Need help filling your holiday calendar? Here’s a list stuffed with Wichita options
If you’re looking for ways to have the “hap-hap-happiest Christmas,” in the words of Clark Griswold, there are plenty of events happening in Wichita that will provide some cheer — without all the mayhem of a Griswold family celebration.
Moonlight tours, candlelight concerts, tributes to Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower and the World War I troops who declared spontaneous truces, decorated wreaths and trimmed-out trees, ornament-making and cookie-decorating sessions, the lighting of Christmas trees and a community menorah, and popular events like Illuminations at Botanica and Gingerbread Village at Exploration Place are among the myriad activities.
And if mayhem is on your list, there’s an opportunity to see “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on the big screen.
Here is a guide to many of those holiday events.
Festive fun for families
“Ice Dinosaurs: The Lost World of the Alaskan Arctic” exhibit, Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean, through Jan. 4. Discover just how cool dinosaurs can be, literally, through this traveling exhibit that focuses on the groundbreaking discoveries made in the field of paleontology. Over the past decade, various fossils, including brand-new species of dinos, have been unearthed in the Alaskan Arctic. The science center’s “Frozen Faceoff” live science show focuses on a showdown of warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals. Admission to the exhibit and all other activities is $20 for ages 12-64; $15 for ages 3-11 and 65 and older; and free for ages 2 and younger, members and SNAP recipients; discounts are also available for military, AAA members and educators. Budget tip: Buy your ticket online and save $2. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, with late hours until 8 p.m. Thursday; on Dec. 24, the facility will close at 5 p.m. and reopen Dec. 26. More info: 316-660-0600, exploration.org.
Holiday moonlight tours at Allen House, 225 N. Roosevelt, at 6 and 7 p.m. every Thursday through Dec. 27 (except for Thanksgiving). Take a 90-minute docent-led tour of Kansas’ only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home. The Allen House will be lit with its original lighting and decorated with vintage 1918 holiday décor to re-create how owners Henry, a newspaperman and politician, and Elsie Allen spent their first Christmas in the home. Holiday treats and beverages are provided in the gift shop before the tours. Tickets are $25; suggested minimum age is 12 and participants must be able to navigate stairs. Some sessions have already sold out. More info and ticket sales: flwrightwichita.org
Ornament and fused glass making sessions. Make your own glass ornaments through appointments at Karg Art Glass in Kechi or in workshops offered by City Arts in downtown Wichita.
At Karg, glass ornament-making is offered on select days by appointment. You pick the style and color and blow the glass, while the glassworkers do the hot glass work. Ornaments start at $37.50. In the fused glass sessions, participants can make items ranging from suncatchers to glass holiday décor to functional pieces; prices start at $35. Kids as young as 5 can participate in either the ornament-making or fused glass sessions. All items take about a week to cool off before you can pick up the finished piece. More info: 316-744-2442
City Arts has a few remaining holiday glassmaking workshops on its schedule. Participants must be at least 16 years old. Sign up for a 90-minute fused glass snowflakes workshop offered at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. Cost is $35. A two-hour fused glass ornament workshop meets at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and costs $45. More info: wichita.gov/189/Glass-Fusing
Holiday exhibitions, Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main. The museum’s annual holiday exhibitions opened during this weekend’s Wreath Festival and will run through Jan. 9. The exhibits include a display of some of the 150 antique and vintage Santa dolls from the museum’s Moore Family Santa Collection and the redecorating of the third-floor Victorian cottage for the holidays. The museum has also brought back its exhibit of miniature Christmas trees created by Wichita artist Sylvia Jackson. Regular museum hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 1-5 p.m. weekends, closed Mondays and holidays. Museum admission is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 6-12, and free for those under 6; with free admission for all on Sundays. Street and lot parking is also free on Sundays. More info: 316-265-9314. wichitahistory.org
11th annual Feztival of Trees, Midian Shrine Temple, 130 N. Topeka St., Friday-Tuesday, Nov. 21-25, and Friday-Sunday, Nov. 28-30. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays; 5-8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. This festive fundraiser, which helps the Shriners provide free medical care for children with specific conditions, not only provides visual spectacles of holiday displays, but also the opportunity to win some serious holiday swag. Entire trees with all the trimmings plus all the gifts underneath, as well as gift baskets, are up for raffle. Buy $1 raffle tickets and stuff them into the fez hat placed in front of each display. Other activities include selfies with Santa, a café and sweets shop, plus vendors. Admission: $5, kids 12 and under are free. More info: midianshrine.org/event
Downtown Wichita Window Wonderland Contest, Nov. 28-Jan. 1. More than two dozen downtown businesses will creatively decorate their windows for the season, and you can vote for your favorite. Community members can vote one per day by scanning a QR code at each business or they can by going to the contest’s website. Winners will be announced on Jan. 7. More info: downtownwichita.org/holidays/window-wonderland
Holidays in Delano, Nov. 29. The Delano Business Association is hosting this event centered on Small Business Saturday. Many businesses in the historic district will be offering specials and activities, such as ornament painting, photos with Santa, candle making, apron decorating and more. Carolers from Truesdell Middle School and Sunrise Christian Academy will be making the rounds.
Watson’s Christmas Express, O.J. Watson Park, 3022 S. McLean, opens at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, and continues every Friday-Sunday evening through Dec. 21. Get on board with Wichita’s version of the Polar Express, the magical train depicted in the award-winning book and movie that transports riders to see Santa. There are two ticket options to ride Watson’s Christmas Express: all-inclusive VIP tickets that must be booked in advance online or à la carte general admission tickets that can only be purchased between 5 and 6:30 p.m. onsite. VIP tickets, which are $20 per person for ages 2 and older, include a book reading along with s’mores and unlimited hot chocolate around a campfire. The $15 general admission tickets, which are first-come, first-served, are just for the train ride and Santa visit; smores and unlimited hot chocolate are a $5 add-on option. More info: 316-529-9940 ext. 5, wichita.gov/656/Watsons-Christmas-Express
Holiday Art Walk, Karg Art Glass, 111 N. Oliver, Kechi, 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. This free event includes glass-blowing demos by three artists, live music, a visit with Santa, giveaways and a scavenger hunt. Participants can also shop or book a glass-fusing workshop. Bookings for ornament-making workshops are not available during the event. Perk City Coffee Bar will also be on site. More info: 316-744-2442
Makers & Masterpieces: Holiday Cheer at the Ulrich, Wichita State University, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Make a papier-mache ornament and check out the exhibitions at the Ulrich Museum of Art. Free. More info: 316-978-3664, ulrich.wichita.edu/program/holiday-cheer/
Jingle Bash, Towne East Square, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Face-painting, crafts, family photo opportunities with a balloon display, letter-writing to Santa, a meet-and-greet with the Grinch and a snow show are among the activities at this free event. More info: simon.com/mall/towne-east-square/stream/jingle-bash-6269764
Gingerbread Village at Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7. A change in the schedule and two admission packages is new this year for this longtime holiday event. Taking place this year in early December rather before Thanksgiving, participants can choose between a package for just the Gingerbread Village activity or an all-access pass to Gingerbread Village, the museum’s exhibits, including “Ice Dinosaurs,” movies and laser shows in the Dome and the “Frozen Faceoff” live-science show. Tickets for the Gingerbread Village activity only are $12 for ages 12-64, $10 for ages 3-11 and 65 and older, $8 for Exploration Place members and free for children under 2. Tickets for the Gingerbread Plus package are $20 for ages 12-64, $15 for ages 3-11 and 65 and older, and free for children under 2. Pro tip: To customize your gingerbread house, bring your personal stash of candies and other edible decorations. More info: 316-660-0600, exploration.org/event/gingerbread-village/
Wichita Art Museum’s Holiday Open House, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Play games, see a miniature train display, make winter-inspired art, dance to tunes by DJ Carbon, drink hot cocoa and visit with Santa during WAM’s free annual holiday open house. More info: 316-268-4921, wichitaartmuseum.org
Victorian Christmas, Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd., from 6-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 5, 6, 12 & 13. Go back in time at Wichita’s living history attraction to experience the spirit of vintage Victorian and frontier holidays. Visitors can see Santa in the old hotel, listen to carolers strolling the lamp-lit dirt streets and watch re-enactments of “The Night Before Christmas” story in the old schoolhouse. Tickets: $15 per person; $5 for museum members, free for kids 4 and under. More info: 316-350-3323, oldcowtown.org
Just for the adults
Senior Wednesday: Holiday Party, 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd. During its regularly scheduled first Wednesday of the month program for Senior Wednesdays, WAM is hosting a holiday party with cookies, hot cocoa, coffee and conversations in its (im)permanent galleries. Senior Wednesdays, offered by WAM and other Wichita cultural institutions, are intended for those ages 55 and older. Cost: $2, free for WAM members. More info: 316-268-4921, wam.org
12 Drinks of Christmas, 7-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean. Dress in festive attire and get into the spirit of Christmas as you imbibe in international holiday drinks. Small bites, along with coffee, soda and water, will also be available. The 21-and-older event includes admission to the museum’s exhibits. General admission tickets are $75 per individual with a $10 discount for members. More info: 316-660-0600, exploration.org
Christmas Soiree, 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd. Dine like (almost) royalty with a formal Victorian dinner during this holiday-themed fundraiser, which supports the museum’s volunteer groups and archival collection. Live entertainment includes performances by the museum’s melodrama troupe and melodies sung by Lynn Young. Western-formal or business casual attire recommended. Tickets are $75 per person and include dinner, drinks and a special gift; tickets for a table of eight are $500. More info: 316-350-3323, facebook.com/events/1775022700017614
The stage is set for the holidays
“Holidaze of Our Lives,” Mosley Street Melodrama, 234 N. Mosley, now through Dec. 20, with several shows already sold out. November shows run Friday and Saturday, with added Wednesday and Thursday shows and Saturday matinees after Thanksgiving. Like a made-for-TV daytime drama, residents of El Dorado Falls are dealing with scandals and seasonal spirits, with a cast of characters that include a diva, an evil twin, a missing baby and a hunky handyman. Following the intermission, audience members can enjoy the Holly Jolly Follies Musical Comedy Revue. Tickets start at $30 for show only, with dining and seat option upgrades. More info: 316-263-0333, mosleystreet.com
“Dancing & Dying at the Ole Five & Dime,” Prairie Pines Playhouse Murder Mystery Theatre, 4055 N. Tyler Road, Maize; Fridays and Saturdays in November, Wednesday-Sundays in December with additional shows Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 22 and 23. Seating for the dinner is 6 p.m. nightly, except for Sundays, when seating starts at 5 p.m.; the show starts an hour later. In this interactive whodunnit, a murder occurs at Muddvale College’s Christmas Snowball Dance and it’s up to college dean Holly Berry to solve it. Tickets for general seating are $44.95 per person, which includes a three-course holiday dinner and nonalcoholic drinks; upgrades for reserved seating are available. Tickets for Wednesday shows are $2 cheaper. More info: 316-303-2037, prairiepinesplayhouse.com
“Dwight Christmas,” Roxy’s Downtown, 415 ½ E. Douglas, 7:30 p.m. nightly performances Thursdays-Saturdays through Dec. 20, with additional performances Dec. 23, 26 & 27. Rick Bumgardner and Simon Hill, Roxy’s producing artistic director and assistant creative director, respectively, are the writers of this original musical comedy, where diplomacy decks the halls through Kansas’ famous son Dwight Eisenhower and first lady Mamie Eisenhower. Tickets are $42. Reservations: 316-265-4400, roxysdowntown.com
“The Gingerbread Man” by Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center, 201 Lulu, 10 a.m. and noon, Wednesday, Dec. 3-Saturday, Dec. 6; the noon show has an option for pizza served at 11:30 a.m. For ages 2 and up. A gingerbread man cookie treat grows so big that it comes to life and runs away from a family’s Christmas party. Tickets: $9; $11 with pizza. More info: 316-262-2282, wctdc.org
“Holiday Extravaganza,” Mary Jane Teall Theater, Century II, 225 W. Douglas, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 & 6; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 & 7; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Music Theatre Wichita will bring festive songs and spirited dances to the stage. Tickets range from $42 to $83. More info: 316-265-3107, mtwichita.org
“The Nutcracker” by Metropolitan Ballet, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, Century II Concert Hall, 225 W. Douglas. Wichita’s Metropolitan Ballet will again perform “The Nutcracker,” the classic ballet by Tchaikovsky about a Victorian-era Christmas Eve party where the young girl Clara imagines her toy nutcracker comes to life and eventually fights the Mouse King. Tickets range from $18-$53 and are available through Select-A-Seat, selectaseat.com. More info: 316-755-7328
“Short and Suite Nutcracker” by Midwest Dance Mechanix at the Wichita Center for the Performing Arts, 9112 E. Central. Show times are 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, 2:30 & 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Looking for a shorter version of this well-known Christmas ballet? This marks the eighth season that Midwest Dance Mechanix dancers ages 6-18 will perform this 90-minute version (which includes intermission) that was choreographed by longtime Wichita ballet legend Stan Rogers and Dance Mechanix owner/director Jana Owen. Another holiday tradition is the pre-show activities, including visits with Santa, starting 45 minutes before each show. Tickets: $29 for ages 17 and older, $16 for youth. More info: dancemechanix.biz/nutcracker
“Words & Music: Holiday in Hitsville, USA” by the Forum Theatre in Wilke Center, First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway, 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and 2 & 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Listen to the Sounds of Detroit/Motown versions of holiday hits. Tickets: $31-$34. More info: 316-618-0444, forumtheatre.org
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center at De Mattias Performance Hall, Newman University, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17-Friday, Dec. 19; 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19; and 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. For more than four decades, WCT&DC has performed this comedy about an outrageous family of children who learn the Christmas story and try to have everyone else rediscover the meaning. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Tickets: $9, More info: 316-262-2282, wctdc.org
“The Nutcracker” by Ballet Wichita, Century II Concert Hall, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19 and 20, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. Ballet Wichita is in its 51st year of presenting this iconic ballet. Tickets range from $30-$68 and are available through Select-A-Seat, selectaseat.com. More info: 316-755-7328
Music will be in the air
Bloomfield Carillon Concerts, noon Wednesday, Nov. 26, and Tuesday, Dec. 23, outside the Wichita -Sedgwick County Historical Museum. You won’t even have to leave your car to enjoy these free lunchtime concerts, part of a long-running series funded by the Bloomfield Foundation. The concert is performed from the fifth-story carillon inside the museum, but the best seats are outside, either in the museum’s outdoor Heritage Square, surrounding sidewalks or from your vehicle with the windows rolled down. More info: wichitahistory.org
Wichita Choral Society Fall/Holiday Concert, 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, First United Methodist Church, 130 N. Broadway St. Handel’s “Messiah” and John Rutter’s “Gloria” will be among the pieces performed in this concert. Tickets are $15. More info: facebook.com/events/2199104180573050
Christmas with the Rat Pack, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, Century II, 225 W. Douglas. Impersonators Brian Duprey as Frank Sinatra, Joe Scalissi as Dean Martin and Kenny Jones as Sammy Davis Jr., along with a swing band and Jami Duprey as Marilyn Monroe, will take you back to 1960s Las Vegas. Tickets range from $54 to $79, and are available through Select-A-Seat, selectaseat.com. More info: 316-755-7328
Wichita State’s 62nd annual Candlelight Concerts, Wiedemann Hall, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 & 6; 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. The concerts feature WSU’s Madrigal Singers, Concert Chorale, WuChoir and ShockerChoir. Tickets: $12 with discounts for seniors, military, WSU faculty and staff, students and children; free to WSU students. More info: 316-978-3233, wichita.edu/fineartsboxoffice
Friends University’s Candlelight Concerts, Sebits Auditorium, Riney Fine Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 & 6; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Performers include the university’s Singing Quakers, Concert Choir, orchestra, flute choir and more. Ticket prices: $16 for adults, $12 for ages 5-18 and 55 and older, and students. More info: 316-295-5677, friends.edu/finearts/fine-arts-tickets/
Delano Concerts: Delano Wind Ensemble, 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, District Church, 304 S. Seneca. One of several community ensembles under the auspices of the Delano Chamber Players, the Delano Wind Ensemble will perform Christmas songs, as well as a sing-along opportunity. Free, but donations of $10 are suggested. More info: thedelanochamberplayers.org
Wichita Symphony Orchestra’s Spirit of The Season concert, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, Century II Convention Hall, 225 W. Douglas. Enjoy carols and other holiday favorites in this free hourlong concert, billed as WSO’s gift to the community. While it’s free to attend, ticket reservations are required due to seating capacity; RSVP online and tickets will be emailed. Canned food donations are being collected for the Kansas Food Bank, along with cash donations for the symphony’s education programs. More info: wichitasymphony.org/events
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, concert by the Wichita Grand Opera, DeMattias Performance Hall, Newman University, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. In 1914, during World War I, pockets of spontaneous, unofficial truces took place on the Western Front as opposing soldiers put down their arms and raise their voices in holiday songs. “All is Calm” is an a cappella performance, based on writings from the soldiers’ diaries and letters, that pays tribute to that coming together. Tickets: $40. More info: wichitagrandopera.org
Candlelight: Christmas Special, Kansas Aviation Museum, 3550 S. George Washington Blvd., 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, 8:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. The tentative program includes a variety of holiday carols, a traditional Hanukkah song and selections from Claude Debussy and Tchaikovsky, including “The Nutcracker,” that are performed by an instrumental ensemble. The concert is suitable for ages 8 and older. Cost: Tickets range from $39 to $90. More info: feverup.com/m/141390
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, Park City Arena, 8151 N. Hartman Arena Drive, Park City. Blending classical, new-age and rock elements, Mannheim Steamroller is known for its unique arrangements of traditional holiday songs like “Carol of the Bells” and “Deck the Halls.” Tickets range from $39 to $79, and are available through Ticketmaster, ticketmaster.com. More info: 316-744-8880
Shining bright
Wild Lights, Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 W. Zoo Blvd., 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays through Dec. 21. While the zoo’s display of lighted Asian lantern sculptures isn’t holiday-themed, it’s still a can’t-miss activity this time of year. Pyramids, pagodas, lions and dragons are among the featured displays in this year’s Wild Lights, now in its fifth year. Advance general admission tickets for ages 3 and older are $19; at-the-gate prices are $21. Members get a $2 discount. Budget tip: Go on a Wednesday, when advance tickets are $16 for the public and $14 for members. More info: scz.org/event/wild-lights
Illuminations at Botanica, 701 Amidon, hourly timed entry slots from 5:30-8:30 p.m. until Jan. 3, closed Dec. 24 and 25. The Gilded Age has come to Botanica as the inspiration behind this year’s Illuminations display in the Shakespeare Garden. Another new installation is Tulipscapes, an immersive floral light experience. With more than 2 million lights, Illuminations transforms Botanica into what its officials call “the brightest spot in Kansas.” Illuminations placed fifth in the USA Today’s 10 Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights display for 2024. Returning displays include the butterfly installation that made its debut last year, three choreographed light displays that dance to music, a 62-foot lighted tree and a 240-foot walk-under tunnel. Santa will be at Illuminations until Dec. 23, and kids can also drop off their letters to Santa. The Khicha Family Carousel will be open; ride tickets are $3 each. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance online for specific times, are $19, $15 for members, $12 for children ages 3-12, free for children 2 and younger. More info: 316-264-0448, botanica.org/illuminations
Friends University’s Ceremony of Lights, Rose Window Plaza, Davis Administration Building, 2100 W. University Ave., 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. The lighting of the Davis Administration Building’s historic clock tower will be heralded in this free event featuring live music by the Singing Quakers and the Friends University Band. Other activities include a visit and photos with Santa, along with cookies and cocoa. More info: friends.edu/holiday-traditions
A Country Christmas, Fulton Valley Farms, 5079 SW Fulton Road, Towanda, 5:30-9 p.m. Fridays-Sundays, Nov. 28-Dec. 7, and then nightly from Dec. 12 to 23. Visitors to Fulton Farms, founded in 1869, can stroll along wooded paths and other light displays featuring more than 2 million lights, see live reindeer, stop into the Santa Station for photos, take a sleigh ride with Clydesdales, and watch a nightly living nativity performance at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $16 for ages 12 and older, $11 ages 4-11, free ages 3 and under; additional costs for the sleigh and barrel train rides. Fulton Farms also offers dining experiences with Santa on select dates. More info: 316-775-1894, fultonvalleyfarms.com
Winter Wonderland, Naftzger Park, 605 E. Douglas, 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. This free event celebrates the lighting of the city of Wichita’s official holiday tree. Activities include live music, letter-writing to Santa, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, festive photo stations, mischief-making by the Grinch and more. More info: wichita.gov/winterwonderland
Night of Light, 2000 N. Rock Road, 5-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Join this free Hanukkah celebration, which will include the lighting of a menorah and a gelt drop from a fire truck. More info: bradleyfair.com/event/night-of-light-12-14-25/
An entertaining family celebration
The Orpheum Theatre organization is once again screening the iconic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” With the Orpheum shuttered for renovations, the film will be shown at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, in Century II’s Mary Jane Teall Theater. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with some pre-screening festivities of games, props and prizes. Costumes based on the movie’s Griswold family, whose plans for a perfect family Christmas go horribly awry, are encouraged. Tickets: $15.64 in advance; prices increase the day of event More info: 316-755-7328, selectaseat.com
This story was originally published November 23, 2025 at 5:26 AM.