It’s once again that magical time of year! Many of our Kansas I-70 communities have unique holiday experiences, parades, and tree displays for you and your family to discover. We’ve put together a Holiday Event Guide so you can plan your trip.
Goodland
Join us in Sherman County for these upcoming events in Goodland!
November 26th, 2022 – Downtown Holiday Event and Small Business Saturday
December 3rd, 2022 – Downtown Holiday Event
December 14th, 2022 – Max Haverfield & Friends Christmas Show – 7:00pm (MST) – Sherman Theatre (1203 Main St.)
Check out our Facebook page for updates and more details.
Colby
The Christmas Light Parade will be held on Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 at 5:45 pm. There are many imaginative uses of lights on machinery, vehicles, people and animals. It’s a festive way to begin the Christmas season! The Light Parade is judged by the Chamber President, City Mayor and the Publisher of the Colby Free Press. Prizes are awarded to the first place in each of the five categories: Organization, Business, Best Decorated Vehicle, Religious, Best Representation of Theme.
This year’s 25th annual Christmas Light Parade will feature the theme HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS.
WaKeeney
Come experience nostalgic holiday tradition at WaKeeney 72nd Annual Christmas City of The High Plains.
Since 1950 the Saturday after Thanksgiving downtown transforms into a magnificent handmade Christmas display, featuring a 35ft tree of fresh greenery and over 3,000 lights. The tree is topped with four ivory stars, each 5ft in diameter. To complete the display is a flour block square draped with greenery, hand crafted wreaths, bells, bows and trees and of course, more lights. The display was created and built by two local businessmen in 1948. They were lit for the first time in 1950 and have been on display every year since! The tree is lit the Saturday evening after Thanksgiving and remains lit until New Year’s.
Come early and spend the day. There’s a Christmas bazaar at the fairgrounds, the museum always has a holiday themed display. Have a bowl of homemade soup at the VFW hall and then enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, the kids Nex-Tech train, local musicians and of course Santa’s arrival with cookies and photo ops with all the kids at North Pole Park, downtown WaKeeney. Find us on Facebook for a complete schedule of events.
Hays
The wreaths are hung, the white lights twinkle, and frost is in the air; Frostfest that is.
Frostfest is a season of magic in Downtown Hays that culminates with the Annual Frostfest Illuminated Parade on December 11th, 2022. Dozens of lighted floats will roll down Main Street beginning at 6:00pm.
Russell
Russell’s Lighted Christmas Parade on November 26th, 2022 is a community tradition. Local organizations, civic organizations, festive citizens, and businesses will line the streets in light covered floats, vehicles, tractors, ATVs, trucks and more! Bring the family down for the countdown to the lighting of Main Street.
Abilene
Visit Abilene December 3-4, 2022 for the Heritage Homes Association’s Homes for the Holidays Tour, enjoy an Old Fashioned Christmas at the Dickinson County Heritage Center and Old Abilene Town, tour the historic Seelye Mansion and see more than 60 beautifully decorated Christmas Trees, ride the rails with Santa and the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, see the live production of The Christmas Schooner – A New Musical at Great Plains Theatre, take an evening cruise and see Griswold-style decorations during the Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see Santa, and remember to shop small all season long at Abilene’s small businesses. Visit AbileneKansas.org/Christmas for a full schedule of events. Learn more at www.AbileneKansas.org
Salina
The annual Mayor’s Christmas Party is scheduled for Sunday December 11th, 2022 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the Tony’s Pizza Event Center. This free holiday event is sponsored by the Salina Parks & Recreation Department and is open to the entire family. Featured activities include holiday dancers, crafts, a visitor from the North Pole, and so much more! Help us celebrate this holiday season at this family event.
For more information, contact the Salina Parks & Recreation at 785-309-5765 or visit salinaparks.com
Junction City
Come to Milford State Park for photos with Santa, a drive through light display, cookies and cocoa, and a petting zoo! You will need a daily park pass to enter the park ($5) we also ask for a suggested donation of $10 per vehicle to benefit Milford Friends Group and add even more lights in the coming years! Last year, we promised to grow and this year, we’ve added more lights and more lasers!
This event is a collaboration between Milford Friends Group, Milford State Park and Milford Nature Center, and dedicated volunteers. The event will be December 9, 10, 11, 16 and 17, 2022.
Bring warm clothes and your camera or cell phone to get photos free with Santa!
Manhattan
The Holiday Season begins with the 10th Annual Festival of Lights display on Nov. 25, a lighted parade through Downtown and Aggieville on December 2, Santa Con on Dec. 3 to several iconic New Year’s Eve events and many more merry events in between, Manhattan, Kansas is bursting with holiday spirit. With over 30 festive events happening this holiday season there is something for everyone to enjoy. Make plans to shop, attend events, gather with friends, and make lasting memories. Come see for yourself the festive spirit that comes to life in our cozy town. Experience the holidays in The Little Apple® Learn more at VisitManhattanKS.org/spirit-of-the-holidays.
Topeka
Winter holidays are here and Topeka is rolling out the snowflake dusted red carpet! A winter destination, Topeka is home to multiple light displays, performing art shows, and more this holiday season. Stand in awe of lights at TARC’s Winter Wonderland, Topeka Zoo Lights, NOTO Arts & Entertainment District’s Celebration of Lights and more. Stroll through the Festival of Trees, catch the Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade, and hit local venues like Topeka Performing Arts Center & Topeka Civic Theatre for performances such as The Nutcracker.
Lecompton
Annual Display of Christmas Trees in Historic Lecompton.
From November 1 through January 8, the historic Territorial Capital Museum in Lecompton Kansas will host an amazing exhibit of uniquely decorated Christmas trees. The exhibit is an annual tradition of the Lecompton Historical Society and is located on all three floors of the historic Lane University Building, now the Territorial Capital Museum. The Museum is located at 640 E. Woodson in Lecompton.
The tree display started several years ago with one Christmas tree decorated by museum staff at the museum’s entrance. Each year visitors then began giving ornaments and décor to the museum which started the tradition. Ornaments date back to the late 1800’s and the display also includes antique and themed ornaments as well. Trees of all sizes are displayed on the three floors of the museum which is accessible for those with mobility challenges. The museum is open from 10 am – 4 pm Monday through Saturday and from 1 pm – 5 pm on Sundays.
Lawrence
From the time the lights go up until we say hello to a new year, Lawrence has a full lineup of activities and events to spread the holiday cheer. From theatrical and musical performances, to visits from Santa, and an old-fashioned horse-drawn wagon parade, the holidays are full of fun in Lawrence. New this year is Lawrence Lights: Making Spirits Bright, a drive-thru holiday display with a 150-foot lighted tunnel, and 18-foot singing snowman, and 18 different lighting features. Find all of Lawrence’s holiday events here.
Bonner Springs
Join the City of Bonner Springs and our entire community in celebrating the holidays with our annual Candy Cane Christmas and Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting. The Candy Cane Hunt begins at 4 p.m. in downtown Bonner Springs’ Centennial Park followed by a Christmas Parade, Mayor’s Tree Lighting, and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Walk through a Winter Wonderland at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival! Beginning Friday, November 25, enjoy a spectacular light show, plus food, entertainment, activities for the kids and fun for everyone! Ring in the New Year at the special extended December 31 show. Get details and coupons at their website.
Leavenworth
Vintage Homes Tour, Sunday, December 11, 1 pm to 6 pm, Ticket donation of $15.00
Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings. This year will mark the 30th Anniversary of our popular Vintage Homes Tour held by the Leavenworth County Historical Society. To celebrate, we are including several homes that have never been featured on the Vintage Homes Tour before. This holiday season, the Carroll Mansion will be joined by four other historic homes and a swanky downtown loft. We’re also bringing back our holiday bread sales. Available for a donation of $5.00 at the Carroll mansion and two other homes, you can pick up yummy homemade loaves, such as pumpkin bread and gingerbread, and save yourself some holiday baking. For more information: https://www.leavenworthhistory.org/Tour_of_Homes.htm
Kansas City
Holiday Light and Magic is a one-mile-long drive-thru display showcasing the most amazing, mesmerizing, magical holiday light displays you ever seen. You’ll see Santa scenes, elves, reindeer, there’s dinosaurs, and even UFOs!
See the holiday magic every night this season next to Sandstone Amphitheatre (Azura) at: 600 N 126th St, Bonner Springs, Kansas, 66012. The magic runs November 3rd through the new year. Timeslots are available every night of the week. Check available times on our calendar. Holiday Light and Magic (in partnership with the Unified Government Parks and Recreation) is the city’s premier contact-free, drive thru winter event you’re looking for. Plus, proceeds benefit Unified Government Parks.
