Christmas Tree Lightings and Christmas Parades in Wichita

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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

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

Bradley Fair Holiday Stroll 

Christmas Shows and Concerts 

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: