Wichita is a must-visit Midwest destination year-round, and wintertime is especially loaded with holiday activities and unique experiences. You’ll find plenty to do, whether you’re planning on indoor family fun or a romantic getaway.
There are Wichita hotels at every price point, and you’ll find affordable indoor attractions and diverse events for every interest. Read along to see how to spend a vacation in the Heart of the Country this winter!
Holiday Experiences
Wichita is where you’ll want to be for unlimited holiday fun, from pop-up bars to annual lighting events, considered the best in the region.
You can count on annual traditions such as 2 million lights strung throughout 30+ themed gardens at Illuminations at Botanica Wichita, scheduled for Nov. 29 to Jan. 4; lights, activities, Santa and live registered North American reindeer at Fulton Valley Farm’s Country Christmas on select days Nov. 29 through Dec. 23; Victorian Christmas at Cowtown on Dec. 6-7 & 13-14; and tours while the Frank Lloyd Wright's Allen House Museum and Study Center is decorated for the holidays.
There’s also Wild Lights at Sedgwick County Zoo, Victorian Cottage Christmas at the Wichita-Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum, Watson’s Christmas Express at O.J. Watson Park and the second Kansas Global Holiday Market. Being held this year at Naftzger Park the market is inspired by the winter holiday markets in Europe. It will be a family-friendly place to shop for artisan gifts from around the globe, taste international holiday foods and enjoy performances inspired by cultures from around the world.
Spectator Sports
Wichita is a sports city, and we’ve got just the ticket for you this winter:
Wichita Thunder Hockey – Cheer on the home team at INTRUST Bank Arena where the Wichita Thunder Hockey take to the ice in all their ECHL glory. The regular season runs October to April. Opening night in 2024 is Oct. 18.
Wichita is gearing up to host the 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships. For the first time ever, the nation’s top figure skaters will compete right here in Kansas, at INTRUST Bank Arena, Jan. 20-26. Get your tickets so you can see reigning U.S. champions and World medalists compete in Wichita just one year before Team USA heads to Milan, Italy, for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Wichita State Basketball – Head to Charles Koch Arena for a home game for Wichita State Shocker athletics. The men’s basketball games draw a loud crowd, making the roundhouse one of the arenas with the best home-court advantage according to ESPN.
Photo credit: Kelly Glasscock
Active Experiences
Ready to burn off some energy? Try these options:
- Blast Off Bay is an indoor water park just west of Wichita in Goddard. It features a dual surf machine, lazy river, hot tub, swim-up bar, 11 slides, arcade and more.
- Bliss Climbing & Fitness Complex – With auto-belay, the whole family can enjoy this safe, fun, challenging activity together. There is a 38-foot climbing wall and a 15-foot bouldering wall at this state-of-the-art indoor facility.
- Head to any of Wichita's Bowlero locations (Bowlero Wichita, Bowlero Northrock or Bowlero Northridge) for the a perfect blend of modern and classic bowling, interactive arcade games, signature cocktails and an expansive menu filled with epic eats and oversized shareables. Plus, each Bowlero location offers booking for holiday parties, complete with unlimited bowling, festive food and drinks and a fun atmosphere for all ages.
- Let's Go Build is a one-stop shop for everything LEGO® brand in Wichita.
- Topgolf Wichita offers climate-controlled hitting bays for you and your family to take aim and swing at outfield targets. Plus, the entertainment venue has TVs throughout for a sports bar atmosphere.
- Skate indoors with family and friends on Olympic and NHL-regulation ice at the Wichita Ice Center.
- Wichita Sports Forum – Get active at this indoor playground for a variety of sports plus a trampoline park, Aviate.
Creative Fun
Get in touch with your artsy side in Wichita. From visiting The Living Room, a kid-friendly area at the Wichita Art Museum, or taking a class at Mark Arts, learn a new artistic skill and appreciate others’ artistic abilities.
You can also foster your own creativity at places like CityArts or Paint the Towne. Learn from a professional and leave with your own masterpiece. Browse the selection or blow your own art glass at Infinity Art Glass and Karg Art Glass. Create your own terrarium at GROW Giesen Plant Shop.
Game Time
Head to an arcade or have a friendly competition at one of these attractions:
- Axe to Grind and Blade & Timber – Swing an ax at targets in a friendly competition with your family or friends. Check each facility’s age restrictions.
- Chicken N Pickle – Play pickleball, bocce ball, shuffleboard or table tennis while enjoying delicious chicken fare. Enjoy ice skating on the Ice Pond at The Plazzio beginning around Thanksgiving weekend (as weather permits).
- Find arcades and other indoor games at All Star Adventures and All Star Sports.
- Play more than 1,000 video games and 500 board games at Headshots Bar & Grill, choose from hundreds of arcade games at Dave & Buster’s, or enjoy nostalgic gaming with dozens of 80s and 90s pinball and arcade games at The Arcade.
- Fans of trading cards will find a great selection at Pink Elephant Games & Café, which also has a full menu of food and tea.
Amazing Exhibitions
Wichita is home to many exciting cultural and historical attractions and museums that have amazing traveling exhibitions alongside their worthwhile permanent exhibits.
The city’s science center, Exploration Place, has a variety of films showing in its Digital Dome Theater such as “T.REX,” traveling exhibits like “Toytopia” on display through Jan. 12, along with interactive, permanent exhibitions such as “Health Inside Out.”
Explore “Being Modern” through December 2025 at Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum and enjoy their special holiday exhibits such as “Moore Family Toy Santa Collection” and “Miniature Christmas Trees.” The Mid-America All-Indian Museum is featuring “Jerome Tiger” and “We are the Spirit.”
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the art of a self-taught artist, Robert Peterson, at the Wichita Art Museum. He has quickly risen to prominence, with his works now held in major museums and prominent private collections throughout the country. In his first museum exhibition, “Robert Peterson: Somewhere In America,” see his portraits that celebrate African American life.
Sedgwick County Zoo is running Wild Lights, a display of larger-than-life lighted sculptures, on Wednesday through Sunday evenings through Dec. 22. Plus, each year has a unique theme, so you’ll enjoy new sights when you visit.
Through April 2025, see “Defining Black Wichita: Expanding Horizons, 1970s - Today” at The Kansas African American Museum. This exhibit is the third part of the Defining Black Wichita series and focuses on African Americans in Wichita from the 1970s to today.
Find even more to enjoy at Wichita's museums and galleries in this blog post of Wichita's Newest Exhibits.
Shopping
Wichita is a year-round regional shopping destination with big retailers like SCHEELS and Cabela’s and unique boutique shops such as Nifty Nut House and Hatman Jack’s.
Plus, we’ve also got special shopping experiences during the holidays, which include the 9th Annual Holiday Market, Nov. 25-Dec. 9, at Envision Arts Gallery, the 10th Annual Feztival of Trees on Dec. 1 and many more. Find out more about shopping local for the holidays and year-round online here.
Upcoming Wichita Events
Wichita has something happening every night. When booking your winter getaway to Wichita, be sure to visit our event calendar for the latest options, such as “Cirque Dreams Holidaze” and Wichita Symphony Orchestra’s “Spirit of the Season,” a free, family-friendly holiday concert.
Deals & Discounts
Take advantage of the deals and discounts offered by Visit Wichita through our Explore Card program. Wichita is an affordable destination, but you can stretch your vacation dollars even further by picking up an Explore Card at our offices or one of our participating partners. Download our visitor guide for more inspiration and ideas.
