If your kids are asking, “Where can I see Santa Claus?” or you are scouting places in Wichita to snap photos with Santa, you’re in luck. Jolly Saint Nick makes a lot of stops in Wichita, from breakfast and dinner gatherings to appearances with his live reindeer or 100-year-old sleigh.
Here’s a handy list of where you’ll find Santa if you’re spending the holidays in Wichita. Make sure to put in a good word for us with the big guy so we end up on the nice list. And if you're in the mood to pass on the holiday norms this year, scout out The Grinch, who will be making stops at several events.
Santa-specific events
- Nov. 4-Dec. 24 – Santa’s Wonderland at Cabela’s
- Nov. 16 – Merry & Bright Union Station Tree Lighting Event & Toy Drive at Union Station
- Nov. 17-21 & Nov. 24-26 – Midian Shrine Feztival of Trees at Midian Shrine Center
- Nov. 19 – Bradley Fair Tree Lighting & Holiday Stroll at Bradley Fair (Holiday Stroll repeats on Sunday through Dec. 17)
- Nov. 27-28 – Cookies with Santa at Don Hattan West
- Nov. 24-Dec. 24 – Santa Photo Experience at Towne East Mall
- Nov. 24 and Dec. 23 (dates vary) – A Country Christmas at Fulton Valley Farms
- Nov. 24-Dec. 31 (dates vary) – Holly Jolly Jurassic Holiday at Field Station: Dinosaurs – Nov. 24-Dec. 31 (days vary)
- Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2, Dec. 8-10, Dec. 15-17 and Dec. 22-23 – Watson’s Christmas Express at O.J. Watson Park
- Nov. 24 and Saturdays & Sundays through Dec. 10 – Old Fashioned Christmas at Prairie Pines Christmas Tree Farm (Santa appearances Nov. 25-27, Dec. 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18)
- Dec. 1 – Santa’s Arrival at Towne East Square
- Dec. 2 – Breakfast With Santa at Eberly Farm
- Dec. 2 – Family ArtVenture: Holiday Open House at Wichita Art Museum
- Dec. 2 & 9 – Breakfast with Santa at Old Cowtown Museum
- Dec. 3 – Caring Santa visits exclusively for children with special needs at Towne East {here is the event info for this one
- Dec. 8-10 – Kansas Global Holiday Market at Riverfront Stadium
- Dec. 9 – Winter Wonderland at Naftzger Park
- Dec. 16 – Santa Claus Breakfast at Stearman Field Bar and Grill
Events that include Santa sightings
- Nov. 17 – Merry & Bright - Union Station Lighting Event at Union Station
- Nov. 18-27 – Midian Shrine Feztival of Trees at Midian Shrine Center
- Nov. 24-Dec. 30 –Illuminations at Botanica Wichita (event runs through Dec. 30 and Santa will appear nightly through Dec. 23. Kids are encouraged to bring a letter to Santa to drop off in his mailbox.)
- Nov. 19 – 39th Annual Wreath Festival at Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum (event is Nov. 17-29 but Santa will be there Nov. 19 only.)
- Nov. 20 – Ceremony of Lights at Friends University
- Nov. 20-Dec. 18 (Sundays only) – Bradley Fair Holiday Stroll at Bradley Fair
- Nov. 25-Dec. 24 – A Country Christmas at Fulton Valley Farms
- Nov. 25-Dec. 18 – Old-Fashioned Christmas at Prairie Pines Christmas Tree Farm (Santa appearances Nov. 25-27, Dec. 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18)
- Nov. 25-Dec. 18 – Watson's Christmas Express at O.J. Watson Park
- Dec. 2 – Family ArtVenture: Holiday Open House at Wichita Art Museum
- Dec. 2-19 – Holidays in Delano in Historic Delano District
- Dec. 2-3 & 9-10 – Victorian Christmas at Old Cowtown Museum
- Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 – A Country Christmas - Christmas Dinner at Fulton Valley Farms
- Dec. 3 – HoliDAZE Annual Pop Up Market at Brick & Mortar
- Dec. 4 – Friends of the Wichita Art Museum Holiday Open House
- Dec. 10 – Winter Wonderland at Naftzger Park
- Dec. 17 – Wild Lights Winter Finale Weekend at Sedgwick County Zoo
- Dec. 20 – Cocoa and Cookies with Santa at Kansas Aviation Museum
- Dec. 23 – Wichita Thunder Hockey vs. Rapid City Rush at INTRUST Bank Arena
Where to see The Grinch
- Nov. 18 – Tree Lighting and Holiday Stroll at Bradley Fair
- Dec. 2 – Photos with Santa and The Grinch at Signature Studios
- Dec. 9 – Winter Wonderland at Naftzger Park
- Dec. 9-10 – The Grinch Live at Johnson's Garden Center
- Dec. 19 – A Day with The Grinch at Kansas Aviation Museum
Looking for more holly jolly beyond a Santa sighting? Check out our webpage to see there's plenty of holiday spirit in Wichita.
