Seneca. (All day) Entertainment, Shopping, Activity
• Counter Culture Christmas Clambake Live music from Rudy Love, Brook Blanche, and others, local vendors, shopping. In the 1100/1200 blocks of W. Douglas (2 p.m. – 2 a.m.)

December 3

• Goodwill Festival of Trees, Century II Exhibition Hall Balcony, 225 W. Douglas Ave, Wichita $5 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Activity

December 4

• Goodwill Festival of Trees, Century II Exhibition Hall Balcony, 225 W. Douglas Ave., Wichita $5 (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) Activity

A Night with Santa, Century II (Kennedy Plaza and Exhibition Hall), 225 W. Douglas Ave., Wichita ( 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.) Activity

December 7

• McCormick Museum Holiday Open House (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) Free event with 1890s-themed decorations, treats, and displays. Live music performances by student music groups. Staffed by retired school personnel. 855 S. Martinson in Wichita Thanks to Sherry for the tip about this event.
• Schamle Insurance Holiday Open House 9323 E. Harry. Free pictures with Santa, bring a Toys for Tots donation and be entered into a drawing for an On The Border gift card. (3 p.m. – 5 p.m.)
• All About Her Gift Mart, Century II Expo Hall, 225 W. Douglas Ave., Wichita. Advance tickets $5; day of $6. 4 and under free. (3 p.m. – 9 p.m.) Shopping

December 8

• Celebration of Carols Christmas Concert Scottish Rite Center, 1st Street and Topeka in Downtown Wichita. Two performances: Matinee at 2 p.m. and evening performance at 7:30 p.m. Wichita on the Cheap readers get a discount. (2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.) Concert/Live Performance
• Victorian Christmas and Breakfast with Santa at Old Cowtown Museum More info will be added here. These events are not free. Tickets last year were around $8 for adults, $6 for children. Activity

December 11

• Wichita Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert Century II Convention Hall. FREE, but tickets are required and they go quickly. (7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.) Live Entertainment

December 15

• Friends of the Wichita Art Museum Holiday Open House 1400 W. Museum Blvd. in Wichita. Free. All ages are invited to enjoy live music, holiday refreshments, and a visit with Santa Claus in the Great Hall. (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.) Entertainment, Activity
• Victorian Christmas and Breakfast with Santa at Old Cowtown Museum More info will be added here. These events are not free. Tickets last year were around $8 for adults, $6 for children for the Victorian Christmas. Activity

December 29

• A Kwanzaa Celebration Maya Angelou Northeast Branch Library, 3051 E. 21st in Wichita. FREE family event. The Wichita Griots share stories that highlight the seven principles of Kwanzaa. (2:30 p.m.) Entertainment