Where to see Santa in Wichita

He’s a busy guy, but Santa still always makes time to visit Wichita every year. He says he loves our city because the people are great, there isn’t a lot of traffic, and we have so many affordable things to do here. But best of all, of course, is the disproportionately high number of kids who are on the Nice list here in Wichita.

Here’s where you can bring the kids to visit Santa Claus on one of his many stops in Wichita and the surrounding area. (Don’t forget your camera!)

Can’t get enough of the Holidays? Check out these Holly Jolly posts!

• Day by day guide to 2017 holiday and Christmas events around Wichita
• Holiday Markets in Wichita 
• Where to See Christmas Lights in Wichita

2017 Santa Sightings

Ongoing Visits with Santa:

• Illuminations at Botanica Visits with Santa every evening from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 24 – Dec. 31, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for youth ages 12 and under.
• Town East Mall will offer pictures for purchase with Santa on the lower level center court almost every day from November 11 to December 24.
• Town West Mall will also offer Santa photo ops for purchase December 13 to December 24.
• See Santa at Heartspring during their Lights on the Lake event for a $5 donation. He’ll be inside at the Hospitality Center at 8700 E. 29th St. N. from 6-10 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays starting November 23 to December 9, and everyday from December 13 to 23.
• Cabela’s free pictures with Santa every Saturday from 10-2 p.m. from Nov. 25 to Dec. 16.
• Polar Express at Watson Park takes you on a magical train ride to visit Santa, complete with a campfire and s’mores. The event is ongoing starting Nov. 26 to Dec. 23. 3022 S. Mclean Blvd. Tickets are $15 and are selling fast!
• Also, if you can’t get to one of his personal visits, freeconferencecall.com has set up a special voicemail number for Santa. Kids can call and leave Santa a message with what they want at 1-605-47 SANTA (72682). 1-605-477-2682
• Portable North Pole will also let you request a free personalized video from Santa.
• North Pole Express Substation; FREE. 1841 S. Glenn. See Santa’s workshop, sleigh and reindeer at Kansas’ very own North Pole. 6-9 p.m. every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from Thanksgiving night through December 23. Check https://www.clausinc.org/north-pole for more details.
• Prairie Pines Christmas Tree Farm Santa will be there at 11 a.m. on opening day and on select weekends through December 17, with lots of other activities going on and Christmas tree trimmings for sale as well. Free, but donations to Santa’s reindeer food fund are appreciated.

Special Santa Stops

December 7

• FREE Pictures with Santa at Chick-fil-A on Central and Rock Rd. on Dec. 7 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Get a FREE picture taken with Santa and then decorate a FREE festive photo frame.
• A Night with Santa Dec. 7 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Century II Exhibition & Convention Halls. FREE Santa visits, carnival games with prizes, cake walk, crafts and more!
• In downtown Newton, Santa will take pictures with kids at the Parade of Lights on Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

December 8

• Old Cowtown’s Victorian Christmas See Santa’s Workshop and sip on hot cocoa! 6-9 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2, 8, and 9. Regular admission prices apply.
• Santa & Mrs. Santa will be at Chisholm Trail Elementary School in Park City on December 8, 2017 from 5–7 pm. Have pancakes & sausage for dinner with him! Adults $6 and children 4 to 12 are $4.

December 9

• Old Cowtown’s Victorian Christmas See Santa’s Workshop and sip on hot cocoa! 6-9 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2, 8, and 9. Regular admission prices apply.
• 7th annual Breakfast with Santa at Chick-fil-A on 21st & Maize on Dec. 9 from 8-10 a.m. Make a FREE mini wooden snowman craft and have your picture taken FREE. Santa Cow and Elf Cow will also be there.
• Free pictures with Santa at Rose Hill Hometown Christmas on December 9. Two different opportunities, one from 8-11 a.m. and one from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and both are FREE.
• Breakfast with Santa at Nancy’s A-Maize-N Sandwiches Free pancakes for kids and they get to chat it up with Santa. Bring your own camera. Dec. 9 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• West Branch YMCA Pancake Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. FREE.
• Northwest Branch YMCA Pancake Breakfast with Santa. Dec. 9 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., $8 per person at the door, or $6 if you pay in advance.
• Skating with Santa at the Wichita Ice Center Saturdays in December. $5 with your non-perishable food donation. See link for dates and times.
• Holidays in Old Town Visit Santa, listen to live music, make Christmas crafts, and much more. Noon-5 p.m. December 2, 9, and 16. Old Town Square, at 2nd and Mead in Wichita, FREE.
• Santa Claus will make a special appearance at Exploration Place. Meet him in the lobby Saturday, December 9 or 16 between noon and 2 p.m. Bring your own camera and have your picture taken with him for free!
• Twister City photos with Santa on his red Harley! Free gift wrapping, cocoa & cookies, ornament decorating, coloring cards, and more. 1-3 p.m. December 9.

December 11

• Cookies with Santa at Carousel Skate Center Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 per person (including parents).

December 14

• Visit Chick-fil-A on Central and Rock Rd. on Dec. 14 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. for a FREE preschool story time that promises to bring a VERY special guest. Could it be the big guy in red?!
• Urban Air Wichita, Pancakes with Santa. 5:30-8 p.m. Dec 14. Purchase a pancake dinner and watch “Kris Cakes” flip pancakes across the room, and get FREE pictures with Santa. Jumping packages can be purchased separately for an additional fee.
• Andover’s Hometown Christmas, Andover Central Park 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 14. Santa will be there to check your list twice, and there will be many other fun activities. Bring a donation of canned goods, toys, or a cash donation for admission; all proceeds will go to Caring and Sharing, which provides meals and Christmas presents for families.
• Pajama Jam: Christmas at Blue Baboon Books in New Market Square Dec. 14, 7-7:30 p.m. Bring the kids in their cozy pajamas and listen to Christmas stories. A surprise guest, Santa, will be there too! Shhh! Don’t tell the kids!

December 15

• Board Games with Santa at Sedgwick County Extension, Dec. 15 from 6:30-9 p.m. FREE
• Cookies with Santa at McAdams Recreation Center 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 15.  1329 E. 16th Street N., Wichita, Kansas 67214 Free.

December 16

• East Branch YMCA Pancake Breakfast with Santa. Dec. 16 from 8-10:30 a.m., $6 per person.
• Breakfast or Lunch with Santa at Old Cowtown Museum December 16, at 9 a.m. for breakfast with Santa; 1 p.m. for lunch with Santa. Tickets must be purchased in advance. $10-$14
• Jingle Bell Run Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. starting at the Exploration Place. Entry fee for the race is $35. You can partake in the 1-mile run/walk or a 5K run. Wearing holiday costumes is encouraged!
• South Branch YMCA Pancake Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 16, 9-11 a.m., $6 per person.
• Breakfast with Santa and Dasher at Stearman Field, Dec. 16, 9-11 a.m. Order the breakfast buffet or from the menu. 14789 SW 30th Street, Benton, KS 67017
• Skating with Santa at the Wichita Ice Center Saturdays in December. $5 with your non-perishable food donation. See link for dates and times.
• Holidays in Old Town Visit Santa, listen to live music, make Christmas crafts, and much more. Noon-5 p.m. December 2, 9, and 16. Old Town Square, at 2nd and Mead in Wichita, FREE.

December 19

• Selfies with Santa  Bring the family to see Santa at Legacy Bank on 3711 N. Ridge Rd. on Tuesday, December 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. Take your own free photos!

December 23

• Skating with Santa at the Wichita Ice Center Saturdays in December. $5 with your non-perishable food donation. See link for dates and times.

Related: Activities for kids during winter break in Wichita

Do you know of more stops on Santa’s tour through Wichita? Pass it along to Wichita on the Cheap readers by commenting on this post, sending an email, or mentioning it on Twitter and/or Facebook. Be sure to include location, time, and date, and whether there will be an admission charge. Thanks!

Past events

• City of Derby Tree Lighting Nov. 16, 6-8 p.m. FREE photos with Santa, arts and crafts, food trucks, and holiday music! The whole event is free. Madison Avenue Central Park in Derby.
• Holiday Wish List Open House at Blue Baboon Books November 18 at 10 a.m. and November 19 at 12 noon. Gift list registry for Santa. Pretty convenient! Cider, treats, visits with Santa, and more.
• Bradley Fair Tree Lighting Nov. 18, 5:30-6 p.m. See Santa and his reindeer during the lighting of their 35 foot Christmas tree!
• Holidays in Delano shopping event Nov. 18, 12-5 p.m. See Santa, live (yes, live!) reindeer, sleds, and some of the best local vendors and artists. Santa will be at Sweet Cheeks from 2-5 p.m. and the live reindeer will be at the Monarch from 12-3 p.m. Along Douglas Ave., from Mclean Blvd. to Seneca.
• Santa at the Wyldewood Cellars Winery Nov. 25, 12-2 p.m. FREE face painting, balloon art from clowns, cookies, and wine tastings for those 21 and over!
• KMH Holiday Bazaar, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1. FREE admission and pictures with Santa, bake sale, raffle, and hot chocolate bar!
• Great Plains Nature Center “Bringing in the Greens” event is from 6-8 p.m., December 1. FREE Santa visits, Christmas music performances, and craft stations to make your own ornaments and get everyone in the holiday spirit!
• Awesome Toy Sale!!! Santa will be there from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and again 2:30-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Sedgwick County Extension, 7001 W. 21st St. N.
• Newton YMCA Free and open to the community, Santa will stop at the Newton Y from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday morning, December 2, and they’ll also have live Christmas music, crafts, a bounce house, and a few light snacks. Bring your camera, because Santa will be available for pictures!
• North Branch YMCA Breakfast with Santa. 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2. Eat yummy pancakes and sausage along Mr. Claus for $6.50 per person.
• Santa’s Village at Derby Public Library Dec. 3, 1-5 p.m. 7th annual event includes pictures with Santa, Christmas stories, crafts & toy train displays. Free and open to the public! No reservations required.
• Wichita Art Museum Holiday Open House will have a visit with Santa, as well as storytelling with the Glitter Elf. December 3 from 2-4 p.m.
• Lights on the River/Wichita Tree Lighting from 4-8 p.m. December 3 downtown at the Wichita Boathouse. Catch a glimpse of the big guy, who is rumored to be stopping by amidst all the other fun activities. This event is FREE.