The Wichita Park & Recreation Department is embracing the Christmas season and the start of winter through a couple of events. Tonight at Naftzger Park is Winter Wonderland which promises sweets and surprises for folks of all ages, as well as the lighting of the holiday tree. We were joined by Kaye Sears from the city to preview that event and the popular Snow Glow event in early January.
The City of Andover KS will be celebrating its Hometown Christmas on Thursday. This fun and free event will feature a number of great activities, from the lighting of the community's Christmas tree to a visit from Santa himself. We were joined by Megan Schapaugh who is the Public Information Officer with the city to preview those and other festivities taking place!
This evening, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra will bring holiday cheer to Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, as they present their annual Spirit of the Season Free Family Holiday Concert. It not only showcases the talents of the WSO but also helps gather food for the Kansas Food Bank through the donations of attendees. We had fun talking with Nina Longhofer and Micaela Heinrich-Arndt about this great event - which they advise may still have availability, though all tickets have been claimed as of this post.
Saturday evening will bring Christmas to Haysville just a bit early. They'll be celebrating Haysville's Village Christmas Celebration 2024 in W.W. Hays Park and it promises to feature a number of local vendors, great food and the lighting of the city's Christmas tree, as well as a visit from Santa himself. We talked to Mayor Russ Kessler, City of Haysville to preview this year's festivities.
It's the last First Friday of the year - but it's opening night for a new exhibit at Gallery XII. We talked to John Ellert to preview "Terra Firma" - an exhibit by artist Janet Jensen that will be at the venue through February 1st. The reception is tonight from 6-9 PM.
The talented ladies of Emerald City Chorus will be performing at The Goddard Church in Goddard this Friday and Saturday evening. Their "Merry and Bright" concerts will take those attending through a number of Christmastime favorites, and we were joined by Barb Letts and Jan Hopkins who are members of the Chorus and previewed what you can expect to hear!
Some of Wichita's youngest and most talented singers will be taking part in a series of concerts across the city to get folks in the spirit of the season. We spoke with Wichita Community Children's Choir (WCCC) President Ricki Emery about those events - the first at Friends University's Christmas Candlelight concerts running from Friday through Sunday and then the Songs of the Season - WCCC Concert on December 15th at Aldersgate United Methodist Church - Wichita, KS.
***Santa's Workshop - Weeknights at 5:30 PM on KCTU 5.1***
Santa and Toyboy are here each weeknight, now through Christmas Eve! Relive these vintage episodes of a Wichita tradition with your family and friends.
Children are invited to participate in the broadcast too! Santa himself will take your kids' letters and photos to include during a special segment each night. If you're a parent who gives permission - please send them via email to [email protected] or snail mail...
Santa
c/o KCTU 5
934 N. Water Street
Wichita, KS 67203
Friends University is hosting the Ceremony of Lights 2024 this Sunday evening at 6 PM in the Rose Window Plaza in front of the Davis Administration Building. We talked with Jessica Boone, who is the Director of Alumni Relations at the University who shared with us how the event is much more than just lighting an iconic Wichita landmark.
The Tallgrass Film Association recently hosted it's annual Film Festival in the heart of Wichita - and among the features, films with a local and regional focus made waves in a number of ways. We spoke with Assistant Director Sierra Franklin-Morton about how the films of Tallgrass send a message about our region and it's people as well as some of the upcoming events the Association has organized.
Today, parents need all the help they can get in fostering literacy and a love for reading in their children - and the Wichita Public Library is working with them in a more deliberate way as of late. We spoke with WPL Director of Libraries Jamie Nix about the approach the system has taken over the past number of years, and what's happening today in that quest.
Drug Courts that are in place through the Sedgwick County Government assist those who have been involved in offenses tied to substance abuse and have been part of the fabric of the community for almost 20 years. Earlier this month, two dozen people graduated from the program - a major step in their overall rehabilitation. We spoke with Monica Harris who is a Specialty Courts Administrator about the court system and the impact it has on the lives of those who have taken part in it.
