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Looking for Christmas events in Wichita, KS? We have the ultimate list of holiday events, Christmas activities, and what is happening in Wichita this Holiday. We want to take some stress off you this holiday season and make it easy for you to see what’s happening in & around Wichita. 

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November Holiday Events in Wichita

December Holiday Events in Wichita

This list has events for both adults and kids. Many of these Wichita Christmas events make for an affordable day out with the family, a date night with your spouse or an evening with friends. Immerse yourself in the holiday cheer with these community gatherings designed to bring joy and celebration to all.

November and December are filled with holiday events in Wichita. Here are some more Christmas things to do in Wichita, KS you might want to know about:

Christmas Concerts and Shows
Festive Bazaars and Markets
Where to Visit Santa
Christmas Movies & Holiday Classics 
Pop Up Holiday Bars & Igloos in Wichita 
25 Days of Holiday Fun
Christmas Lights Show and House Displays
Horse-drawn Carriage Rides
Chicken N Pickle Outdoor Ice Skating 
Christmas Gift Guide: Local Experiences 
Holiday Traditions that are FREE & Cheap 
Christmas Tree Farms 

Christmas Events in Wichita 2024

November Events

November 7, 8, 9 and 10 Mark Arts Holiday Tables $12 at the Mary R Koch Arts Center, 1307 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67206.

November 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 and Dec. 1 Midian Shrine Feztival of Trees at the Midian Shrine Center, 130 N. Topeka, in Wichita, KS. See link for hours.

November 24 Bradley Fair Tree Lighting, 4 p.m. at Rock Rd. and 21st Street North. FREE, with separate fee for some activities.

November 29 to January 4 Botanica Illuminations with time slots from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 701 Amidon St., Wichita, KS. An annual tradition in Wichita with thousands and thousand of gorgeous holiday lights. Admission $16 and less.

November 29 to December 22 Prairie Pines Old Fashioned Christmas Go out into the field to choose your own tree, and enjoy all the festive decor and fun while you’re there at the Christmas tree farm. Tree prices vary; you can visit without buying a tree. Several activities and concessions will be available for an additional fee, plus they usually have a store with beautiful holiday items you can purchase.

November 29 to December 23 on weekends Fulton Valley Christmas from 5:30-9 p.m. at 5079 SW Fulton Road, Towanda, KS 67144 See link for exact dates & times. Santa and his real live reindeer will be there. $12 adults and $9 kids (4-11). Some activities and food have an additional fee.

November 29 to January 5 Strataca Season of Lights Enjoy a 2.5 hour self-guided tour 650 feet below ground, but add the experience of glowing festive lights throughout the mine. Tickets are $25 or less.

November 30 to December 22 Watson’s Christmas Express 5-6:30 p.m. Polar Express activity at Watson Park. See link for the full details. $15 per person for the train ride to the North Pole to see Santa; $5 per person unlimited hot cocoa and 1 s’more.

November 30 Mulvane Shop Small Holiday Market 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mulvane Middle School, 915 N. Westview Dr. (See more like this in our Christmas Craft Fairs and Holiday Bazaars roundup)

November 30 and December 1 Metropolitan Ballet Wichita Nutcracker Performance times vary. $45 per person and less.

Holiday Events in Wichita 2024

December Events

Through December 22 Watson’s Christmas Express 5-6:30 p.m. includes a variety of fun holiday activities at different price points, all centering around experiencing the classic Polar Express Christmas tale. $15 per person for the train ride to the North Pole to see Santa; $5 per person unlimited hot cocoa and 1 s’more.

Through January 5 Strataca Season of Lights Enjoy a 2.5 hour self-guided tour 650 feet below ground, but add the experience of glowing festive lights throughout the mine. Tickets are $25 or less.

Sunday, December 1 Holiday Stroll 2-6 p.m. at Bradley Fair Shopping Center, Rock Road and 21st Street North in Wichita. FREE admission, separate fees for some activities.

December 2-5 Festival of Trees Christmas Display, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Andover State Bank. Kick off the holiday season with your family and friends by enjoying a stunning display of beautifully decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, and more. FREE

December 3 Christmas Parade in Augusta, KS starting at 6 p.m. in the Red Brick District downtown. Dazzling lights on parade, Santa and his reindeer, treats like cookies and hot cocoa to keep you warm.

December 4-7 Runaway Snowman 10 a.m. or noon. Fun, participatory show for kids at Wichita Children’s Theatre, performed by a professional acting company. Tickets range from $6 to $11. Lunchtime performance can include an optional slice of pizza. See more Christmas Shows in Wichita.

December 5 Andover State Bank Jingle Mingle, 6-8:30 p.m. at 511 N. Andover Rd. Open to the public; charitable mixer. Proceeds provide scholarships for Andover High School, Andover Central, and eCadamy. Live music, cocktails, wine, beer, food. $30 early bird or $40

December 5 Parade of Lights in Newton at 6:30 p.m. downtown. Parade, cookies and hot chocolate, pictures with Santa, and shopping at Newton downtown businesses.

December 6 & 7 Victorian Chrismas at Old Cowtown Museum is a lamp-lit, carol-filled magical night and one of the most affordable family events in town! Enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate with family and friends while you stroll through the streets of Cowtown as it has been transformed into a good ol’ fashioned Victorian Christmas.

December 6 Short & Suite Nutcracker Performance times vary at VIMA Church, 9112 E. Central. Kid-friendly shorter version of the classic Nutcracker. Santa will visit the show. Tickets $28 and less.

December 6-8 Friends University Candlelight Concert Performance times vary. Classic holiday concert featuring The Singing Quakers and Concert Choir, joined by Friends’ band, jazz, and art programs. Tickets are $16 and less.

December 6-8 WSU Candlelight Concert Performance times vary. Enjoy performances by the Wichita State University Choral Department. Tickets are $12 and less.

December 7 Bel Aire Holiday Celebration is going to be a stop on Santa’s itinerary again this year. He’ll bring his reindeer along, and you can enjoy treats, crafts, and a light show with him from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

December 7 Hutchinson, KS Christmas Parade, 6 p.m. in Downtown Hutchinson, at Avenue B-7th Street Hutchinson, KS 67501. Light Up Hutch and cheer for Santa at this classic Christmas event in Kansas. FREE

December 7 Village Christmas in Haysville from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Pride Park. Bundle up and enjoy festive activities in the park, including caroling, visiting Santa, food and drink for purchase, a tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. and more!

December 7 El Dorado Christmas Tree Lighting, Parade, and Old Fashioned Fun from morning to early evening. You’ll find a whole day of fun that will include a vendor fair, gingerbread house competition, museum tours, Santa visits, a Christmas parade, and more.

December 7 Valley Center Hometown Christmas at 7 p.m. in the 100 block of West Main Street, Valley Center, Kansas. Sounds of the season performed by local talent, hot chocholate and cookies, and a special visitor from the North Pole!

December 7 City of Sedgwick Community Christmas from 5:15-8:30 p.m. at 520 N. Commercial Ave. in Sedgwick. A fun-filled evening of cheer that includes the tree lighting, treats and activities for kids, music, and more!

December 8 Lights on the River from 4-7 p.m. Fun annual holiday event from Wichita Clean Streams that includes food trucks, wagon rides, s’mores and glowing lights. Also, bring your kids ( or fur babies!) to visit Santa. Npte the new location this year: Douglas Ave. & McClean Blvd.

December 8 Maize Whoville & Christmas Tree Lighting from 5-7 p.m. at 401 S. Khedive St in Maize, KS. Tree lighting, selfies with Santa, sweets and hot drinks, live entertainment and more.

December 8 Colwich KS Christmas Festival 5-6:30 p.m. at Veterans Park, South 5th Street & Chicago Ave. Festive indoor and outdoor activities, like a candy cane hunt, visits with Santa, games, and more.

December 10 Spirit of the Season FREE Symphony Concert, 7:30 p.m. at Century II Performing Arts Center, 225 W. Douglas in downtown Wichita, Kansas. This annual free, family-friendly concert is a Wichita tradition. Get your tickets the minute they become available so you don’t miss out. FREE

December 11-14 Best Christmas Pageant Ever Performance times vary; performed at Newman University. Still Updating for 2024: Come back soon for more updates. This article is a work in progress.

December 12 Andover Tree Lighting and Lights in Central Park at 5:30 p.m. Part of Andover Hometown Christmas. So much fun.

December 13 Winter Wonderland at Naftzger Park from 6-8 p.m. at 601 E. Douglas. Enjoy a free night of holiday lights, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, photo booth and live entertainment. Sweet treats like candy canes, cookies, s’mores and hot chocolate will be available while you walk around but be careful, the Grinch may be up to some tricks!

December 13 & 14 Victorian Chrismas at Old Cowtown Museum is a lamp-lit, carol-filled magical night and one of the most affordable family events in town! Enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate with family and friends while you stroll through the streets of Cowtown as it has been transformed into a good ol’ fashioned Victorian Christmas.

December 14 Hometown Christmas & Holiday Parade in Rose Hill, 3 p.m. in downtown Rose Hill. Santa had so much fun last year that he decided to join Rose Hill’s Christmas Parade again this year! FREE See more Christmas Tree Lightings in the Wichita area

December 21 Cookies with Santa at Don Hattan Park City 10 a.m. to noon at 6000 Hattan Drive. A free and fun seasonal event for you and your family. Meet Santa and tell him your holiday wishlist, plus enjoy some cookies.

Ongoing Holiday Events for Families in Wichita 2024

Merry and Bright – Union Station Light Event and Toy Drive will be the 2nd Annual holiday lighting event at the historic Union Station in downtown Wichita. Festivities will include: Toy drive (Please bring a new, unwrapped toy; drop boxes will be on site), Lighting of the Douglas bridge train, Photos with Santa, Carriage rides, Interactive kids’ station, Hot cocoa and cookies and Live holiday music and performances. Free admission.

Holiday Stroll at Bradley Fair is happening on four Sundays in December. This shopping center’s event includes $5 train rides, a visit from Santa, and live entertainment, and more!

Botanica Illuminations is an annual tradition in Wichita, which fills the night sky with holiday lights (up to two million of them!) and Christmas music. In addition to the amazing displays, show, and carousel rides, Illuminations will have live carolers each night, hot coco and treats, and the opportunity to visit Santa.

A Country Christmas at Fulton Valley Farms is a Christmas activity for adults and kids draped in over a million lights. Stroll the wooded paths, sip hot chocolate or cider, meet Santa’s reindeer, and take a selfie with the big guy himself. Use the link for more info.

Watson Christmas Express features a train ride like the Polar Express to see Santa Claus. It’s an annual Wichita tradition at Watson Park. Click link above to get the schedule throughout the 2024 holiday season.

Old Fashioned Christmas at Prairie Pines gives you the traditional Christmas experience of cutting down your own tree, visiting Santa, shopping for gifts from the barn, and cookies and hot cocoa to top it all off. Choose & cut trees are $79; pre-cut trees range in price and are clearly marked. Use the link above to get the full schedule for the season. 

We are still updating this article. Come back soon

Christmas in the Park is a day of holiday fun! There will be pictures with Santa. carousel rides. crafts. cookies, model trains, food trucks, carriage rides and much more!

Date: December 9,
Time: 10 am – 6 pm
Location: Madison Avenue Central Park Derby
Cost: FREE (except for Breakfast with Santa)

Lighted Christmas Parade! in addition to its Isle of Lights, Winfield is celebrating the holidays with a good old fashioned parade! This year’s parade theme is “Vintage Christmas.”

Date: December 9, 
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: The parade will be on Main Street and start at 17th Avenue and go North to 10th Avenue.
Cost: FREE

Hometown Christmas in Andover is the perfect small-town celebration with a tree lighting, photos with Santa, holiday crafts, hot chocolate, teen winter carnival, s’mores, hay rack rides and more! Event will be in Andover Central Park.

Date: December 14,  
Time: 5:30-8 p.m.
Location: Andover Central Park
Cost: Admission is a canned goods or monetary donation to benefit Cabering and Sharing.

Polar Express at the Mulvane Library is another fun, kid-friendly holiday event for those southeast of Wichita. Join us for our third annual Polar Express event! Families with young children can come to the library for a morning filled with trains, crafts, story time, hot cocoa, and holiday cheer! You won’t want to miss the Polar Express at the Library! Geared towards families with children ages 0-10.

Date: December 16 , 
Time: 10 am-Noon
Location: Mulvane Cpublc Library
Cost: FREE

Merry Grinchmas at Kansas Aviation Museum is where you can meet the Grinch! Plus, movie at 11 am, crafts and a scavenger hunt with prizes.

Date: December 19, 
Time: 10am-Noon (movie will start at 11 am)
Location: Kansas Aviation Museum
Cost: $5 per person/ Kids 3 and under are free

Cocoa and Cookies with Santa at the Kansas Aviation Museum.  Santa and his elves are coming to the Kansas Aviation Museum! Bring your kids to meet Santa and enjoy hot cocoa in a unique aviation setting. They can share their holiday wishes, take photos, and explore the magic and science of Santa’s sleigh, plus decorate cookies to take home.

Date: December 20, 
Time: 11m – 1 pm
Location: Kansas Aviation Museum

The Cookie Decorating Party at Exploration Place will be a delicious holiday activity. Receive a decorating kit with 8 locally made cookies from The Cookie Rookie, icing, and sprinkles. The fun includes a visit with Santa and entry into the exhibits for your family or decorating group. Festive music and fun activities will be available to keep little hands busy as adults and bigger kids finish their decorating. Kits are limited. $30 per kit for non-members; members receive a $5 discount on that price.

Date: December 21, 
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Location: in the WaterWay Hall of Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd. in Wichita
Cost: $30 for your family

Additional Christmas Attractions in Wichita

Take in a Show

We have our share of holiday shows and concerts in Wichita! There’s everything from Nutcracker performances – both traditional and unconventional – to musical performances from choirs or symphonies to holiday comedy and beyond. 

Visit a Christmas Tree Farm

You can find live Christmas trees in a lot of places, but it’s really fun to go out into a field and choose the perfect tree for you and your family. Wichita’s Christmas Tree Farms will give you the full holiday experience. You won’t find the cheapest trees there but you’ll have memories that are priceless! (In a normal year, some Christmas tree farms have holiday activities and wagon rides out to the fields, making this a very Christmassy thing to do. This isn’t a normal year though, so be sure to double-check what is being offered before you make your plans.) 

Look at Christmas Lights

Turn on the radio and enjoy festive holiday light displays in neighborhoods all over Wichita. You can enjoy the residential displays completely free of charge, or donate to the charities the homeowners are collecting for. Another way to enjoy holiday lights is to drive through The Arc Lights or drive or walk through Illuminations at Botanica. 

Visit Santa

Ho ho ho! Where’s the big guy? You can find Santa (and even his reindeer) at locations around Wichita. Santa prefers Wichita’s milder climate and high-percentage of “Nice List” residents so he often flies in for visits (kind of like Harrison Ford). Find out Where to See Santa in Wichita.

Take a Horse-drawn Carriage Ride

There’s nothing better for a Hallmark Ho-Ho than to enjoy a horse-drawn carriage. (Okay, if we had more snow it would be better to ride in a horse-drawn sleigh, but this is Kansas.) See our complete list of horse-drawn carriage rides. 

Do a Little Local Shopping

As soon as the autumn leaves start turning, local makers start bringing all their lovingly made goods to fall bazaars, Christmas craft fairs, and holiday markets all around Wichita. Although there may be fewer of these vendor markets these days, they aren’t all a thing of Christmas past! 

Local Gift Experience Christmas Gift Guide. Join us as we unwrap the gift of local experiences, exploring the joy of giving moments rather than things.

Also visit our list of Discount and Outlets stores in and around Wichita,

Where to See Santa in Wichita 2024

Other Holiday Photo Opps:

The Selfie Stop

• 1811 East Douglas Ave. Wichita, KS
• Located in Wichita, Kansas, this self-serve photography museum allows visitors to guide themselves through a creative studio and enjoy their own photoshoot experience.
• Guests must bring a phone or camera to explore the museum’s themed photo exhibits. These exhibits are designed to be fun, unique, and ideal for capturing family photos, Instagram posts, TikTok videos, and more!

Adult Holiday Events in Wichita 2024

Have you checked out a Pop-Up Holiday Bar in Wichita? Chicken N Pickle, Rivercity Brewery, and more are popping up around town. These are temporary, themed bars that are open during the Holiday season. They are made to create a festive atmosphere and typically have specialty cocktails and over-the-top decor. They are perfect for a festive night out with friends, a cozy date, or a fun holiday-themed photo opportunity.

Checkout this Video: Snowbound Video

Photo Of Snowbound at Chicken N Pickle