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.
Wichita Tree Lighting in Old Town Square Photo: Carolyn Erickson
Your guide to Wichita holidays on the cheap!
Free or cheap things to do this week in Wichita
Special Holiday Events:
- Day-by-day guide to Christmas and holiday events in and near Wichita
- Horse-drawn Carriage Rides
- Where to Visit Santa around Wichita
- Christmas Craft Shows and Holiday Markets
Holiday Gift-Giving:
- How to make the holidays special when you can't afford big presents
- Non-Toy Gift Ideas
- Find Unique Gifts at these Local Wichita Shops
- Great Local Gifts Under $20
Christmas Attractions:
- Wichita Christmas Light Displays
- Botanica Illuminations
- Fulton Valley Farms A Country Christmas
- Christmas Tree Farms
Upcoming Holiday Events in Wichita
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.
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.
Haysville Village Christmas Celebration
- Date: Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm (lighting is at 5:30 pm)
- W.W. Hays Village Historic Park (200 S. Main St)
- Cost: FREE
Lots of fun at this event:
- City lighting ceremony at Pride Park
- Special visit from Santa
- Kids crafts and refreshments. Enjoy cookies & hot coco
- Horse-Drawn carriage rides in front of the library
- Caroling in the historic park gazebo
- Christmas market
- Soup and Chili Feed for $8 cash only
- Silent Auction
Additional information online: City of Haysville-Home (haysville-ks.com)
Here is more Holiday Fun for 2022:
2022 Christmas Lights Displays
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
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