What to do in Wichita this weekend: See the lights, see a movie, see a musical
It’s the weekend before Thanksgiving, meaning lots of Wichita’s annual holiday events and light displays are open and ready for visitors.
But holiday fun is not all that’s happening this weekend. You can also catch a musical, a movie screening or even a flea market.
Here are some events worthy of checking out:
Bradley Fair tree lighting
5 p.m. Sunday, Bradley Fair, 21st and Rock
The annual lighting of the 30-foot Christmas tree at Bradley Fair, the shopping center at 21st and Rock Road, will happen at 5 p.m. on Sunday. The lighting ceremony will also include photos with Santa from 5 to 7 p.m., free horse-drawn carriage rides until 10 p.m., carolers, a performance by Injoy Fountain at 6 p.m., plus hot cocoa and cider stations. Admission is free. Carriage rides will continue on Sundays through the holiday season.
Illuminations is illuminated
5:30 to 9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 1, Botanica, 701 Amidon
The annual Illuminations event at Botanica has opened for the year, and the gardens are aglow with more than 2 million lights. The display is open at the gardens at 701 Amidon from 5:30 to 9 p.m. through Jan. 1, though it will be closed Wednesday and Thursday and Dec. 24-25. The gardens will also include 800 lighted trees and thousands of luminaria spread over the 17-acre gardens. The carousel will be open each night, and kids can visit with Santa and drop off a letter. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance online, are $13, $9 for children ages 12 and under and members, free for children 2 and younger. Carousel tickets will be sold on site. For more information, visit botanica.org/illuminations
Holiday Wreath Festival
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main
The Sedgwick County Historical Museum’s 38th annual Holiday Wreath Festival runs through Saturday and will feature holiday wreaths on display plus music and unique gifts and baked goods for sale. Its hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. To reserve “delay-free” admission, call 316-265-9314 or email wschm@wichitahistory.org.
Lights on St. Paul
Nightly from Thursday through Dec. 28, Douglas and St. Paul
The organization formerly known as the Arc of Sedgwick County is now called The Ability Point, and it’s about to open its annual drive-through light display on St. Paul Street. The display will open on Thanksgiving night and will feature 1.5 million lights and displays. It will be open from nightly through Dec. 28. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 5:30 to 11 p.m. Christmas Eve. The route starts at Douglas and St. Paul and travels north. Admission is $10 a carload Fridays through Sundays. Mondays through Thursdays, the organization accepts donations as admission. Weekend tickets can be purchased in advance at local QuikTrip stores.
Bonnie & Clyde on stage
7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, Northeast Magnet High School, 5550 N. Lycee St., Bel Aire
In the mood for a musical? Wichita’s Northeast Magnet High School is putting on a presentation of the Broadway show “Bonnie & Clyde” this weekend. The show, rated PG-13, has never been done before in USD 259. The staging will include real Model A cars loaned by members of the Wichita Model A Car Club, and after the show, people can sit in and take pictures with the cars. The show will also feature a live student orchestra. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at the school, 5550 N. Lycee St in Bel Aire. Admission is $6 for students and seniors and $9 for adults.
God Save the Wings
6 p.m. Saturday, Augusta Historic Theatre, 523 State St., Augusta
The Augusta Historic Theatre will be screening the documentary “God Save the Wings” as part of a fundraising event on Saturday. Doors will open with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. screening of the 95-minute documentary, which explores Wichita’s love of its indoor soccer team during the 1980s. Wings legend Kevin Kewley and coach Roy Turner will be in attendance. Tickets are $6.50 and can be purchased through the Augusta Art Council. Proceeds from the event will benefit the theatre.
Flea market weekend
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Kansas Star Casino, 777 Kansas Star Drive, Mulvane
It’s Wichita Flea Market weekend again, and the big sale — which fills the arena at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane on the third weekend of each month — will be set up on Saturday and Sunday. It will feature more than 200 booths filled with things like antiques, collectibles, comics, artwork, jewelry, toys and more. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. A one-day pass is $3, and a two-day pass is $5. Children 12 and under will be admitted for free.
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 5:00 AM.