What to do in Wichita this weekend: tree lighting, ice skating and ‘The Nutcracker’

Wichitans can bundle up this weekend and take in the city’s tree lighting — or take a spin around the ice skating rink at Chicken N Pickle. If they want to stay indoors, they can get lost in a performance of “The Nutcracker” or catch some live music.

Here’s a look at some of the events happening around Wichita during the second week of December.

City tree lighting

5:20-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Naftzger Park, 601 E. Douglas

The Mayor’s Tree Lighting event moves this year to Naftzger Park, which immediately after the lighting will host an event called Winter Wonderland. The lighting is at 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, and the party lasts from 5:30 to 7:30. It will include s’mores roasting in fire pits, hot cocoa, corn hole, holiday music, a photo booth and more. There will also be appearances from holiday characters like Santa and Mrs. Claus and The Grinch. Admission is free. During the party, St. Francis will be closed from Douglas to William.

Two ‘Nutcrackers’

Friday through Sunday (Century II) and Thursday (Wichita Center for Performing Arts)

Fans of “The Nutcracker” can check out two different versions of the famous holiday ballet. Ballet Wichita’s 47th annual production opens on at 7 p.m. Friday and will continue with shows at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Century II Concert Hall. Tickets are $25-$55 and available at wichitatix.com or at the WichitaTix box office inside Century II. Dance Kinetics is also putting on its fourth annual version of the ballet, performed by its students ages 2 to 18, on Thursday at the Wichita Center for Performing Arts. 9112 E. Central. Tickets to its show, titled “A Suite & Snowy Night of Ballet,” are $10 and can be purchased at the door.

Stan Kenton Brass concert

10:30 a.m. Sunday, West Heights Methodist Church, 745 Westlink Ave.

After skipping 2020 because of COVID-19, West Heights Methodist Church is bringing back its Stan Kenton Christmas Brass concert. The 46th presentation of the show will happen at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the church, 745 N. Westlink Ave. The concert, a more than four-decade tradition in Wichita, offers brass arrangements of Christmas music by Wichita native and jazz legend Kenton. It will be directed this year by Anthony Panek. Admission is free.

‘A Drag Queen Christmas’

8 p.m. Thursday, Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway

The Orpheum Theatre on Thursday will be home to a performance of “A Drag Queen Christmas” featuring eight different drag queens, all of whom have completed on the VH1 show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Monet X Change and Trinity the Tuck are both former winners of the show and will serve as the hosts. The queens will perform the Christmas classics with their own twist. The doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show will start at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $41.75 to $84.75 and can be purchased at selectaseat.com, by calling 316-755-7328 or at the Select-A-Seat box office at Intrust Bank Arena.

Asleep at the Wheel

8 p.m. Friday, The Cotillion, 11120 W. Kellogg

The Americana band “Asleep At The Wheel ‘‘ will celebrate 50 years at a show scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday at The Cotillion. Asleep At The Wheel is a 10-time Grammy winning band best known for its songs “Hot Rod Lincoln,” “The Letter” and more. The doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show will start at 8 p.m. on Friday. The opening act will be songwriter Brennen Leigh. Ticket prices range from $35 to $85 and can be purchased at thecotillion.com.

Ice skating season returns

Daily at Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N Greenwich Road

Chicken N Pickle’s outdoor ice skating rink has returned for the winter, and its hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays. A skate pass costs $11, and skate rentals are $4. The rink, which is also available for parties, is usually open through February. For more information, visit chickennpickle.com/wichita/ice-pond.

Tyler Rich in concert

8 p.m. Saturday, Temple Live, 332 E. First St. North

Country singer Tyler Rich will perform on Saturday at Temple Live, the venue inside Wichita’s Scottish Rite Center. Some of Rich’s most popular songs include “Leave Her Wild” and “The Difference.” He has performed along other country superstars like Sam Hunt and Dan + Shay. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show will start at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $39 and can be purchased at wichita.templelive.com.

This story was originally published December 10, 2021 at 5:26 AM with the headline "What to do in Wichita this weekend: tree lighting, ice skating and ‘The Nutcracker’."