Learn to Swim: Affordable Lessions & Swimming Scholarships
If you’ve been thinking about swim lessons in Wichita but weren’t sure about the cost, this is worth looking into. Wichita Park & Recreation offers already affordable swim lessons starting around $35, and I recently learned they also have scholarships that can make them completely free for qualifying families. Learning how to float, tread water, […]
Spring Work Day at Great Plains Nature Center & Free Lunch
The Great Plains Nature Center welcomes the community to its free Spring Work Day in the Park. This annual event is a crowd favorite in anticipation of the warmer months. Spring Work Day is a chance for people of all ages and abilities to get outside and help prepare Chisholm Creek Park for the warmer […]
Great Plains Renaissance Festival in Wichita: Ticket Discounts
The Great Plains Renaissance Festival and Wichita Scottish Festival is happening at Sedgwick County Park in Spring 2026. This beloved local event, known as the Wichita Renaissance Fest, offers a wide array of exciting activities and entertainment. At the Wichita Great Plains RenFest, you’ll find what the organizer’s dub “jests and jousts, fire-breathing daredevils, aerial […]
Free Swimming at McAfee Pool in Wichita
Great news, Wichita! The City of Wichita’s Park & Recreation Department just made your summer a little cooler (and cheaper). McAfee Pool is offering FREE swim every other Saturday all summer long! Whether you’re looking for a way to beat the heat, entertain the kids, or just enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the water, McAfee […]
Splash Parks in and around Wichita 2026
Splash pads in Wichita are a big attraction during the summer months. These splash parks (aka water playgrounds, splash pads, or play fountains) are a great way to enjoy summer for free. They are cost-effective and require less maintenance. Therefore, several have been funded by the city in the past few years. In fact, a […]
Art at the Arb – Music and Art at the Bartlett Arboretum
It must be Spring because Art at the Arb is back for 2026. This event celebrates springtime with a weekend-long celebration featuring local artists, live music, blooming tulips, great food, and the arboretum’s fantastic garden landscapes. On Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12, the Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine will host “Art at the […]
Exploration Place Destination Playscape and Water Play: Now Open
Exploration Place is developing a 6.5-acre outdoor playscape along the Arkansas River, featuring a variety of play and learning elements, scheduled to open March 13, 2026. This new addition will include a Water Play Park, multiple Playgrounds, and unique experiences, such as the Exploration Place Outdoor Amphitheater, which offers views of the Keeper of the Plains […]
Riverside Park Zoo called the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit is FREE
It’s officially named the “Kansas Wildlife Exhibit” but is fondly known by Wichitans as the Riverside Park Zoo. Did you know they feed animals at noon every day? Yes, you can go see FREE animal feeding every day. We love consistent FREE activities in Wichita. This zoo is near the wonderful Central Riverside Park, which […]
RiverFlix: Free Outdoor Movies at Exploration Place 2026
Riverflix at Exploration Place is a free outdoor movie series in Wichita. It will be held in the Exploration Place amphitheater right outside its downtown location, near the iconic Keeper of the Plains. The best part is that Riverflix is FREE. This outdoor event will be held in the Wichita Foundation Amphitheater, where everyone is […]
Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine Kansas
The Bartlett Arboretum is located in Belle Plaine, Kansas, and offers a beautiful escape from the city, featuring gardens and special events. This is truly a hidden gem in Kansas. It has 20 acres of gardens and is located approximately 30 minutes south of Wichita. Fun Fact: Robin and Ken own the Arboretum. Robin was […]
Farmers Markets in Wichita
Farmer’s Markets in Wichita and surrounding communities with locally grown fresh food, plants, honey, handmade items, and more. Some markets offer kids’ activities and live entertainment; all offer an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbors, learn more about local produce, and share in the fun of discovering things produced right here in our own state […]
Treehouse Concerts at Bartlett Arboretum 2026
Super-affordable and a great way to spend an afternoon outside, the Treehouse Concerts at Bartlett Arboretum are just a short drive from Wichita …
Botanica the Wichita Garden Tulip Festival
Make plans to attend Botanica’s Tulip Festival every day from March 27 to April 26, 2026. This is a Wichita Spring tradition for all ages. It is the perfect spring event to get families and friends outside to experience the gardens and enjoy beautiful spring blooms during the week, and on the weekends, they will have […]
Exploration Place Parkrun
Wichita’s Parkrun is an excellent event for outdoor enthusiasts and a fantastic free activity for our community. This event is every Saturday at Exploration Place. Parkrun welcomes both runners and walkers for an organized and enjoyable experience. If you’re looking for a free, active weekend activity in Wichita, this is for you! Joining a group […]
Best Playgrounds and Parks for kids in and around Wichita
I learned my lesson early one July morning when I took my toddler to the zoo. All she did was pick up pretty rocks on the ground! I realized she didn’t care (yet) that there was a giraffe standing a few feet away.After that experience, I began thinking about her perspective rather than my own […]
O.J. Watson Park in Wichita
OJ Watson Park is a fantastic place for families, teens, and anyone who wants to get outside and enjoy a lot of Outdoor Activities. This is the Wichita park with the yellow brick road! The park operates year-round, but the opening weekend, when all rides and special activities open for the season, takes place just before Wichita […]
Storytime at Naftzger Park in Downtown Wichita 2026
Storytime in the Park is FREE at Naftzger Park in downtown Wichita. Read along with stories on the big screen and enjoy music, snacks, free books, and an activity for the kids. Admission is FREE, and this event is open to the public. Storytime Village helps put on these storytimes with Wichita Parks & Recreation. They […]
City Crew Kids Club in Wichita is FREE: Free Events & More
Have you heard? City Crew (formerly known as Barry’s Crew) is a completely FREE program for kids to join. What is City Crew in Wichita? It’s a program for kids to connect with their community and learn more about city services. Managed by the City of Wichita, this program offers free activities, events, behind-the-scenes tours, […]
Adult Sports Leagues in Wichita: Softball, Golf, Kickball & Valleyball
Are you looking for an adult sports league to join in Wichita? This year, consider participating in adult athletics with the Wichita Parks and Recreation Department. They offer affordable, organized sports, such as adult kickball, golf, sand volleyball, and softball. Participating offers a multitude of benefits. Firstly, it provides an avenue for physical activity, promoting […]
Wicked Island at OJ Watson Park
Wicked Island, the haunted attraction at Watson Park. It’s back every Friday and Saturday in October for another wicked season! Enter the Island if you dare…you’ll find spooky scenes, ghosts, ghouls and more! Look forward to an ever-changing treacherous. Walk through a wooded island where nightmares become a reality. Plan ahead and purchase tickets online […]
Great Plains Nature Center: Free Events and Info
The Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita is always FREE to visit. They provide opportunities for the public to investigate, understand, and develop an appreciation for wildlife. They have weekly FREE events, and no registration is needed! Great for homeschoolers, kiddos who aren’t quite in school yet, or anyone else available in the morning hours. The […]
FREE Admission to America’s National Parks 2026
Here’s a big deal: The National Park Service offers five fee-free days in 2026. On these FREE days at U.S. National Parks, you’ll pay nothing to get in to more than 100 national parks across the country that normally charge a fee. During the fee-free days, the parks waive entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and […]
Open Streets ICT 2026 in Downtown Wichita is FREE
Wichita Parks and Recreation will host another Open Streets ICT – a FREE event in Wichita, KS. Over 100 vendors will be in attendance. Open Streets ICT brings Wichitans of all ages downtown for an active, fun, community-building afternoon on Wichita’s iconic Douglas Avenue. Open Street is one of my favorite community events. The city […]
First Day Hikes on New Years Day in Kansas, Wichita
Take a hike on the first day of the year to start your new year off right! Numerous Kansas State Parks – and a Wichita city park – are offering First Day Hikes, which are guided hikes on New Year’s Day, January 1. Bring the family – bundled up, of course, and wearing comfortable, sturdy […]
All aboard: Watson Park Christmas Express Train Ride 2025
Watson Park has a fun and affordable Christmas train ride experience in Wichita. Explore the magic of Watson’s Christmas Express in two fantastic ways! Opt for the VIP package by registering in advance to indulge in EVERYTHING, or join them during the general admission timeframe without any registration and tailor your perfect experience. Whichever option […]