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
April
No Events
May
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
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
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.
- Date: November?
- 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
