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
Goodland welcomes you and your family to be a part of the first ever Downtown Holiday & Annual Santa’s Schoolhouse Event on November 27th, 2021 from 10:00am to 4:00pm and December 4th, 2021 from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
This will be a holiday celebration like no other! Bring the whole family out to meet Santa at the High Plains Museum Schoolhouse. Make sure the little ones have their Christmas list ready to send to the North Pole. After seeing Santa take a Holiday Hayride to Santa’s Workshop & join Santa’s helpers in making a holiday craft. It’s something for fun for all ages!
Take a trip back in time and visit a Victorian Holiday celebration at the beautiful Handy House. Come listen to live music, enjoy some refreshments & enjoy the beautifully decorated historical home. If that’s not enough fun join us at the Sherman Theater for a Free Holiday film fit for the entire family.
Don’t forget to take a stroll down our beautiful Main Street and check out all the shops, restaurants, and holiday decorations on your visit. Whether you are here for the weekend or the day there is something for everyone of all ages!
Check out our Facebook page for updates and more details.
Colby
The Christmas Light Parade is held the first Saturday in December. 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.
This year’s 24rd annual Christmas Light Parade will feature the theme WHITE CHRISTMAS.
WaKeeney
Come experience nostalgic holiday tradition at WaKeeney 71st 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
Frostfest is a season of magic in Downtown Hays from November through December. It kicks off with Holiday Open Houses and culminates with an Illuminated Parade! Discover your favorite holiday traditions on The Bricks!
Holiday Open Houses, November 4-6pm | Business Hours Vary
See The Bricks in Downtown Hays Facebook Page for Details and Locations
Annual Tree Lighting, December 3 | 5:00-7:00pm, Union Pacific Park Pavilion, 110 E 10th Street
Downtown Dollar Giveaway, December 18 | 5:00pm, The Fox Theatre, 1202 Main Street
Illuminated Frostfest Parade, December 18 | 6:00-8:00pm, 2021 Theme: Starry Christmas Night
Russell
Russell’s Lighted Christmas Parade is Saturday, November 27th at 7:15pm. This year’s theme is “Christmas in the Country”.
Abilene
Make sure to add the Dickinson County Historical Society and Museum‘s Old-Fashioned Christmas to your list of must-see activities. On December 4th and 5th enjoy children’s crafts in the Kellogg one-room schoolhouse, sip hot chocolate in Burklund’s Grocery Store, ride the 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel, hear Christmas music from three live bands, visit Santa Claus, and see a Live Nativity. A sleigh will be on display for family photos ($5 per photo) and horse and buggy rides will take visitors between the Heritage Center and Old Abilene Town. The cost to attend is $2 and children 5 and under are free. Learn more at www.AbileneKansas.org/Christmas
Salina
Christmas Festival – December 11th 7:00pm & December 12th 4:00pm
Experience the joy and wonder of the season with song and dance from the Symphony, Iron Street Dance Company, Tamara Howe School of Dance, Community Chorus, Kansas Wesleyan University Chorale and Salina Youth Choir.
Junction City
The Milford Nature Center will be hosting a drive-through light display from Dec. 4-12th. Families are invited to come out and check out this newest holiday event in Geary County.
Manhattan
From Festival of Lights in Blue Earth Plaza, a lighted parade through Downtown and Aggieville, to Santa Con and Little Apple New Year’s Eve and much, much more, Manhattan, Kansas is bursting with holiday spirit. With over 20 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. We hope you come see for yourself the festive spirit that comes to life in our cozy town. Come 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 and Holiday Inn live on stage.
Lecompton
Annual Display of Christmas Trees in Historic Lecompton. From now through January 1, 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 housed 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. 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. While in Lecompton, visit Constitution Hall, a national historic site, and our quaint downtown with eateries, a winery, and unique shops.
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.
Leavenworth
“Stuff” your stocking with stamps from participating businesses in historic downtown Leavenworth and be entered to win $50 in Main Street Bucks. Drawings will be held every Friday with a grand prize drawing on December 22nd worth over $150.00. For more information contact the Leavenworth Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Shawnee
Shawnee’s Christkindlmarkt is Saturday, December 4th from 3:00-6:00pm. Join us downtown for live entertainment, children’s crafts, and a visit from Santa Claus. Stroll to local businesses for holiday activities and finish the evening with the Mayor’s Tree Lighting.
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 18th 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.
