FREE Things to Do in Wichita This Summer | 2019


SUMMER 2019
Free Things to Do in Wichita Outdoors

 

Old Cowtown Museum – Step back in time and enjoy a wagon ride or try a sarsparilla drink at Old Cowtown Museum, admission is FREE on Sundays from April – October.

Take A Tour on the Q-Line – These turn-of-the century styl trolleys are free and run loops through downtown Wichita & the Douglas Design District.

Riverside Park, Zoo & Splash Park – Tour the outdoor wildlife exhibit, go wild on the playground, and cool off in the interactive water water fountains!

Annual Fly-In at Stearman Field – Pilots will fly in from all over Kansas for this family favorite event! Come see the planes and cast your vote for your favorite car show entry on June 15th.

Waterwalk Fountain – Catch a “dancing” water show at the Waterwalk Fountain in downtown Wichita.

Great Plains Nature Center – Go on a nature hike and visit Koch Habitat Hall. They also offer several free family events and programs throughout the year!

Splash Park Hop – Check out our Splash Park Round-Up to find the water feature closest to you – or mix it up and try one in another town!

Free Fishing Weekend – Grab your rod & reel the first weekend in June and head out for Free Fishing Weekend in Kansas!

Ballet in the Park – Every year, Ballet Wichita performs in various parks in and around Wichita. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets – and show up early to get a good seat!

Free Swimming Days at Wichita Pools – Each week, one one Wichita pool will offer a free swimming day. Here’s the 2017 schedule:

– Aley :: June 16
– College Hill :: June 9
– Evergreen :: July 6
– Harvest :: June 2
– Linwood :: July 20
– Minisa :: July 14
– Orchard :: June 27

Shakespeare in the Park – The Wichita Shakespeare Company will present A Midsummer Nights Dream at 9 different parks this June. Bring a snack, a friend, and something to sit on!

Movies in the Park – Head east to Andover and enjoy 4 free movie nights in the park this summer!

RiverFlix at Exploration Place – Movies will begin after sundown, but limited seating is available. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair!

Free Things to Do in Wichita Indoors


Wichita Art Museum
– Admission for all ages is free on Saturdays! Once a month, you can participate in Family ArtVenture – free activities and art projects with a different theme each month!

Storytimes – Storytime is a great way to get out of the heat and practice those listening skills! Check out our comprehensive list of storytimes in Wichita for the locations of every spot in town.

Carousel Skate Center – Click here to sign your kids up for your FREE skate passes!

Ulrich Museum of Art – Located on the Wichita State University Campus, this museum is always free!

Kids Bowl Free – Register your kids for 2 free games of bowling every day! Participating Wichita bowling alleys include The Alley, Northrock Lanes, Seneca Bowl, and West Acres Bowl.

Kids’ DIY Workshop – Reserve your spot for a Kids’ Workshop at Home Depot, and let kids get hands-on crafting experience.

Wichita Public Library – Participate in WPL’s summer reading program, attend a storytime, puppet show, craft time or party! Classes and book clubs are also available for adults. Click here for their full calendar of events.

Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (at the Wichita Boathouse) – Though donations are welcome, admission to the museum is free. Open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm.

Free Things to Do in Wichita After Dark


Tunes + Tallgrass at WAM
– Back again! Bring your lawn chairs and picnic baskets to the Wichita Art Museum on June 15th for an evening of food, fun, and film. The Haymakers will will begin playing at 7pm, and food trucks will be on site. The movie (Moonrise Kingdom) starts at 9pm!

Keeper of the Plains/Troll/Lighting of Ring of Fire – Visit Wichita’s most well-known landmark, the Keeper of the Plains and stay for the lighting of the Ring of Fire at 9pm! Brave souls can search for the Wichita Troll while you’re there.

Riverfest Sundown Parade – While not really “after dark”, it’s still a fun, free non-morning activity. The parade is on Friday, May 31st in downtown Wichita!

Riverfest Pops Concert & Fireworks – Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and enjoy the Riverfest Pops Concert (8:00pm) and Fireworks (10pm) downtown on Friday, May 31st. If the streets are too crowded (the best spot for viewing is along the Arkansas River from Lewis St. to 1st St.), you can always find another spot to watch the show and tune into 97.1 FM to hear a live broadcast of the concert!

Riverfest CapFed Fantastic Fireworks Finale – If you missed the kickoff fireworks on the 2nd (or even if you didn’t!), you have another chance to catch a display choreographed to live music! Snag a spot along the Arkansas River at 10:30pm on Saturday, June 9th and tune into 103.7 FM!

Bradley Fair Jazz Concerts – Thursday summer concerts are back! A different act each week on the Bradley Fair Plaza – the concert is free and cocktails/soft drinks are available to purchase.

Exploration Place Riverflix Series – The films will be projected on the side wall of the entrance and begin at sundown. Limited seating is available, first come, first served. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair! 

Red, White and BOOM – It’s not the 4th of July without fireworks! Find food trucks and live music on the lawn of the Hyatt Regency downtown on July 4th from 6-9:30pm. The fireworks start at 9:45pm!

Perseid Meteor Shower 2019 – This year, the Perseid Meteor Shower will be active from July 23th to August 20th, with peak activity around August 11-13th. Click here for our tips on how and where to catch it!

Need even more summer fun? Check out our 2019 Ultimate Wichita Summer Bucket List!


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Erin Bartel
Erin is a marketing consultant in Wichita KS. She spends her days helping local businesses and non-profits navigate the ever-changing waters of digital marketing and homeschooling her kids. She and her daughter also own Sassy Squid Ink, an imprint designing notebooks, journals, and sketchbooks. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of 2, Erin's hobbies include bribing herself to exercise, traveling with (and without) her family, and trying to remember where she hid the chocolate.