Christmas Tree Lightings and Christmas Parades in Wichita 2025

December 1, 2025

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 and of course, before you leave be sure to find Where to See Christmas Lights in Wichita!

Christmas Tree Lighting Events in Wichita 2025

Winfield Isle of Lights: Tree Lighting Ceremony & Opening Night

Full Article: Isle of Lights Drive-Through Light Display

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: November 16, 2025
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: 200 N. Main Street, Winfield, KS 67156
Price: FREE

Wichita Mayor’s Tree Lighting at Union Station

Full Article: Merry & Bright Union Station Lighting Event

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 will do the honor of flipping on the switch to light the Christmas tree.

Photo opportunities with Santa will be available, along with other fun entertainment. You can expect horse-drawn carriage rides, live reindeer (yes, you can pet them!) , an Interactive kids’ station, and Johnson’s Garden Center will be there with a Holiday Trolley where folks can create their own wreath.

Date: November 20, 2025
Time: from 5:30 -7:30 pm
Location: Old Town Square, at 2nd & Mead in Wichita
Price: FREE

Mulvane Community Tree Lighting

Date: November 20, 2025
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Location: Pix Community Center, 101 E Main St, Mulvane, KS 67110
Cost: FREE

Derby Christmas Tree Lighting

Full Article: City of Derby Christmas Tree Lighting

This kickoff to the holiday season will feature the Mayor lighting the tree, as well as free cookies, cocoa, and kettle corn, along with food trucks and holiday music as you stroll around the park and take in the lights. Photos with Santa will be in the Pavilion, and kids can complete a craft in the Venue.

Date: November 20, 2025
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Madison Avenue Central Park, 512 E. Madison Ave., Derby, KS 67037
Cost: FREE

Bradley Fair’s Annual Tree Lighting

Full Article: Bradley Fair Holiday Stroll and Tree Lighting

Date: November 22, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. (Other activities happen earlier)
Location: Bradley Fair Shopping Center, 2000 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67206
Price: FREE

Cabela’s Tree Lighting and Arrival of Santa

Full Article: Cabela’s Tree Lighting

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.

Date: November 23, 2025
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: 2427 N Greenwich Rd, Wichita, KS 67226
Cost: FREE

Friends University Clock Tower Lighting

Full Article: Friends University Clock Tower Lighting FREE Event

This event is open to the public with live music, cookies, and more. Be part of the illumination of the historic Davis Clock Tower.

Date: November 23, 2025
Time: at 6 p.m.
Location: Friends University, Rose Window Plaza
Cost: FREE

Garden Plain Christmas Kickoff

Enjoy a fun holiday tradition in Garden Plain, KS with the annual Christmas Kickoff celebration. It’s FREE and open to the public.

Date: November 29, 2025
Time: 4:30-7 p.m.
Location: Parish Hall/Beck Field, 600 Block N. Main Street, Garden Plain, KS
Cost: FREE

Parade of Lights in Newton, KS

Full Article: Newton Parade of Lights

Enjoy the parade, hot chocolate and cookies, photos with Santa, and shopping at the downtown businesses

Date: December 4, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Downtown Newton, KS.

Winter Wonderland in Naftzger Park

Full Article: Winter Wonderland Event

Visit Naftzger Park in Downtown Wichita to see the lights and decorations while listening to music and entertainment at the Energy Pavilion.

Date: December 5, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Location: Naftzger Park, 601 East Douglas
Cost: FREE

Christmas on Main Street in Goddard

In addition to the Goddard Christmas Tree Lighting, there will be a parade, photos with Santa, crafts, vendors & food trucks! They will be busy! Maybe they brought in some of Santa’s elves…

Date: December 6, 2025
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Location: Linear Park, 139 E. Santa Fe, Goddard, KS 67052

Light Up Hutch Downtown Christmas Parade

A day filled with fun and shopping, then the parade in the evening. Photos with Frosty at DCI Park after the parade.

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Downtown Hutchinson, KS from Ave A to 7th St.

Christmas Parade in Augusta, KS

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.

Date: December 6, 2025
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Downtown Augusta
Cost: FREE
Find out MORE HERE

Christmas in Bel Aire

Christmas in Bel Aire is a free, family-friendly way to kick off the season at Bel Aire City Hall. Families can meet Santa, make simple holiday crafts, decorate cookies, and enjoy festive treats. The afternoon wraps up with a cheerful holiday light show that brings City Hall to life. It’s an easy, memorable holiday outing for Wichita families looking to celebrate without spending a lot.

Date: December 6, 2025
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: 7651 E. Central Park Ave.
More Info: Christmas in Bel Aire

Village Christmas in Haysville, KS

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

Date: December 6, 2025
Time: 4:30-7:30 (tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.)
Location: Pride Park, 102 N Main St, Haysville, KS 67060
Price: FREE

Maize Whoville & Christmas Tree Lighting

Christmas tree lighting, selfies with Santa, sweet treats, hot drinks, live entertainment, shopping, and more. Info

Date: Sunday, December 7, 2025
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Location: Maize Claire Donnelly Amphitheater, 401 S. Khedive St., Maize, KS
Cost: FREE

City of Andover Tree Lighting and Lights in Central Park

Full Article: Andover Hometown Christmas

Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: 1607 E. Central Ave., Andover, KS
Cost: FREE to attend
There is a lot of other fun after Santa arrives, and they light the tree like wagon rides, s’mores, and more.
The Lights in Central Park display will continue to be on from 6-9 p.m. nightly throughout the holiday season.

Rose Hill Hometown Christmas Parade

Date: December 13, 2025
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Parade begins and ends at the football stadium parking lot
Price: FREE
There are many more activities in this annual community event. See the dedicated Facebook page for more info.

Wichita Calendar of Tree Lightings and Christmas Parades

May

No Events

June

No Events

Dates Coming Soon …

El Dorado, KS Tree Lighting

Date: Saturday (coming soon)
Time: 6:00 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 (coming soon)
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 (coming soon)
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

Colwich Christmas Festival

Date: December (coming soon)
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 – Cancelled

The water levels are too low for this year.

Date: Hoping for 2026
Time:
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

Old Town Wichita Christmas Tree Lighting — Wichita Tree Lighting in Old Town Square Photo: Carolyn Erickson

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

Past community tree lighting events around Wichita. Will update as we get more info on them for this year:

Grand Tree Lighting at Botanica – Not confirmred for 2025

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.