10 fun things to do with family in Wichita for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving: A time both of excitement (for guests) and stress (for hosts).

When out-of-town relatives come to visit for Thanksgiving, it can sometimes be a struggle to figure out what to do with them. It’s easy to get cabin fever cooped up inside the house.

Avoid that trap and show off the city to your relatives this Thanksgiving weekend.

Here’s a list of things to do in town this holiday weekend, ranging from “classic Wichita things” to special events taking place this weekend.

Let’s start with what I like to call the “classic Wichita things” – activities most Wichitans have done before, but are new and exciting to visitors:

FREE: Visit the Keeper of the Plains for the ‘Ring of Fire’

7-7:15 p.m. nightly, Keeper of the Plains, 650 N. Seneca

I know, this is probably the most-often written-about thing to do in Wichita, but it bears repeating. It’s Wichita’s most recognizable landmark (our representative symbol for the Bicentennial) and it’s best seen when the “Ring of Fire” is lit in the evenings. Around this time of year, the flames are lit around 7 p.m. Park in the Exploration Place lot or in the small lot just to the east of the statue, off Central.

Free.

FREE: Final Friday

Friday evening, various Wichita galleries

It just so happens that the day after Thanksgiving is also the last Friday of the month, which means it’s time for Wichita’s monthly art gallery crawl. Final Friday is one of Wichita’s most lively cultural experiences, highlighting local and regional art at Wichita’s various creative galleries. For Final Friday first-timers and out-of-town guests, I’d recommend going to the Commerce Street Art District (Commerce Street just south of Waterman), a local gallery hub. CityArts, in Old Town Square, is also a good option for Final Friday first-timers. Keep an eye on Kansas.com/keeper for a full listing of Final Friday gallery openings.

Free.

Check out Wichita’s zoo

10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd.

The Sedgwick County Zoo is open 364 days every year (the one day it’s closed is the September day before Zoobilee), which means you can explore the zoo all weekend long. Wichita’s zoo is highly regarded, and its Elephants of the Zambezi River Valley exhibit opened last year to acclaim. Every day there are a variety of “keeper talks” throughout the day. For a daily schedule, visit www.scz.org.

$15.95 adults 12-61, $11.95 seniors 62+ and children 3-11, free for children 2 and under. www.scz.org, 316-660-9453

Get in the holiday spirit at Illuminations or The Arc’s Lights

Illuminations: 5:30-8:30 p.m. every night starting Friday; Botanica, 701 N. Amidon. The Arc’s Lights: 5:30-9 p.m. Thurs., Sun., 5:30-10 p.m. Fri., Sat., Douglas & St. Paul

Now that Thanksgiving is well underway, it’s time to think about Christmas, right? Right? Both of these popular holiday light displays open for the season this weekend, and if you’re looking for something to do, this is a great way to kickstart the Christmas season. Plus, you’ll be one of the first people in Wichita to see the light displays this holiday season.

Illuminations: $10 adults, $7 children 3-12. The Arc’s Lights: $10 per carload Friday and Saturday, free-will donations every other day. www.botanica.org, www.arc-sedgwickcounty.org

Carriage rides at Bradley Fair

6-10 p.m. Fri., Sat., Bradley Fair, 21st and Rock

Sometimes, visiting relatives want to go shopping. Doubly impress your relatives by taking them to Bradley Fair to shop and go on a horse-drawn carriage ride for free. The large Christmas tree at the shopping center always make for a picturesque backdrop for photos. There are also plenty of places to eat around Bradley Fair, so you could make a morning/afternoon of it.

Free. www.bradleyfair.com, 316-630-9990

Here starts the list of things uniquely going on this weekend:

Go to the bars on Thanksgiving

Thursday evening, various bars

Sometimes you just want to get out for a few beers on Thanksgiving. I recently put together a listing of bars that will be open on Thanksgiving – and there are plenty in town – but you might want to plan on taking visiting family down to Old Town, Wichita’s nightlife hub. Some Old Town bars that will be open on Thanksgiving include Mort’s Martini and Cigar Bar, 923 E. First St. (8 p.m.-2 a.m.), Industry Old Town, 126 N. Mosley (8 p.m.-2 a.m.), XY Bar, 235 N. Mosley (6 p.m.-2 a.m.) and Emerson Biggins, 808 E. Douglas (3 p.m.-2 a.m.). I’ll have a full list up on Kansas.com/keeper.

Depends on how much you drink.

‘The Kyle and Monte Christmas Musical 2’

8 p.m. Fri., Sat., 6 p.m. Sun., Roxy’s Downtown, 412 E. Douglas

Disclaimer: I haven’t seen this year’s installment of local funnymen Kyle Vespestad and Monte Wheeler’s holiday show, but last year’s was an absolute riot. The show is playing Friday through Sunday this weekend, which should give you ample opportunity to see it. It’s a chance to showcase one of Wichita’s local theatre spots and get in a good laugh. Dinner available from 6:30-7:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

$20-$30. www.roxysdowntown.com, 316-265-4400

Shop for souvenirs on Small Business Saturday

9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat., various businesses in town, primarily in the Douglas Design District, Historic Delano District, Old Town Wichita and Downtown Wichita

This Saturday is what retailers like to call Small Business Saturday, in which local retailers will often offer discounts or other specials on their goods. If you’ve got family in town that maybe want a Wichita-themed souvenir, you could always take them to The Workroom, the newly opened Vortex Souvenir or other local shops that sell Wichita souvenirs. Other places to consider: Reuben Saunders Gallery, Love of Character, Liv+Work and Aerial.

Free admission to the Wichita Art Museum

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Fri., Sat., Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd.

Every year, the Wichita Art Museum hosts free-admission days immediately following the holidays, and this year is no exception. If you want to impress your relatives with your cultural prowess, take them to the art museum, which recently opened an exhibition from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art on surveillance. The museum’s Irving Penn retrospective is also still featured. Before you leave, check out the museum’s store for some unique holiday gifts.

Free. www.wichitaartmuseum.org, 316-268-4921

Christmas at the Castle

2 p.m. Sat., Castle Inn Riverside, 1155 N. River Blvd.

One of Wichita’s most unique residences, the Riverside castle – technically known now as the Castle Inn Riverside – is hosting an open house on Saturday featuring Christmas carolers, holiday snacks and Santa appearances. There are steep stairs throughout the building, so if you’re bringing strollers or otherwise have difficulty climbing stairs, this may not be the most ideal event for you. Tickets sold at the door or online at Eventbrite.

$10.

This story was originally published November 22, 2017 at 4:04 PM with the headline "10 fun things to do with family in Wichita for Thanksgiving."