Christmas is less than a week away and many of this year’s holiday events will be wrapping up this weekend. Which means, if you want to take the family out to a special Christmas event, this weekend is your last chance to do so. To make it easier on you, we’ve gathered some of top events to check out before Christmas is here!
Read on for more information on FetchToto’s top 5 weekend picks. Make sure to also check out other Kansas events on FetchToto’s Events Calendar: http://events.fetchtoto.com/
1) Skate with Santa
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM
Date: Saturday, December 22
Where: Wichita Ice Center, 505 W. Maple, Wichita, KS
Cost: $2 Admission, $3 Skate Rental (Canned Food Donation), $7 Admission )Without Donation)
Info: http://www.wichitaicecenter.com/
Why you should go: Although it’s a hectic time of year for Santa, he has made some time in his busy schedule to visit ice skaters at the Wichita Ice Center. This Saturday, kids of all ages are welcome to come spend time with Santa. Don’t forget to bring your camera too, it’s not every day that Santa ice-skates!
Make sure to bring a canned food donation in order to receive the $2 admission rate and $3 skate rental. Without a canned food donation, admission is $7 and $3 skate rental.
2) Lights on the Lake
Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Date: Drive Thru & Hospitality Center (Everyday until Sunday, December 23), Drive Thru Only Dec. 24 & Dec. 25
Where: Heartspring, 8700 E. 29th St. N., Wichita
Cost: FREE
Info: http://www.lightsonthelake.org
Why you should go: Tune into 89.7 FM to Heartspring’s Holiday Program as you drive through the Lights on the Lake show this weekend. The event will be open nightly from 6PM to 10PM, Tuesday, December 25.
Lights on the Lake has expanded its yearly show by adding thousands of new lights, in addition to the traditional 40-foot Christmas tree overlooking the lake and other Christmas light displays. After driving through the light show, make sure to stop and get your picture taken with Santa Claus for $5 at the Hospitality Center (Closed Dec. 24 & Dec. 25).
The drive-thru light show is FREE, but donations will be accepted and given to the Heartspring Pediatric Services, a program that makes sure that children with special needs have a chance to receive life-changing therapies.
Photos: http://www.fetchtoto.com/toto-photos-lights-on-the-lake-20111215,0,2993910.photogallery
3) Christmas on the Prairie
Time: Gates open 5:00 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m., Show 7:30 p.m.
Date: Thursday – Sunday, Until December 23
Where: Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper, 15231 SW Parallel St, Benton
Cost: $30 Adults, $10 Kids 6 – 12, $5 Ages 3 – 5, Under 3 FREE
Info: http://www.prairierosechuckwagon.com/chuckwagon-suppers/christmas-shows.html
Why you should go: The Prairie Rose Chuckwagon has been transformed into a Christmas wonderland, providing a perfect old-fashioned Christmas location to spend the weekend with your family. The event includes horse-drawn carriage rides, classic cowboy movies, Christmas shows for kids, and a visit from Santa.
Following an all-you-can eat barbeque supper, you’ll be serenaded by the Prairie Rose Rangers, who will perform both classic Cowboy songs and timeless Christmas tunes. The show fills up quickly each holiday season, so make sure to make reservations by calling (316) 778-2121.
4) Holiday Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Date: Friday & Saturday, Until Saturday, December 22
Where: Bradley Fair, 2000 N. Rock Rd., Ste 160, Wichita, KS 67206
Cost: FREE
Info: http://www.bradleyfair.com/events.html
Why you should go: Bradley Fair continues to celebrate the holiday season with their special Holiday Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides. After enjoying a day of shopping and dining inside the Bradley Fair Shopping Center in East Wichita, take a FREE horse-drawn carriage ride and enjoy thousands of dazzling lights along the shopping center.
Carriage rides are open to the public every Friday and Saturday evening through December 22, from 6 PM to 10 PM. Rides will originate by the Bradley Fair Plaza Fountain, located in between Newport Grill and Healing Waters Spa and Cosmetic Clinic.
5) White Christmas
Time: Matinee & evening performances
Date: Friday, November 9 – Sunday, December 23
Where: Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre, 3207 E. Douglas
Cost: Thursdays: matinee $29.95, evening $35.95; Friday – Sunday: $41.95; Children (12 & under) $32.95
Info: http://www.crownuptown.com/?crownshine/
Why you should go: Make sure to catch the classic musical “White Christmas” playing at the Crown Uptown Theatre before its last show on Sunday, December 23. The show is a timeless classic based off the 1954 holiday film of the same name, featuring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.
Audiences young and old will enjoy this American Christmas tale about two WWII soldiers who fall in love with two beautiful singing sisters that are set to perform a Christmas duo in snowy Vermont. The soldiers follow the sisters to Vermont, where they discover that the lodge the sisters are set to perform in is owned by one of their old WWII commanders.
You can expect to see plenty of toe-tapping dance numbers and an amazing score of timeless classics like “White Christmas” and “Blues Skies.” The musical numbers will all be performed by a live orchestra.
6) Lights on St. Paul
Date: Open until December 28
Time: Sunday – Thursday – 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Friday – Saturday – 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Where: The Arc of Sedgwick County, Douglas & St. Paul, Wichita
Cost: FREE (Donations)
Info: http://www.arc-sedgwickcounty.org
Why you should go: Help The Arc of Sedgwick County celebrate the holiday season by attending the 15th Annual Lights on St. Paul, open until December 28.
Continuing to grow each year, the light display now includes over one million twinkling lights, animated light shows and displays, dozens of new LED displays, and many of the show’s traditional attractions. Tune your car radio to B98 FM and watch the light displays perform to synchronized holiday music.
The half-mile extravaganza starts at the corner of Douglas and St. Paul (4 blocks West of Meridian). Donations will be accepted when you exit the light show or get your picture taken with Santa for a $5 donation. Donations raised will go towards The Arc of Sedgwick County’s programs and services for individuals and families living with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Youtube Video of Lights on St. Paul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaTDqhtZQK4
7) Illuminations
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Date: Open until Sunday, December 30
Where: Botanica, 701 N. Amidon, Wichita
Cost: $7 Adults, $5 Children (3-12)
Info: http://www.botanica.org/illuminations
Why you should go: This family-friendly event has become one of the area’s premier holiday events, and it’s easy to see why. With over hundreds of thousands of lights spread throughout eleven acres of beautiful gardens, Botanica will once again be transformed into the largest holiday light display in Kansas.
Spectacular sights to see while visiting Illuminations include over 5,000 LED luminaries along garden pathways, more than 120 expertly lit trees, the fragrance of chimineas, hot cocoa or cider, live musical groups, and new holiday-themed displays.
8) Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”
Date: Thurs. – Sun., until December 23rd
Time: Thurs. – Sat. 8:00 PM, Sun. 2:00 PM
Where: The Forum Theatre, 147 S. Hillside, Wichita
Cost: $23 Thurs. – Sat., $25 Sun.
Info: http://www.forumwichita.com/upcoming-events.html
Why you should go: Charles Dickens’ spirited holiday musical, “A Christmas Carol,” is currently playing at The Forum Theatre every Thursday through Sunday, until December 23rd. The 90-Minute musical takes an original look at the Christmas story about Ebenezer Scrooge and his emotional transformation resulting in his visits from the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and yet to come.
The production of “A Christmas Carol” was one of the theatre’s most popular shows last season. Reprising their roles as Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present is Paul Jackson and Wichita’s own Broadway sensation, Kayla Burns.
