Check out these holiday events in Great Bend
Dec. 11----Free ice skating in Jack Kilby Square — Thursdays and Fridays, 4-8 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 1-6 p.m.
—Trail of Lights, various locations in town — Open now through Jan. 1; free to drive.
—Visit Santa and Santas Around the World (www.santasaroundtheworld.com) at 1223 Main St. — Thursdays and Fridays 4-6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 1-6 p.m.
—Downtown Christmas Windows — at participating businesses.
—Dolly Trolley Rides — Free rides to see the Trail of Lights, compliments of local sponsors. Reserve tickets at https://www.santasaroundtheworld.com/dolly-trolley. Rides depart from Perks Coffee Shop, 1216 Main, at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, through Dec. 30.
—Golden Belt Model Railroad Display, 1405 Main — 4-6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 1-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through December.
—Wheatland Electric Christmas Light Contest — Various homes in town.
—Christmas Trees and Holiday Displays — at the Barton County Historical Society Village and Museum, 85 South U.S. 281. Open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Christmas trees available for viewing through the end of the year. (Note: the museum closes at 1 p.m. on Wednesday afternoons.)
—Holy Family School Christmas Musical, "Straight Out of Bethlehem" — 7 p.m. Dec. 12 in the Fine Arts Auditorium at Barton Community College.
—Christmas lunch and music by Great Bend USD 428 band students — Thursday, Dec. 14 — noon lunch and 1 p.m. program at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2005 Kansas Ave.
—Santa & Mrs. Claus visit Club 1 Fitness — 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Free and open to all. Enjoy a cup of cocoa while the children create a winter craft and visit the couple from the North Pole.
—FCC Family Craft & Cookie Fair — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at First Christian Church, 5230 Broadway. Santa will arrive around 10 a.m. and be there until noon.
—Santa at the Zoo — 1-3 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo.
—Cookies and crafts for kids — 2-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Great Bend Coffee, 2015 Lakin Ave. Free event also features music by Bent Wheat.
—Vespers — 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Great Bend High School Auditorium, followed by Youth Choir at 3:30 p.m.
—Church of the Nazarene Christmas Musical, "Camel Lot -Don't Miss the Messiah — during the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, Dec. 17.
—Christmas in Stafford — Sunday, Dec. 17, Lighted UTV/Golf Cart Parade at 6:30 p.m., weather permitting; pick up scavenger hunt clues and popcorn at the Ritz Theatre. (Turn in sheets by 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18.
—Christmas Eve at the Crest Theater — 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 at 1905 Lakin Ave. Community celebration with singing, candles, goodies for kids, and the joy of Christmas, sponsored by First Southern Baptist Church.
—Christmas in Stafford — Saturday, Dec. 30, free kids movie at the Ritz Theatre at 3 p.m.; Music Bingo (Oktoberfest Gives Back event) at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6) at the Stafford VFW, 301 S. Main.
—Write letters to Santa — Through Dec. 20 at the Larned Chamber's North Pole mailbox, 502 Broadway, Larned.
