From festive, old-fashioned, family-friendly experiences to shopping and big-time shows, Wichita is a great place to celebrate Christmas.
A number of holiday events start in November and continue into December, like Illuminations at Botanica and carriage rides in two of the city’s most festive neighborhoods. Illuminations is an award-winning, family-friendly event, which boasts more than 2 million lights, and showcases Botanica’s 17 acres of beautiful gardens in a completely different light. It opens Friday, Nov. 29, and runs through Jan. 4, excluding Dec. 24-25.
Wichita is a regional shopping hub, and Bradley Fair, a shopping and dining center in northeast Wichita, is known for its upscale shopping and dining scene. During the holidays, it’s a chance to celebrate the season with a Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov. 24. Horse-drawn carriage rides are available in Bradley Fair Sunday nights through Dec. 22, from 1 to 7 p.m.
Carriage are also available in Old Town starting Nov. 29. Riders can take in the ambiance along the brick-lined streets of Old Town, a historic and lively district known for its shopping, dining and entertainment. Additionally, the Mayor’s Tree Lighting and Lights on the River will take place on Sunday, Dec. 1. This free, family-friendly event highlights Wichita’s best natural asset each holiday season – the Arkansas River. Trolleys will be available from 4 to 7 p.m. to take you to Old Town from the Wichita Boathouse to see the lighting ceremony in Old Town Square at 6 p.m. Attendees can purchase floating lights for the floating light launch, enjoy wagon rides, visit with Santa, listen to holiday music, partake in yummy food from local food trucks and more.
In addition to holiday events, there are a variety of holiday light displays throughout the city. For a list of the best places to see holiday lights in Wichita, visit https://www.visitwichita.com/blog/post/best-places-to-see-christmas-lights-in-wichita/.
For a full listing of holiday experiences, light displays, Santa sightings and the dozens of other seasonal events in Wichita, go to www.VisitWichita.com.
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About Visit Wichita
Visit Wichita markets the greater Wichita area as a major convention and tourism destination, thereby enhancing the economic development of the city, county, region and state. Visit Wichita is led by president and CEO Susie Santo, and in 2018 travel and tourism contributed more than $1 billion in economic impact to the greater Wichita area.
