Christmas tree lightings Wichita 2022

Feeling nostalgic for some old-fashioned hometown holiday fun? We’ve rounded up a Santa-pack full of free Christmas tree lightings in Wichita as well as 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, check out our Day by day guide to holiday fun in Wichita.

Wichita Mayor’s Tree Lighting at Union Station

Merry & Bright Union Station Lighting Event

Date: Thursday, November 17th from 5:30 -7:30
Location: Old Town Square, at 2nd & Mead in Wichita
Price: FREE

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.

Visitors are encouraged to bring unwrapped toy for the Wichita Children’s Home.

Through the holiday season the Eddy’s Everything family of dealerships are collecting gift cards and sweat suits (all sizes) for the Wichita Children’s Home. Simply drop off your donation at any of their locations.

Festivities will include:

Toy drive (Please bring a new toy; drop boxes will be on site)
Photos with Santa
Horse drawn Carriage rides
A live reindeer
Interactive kids’ station
Hot cocoa and cookies
Music from local choirs and artists
Pop-up Christmas Tent

El Dorado Festival of Lights

Date; Friday, November 25th from 4pm -7pm
Location: 205 W. Central Ave, El Dorado KS 67042
Price: FREE

Start the holiday season off with a magical night in downtown Placerville! The Placerville community gathers each year, filling Main Street with family, friends, and neighbors to share the magical moment when we kick off the Holiday Season with the Christmas tree’s lighting. Shops are open late, restaurants are ready to serve you, and entertainment will be on the street. It is a very sweet and simple tradition we hold dear. Come early, parking can be a challenge, but it is so worth it!

Christmas Tree lighting at 6 pm
LIVE Christmas Music
Old Fashion Christmas Carolers
Main street shops & restaurants open late to get your holiday shopping done!
Arrive early for parking, Main Street will be closed to cars.

Tree Lighting Ceremony at Winfield Isle of Lights

Date: Saturday, November 2o at 5:30 p.m.
Location: 200 N. Main Street, Winfield, KS 67156
Price: FREE

Arrive early before the opening of Winfield Isle of Lights for the tree lighting ceremony. Gather around the 18-foot Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols, drink hot cocoa, eat cookies, and say a blessing. Winfield Fire/EMS will light the tree. Enjoy this fun and vibrant community as it kicks off its big annual Isle of Lights attraction, which opens at 6 that same night.

Derby City Christmas Tree Lighting

Date: Thursday, November 21 at 6 p.m.
Location: Madison Avenue Central Park, 512 E. Madison Ave., Derby, KS 67037
Cost: FREE

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. Join the Facebook event.

Bradley Fair Christmas Tree Lighting

Date: Sunday, November 20 at 5 p.m.- 7pm
Location: 2000 N. Rock Rd. Wichita, KS 67206
Cost: FREE

This event is a big kickoff for shopping and a season of horse-drawn carriage rides in Bradley Fair! The free annual tree lighting will take place by the fountain.

They will have events all day as they lead up to the lighting of the famous 30-foot Bradley Fair Tree.

Complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides from 2 – 10 PM
Photos with Santa from 5 – 7 PM
Live entertainment on the Plaza by the Studio Singers starting at 5 PM
A performance by Music Theater Wichita following the Tree Lighting at 6 PM
Face-painting
Glow stick fun
Hot cocoa

Winter Wonderland in Naftzger Park

December 10th at 5pm
Location: Naftzger Park, 601 East Douglas
Cost: FREE to attend

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

City of Andover tree lighting and Lights in Central Park

Date: Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. – 8pm
Location: 1607 E. Central Ave., Andover, KS
Cost: FREE to attend

Stop by the CapFed Amphitheater in Andover’s Central Park for the annual Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. on December 8. The Lights in Central Park display will continue to be on from 6-9 p.m. nightly throughout the holiday season.

Tree lighting events on Dec. 8th:

Meet Santa
Holiday crafts
Movie
Hot Chocolate
Hay rack rides, Children’s train rides

Lights on the River Holiday Celebration

December 4th at 5pm
Location: Near the Wichita Boathouse, 515 S Wichita St
Cost: FREE to attend but if you want to release a gloating light there is a charge

You can purchase and release a floating light on the Arkansas River near the Wichita Boathouse. There will also be food trucks, FREE wagon rides, s’mores, Santa and music. Of course the cool thing will be to see all the floating light on the river! Proceeds from the floating lights go to Ark River water quality improvements. Find out more from their Facebook page HERE

Valley Center Christmas Hometown Christmas and Tree Lighting

Date: Christmas Tree Lighting: Friday, December 2 at 7 p.m.
Location:100 block of Main Street in Valley Center, KS.
Cost: FREE to attend

They will have music, movie and hot chocolate with cookies.

Hometown Christmas

Date: Saturday, Dec. 3rd, from 2 to 4 pm
The Valley Center High School Madrigals, the Christmas Brass Ensemble, plus a performance by the Jazz Band. Free pictures with Santa and special treats for the children inside LeVenue.

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

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

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Lighted Parade, Augusta

Date: November 28 at 6pm
Location: Downtown Augusta
Cost: FREE

This is a Christmas Parade in Downtown Augusta. Its free to be in the parade and the first place will will $300. Augusta Lions Club will be serving hot cocoa to keep you warm. The parade starts at 6pm.

Find out MORE HERE

Mulvane Community Tree Lighting

Date: Saturday, November 26th
Location: 300 W Main St, Mulvane, KS 67110
Cost: FREE

Kick off the holiday season with our friendly neighbors to the south. Mulvane will host its annual Christmas tree lighting on Saturday, November 26 at 7 p.m. in front of the Mulvane Historical Museum & Depot. Sip hot free cocoa, sing some carols, and watch the mayor light the tree.

Colwich Tree Lighting (not updated for 2022)

Date: Sunday, December 1, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. (not updated for 2022)
Location: 500 W Chicago Ave, Colwich, KS 67030 (5th and Chicago Ave.)

The City of Colwich, Kansas, along with the Lions Club and the Colwich Community Foundation will host a tree lighting (with snacks!) at Veterans Park, followed by lighting the flagpole tree at Memorial Park. They’ll also have a light tour around town for those who wish to participate. Find out more on Facebook here.

Cabela’s Tree Lighting and Arrival of Santa

Date: Saturday, November 6, 2022 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.