Looking for ideas on what to do in Wichita this week? We got you covered with The Best Things To Do In Wichita.
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BEST THINGS TO DO!
■ Wichita Wind Surge vs. NW Arkansas | September 7-12
Don’t forget about their special game on 9/11. Join the Wind Surge for pregame ceremonies and in-game tributes as we honor and remember those that lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
■ 1 Million Cups at Groover Labs | September 8
1 Million Cups is a free, weekly national program designed to educate, engage, and connect entrepreneurs. Every Wednesday morning at 8:45 a.m., one or two early-stage startups present their companies to a diverse audience of their peers, mentors, educators, and advisors.
■ Food Truck Thursdays at Exploration Place | September 9
Food Truck Thursdays takes place every Thursday at Exploration Place. Different food trucks will be on hand every Thursday. Grab a drink from the bar, jam out to live music, play games, and more all while you enjoy our scenic view of the Keeper of the Plains. Plus, bring the whole family to check out their exhibits. The event is free for EP members. Guest rates run $15 in advance or $20 per car at the gate.
■ Tunes + Tallgrass | September 10
Bring your lawn chair or blanket and claim a spot on the Paula and Barry Downing Amphitheater lawn. Music Theatre of Wichita performs Grease on September 15–19 and MTW actors will make a special appearance at WAM. Break out your best hand jive, and join in the fun, including live music from The Benders to start the evening.
■ Kansas State Fair | September 10-19
Kansas State Fair is a State Fair that held annually in Hutchinson, Kansas, United States. It starts the Friday following Labor Day in September, and lasts for 10 days. This fair is the largest single event in the state and attracts approximately 350,000 people annually.
■ Ballet Wichita: Carnival of the Animals | September 10
Wichita Park & Recreation is happy to host Ballet Wichita’s Annual Ballet in the Park at Evergy Pavilion at Naftzger Park! Ballet Wichita has been providing free, family friendly dancing in the park for over 30 years. Carnival of the Animals is a colorful journey through the animal kingdom set to the beloved music of Camille Saint-Saens.
■ Beatles vs. Stones | September 10
Beatles vs. Stones – two of the greatest bands of all time face off in a high-energy, adrenaline-pumping musical showdown. The Fab Four, represented by tribute band Abbey Road will engage in a barrage of hits against premier Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction. It’s a face-off you won’t want to miss!
■ Zoobilee | September 11
It’s the 50th birthday celebration for the Sedgwick County Zoo. Zoobilee is known to many as Wichita’s wildest FUN-raiser! Musical entertainment and wild animals greet you as you arrive at the Zoo’s biggest annual fundraiser.
■ Rhythm, Blues & BBQ 9/11 | September 11
Please join Big B’s Beef, F&N Foods and Snow Jonzin trucks at the Rhythm, Blues & BBQ event at OJ Watson Park on Saturday, 9/11 from 5 to 8 pm
■ 150Fest | September 11
Join us for a FREE festival in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the City of El Dorado! We’ll be featuring a parade, cornhole tournament, art and craft market, local performances, food trucks and concert series all leading up to our headliner up-and-coming country artist Caylee Hammack!
■ ICT Comic Con & Science Fiction Expo | September 11
Captain ICT says welcome to Wichita’s premiere home for all things science fiction, comics, literature, movies and horror films as we launch our ICT Comic Con and Science Fiction Expo Year 5.0 event!
■ Burger Popup with Chef Tom | September 11
Join us for a Burger Popup with Chef Tom to raise money for ShowerUp, a non-profit organization that serves those experiencing homelessness with mobile shower units. Chef Tom will cook up Smash Burgers with all of the fixins from 11 am to 2 pm. $10 per burger goes straight to ShowerUp. OR bring a sleeping bag in exchange for a burger!
■ Pollinator Party | September 11
Celebrate the creatures that make plants possible! Pollinator Party 2021 at Chisholm Creek Park will honor “The B’s of Pollination”: Bees, Butterflies, Beetles, Bats and Birds. Explore the incredible connections between plants and animals with activities for the whole family.
■ Race For Freedom 5K | September 11
10th annual Race 4 Freedom 5k run/walk hosted by ICT S.O.S. This year, funds raised will stay with ICT S.O.S. to further their mission of stopping human trafficking in Wichita. Money raised will help with prevention education in local schools and churches, victim services and outreach services to at-risk youth and adults. Previously, all money raised has gone to partner agencies in the fight against trafficking, such as Youthville, Carpenter Place, Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, etc. Virtual participation is an option as well.
■ Grand Opening of 316 Martial Arts and Fitness | September 11
Join us for a fun day of free classes! We believe in our program and we want you to try it out. There is no perfect time or size to start the fitness journey for you or for your children.
■ Orie’s Garlic Fest 2021 | September 12
This annual food festival celebrates all things garlic — with ready-to-eat garlicky grub, garlic beverages, garlic salts, seasonings, baked goods, honeys, jams, and more! Orie’s Garlic Fest highlights the many facets of Wichita’s local scene: artisans, makers, farmers and ranchers, musicians, and foodies of all kinds.
■ Magnolia Charm Market | September 12
Join us for live Music by Adam Capps, Food Trucks & Adult Beverages at Brick & Mortar 229 S Emporia. Don’t forget to also shop with unique vendors.
LIVE MUSIC!
Tuesday, September 7
■ Consiglio & Co. @ Mort’s Martini Bar | 5 p.m.
■ Atreyu @ TempleLive | 6 p.m.
■ Coheed & Cambria + The Used @ Wave | 6:30 p.m.
■ Sterling Gray @ Mort’s Martini Bar | 8 p.m.
Wednesday, September 8
■ Ben Fuches @ Chicken N Pickle | 7 p.m.
■ Lynn Avants @ Augustino Brewing | 7 p.m.
■ Phil Bollig @ The Artichoke | 7:30 p.m.
■ Lisa Hittle Jazz @ YaYa’s EuroBistro | 7:30 p.m.
■ Glen Shipman @ Cowboy Inn Saloon | 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 9
■ Tropical Shores – Steel Drums @ Exploration Place | 5:30 p.m.
■ Harrison Steele @ Chicken N Pickle | 7 p.m.
■ Cynthia Rausch @ Augustino Brewing | 7 p.m.
■ Bruce Huss @ Old School Tap House | 7 p.m.
■ Just The Worm @ The Artichoke | 7:30 p.m.
■ The Cadillac Three @ Wave | 8 p.m.
■ Boldwine w/ Charlie Roberts @ Brickyard | 8 p.m.
■ Icy Tea Jazz Quartet @ Dockum | 8 p.m.
■ Jazzy Soul Night @ Vorshay’s Cocktail Lounge | 8 p.m.
■ Junk Mail @ Mort’s Martini Bar | 9 p.m.
Friday, September 10
■ The New Times Bard @ Songbird Juice Co. | 4:30 p.m.
■ Kay Doeden @ Fairmount Coffee Co. | 6 p.m.
■ Lisa Hittle, Ken White, Miki Jarvis, Kevin Rutschman @ Larkspur | 7 p.m.
■ Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band @ Champs | 7 p.m.
■ Float Like A Buffalo @ Kirby’s Beer Store | 7 p.m.
■ Dangie @ The Artichoke | 7:30 p.m.
■ Lisa Hittle’s Jazz Plus @ Jenny Dawn Cellars | 7:30 p.m.
■ The Source @ YaYa’s EuroBistro | 8 p.m.
■ Tom Foolery @ Mortdecai’s Tavern & Eatery | 8 p.m.
■ Annie Up @ Vorshay’s Cocktail Lounge | 9 p.m.
■ High Plains Drifter/The Last Kamikaze/Pretty O.K. @ Barleycorn’s | 9 p.m.
■ Henry Walker & The Regents @ The Shamrock | 9 p.m.
■ The Echos @ Jerry’s Bar & Grill | 9 p.m.
■ Fast Lane @ Outskirtz Bar & Grill | 9 p.m.
Saturday, September 11
■ Molly Neely & Eric Shumaker @ Grace Hill Winery | 1:30 p.m.
■ The Steinbergs @ Cocoa Dolce Downtown | 4:30 p.m.
■ Micah White & Chris Shaw @ Grace Hill Winery | 5 p.m.
■ Bag of Blues & Lady Dee and the Boyz @ O.J. Watson Park | 5 p.m.
■ Montery Jack with Katie Jo @ Brickyard | 6 p.m.
■ Lisa Hittle, Sage Judd, Miki Jarvis & Kevin Rutschman @ Larkspur | 7 p.m.
■ Taylor Woll @ Hurricane Sports Bar | 7 p.m.
■ Tyler Byrd @ Old School Tap House | 7 p.m.
■ Mandolin Monroe @ The Artichoke | 7:30 p.m.
■ Blaine Martin & Josh Pickenpaugh @ Jenny Dawn Cellars | 7:30 p.m.
■ America @ Kansas Star Casino | 7:30 p.m.
■ Here Come The Mummies @ The Cotillion | 8 p.m.
■ Native Stone @ Wichita Union Stockyards | 8 p.m.
■ Flipside @ Mortdecai’s Tavern & Eatery | 8 p.m.
■ Sister Sarah Tree @ The Hive | 8 p.m.
■ Dangie @ Snug Harbor | 8 p.m.
■ Localites / Ghost Town Strays / Zoetic Ether @ The Shamrock | 9 p.m.
■ Bootleg Mercy @ Jerry’s Bar & Grill | 9 p.m.
■ The Astronauts @ Margarita’s Cantina | 9 p.m.
■ One Stone @ Barleycorn’s | 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 12
■ Llew Brown Band @ Chicken N Pickle | 4 p.m.
■ Craig “Twister” Steward @ Old School Tap House | 7 p.m.
■ Blue October @ Wave | 8 p.m.
■ Black Tusk & Savage Master @ The Elbow Room | 8 p.m.
Around The Corner!
■ LatinFest | September 18
Latinfest ICT is unique cultural showcase. It’s a day that educates, celebrates, and opens your eyes to the diversity of Latino culture!! Enjoy authentic latino food vendors, art, dance performances, 2 live bands and much more!!!
■ Open Streets ICT | September 19
Join us this fall for Open Streets ICT, a FREE neighborhood community-building event along Douglas Avenue in Wichita, KS for a full day of physical activity, food trucks, music and fun!
■ Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cook-off | September 25
It is time… CHILI TIME! Come join us for the biggest one day party in the City of Wichita! September 25th, High Noon, at Douglas and St. Francis all around the newly renovated Naftzger Park!
■ ICT Bloktoberfest | October 8
Our goal at the ICT BLOKTOBERFEST is to support the Wichita community while creating some great lasting memories. Whether that is some of the best, local, craft beer around, entrepreneurs who make a living through their food trucks, or bringing live music to you from local artists, we want to support the community.
FAMILY FUN SERIES!
Looking for something to do with the family but can’t commit to a particular day? Browse our family fun series which highlights various family activities:
■ West Acres Bowling Center
■ Splash Aqua Park
■ Old Cowtown Museum
■ Sedgwick County Zoo
■ Axe To Grind
■ O.J. Watson Park
■ Sedgwick County Park – Boundless Playground
■ Berry Picking at Elderslie Farm
■ Bingo Casino
■ Carousel Skate Center
■ Botanica, The Wichita Garden
■ Exploration Place
■ Bliss Climbing and Fitness
■ The Cosmosphere
Have an event in Wichita you’d like to have considered for The Best Things To Do In Wichita, please visit this form to submit your event. To be considered, your submission must take place by Sunday of the upcoming week.
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The “America” show at Kansas Star on the 11th has been cancelled