Smile with Santa and other Christmas characters in and around Wichita

If you’re looking for a candid Christmas — as in photos with Santa — there’s a long list of opportunities to do that in the next few weeks before Christmas, ranging from photo sessions to breakfasts to several of Wichita’s annual events. Here are several of those opportunities.

Focus on photos

Rebranded as Bass Pro Shops, the former Cabela’s at 2427 N. Greenwich is continuing its annual Santa Wonderland activities, including getting a free 4 x 6-inch photo and shareable video when you book a photo session with Santa. You can also book a Christmas story time session with Santa on Tuesdays. To book sessions, visit basspro.com/b/santas-wonderland. Additional photo packages are available for purchase. During weekday visits, Bass Pro is giving away a small gift while supplies last: a colorable frame through Dec. 5 and a shrink art project Dec. 6-24. Santa Wonderland is open daily through Dec. 24.

Santa has settled in the lower-level, center court area of Towne East Square, 7700 W. Kellogg, for visits daily through Dec. 24. A Caring Santa session, a sensory-friendly experience for kids with special needs, happens 9-10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7. Book in advance online to ensure your spot and get additional perks like a personalized digital message from Santa, discounted photo and holiday card packages from Shutterfly and a free 3-month trial to the Crayola Create and Play app. More info: simon.com/mall/towne-east-square/stores/santa-photo-experience

What’s better than photos with Santa? How about getting photos with the iconic Christmas cynic and the little girl who made his heart grow three sizes? NewMarket Square is hosting a meet-and-greet with Santa, the Grinch, Cindy Lou and live reindeer from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, at the shopping center’s entrance fountain plaza, 2441 N. Maize. Cocoa Dolce will provide hot cocoa. More info: facebook.com/events/1366376681662231

Furry family members don’t have to miss photos with Santa or at least a holiday-themed background with these options.

All three PetSmart locations in Wichita are offering pet photos from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13 and 14. Spots are limited; book reservations at petsmart.com/santa-photo-days.

Wag’en Tail Ranch, a doggie daycare and boarding facility at 6106 W. 69th St. North in Valley Center, will have a photographer onsite from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, for cash donations. The public is also welcome to drop in during boarding hours to take photos with their own devices in front of the facility’s decorated holiday wall during boarding hours, which are 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 4-7 p.m. Sundays-Fridays. More info: 316-755-1461, wagentail.com

Treats and eats with Santa

Watermark Books, 4701 E. Douglas, will host Santa for its Storytime and Cookies with Santa from Dec. 4 to 6, which will feature cookie decorating, photos with Santa and different Christmas stories each day. Santa will read “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 4, “Santa’s First Christmas” on Dec. 5 and “’Twas the Night Before Christmas in Kansas” on Dec. 6. Tickets, which are selling fast, are $30 per child and include admission for up to two adults. Timed entries for the hourlong experiences are 5 and 6 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5, and 2, 3, and 4 p.m. on Dec. 6. More info: watermarkbooks.com/event/2025-12-04/storytime-and-cookies-santa, 316-682-1181

Enjoy the first meal of the day along with photos and other activities with Santa during Old Cowtown Museum’s annual Breakfast with Santa 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The event is held in the attraction’s Visitor Center. Tickets are $20. For reservation info: facebook.com/events/615995397569078, 316-350-3323.

Santa dining events at Fulton Farms, 3079 SW Fulton Road in Towanda, are very popular and some have already sold out. Supper with Santa on Dec. 5, with a 5:30 p.m. check-in, features the kid-friendly menu of chicken strips, mac and cheese, tots and dessert. Tickets are $30 for ages 12 and older, $20 for ages 4-11 and free for 3 and younger. For all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and drinks with Santa, guests can choose to attend 8:30 or 10:30 a.m. sessions served Saturdays, Dec. 6-20, and Dec. 24. Tickets are $17 for ages 4 and older; free for those 3 and younger. More elaborate Christmas dinners of two meats, holiday sides and dessert are scheduled for Dec. 12, 19 and 20, with the Dec. 12 dinner already sold out. Cost is $58 for ages 12 and older, $25 for ages 4-11, free for 3 and under. All dining tickets include admission to the farm’s Country Christmas activities, including its lighted woods display, live reindeer and a nightly live nativity performance. More info: 316-775-1894, fultonvalleyfarms.com

Santa will join guests for breakfast at Eberly Farm, 13111 W. 21st St., on Saturday, Dec. 6. There are two entry times for breakfast, at 9 or 10:30 a.m. Admission is $5 for those 2 and older and includes a breakfast pastry, hot beverage and juice. Additional food and beverage options are available for purchase. This event has sold out in the past; purchase tickets online. More info: 316-722-3580, facebook.com/events/1501686754452566

Dave & Busters, 2644 N. Greenwich Court, is offering a holly jolly breakfast buffet event with Santa that includes photos with St. Nick and other activities at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. Two ticket packages are available. The Santa package is $36.38 and includes a $10 game card with three hours of video game play. The elf ticket package for breakfast only is $29.76. Buy tickets in advance at prekindle.com/promo/id/-2852852648651904516 since spots are limited. More info: 316-796-8550

Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich, is offering a brunch buffet and pictures with the Holly Jolly One from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays, Dec. 14 and 21. The buffet is $20.99 for ages 13 and older, $9.99 for ages 12 and younger. More info: chickennpickle.com/wichita-events

Santa, who gets plenty of pilot hours delivering gifts, will stop by the Stearman airstrip for photos during the Saturday, Dec. 20, breakfast buffet at Benton’s Stearman Field Bar & Grill, 14789 SW 30th St. The buffet, available from 8 a.m.-noon, is $17.99 for adults and $10.99 for kids. More info: facebook.com/StearmanBarAndGrill/events

Fun events with a side of Santa

Here are several local holiday events that include visits or photos with Santa as part of the experience. For more information on the events, check out this Eagle story (kansas.com/news/local/article312984693.html).

11th annual Feztival of Trees, Midian Shrine Temple, 130 N. Topeka St., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 28-29, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30. Santa can be found on the facility’s second floor as part of this festive fundraiser featuring themed trees and swag that are raffled to support kids needing specialized care in Shriner hospitals. Admission: $5, kids 12 and under are free. Raffle tickets sold separately. More info: midianshrine.org/event

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. 12-23. Besides walking through illuminated trees and visiting the Santa Station for photos, visitors can see live reindeer and take a sleigh ride with Clydesdales. 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

Santa will be at Illuminations at Botanica, 701 Amidon, until Dec. 23, and kids can also drop off letters. Considered one of the region’s largest light displays, visitors must reserve hourly timed entry slots from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The display is open until Jan. 3 but will be closed Dec. 24 and 25. Tickets 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

Watson’s Christmas Express, O.J. Watson Park, 3022 S. McLean, opens at 5 p.m. 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. All-inclusive advance tickets are $20 for ages 2 and older; at-the-gate admission tickets are $15. More info: 316-529-9940 ext. 5, wichita.gov/656/Watsons-Christmas-Express

Winter Wonderland, Naftzger Park, 605 E. Douglas, 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch are part of this free event that celebrates the lighting of the city of Wichita’s official holiday tree and includes other activities. More info: wichita.gov/winterwonderland

While he’s not into granting wishes like Santa, the Grinch eventually embraces the holiday spirit and will make an appearance at the Jingle Bash, Towne East Square, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The event includes face-painting, Santa letter-writing and other activities. More info: simon.com/mall/towne-east-square/stream/jingle-bash-6269764

Wichita Art Museum’s Holiday Open House, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The free event includes games, art-making, music and Santa. More info: 316-268-4921, wichitaartmuseum.org

Victorian Christmas, Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd., from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 5, 6, 12 & 13. During this Victorian- and frontier-inspired event, Santa will hang out in the Southern Hotel for visits and photos. Tickets: $15 per person; $5 for museum members, free for kids 4 and under. More info: 316-350-3323, oldcowtown.org

Santa will stop by the new Somewhere in Winter venue for photos on Dec. 18. The venue, at 250 N. St. Francis, features a 60 x 90-foot outdoor skating rink that will be open Nov. 27-Jan. 4 and a variety of other activities and events. Admission to the grounds is free. More info: somewhere-fest.com/pages/somewhere-in-winter

This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 4:19 AM.