Walk on the wild side & learn how to cook: 10 things to do over the holidays in Wichita

With schools on winter break for more than two weeks coming right on the heels of increased spending, families might need a helping hand when it comes to finding activities over the holidays.

We scoured calendars of area attractions for special events, discounted activities and other holiday break programming to compile this list of 10 things to do over the break. Some of the activities are free. And some of the activities are even suitable for adults looking for things to do with visiting holiday guests.

Here’s what to consider:

Check out more than books

Users of the Wichita Public Library system can check out what it calls “nontraditional” items that can be used for activities outside of the library. Its “Library of Things” collection includes free family passes to visit local attractions and kits for bird-watching and sky-gazing.

For STEM folks who like to write code, the library also has a dozen programmable Finch robots available for checkouts. Patrons need to be aware that the robots only work with Crayola Brush Pens or similar markers and those aren’t included. Most items can be checked out for 14 days, except for attractions passes, which have a seven-day checkout.

Visit wichitalibrary.org/things to see what’s available or put items on hold. An insider tip for getting a high-demand attraction pass: The library keeps some passes in its Lucky Day collection so even if the library’s website shows multiple holds for what it calls its “experience passes,” patrons visiting the library in person should ask a librarian to see what passes might be available. If you get the pass you asked for, it’s your lucky day!

Feed a kid’s interest in cooking, baking & more

Two of Wichita Park and Recreation’s daylong specialty camps during winter break center have food themes. During the Junior Chef Boot Camp on Friday, Dec. 20, participants will cook up a storm, with mini pizza quesadillas, pancakes, strudels and sliders on the menu. During the Wonka Chocolate Factory workshop Thursday, Dec. 26, the focus is on chocolate-related treats. Themes for the other specialty camps include building with Legos and playing traditional sports with a twist, like noodle hockey or balloon baseball. The specialty camps, which are for kids ages 6-13, run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Each camp is $33. Advance registration is required with most registration deadlines falling during the week of Dec. 15. Visit wichita.gov/626/Specialty-Camps to register and complete additional required forms.

Kids in grades 6-9 can spend several hours baking during Mark Arts’ Teens Day Out: Yuletide Baking workshop on Friday, Dec. 20. Participants will learn to bake a yule log during the 11 a.m.-4 p.m. workshop at the Arts Education Center, 1307 N. Rock Road. Cost is $50 and advance registration is required; visit markartsks.com/teens/. More info: 316-634-2787.

Make items in fashion

TISSU Sewing Studio, 200 N. Broadway, is offering several classes for youths ages 7-15, with half-day and full-day options, as part of its Winter Fashion Camp series. Each class will focus on a specific project, from making handmade gifts to making an apron to making pajama pants or a fleece pullover. The classes will meet every weekday, except for Christmas Day, between Friday, Dec. 20, and Friday, Jan. 3. Cost is $35 per half-day class or $60 for full-day classes. To register visit, tissusewingstudio.com/winterfashioncamp2024. More info: 316-737-8787.

Go back in time

The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 N. Main, is offering special tours of its annual wintertime exhibits Sundays, Dec. 22 and 29. A miniature tree collection, on loan to the museum since 1991 and displayed on the second floor, will be the focus of the tours Dec. 22, while the museum’s third-floor Victorian Cottage, decorated in vintage style, will be toured Dec. 29. The tours are scheduled for 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30, with craft-making activities — an ornament on Dec. 22 and a Victorian-style articulated doll on Dec. 29 — following the tours.

An insider tip: While the museum has included some parts of the miniature tree collection in past holiday exhibits, this year visitors will get to see the entire collection of the 22 miniature trees, ranging from 12- to 24-inches tall, and the several thousands of pieces of miniature gifts, decorations and other holiday décor that are displayed in themed vignette scenes. Between the 1970s and 1990s, Wichitan Sylvia Jackson curated and even made some of the items in the collection. Admission to the historical museum from 1-5 p.m. is always free on Sundays. More info: 316-265-9314, wichitahistory.org.

Have a double date night

Wichita Art Museum’s Kids Night Out: Pajama-WAM from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27, offers advantages for both parents and kids ages 6-10. While the kids do various activities, tour the special art exhibit “Robert Peterson: Somewhere in America” and eat pizza, parents can enjoy some kid-free time for a date night themselves. Kids are encouraged to wear pajamas and bring their favorite stuffed animal, which will be the model for a portrait-painting activity. Cost is $40, with a discount for members, and includes all activity supplies and pizza. For info or to register, visit wam.org/event/kids-night-out/.

Admission to all gallery exhibitions except special traveling exhibitions is always free during regular WAM hours of Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fridays until 9 p.m. WAM is closed on major holidays. The entrance fee for the special traveling Robert Peterson exhibition, which closes Jan. 5, is $12 for adults, free for youth 18 and younger, college students with an ID and WAM members. More info: 316-268-4921.

Art for your ears

Grab your smartphone or tablet and experience a unique free art installation available now through Feb. 28 at Chisholm Creek Park at the Great Plains Nature Center and three Wichita wild habitat areas — Oak Park, Pawnee Prairie Park and Swanson Park. Newton-based artist Rachel Epp Buller created the “Winter Walking” audio installation that can be accessed by scanning QR codes displayed throughout the four parks. The installation was influenced by the artist’s four-month daily walking routine as she spent a winter in Canada. Walkers in the Wichita parks can experience sounds of snow, ice, magpies, coyotes and more while taking their own walk during the installation’s run. To sample a short audio clip of the installation before you visit, go to gpnc.org/winter-walking. Park hours are 6 a.m.-midnight daily.

Hit the rinks

Both Carousel Skate Center and the Wichita Ice Center will be have extended hours during the holiday break.

Special holiday break hours at the roller rink Carousel Skate Center, 312 N. West, are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (closed Dec. 24 and 25). Admission for skating is $9.99, with skate rentals costing $1.99 on weekdays and $3.99 on weekends. On Monday, Dec. 23, admission will be half-price. More info: 316-942-4505, carouselks.com.

The Wichita Ice Center, 505 W. Maple St., will have public skating sessions every day and all evenings (except Sundays) during the break except for Tuesday night, Dec. 24, when it will close at 2 p.m. and all day Wednesday, Dec. 25. Daytime public skate hours vary, but generally are around midday into the mid- or late afternoon; the nighttime sessions vary as well. For a detailed schedule, visit wichitaicecenter.com/public-skating. Cost is $5 during weekdays, $7 nights and weekends. It costs $5 to rent skates. More info: 316-337-9199.

At Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich, you can also lace up your skates and swirl and twirl around its outdoor ice pond. A skate pass is $11; for an extra $4 you can rent skates. Hours, weather permitting, are 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays, 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays. More info: 316-535-7150, chickennpickle.com/wichita.

Play games over the holidays

Head to Headshots Bar&Grill, 2120 N. Woodlawn, Suite 324, to play pinball or any of its hundreds of video and board games. It’s $5 per person for unlimited gaming for the entire day. You can check out a list of available games at headshotsbar.com or bring your own to play on their systems. Hours are 3-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 3 p.m.- 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Anyone under 21 must be accompanied by someone 21 or older.

The Arcade, 906 E. 3rd St., also offers unlimited play passes for the day on its vintage video games. Passes are $12 with a $2 discount for kids 10 and younger. (thearcadewichita.com), where you can play all the games you want all day. Anyone 16 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. The Arcade also has more than 20 pinball machines where each play costs 50 cents. The Arcade also now serves food and drink. It’s open daily. More info: 316-844-0010, thearcadewichita.com.

Walk off holiday calories on the wild side

The Sedgwick County Zoo is one of the few attractions open on Christmas and New Year’s days. And since both holidays fall on Wednesdays this year, take advantage of the zoo’s Winter Wednesdays admission prices of $5 per person. Winter Wednesdays continue through the end of February. Zoo hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. More info: 316-660-9453, scz.org.

Climb the walls or throw things

▪ Try your hand at rock climbing at Bliss Climbing & Fitness, which has both climbing walls and bouldering walls. New routes are put up regularly to change things up. Kids as young as 4 are allowed to climb, and those under 14 need adult supervision. Day passes are $19, and equipment rental, including climbing shoes, is extra. More info: 316-831-1479, climbbliss.com.

▪ Relieve a little holiday stress or holiday break boredom and visit one of Wichita’s axe-throwing places or a rage room. Axe to Grind (axetogrind.us/wichita) is located at 220 S. Commerce, and Blade and Timber ((bladeandtimber.com/locations/wichita-delano-district) is located at 535 W. Douglas #160. Both have a minimum-age restriction of 10 years, and reservations are highly recommended. Cost is $24.99 at Axe to Grind, while a session at Blade is $26.

▪ At Let’s Smash Rage Room, 917 W. Douglas, pricing for smash sessions is based on the number and size of items, with packages ranging from $25 to $95 for one person and $10 for each additional person involved in the session. It also has a Bring Your Own Stuff option. The minimum age to participate in smashing is 10 years; anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian present. More info: 316-285-0228, lsrageroom.com.

This story was originally published December 12, 2024 at 5:00 AM.