Feeling nostalgic for some old-fashioned hometown holiday fun? We’ve rounded up a Santa-pack full of Christmas tree lightings in Wichita and in our neighboring communities. Wichita is surrounded by wonderful small communities that have their own traditions and events for the holiday season. These festive events will have you exploring beyond your immediate neighborhood and enjoying Kansas’ famous small-town hospitality and old-fashioned holiday fun.
For more information, check out our Day-by-day guide to holiday fun in Wichita.
Christmas Tree Lighting Events in Wichita 2024
Cabela’s Tree Lighting and Arrival of Santa
- Date: Saturday, November 2 at 5 p.m.
- Location: 2427 N Greenwich Rd, Wichita, KS 67226
- Cost: FREE
Santa’s making an early arrival at Santa’s Wonderland inside Cabela’s Wichita with a magical tree lighting, holiday crafts for kids, free photos with Santa, giveaways, games, and lots more fun.
Winfield Isle of Lights: Tree Lighting Ceremony & Opening Night
Gather around the 18-foot Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols, drink hot cocoa, eat cookies, and say a blessing. Enjoy this fun and vibrant community as it kicks off its big annual Isle of Lights attraction, which opens at 6 that same night.
- Date: Saturday, November 17, 2024
- Time: 5:30 pm
- Location: 200 N. Main Street, Winfield, KS 67156
- Price: FREE
- Isle of Lights Drive-Through Light Display – Full Article
Wichita Mayor’s Tree Lighting at Union Station
This is the first annual holiday lighting event at the historic Union Station in downtown Wichita! The event is FREE to the public. Wichita Mayor Whipple will do the honor of flipping on the switch to light the Christmas tree.
Photo opportunities with Santa will be available, as well as other fun entertainment. You can expect horse drawn carriage rides, live reindeer (yes you can pet it!) , Interactive kids’ station and Johnson’s Garden Center will be there with a Holiday Trolley where folks can create their own wreath.
- Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
- Time: from 5:30 -7:30 pm
- Location: Old Town Square, at 2nd & Mead in Wichita
- Price: FREE
- Merry & Bright Union Station Lighting Event – Full Article
Mulvane Community Tree Lighting
- Date: Saturday, November 21, 2024
- Time: 6:45 p.m.
- Location: Pix Community Center, 101 E Main St, Mulvane, KS 67110
- Cost: FREE
Derby Christmas Tree Lighting
This kickoff to the holiday season will have the Mayor lighting the tree as well as free cookies, cocoa and kettle corn, food trucks, and holiday music as you walk around the park and enjoy the lights. Photos with Santa will be in the Pavilion, and kids can complete a craft in the Venue.
- Date: Thursday, November 21 at 6 p.m.
- Location: Madison Avenue Central Park, 512 E. Madison Ave., Derby, KS 67037
- Cost: FREE
- City of Derby Christmas Tree Lighting – Full Article
Friends University Clock Tower Lighting
This event is open to the public with live music, cookies and more.
- Date: November 24, 2024
- Time: at 6 p.m.
- Location: Friends University, Rose Window Plaza
- Cost: FREE
- Friends University Clock Tower Lighting FREE Event – Full Article
Bradley Fair’s Annual Tree Lighting
- Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024
- Time: 6 p.m. (Other activities happen earlier)
- Location: Bradley Fair Shopping Center, 2000 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67206
- Price: FREE
- Read more about it here
Grand Tree Lighting at Botanica
Illuminations has been a Wichita tradition for years, but this year Botanica is adding something new: a special tree-lighting event in advance of its annual holiday light display. Though the cost is somewhat steep, it does include activity and refreshment tickets and a printed picture with the big guy himself, as well as priceless family memories.
- Date: November 26, 2024
- Time: 6-9 p.m.
- Location: Botanica, 701 Amidon St., Wichita, KS 67203
- Cost: $35; $32 for members; $16 for kids ages 3-12
- The Grand Christmas Tree Lighting – Full Article
Christmas on Main Street in Goddard
- Date: November 30, 2024
- Time: 4-7 p.m.
- Location: Linear Park, 139 E. Santa Fe, Goddard, KS 67052
- In addition to the Goddard Christmas Tree Lighting, they’re having a parade, photos with Santa, Live DJ, crafts and cookie decorating, vendors & food trucks, Nutcracker Live, fireworks show, and more! They will be busy! Maybe they brought in some of Santa’s elves…
Christmas Parade in Augusta, KS
- Date: December 3, 2024
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Location: Downtown Augusta
- Cost: FREE
- Augusta’s annual Christmas Parade in the Red Brick District downtown. You’ll see the dazzling Christmas lights on parade, visit with Santa and his reindeer, and enjoy treats like cookies and hot cocoa to keep you warm. The parade starts at 6pm. Find out MORE HERE
Parade of Lights in Newton, KS
Full Article: Newton Parade of Lights
- Date: December 5, 2024
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Downtown Newton, KS
- Enjoy the parade, hot chocolate and cookies, photos with Santa and shopping at the downtown businesses.
Christmas in Bel Aire
- Date: December 7, 2024
- Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Location: 7651 E. Central Park Ave.
- Holiday Light Show with Santa, treats, and crafts.
Light Up Hutch Downtown Christmas Parade 2024
- Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Location: Downtown Hutchinson, KS from Ave A to 7th St.
- A day filled with fun and shopping, then the parade in the evening. Photos with Frosty at DCI Park after the parade.
El Dorado, KS Tree Lighting
- Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
- Time: 6:15 p.m.
- Location: 205 W. Central Ave, El Dorado KS 67042
- Price: FREE
- The tree lighting is just one fun event in the El Dorado, Kansas Old Fashioned Christmas event.
- El Dorado Tree Lighting and Old Fashioned Christmas Parade – Full Article
Valley Center Christmas Hometown Christmas and Tree Lighting
- Date: December 7, 2024
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Location:100 block of West Main Street in Valley Center, KS.
- Cost: FREE to attend
- Christmas brass & jazz ensemble, VCHS Madrigals, hot chocolate and cookies, plus a special visitor from the North Pole (shh!). More info.
City of Sedgwick Community Christmas
- Date: December 7, 2024
- Time: 5:15-8:30 p.m.
- Location: 520 N. Commercial Ave, Sedgwick, KS 67135
- A fun-filled evening of cheer including the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Santa’s arrival, crafts and activities for kids, sweet treats & hot chocolate, and live Christmas music. Info
Village Christmas in Haysville, KS
- Date: December 7, 2024
- Time: 4:30-7:30 (tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.)
- Location: Pride Park, 102 N Main St, Haysville, KS 67060
- Price: FREE
- Get pics with Santa, enjoy a soup & chili feed, live music, christmas caroling, silent auction, wagonette rides, arts & crafts and more festive activities. Source info
Colwich Christmas Festival
- Date: December 8, 2024
- Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
- Location: Veterans Park & CES North Gym
- Price: FREE
- Candy cane hunt in the park at 5 p.m., games, crafts, treats and more to follow at the gym. Visit with Santa from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Source info
Lights on the River Holiday Celebration
- Date: December 8, 2024
- Time: 4-7pm
- NEW location: Douglas & McClean Blvd.
- Cost: FREE to attend
- River conditions will preclude launching the lighted orbs, but you can purchase glow sticks to light alongside the Arkansas River instead.
- There will also be horse-drawn wagon rides, a primitive stroll along the river, s’mores, Santa visits and photos, and more. Proceeds from the lights go to Ark River water quality improvements. Find out more from their Facebook page HERE
Maize Whoville & Christmas Tree Lighting
- Date: Sunday, December 8, 2024
- Time: 5-7 p.m.
- Location: Maize Claire Donnelly Amphitheater, 401 S. Khedive St., Maize, KS
- Cost: FREE
- Christmas tree lighting, selfies with Santa, sweet treats, and hot drinks, live entertainment, shopping, and more. Info
City of Andover Tree Lighting and Lights in Central Park
- Date: Thursday, December 12 at 5:30 p.m.
- Location: 1607 E. Central Ave., Andover, KS
- Cost: FREE to attend
- There is lots of other fun after Santa arrives, and they light the tree like wagon rides, s’more and more.
- The Lights in Central Park display will continue to be on from 6-9 p.m. nightly throughout the holiday season.
- Andover Hometown Christmas – Full Article
Winter Wonderland in Naftzger Park
Visit Naftzger Park in Downtown Wichita to see the lights and decorations while listening to music and entertainment at the Energy Pavilion.
- Date: December 13, 2024
- Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
- Location: Naftzger Park, 601 East Douglas
- Cost: FREE
- Winter Wonderland Event – Full Article
Rose Hill Hometown Christmas Parade
- Date: December 14, 2024
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Location: Parade begins and ends at the football stadium parking lot
- Price: FREE
- Lots more activities in this annual community event. See the dedicated Facebook page for more info.
Here is more Holiday Fun for:
Where to See Christmas Lights in Wichita
Fall Bazaars, Craft Shows & Holiday Markets
Watson Park Polar Express Train Ride
A Country Christmas with Live Reindeer at Fulton Valley Farms
Illuminations at Botanica with 2 Million Lights
We‘ll update soon for 2025!
Past community tree lighting events around Wichita. Will update as we get more info on them for this year:
