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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

Here Are The Top 12 Christmas Towns In Kansas. They’re Magical.

Kansas offers a variety of magical Christmas towns and events, from light displays to holiday markets and parades.

Updated Nov 4, 2022

Written by 

Annie

There's so much to love about Christmas in Kansas! Skeptics may roll their eyes and comment on how commercialized the Christmas season has become, and while we have to agree, we also have to admit that the lights, carols, and kitschiness are part of the fun! If you're like us and enjoy a festive Christmas celebration, you will want to check out these 12 Kansas towns.

1. WaKeeney

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WaKeeney

With its 35-foot tall tree, four blocks worth of decorations, and festivities galore, it's no wonder the "Christmas City of the High Plains" is #1 on our list! We're willing to bet that you'll agree that WaKeeney is one of the best Christmas towns in Kansas.

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2. Lindsborg

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Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau Facebook

Välkommen in the holiday season with traditional Swedish celebrations including Lucia Day (featuring the crowning of the Lucia and refreshments), Julotta (an early Christmas morning church service), and old-fashioned prairie Christmas celebration in Lindsborg.

3. Pittsburg

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Pittsburg Parks & Recreation ~ Pittsburg, KS Facebook

The annual Christmas parade is always a blast in Pittsburg, and the Pittsburg Christmas festivities are all so much fun. It's definitely a good idea to make your calendars for the Holiday Craft Fair & Santa's Workshop, which is the perfect place to take the kids for an exciting and festive day out.

4. Hutchinson

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Greater Hutchinson Convention/Visitors Bureau Facebook

What should we do first in Hutchinson? Take in a live production of "It's a Wonderful Life"? Partake in a carriage ride downtown? Or maybe drive around and admire all of the decorated homes? There is certainly no wrong answer in this charming town.

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5. Wamego

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Visit Wamego

Nothing says Christmas quite like thousands of beautiful lights all aglow in City Park in Wamego! After you've finished admiring the display, make plans to meet Santa in Prairie Village. The kids will absolutely love it.

6. Hays

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Downtown Hays

Downtown Hays is home to the annual FrostFest, where you not only get to see a spectacular parade, but meet Old St. Nick as well!

7. Newton

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Newton Convention & Visitors Bureau Facebook

With Christmas festivities spread throughout the entire month (including a parade, gift market, and Vespers service), you will never run out of festive things to do in Newton! It features some of the most fun holiday events in Kansas.

8. Manhattan

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Visit Manhattan Kansas Facebook

The Little Apple invites you to their big Christmas celebration, full of festive foods, amazing trees, and a synchronized light show complete with traditional holiday songs! There's nothing better than a fun day celebrating Christmas in Manhattan, Kansas.

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9. Shawnee

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Shawnee, KS Government Facebook

Where else but Shawnee can you tour a 1920s Christmas farm house, meet both Mr. & Mrs. Clause, AND pet a real reindeer?! The whole family is sure to have a great time in Shawnee.

10. Wichita

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Visit Wichita Facebook

There is always plenty to do in Wichita, so it makes sense that the city offers dazzling seasonal events from "Helicopter Holiday" light tours to breakfast with the Clauses! Winter in Kansas is always so much fun in Wichita.

11. Salina

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Flickr/Roger Meike

Nothing says Christmas quite like the "Great Russian Nutcracker", so make plans to see it or another amazing Christmas show at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts.

12. Dodge City

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Dodge City Convention & Visitors Bureau Facebook

"Get the heck into Dodge" for Christmas in Old Dodge City, an old fashioned Christmas favorite! You'll feel like you've stepped into a Christmas movie when you visit Dodge City.

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Which of these Christmas towns is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section!

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

The Remote Town in Kansas We Simply Can’t Get Enough Of

If you're looking for a way to get away from it all in Kansas, try Scott City - one of the state's most remote small towns.

Published Oct 18, 2024

Written by 

Tori Jane

Hidden truly in the middle of nowhere as the county seat of Scott County, Kansas, is a small town jam-packed with awe and amazement that's truly unmatched by other middle-of-nowhere towns; this particular town—Scott City, to be precise—was named one of the ten most remote towns in the United States (alongside a couple of other Kansas towns, a couple of Nebraska towns, and a couple of Montana towns—what an honor!), so if you're looking to "get away from it all"... seriously, you'll be doing that should you come out here. And I love it.

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Scott City was founded in 1885 and, as of the 2020 census, is home to about 4,113 people. It's about three to three-and-a-half hours from the nearest city of 75,000 people or more, making it one of the most rural places in the United States. But don't let this fool you into a sense of boredom: there's more to do around this idyllic little place than meets the eye.

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The Monument Rocks, also known as the Chalk Pyramids, are limestone formations created 80 million years ago from a vast inland sea. The sedimentary formations of buttes rise 70 feet high and contain many fossils. They were the first natural landmark chosen by the US Department of Interior as a National Natural Landmark.

Nature lovers will be pleased to find that this little town in Kansas is home to some truly jaw-dropping natural wonders, like the surreal-looking Monument Rocks, which are absolutely alien in appearance compared to the average Kansan landscape. When you think of Kansas, you probably think "flat," but it's so much more interesting than that.

Another must-see attraction in Scott City is Scott State Park, a natural playground where geology nerds and archaeology geeks can meet up and hang out, bonding over their mutual obsessions with this particular little corner of the Sunflower State. This state park is more than just visually stunning; it's also home to the single northernmost Pueblo ruins known as the El Quartelejo Ruins, which is super cool and worthy of a day trip all on its own. Of course, while you're here, you'll need to check out Lake Scott as well - it's got the delightful distinction of being the most remote lake in Kansas.

Personally, I think Kansas is one of the most beautiful places in the world. There's something about the endless plains full of knee-high grass that sways and dances in the steady wind, giving the entire state a dreamlike, idyllic feel. Kansas is incredible, and our small towns—Scott City included—are a wondrous reflection of this.

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A stunning sunset with a Silo at sunset reflecting in storm flooded water and Mammatus clouds above, Kansas, USA

If you're planning to visit Scott City (or even just Lake Scott State Park), be sure to check out the delightful Stepping Inn. It is one of the very few accommodations in town (seriously, it's that remote—it's one of two).

Tempted yet? I sure am. I'd continue writing, but Scott City is calling me. In the meantime, if you find yourself craving more Kansan beauty, check out some of the most incredible state parks in Kansas.

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Trip Ideas|Small Towns

The Up-and-Coming City in Kansas That’s Perfectly Sized

If you're looking for the fastest-growing city in Kansas, look no further than the little town of Gardner - which will soon be little no more.

Published Oct 2, 2024

Written by 

Tori Jane

Think fast: if someone were to ask you to name Kansas's fastest-growing city, what would you say? The truth is there are several small cities (and large towns) that can easily take this title, but today, I'd like to highlight one amazing town in particular that's exploding in population - so much so that it's made it onto numerous fastest-growing cities lists across the web. This town, known as Gardner, Kansas, is a little slice of paradise right here in the American Plains.

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Of all the small towns in Kansas, Gardner is one that doesn't seem to get enough love and attention - and honestly, I kind of prefer it that way. The quieter the town, the brighter the charm - at least for me. I love my towns small and my residents friendly, and that's exactly what you can expect from Gardner.

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City of Gardner, KS Government/Facebook

Gardner, Kansas, is located in Johnson County and has a population of 24,206 as of 2022. The town has seen steady growth since at least 1990, when the population was 4,393, until now - about 20,000 residents later. Talk about booming!

Often considered the southwesternmost "gateway" to Kansas City, this amazing town is heralded as a place where the city meets the country, and I'm inclined to agree. If you should ever find yourself torn between big-city and small-town life, I implore you to explore Gardner. I suspect it'll fit the bill you're looking to fill mighty perfectly.

Thanks to its ever-growing status, there's a seemingly endless stream of amazing things to do in Gardner, Kansas. One of my favorite places in the entire world is Celebration Park, which is iconic in its beauty and serves as the perfect blend of city life and natural wonder.

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Christopher Garrett/Google Local 

I mean, come on. Look at that. Just look at it. Kansas is a place of amazing beauty as long as you know where to look - and Gardner is an excellent place to start.

Other notable places in Gardner, Kansas, that are worthy of a visit on a day trip, weekend trip, or longer include hidden gems like Transport Brewery and the Gardner Farmers Market, and a lengthy assortment of museums, historical sites, restaurants, breweries, farms, parks, and more to keep you occupied. In this beautiful small town, you'll never get bored.

It is truly tough to understate the magic of this little town, but one thing's for sure: it won't be little for very much longer, and anyone considering a move to a new town - or to Kansas in general (spoiler: do it, it's a great place to live) - ought to consider a visit or two to Gardner as a starting point. It can only go well!

For more information about this small town in Kansas, check out the official Town of Gardner website. If you can't get enough of Kansas and all its wonders, check out nine awesome things you can only find in Kansas. Planning to visit and need a place to stay? No worries—check out all the coolest offerings from our friends at VRBO.

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