Enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season as ...
Holiday Lightings
The Arc’s Lights on St. Paul (ONGOING): Lights on St. Paul now includes over 1.4 million twinkling lights and over 200 Christmas displays, making it the largest neighborhood lights display in Kansas. Tune your car radio to watch the light displays perform to synchronized holiday music. Santa will be returning to this yearly tradition and will be available for photos every Friday - Sunday evenings until Christmas (including Dec. 22 & 23, and Christmas Eve). Photos with Santa are a $5 donation and will be taken inside the ILRC building, 5:30 PM Nov. 27 to Dec. 28., 2919 W. Second St. Free. Admission is FREE, but donations $5 accepted.
Illuminations (ONGOING): The Annual light show will run from Nov. 28 – Dec. 31 (excluding Dec. 24 & Dec. 25) seven days a week, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM, at Botanica: http://www.botanica.org/illuminations-2014-adult-ticket
Helicopter Holiday Lights Tours (ONGOING): Experience the fantastic holiday sites and lights of downtown Wichita, the Arkansas River and spectacular scenic views of neighborhood holiday displays all while listening to classic Christmas songs on your own private helicopter! Enjoy Holiday punch and cookies during your pre-flight briefing and don't forget your camera, located at Wichita Mid Continent Airport, 2010 S Airport Rd, Wichita, November 24 – December 31, 6 PM – 10 PM. Two tour options $250 - $395 for up to three passengers.
Holiday Lights at WaterWalk (ONGOING): Heartspring’s Annual Lights on the Lake, a month-long, drive-thru holiday light tour event, has a NEW location. This year, Heartspring will move its holiday light displays Downtown at the WaterWalk, available from Nov. 28 through Christmas day. More Info: http://bit.ly/1vL0R9W
Special Events
Exploration Place Holiday Events (ONGOING):
· Kansas in Miniature Holiday Music Show: The popular exhibit will be all decked out for the holidays, complete with a 1950s Christmas celebration, parade and nostalgic music, from Nov. 29 through Dec. 28.
· Meet Santa: Come meet Kris Kringle! Santa will be available to hear what you want for Christmas in the main lobby. Includes FREE admission. Taking place on Nov. 29, Nov. 30, and Dec. 6,from Noon – 2 PM.
· Holiday Science Spectacular • Live Science Show: Enjoy special festive science shows and discover the science behind many of the holiday’s popular traditions, located in the Kemper Creative Learning Studio, starting Nov. 29 through Dec. 28.
· Toy Train Club Displays: A professional model train collection will be on display in the Grand Hall from Nov. 29 and Nov. 30.
Let it Snow! (ONGOING): A fun family show inside the Boeing Dome Theater & Planetarium. The seasonal movie will put you in the holiday spirit with Christmas scenes and images set to your favorite Christmas songs by the Muppets and Frank Sinatra, at Exploration Place, November 29 – December 28, ShowTime’s 1 PM & 3 PM Tues – Sat, and 1 PM, 3 PM & 4 PM on Sundays, Dome Admission is $5 or less. More Info: http://www.exploration.org/let_it_snow.html
Bradley Fair Carriage Rides (ONGOING): Catch the carriage by the fountain in the shopping center plaza and ride through miles of crystal lights, at Rock Road and 21st Street, every Friday and Saturday, through Dec. 20, from 6-10 p.m. FREE Admission. More Info: http://www.bradleyfair.com/events.php
A Crown Christmas: Our Holiday Spectacular (ONGOING): This holiday season make sure to check out the festive show, “A Crown Christmas,” at the Crown Uptown. The special performance features plenty of singing and dancing, mixed with plenty of comedy sketches that include a holiday theme. The show is said to be similar to the Carol Burnett Show, but with a lot more “musical glitz and glamour.” Show will run until Dec. 21, tickets cost $35 - $60.
Holiday Shows
Christmas on the Prairie – Prairie Rose Rangers (ONGOING): The Prairie Rose Chuckwagon transforms into a Christmas Wonderland for an entire month, providing a place to enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas gathering place for families, business, church and civic groups. Some of the activities when you visit the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon include horse-drawn carriage rides, Christmas movies inside two theaters, Christmas songs sung by the Prairie Rose Rangers, and Christmas shopping, at 15231 SW Parallel Rd, Benton, November 28 – December 21, 6:30 PM on Fridays & Saturdays, 1:00 PM on Sundays, Admission $30 - $5 (Children 2 & under are 2). More Info: http://prairieroserangers.com/
Guys on Ice, The Ice Fishing Musical (ONGOING): This popular show is back with an original and hiliarious live theatre experience. The show includes tons of comedy, musical numbers, and some holiday cheer, Nov. 21 – Dec. 23 (Thurs – Sun. Evenings, Mon Dec. 23), Prairie Pines Dinner Theatre, 4055 N. Tyler Road, Maize, Admission $29.95 - $33.95 per person plus tax (Price includes show, dinner, and coffee, teas, or soft drink. More Info: http://bit.ly/1tADBWh
Spirit of the Season Family Holiday Concert: This FREE one-hour annual holiday concert will celebrate the season with your favorite Christmas carols and holiday hits performed by the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. The concert is at 7:30 PM on Dec. 9, at Century II Convention Hall, 225 W Douglas. More Info: http://bit.ly/1ForUJP
Great Russian Nutcracker: The beloved Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker is a must-see holiday event for Wichita. The holiday ballet has become a Christmas tradition for many, providing entertainment for the whole family. New to the show for 2014 is an authentic Russian Christmas puppet play and Masha’s magical Toy Cabinet. The show is at 7 PM on Dec. 9, at Wichita Orpheum Theatre, 200 N Broadway. Tickets range from $33 - $175. More Info: http://bit.ly/1APYIvl
The Nutcracker: The Wichita Ballet Theatre and Friends University will put on the holiday classic performance, “The Nutcracker,” featuring ballet majors at Friends University and local dancers. The performance will also feature dancers from the New York City Ballet. Performances are 7:30 PM on Dec. 12 – 13, 2 PM on Dec. 14. More Info: http://www.friends.edu/ballet
Miracle on 34th Street: The timeless holiday story will be performed by talented local high school and elementary school actors and actresses inside the Mary Jane Teal Theater at Century II, 225 W Douglas. Showtimes 7:30 PM on Dec. 12, 7:30 PM on Dec. 13, and 2:30 PM on Dec. 14. Ticket Info: http://bit.ly/1rpXVZP
