Wichita Moms Guide to June 2018 Events

There are so many things to do in Wichita this summer for kids of all ages. We’ve got a VBS round-up, FREE things to do, and the Ultimate Summer Bucket List to get you started. For more specific things to do this month, keep scrolling!

We are thrilled to bring this resource in collaboration with some of our favorite community partners: Botanica and Sedgwick County Zoo! To make planning easy, we are excited to highlight their June events below:

Botanica 

Take Flight

June 3, 1:00 – 5:00pm, $9 and $6 for members (or with Riverfest button). Fly into summer at this event for the whole family. We are celebrating the opening of the Butterfly House with activities related to butterflies, planes, bees, birds and anything that flies. 

Tuesdays on the Terrace

June 5, 12, 19, 26, 6:00 – 8:00pm, $10 and $5 for members. There will be food for sale and a cash bar. Come and enjoy live music and community! June 5 – Annie Up; June 12 – En Power & Light; June 19 – Infinite Layers; June 26 – Emily Strom

Games in the Gardens

June 7, 14, 21, 28, 10:00-7:30, We will have oversized games in the Downing Children’s Garden Meadow. Join us for lunch at our Garden Cafe at Botanica or pack a picnic and eat outside in our gardens. Check our website for special activities during Family Game Day/Night. General admission applies.

Breakfast and Butterfly Release

June 20, 9:00am, Spend time in our gardens while enjoying fresh air, fun and breakfast with the butterflies! Each guest will receive a live butterfly to release in our Cox Butterfly House and breakfast by Chris Cakes. Enjoy all you can eat pancakes, sausage and orange drink in our garden. You will also receive fish food to feed our koi. $12 for members and $15 for non-members.

Concert at Botanica

June 27, 7:30pm, Join us one night only in the Lotus Room for a concert you won’t want to miss. This includes Wolf, Prokofiev; Mendelssohn, Evgeny Zvonnikov and Natalia Korenchuk on violins, Catherine Consiglio on viola and Leonid Shukiev on cello.

>>Click HERE for a list of all Botanica events in June<<

Sedgwick County Zoo

Ape Awareness

June 8-9, 8:30am – 4:30pm. Come learn about the three types of apes living at Sedgwick County Zoo – chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas. There will be keeper chats, learning about ape enrichment, recycling opportunities, and investigating the struggles that apes face. Regular admission applies. 

Fathers’ Day Car Show

June 17, 8:30am-4:00pm Dads, grab your crew, put the pedal to the metal and cruise on out to the Sedgwick County Zoo for Father’s Day. See classic cars, antique autos, vintage hot rods and new model cars while exploring your favorite animal exhibits at the Zoo. Dads are admitted free when accompanied by a paying child.

The Drunken Botanist

June 29, 6:00 – 8:00pm Let your wild child out! Enjoy a cocktail created by mixologists from Glaziers and House of Schwan while learning about beautiful flora from our expert horticulturists here at Sedgwick County Zoo. Groups will begin walking promptly, with tours lasting from 6-8 p.m. Enjoy amazing food with your cocktail at each stop. Food will be catered by our amazing Beastro. All attendees must be 21 years or older. Tickets are $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

>>Click HERE for a list of all Zoo events in June<<


June 2018 Events in Wichita

WEEKEND June 1-3:
June 1-9: Wichita River Festival has concerts, a parade, food and too many activities to list – there is something for everyone!
June 1: Andover Public Library celebrates Daniel Tiger with a special storytime and craft.
June 1: Head to Valley Center for a Movie on Main Street.  
June 2-3: Comic book and sci-fi fans will love Wichicon at Riverfest.
June 2: All  the princesses will be visiting Riverfest, too!
June 2: It is Kids Day at Kansas Grown – there will be clowns, fire trucks, snacks and more!
June 2: Get educated on safety for you and your child with Safety First.
June 2: Ballet Wichita bring mermaids to Love of Character for a performance, craft and snacks.
June 2: Watermark books presents a candy-themed Saturday Storytime.
June 2: Free food and fun at the Andover Police and Fire Festival
June 3: Release a butterfly and enjoy a learning adventure at Take Flight!

Week:: June 3-9

June 4: Older kids can learn to read transit maps and ride the bus, and the Parks and Rec station will have activities for all ages. 
June 5: The Humane Society hosts a storytime, and the kids can meet the animals and make treats for them.
June 5: Tuesdays on the Terrace at Botanica promises good drinks, delicious food, and live music.
June 7-10: Ballet Wichita is bringing The Little Mermaid to seven different parks around Wichita for free.
June 7: Bring a picnic and enjoy a summer concert around the Bradley Fair pond. 
June 7: Play oversized games in the gorgeous gardens!

WEEKEND June 8-10
June 8
: Learn to juggle and watch the masters at the Andover Public Library. 
June 8
: If you dare, head to Atchison for a ghostly tour of the McInteer Villa.
June 8-9: Learn more about the magnificent apes during Ape Awareness at the zoo.
June 8-9: Riverfest present KidFest with inflatables and activities for kids of all ages. 
June 9: Barry the Bison is bringing emergency vehicles to OJ Watson park for the kids to explore.
June 9: If you are looking for an arty way to beat the heat, CityArts is hosting a family collage craft.
June 9: Get some exercise and support a good cause at the Wichita Heart Walk.
June 9: Grab a mug and head to the coffee shop to plant a succulent.

Week:: June 10-16

June 11: Your music trivia knowledge will come in handy at this Bingo Mania.
June 12
: Elementary students will enjoy learning and crafting at the Summer Jam series.
June 12: Tuesdays on the Terrace at Botanica promises good drinks, delicious food, and live music.
June 12: Enjoy a storytime and painting project at Color Me Mine. 
June 14
: Put on your jammers and head to Elephant and Piggie pajama jam storytime. 
June 14: Bring a picnic and enjoy a summer concert around the Bradley Fair pond.
June 14: Play oversized games in the gorgeous gardens!
June 14-16: Wichita Children’s Theatre presents Pinkalicious

WEEKEND June 15-17
June 15: The sixth annual outdoor live music and film night promises to be fun for the family. 
June 16
: Planes will be flying in and out all day long, and there will lots of other activities for everyone, including a car show.
June 16
: The Kansas Aviation Museum opens their planes once a year for the kids to Play on a Plane.
June 16: The kids can calm down and relax with a yoga workshop for kids
June 16: Head to OJ Watson park for a car show.
June 17: Register for a free women’s self-defense class
June 17: Dads get in free with a paying child for the Father’s Day Car Show at the zoo. 
June 17: Lots of family fun with inflatables, live music and more!

Week:: June 17-23

June 19: Tuesdays on the Terrace at Botanica promises good drinks, delicious food, and live music.
June 20: Make reservations for the Breakfast and Butterfly Release.
June 21: Bring your favorite stuffy for a Teddy Bear Tyke Hike.
June 21: Sing along to Grease with your best friends.
June 21: Play oversized games in the gorgeous gardens!
June 21
: Bring a picnic and enjoy a summer concert around the Bradley Fair pond.

WEEKEND June 22-24
June 22: Enjoy a family movie night under the stars.
June 22: Free food and live music for all at Linear Park.
June 23: Love of Character is hosting a whimsical Fairy Garden Party
June 23: WAM hosts an ArtVenture for the family, with games, sculpting and a scavenger hunt.
June 23: Register your child to learn how to make geode cake pops at the library. 
June 23: Participate in this Wichita-wide scavenger hunt to win prizes and more!
June 23: Wichita Taco Fest is back and promises to be better than ever.

Week:: June 24-30

June 26: Tuesdays on the Terrace at Botanica promises good drinks, delicious food, and live music.
June 27: Your elementary-aged child can Draw Along at the Andover Library. 
June 27: Enjoy chamber music in the Lotus Room at Botanica.
June 28-30
: Argh Matey! How I Became a Pirate is playing at Wichita Children’s Theatre.
June 28: Play oversized games in the gorgeous gardens!
June 28: Bring a picnic and enjoy a summer concert around the Bradley Fair pond.
June 28: Barry’s Recreation Station will be set up at Fairmont Park for all to enjoy.

WEEKEND June 29-July 1
June 29: Enjoy cocktails and food while learning about the flora at the zoo with The Drunken Botanist.
June 30: Celebrate independence at Cowtown with old-fashioned fun. 

More events will be added as the month goes on – check back soon!

You can see everything on the WMB calendar for the month here. If you have an event to add, you can do that here.


WMB Neighborhood Group Meet-Ups

Wichita Neighborhood Mom Groups are having all kids of activities in your neighborhood and connecting online to share recommendations and advice. Click here to join your Neighborhood Group, and see below for what’s going on near you this month.

North Wichita/Bel AireDerby/South Wichita, East Wichita/Andover, Central Wichita and Preschool Playdates Groups will have a giant playdate at Backyard Specialists on June 21.  


Regularly Scheduled Programming

Many local places have recurring events that are great for moms and families, and you can find them here: 

  • Aviate has Junior Jump Monday through Friday for the younger crowd.
  • Botanica has a Garden Storytime every Thursday morning, in the Children’s Library or weather permitting in the gardens. 
  • Sensory Friendly play at Exploration Place on the second Sunday of every month
  • Urban Air has Jumparoo Toddler Jump every Tuesday and Friday.
  • Home Depot has a free Kids’ DIY workshop on the first Saturday of every month.
  • Family Night at Museum of World Treasures is the first Thursday of the month.
  • Every Friday the Kansas Aviation Museum has a special ticket price for families.
  • Make ICT has free access to their makerspace every other Monday.
  • Kansas Children’s Service League has a support group for Parents of Special Needs Children on the third Monday of every month. 
  • Moxi Junction hosts story and craft time every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:30am.
  • Local libraries have story times almost every day: check out our Guide to Wichita Story Times.

Other Resources for Things to Do with Kids

Top 10 Things for Wichita Kids & Parents to Do in ICT

Fun Stuff to Do in West Wichita 

Where Kids Eat Cheap or Free in Wichita

Guide to Wichita: Everything You Need to Know


Please Note :: While we make every effort to crosscheck current links and event details on our guides, we always encourage you to do the same before making final plans. If details are missing or incorrect, please let us know so that we can make every attempt to correct them.
Meaghan Koci
Meaghan wears many hats throughout the day: wife to husband of fifteen years, Jeremy, mom to two incredible children, Jacob and Aliza, legal assistant, foster parent, and surrogate. A Wichita native, she met her husband at K-State (Go State!) and they moved from coast (Los Angeles, CA) to coast (Manchester, NH and Groton, CT) before settling back down in Kansas. She is a big fan of her crock pots, has read more than a novel a day for the last five years, and crochets in her “spare” time.