It’s the most wonderful time of year! The joyous and festive magic of the holiday season permeates through Wichita with events and activities for all ages to enjoy.
With everything from lantern lighting to kid-friendly shows, there are tons of ways to have a merry time in Wichita this season!
Let’s take a look at our more than 20 top picks for activities to enjoy with the little ones this 2022 holiday season in Wichita, and make sure to read ‘till the very end of the list so you don’t miss any of these awesome options!
And make sure to subscribe and check out all the options for places and events throughout the year for kids in Wichita!
Where: Strataca
Hours: November 12- January 9. 8 AM- 5 PM
If you were looking for a unique and awesome event to enjoy with the family this holiday season, this is it!
During Season of the Lights, families will enjoy the magic of the holiday season at Strataca, a unique underground Salt museum! Make sure you don’t miss this unique experience.
Where: Botanica, The Wichita Garden
Hours: 5:30 PM- 9:30 PM. November 18- December 31
Illuminations at Botanica is a must-see during the winter holidays!
Experience the holiday glow from a 62-foot MEGA Christmas tree. This tree will be programmed with festive images and set to holiday music to create a spectacular show. In addition, an interactive stepping stone light display and lit-up orbs that guests can program themselves will be new favorites as well!
Where: Explora Science Center
Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 10 AM- 5 PM | Thursday: 10 AM- 8 PM | Friday-Sunday: 10 AM- 5 PM
This unique exhibit features an interactive family adventure filled with falling snow, virtual games, hands-on challenges, and more.
Battle a yeti in a snowball fight, go ice skating in your winter socks, step inside a snow globe and experience the winter terrain in a sensory path that all ages will enjoy.
Where: Field Station: Dinosaurs
Hours: November 25, 26, 27, 30, December 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18: 4 PM- 9 PM | December 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30: 1 – 9 PM | A Family New Year’s Eve (December 31) | 1 PM- 9 PM
Featuring 10 acres of Christmas lights and holiday-themed activities, this one-of-a-kind event is perfect for the entire family, especially those who love dinosaurs!
Families will get to experience the Field Station’s scenic trails in a whole new way – with thousands of Christmas lights, festive & funny decorations, and the world’s most unexpected holiday guests – the dinosaurs.
Where: Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Hours: November 25 – January 1
Without a doubt, this first annual Safari of Lights will be the longest, tallest, most sophisticated holiday drive-thru light show extravaganza that Wichita has ever experienced – and the whole family is invited!
Where: Sedgwick County Zoo
Hours: 6 PM- 9 PM. Wednesday through Sunday | Ends on December 4
Don’t miss one-of-a-kind Asian Lantern sculptures light up the Zoo during the WILDEST nights in town! Roam the Zoo after dark, with your path illuminated by larger-than-life sculptures of all things WILD!
Where: Winfield Isle of Lights
Hours: Nightly from 6 to 10 PM | Until December 30.
Winfield Isle of Lights is the beautiful Christmas Light display in Island Park on North Main Street in Winfield Kansas!
Families will enjoy singing Christmas carols, drinking hot cocoa, eating cookies, say a blessing, and the Winfield Police Department will light the tree.
Where: Crown Uptown Theatre
Hours: November 19- December 18, 8 PM 9:45 PM
This holiday season, families and audiences of all ages will be entertained by singing, dancing, and comedic acts!
Madi White and Max Wilson emcee this Rockettes-inspired Christmas spectacular!
Where: Fulton Valley Farms
Hours: November 25- December 16: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 5:30 PM – 9 PM | December 16- December 23: Open Every Night, 5:30 PM – 9 PM
Fulton Valley Farms has been entertaining families with its holiday activities for many years and is one of Kansas’ top family holiday destinations!
During this Magnifique event, families will stroll the wooded paths while enjoying over 800,000 lights and dancing to music. There’s a Live Nativity Vignette every evening and many activities for the family to enjoy.
Where: Wichita Art Museum
Hours: November 25, 7 PM
WAM Contemporaries are again offering an interactive screening of the 2003 hit comedy Elf.
Will Ferrell is at his comedic best as the misfit elf Buddy, searching the streets of New York City for his roots. Come for the hip holiday hullabaloo—this means spreading Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear!
Where: Bradley Fair Shopping Center
Hours: Every Sunday, November 20 – December 18 | 2 PM – 7 PM
This season, families can visit Bradley Fair, explore Wichita’s favorite spot for shopping and dining, and experience the Holiday Stroll, a festive weekly event the whole family will love.
Where: Century II Performing Arts Center
Hours: December 4, 3 PM
Listeners of all ages can make their holiday season complete with the music the world knows and loves!
Start your musical adventure through the winter wonderland of Hänsel and Gretel. Then, take a snowy walk in the air with The Snowman. It’s the holidays, and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is heard everywhere. Hear a full orchestra perform Tchaikovsky’s lush, beloved score as he intended. Act 2 is the Land of Sweets, where the flowers waltz and the Sugar Plum Fairy dances.
Where: Wilke Center
Hours: December 1-18 | Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM | Sundays at 2 PM
This holiday season, the whole family will get to enjoy a modern-day holiday classic.
Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity.
Where: Exploration Place
Hours: December 3,8 AM
Exploration Place is decking the halls, donning their festive pajamas, and prepping the pancakes!
Santa and his reindeer are on their way to Exploration Place. This is a breakfast event that the entire family will remember forever!
Where: Flint Hills Discovery Center
Hours: December 3 & 10
Once upon a time in cozy Manhattan, Santa came to visit the Discovery Center!
Families flocked inside for hot breakfast and sweet treats. Children played games and told holiday stories. Gingerbread Men were decorated and families posed for photos with Santa.
Where: Curious Minds
Hours: December 3, 10 -11:30 AM | 1 -2:30 PM
During Grinch Day, kids will enjoy a reading of the Dr. Seuss Classic ”How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, and they will be making a Grinch ornament and craft!
Other activities include creating Grinch slime and dust, a meet and greet with the Grinch himself, and so much more!
Where: Hutchinson Zoo
Hours: December 2, 3, 9, 10,16, 17- 6 PM – 9 PM
Families, don’t miss the 6th annual Nights Before Christmas, Hutchinson’s premier light show!
Come out to your Hometown Hutchinson Zoo and see lights provided by some local non-profit groups in addition to the Zoo’s light display! After the light show enjoy cocoa and cookies while you wait for your turn to visit with Santa.
Where: Wichita Art Museum
Hours: December 4, 2 PM- 4 PM
Warm up with holiday refreshments, musical entertainment from Andover’s Prairie Creek Elementary School, Wichita’s Cloud Elementary School, and dance performances by Kelcy’s Dance Studio and Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center.
Where: Wichita Boathouse
Hours: December 4, 5 PM- 8 PM
Families can purchase and release a floating light on the river near the Wichita Boathouse.
There will be food trucks, free wagon rides, s’mores, a visit with Santa, and music. The finale will be a beautiful light display and release of the floating lights. Proceeds from the floating lights go to Ark River water quality improvements.
Where: Crown Uptown Theatre
Hours: December 8-10. 10 AM & 12 PM Daily
Theatre for young audiences is back at The Crown Uptown in partnership with Wichita Children’s Theatre & Dance Center!
Where: Crown Uptown Theatre
Hours: December 22, 23. 7 PM- 9 PM
The whole family will enjoy a unique experience and a night of Christmas music at the Crown Uptown Theatre!
Featuring musical arrangements inspired by the likes of Trans Siberian Orchestra, Andy Williams, Mannheim Steamroller, and Pentatonix, this show will showcase some of the incredible talents Wichita has to offer.
Where: Wichita Art Museum
Hours: December 31. 10 AM- 4 PM
Don’t miss this family-friendly New Year’s cheer!
Finish 2022 with timely artmaking activities, music, hourly countdown celebrations, and more. Make some noise to cheer in the new year!
