A new drive-through holiday light display is happening this year at the Kansas Dragway
The Wichita calendar is full of pre-Thanksgiving holiday fun and other events this weekend.
Here’s a look at some of the fun events happening around town this weekend through Thanksgiving Day.
Two drive-through lights shows
Friday-Dec. 31 at Kansas International Dragway; Thursday-Dec. 28 at Ability Point
Wichita has a couple of drive-through light displays to enjoy this year, including a new one: Magic of Lights is a show put on by a company that is setting up in 21 cities across the country, including Wichita. The show will be at the Kansas International Dragway, 7900 W. 61st St. North. It opens on Friday and will run through Dec. 31. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Advance tickets are available online and are $21 a carload for standard vehicles, $50 for limos and party buses or $80 for buses. At the gate, tickets are $30-$60 Mondays through Thursdays and $35-$60 Fridays through Sundays. More information is available at magicoflights.com/events/wichita/
Also, the 27th annual Lights at Ability Point opens Thanksgiving night and runs through Dec. 28 at 2919 W. Second St. It’s a ¾-mile display made up of more than 1.6 million lights and features a rainbow tunnel, a nativity scene and a fire-breathing dragon. New this year: an “I Love ICT” display and what’s being billed as the tallest lighted Christmas tree in Kansas. Hours starting Thursday are 5:30-9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $10 a carload, $20 for a bus or limo daily except for Mondays, when admission is a donation. Tickets are for sale online at https://abilitypoint.org/
Wreath Festival
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main
The annual Wreath Festival at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum returns for its 40th installment this weekend. The event, which started on Thursday and will continue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, will feature decorated wreaths, Christmas decor, baked goods, cards, books and gifts for sale. Admission is free. For more information, visit wichitahistory.org
Feztival of Trees
Friday-Tuesday and Nov. 25-27, Midian Shrine Center, 130 N. Topeka
Another anticipated Wichita holiday event — The Midian Shrine Temple’s Feztival of Trees — will return for its ninth annual outing and will run from Friday through Tuesday and Nov. 24 through 26. The event will happen at the Midian Shrine Center and will showcase decorated and themed trees. Attendees will get a chance to win trees, gift baskets and more. (Raffle drawings happen at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 26.) Visitors also can take selfies with Santa, visit the Snowflake Cafe for lunch and dinner and shop from vendors. Biscuits and gravy and full breakfasts also will be sold starting at 9 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $5. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays; and 5 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Bradley Fair tree lighting
6 p.m. Sunday, 21st and Rock
The holidays start in earnest at Bradley Fair, the retail complex at 21st and Rock, with a tree-lighting ceremony on Saturday. The event was originally planned for Sunday but was moved because of the threat of rain. It’s now happening from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday and will include the lighting of a giant outdoor tree at 6 p.m. plus photos with Santa, a meet-and-greet with The Grinch, music by Studio Singers, an appearance by the Metropolitan Ballet, and rides on Bradley Fair’s electric train, which will transport people around the center. The train will run from 4 to 8 p.m., and rides cost $3 for ages 5 and over. For more information, visit bradleyfair.com/events
Shop & Grub Holiday Edition
5-10 p.m. Sunday, Exploration Place Festival Plaza, 300 N. McLean
The final Shop & Grub of the season — a holiday installment — will be an indoor night market that will happen from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday at Exploration Place. It will feature a long list of vendors selling things like clothing, jewelry, tumblers, art and more. The event also will include music by DJ Magnum and food and drink by businesses like Two Hands Corn Dogs, El Gusto Mexican Eatery and Grace Hill Winery.
Flea market weekend
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Wichita Sports Forum, 2688 N. Greenwich
Holiday shoppers also can get their gift hunting underway this weekend at the Wichita Flea Market. This month’s installment happens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Wichita Sports Forum. It will feature 217 vendor booths, a pumpkin scavenger hunt with a cash prize, and appearances by Santa. Admission is $3 or $5 for a two-day ticket at the door. Children 12 and under get in free.
