From live music and fireworks to fine art and indy films, festivals in Wichita and the surrounding areas offer a rich assortment of activities and entertainment. If you’re eager to take part in the fun, browse our list of popular annual events in Wichita. Just scroll down – they’re listed by month to make it easy for you to plan ahead. Enjoy!
Annual Wichita Festivals & Events:
Some of the links will take you to last year’s events. We will update each festival throughout the year and as each festival releases new information. This is an excellent guide to see what Wichita has to offer and gives you an idea of when each festival is held.
January Recurring Festivals:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Third Monday in January
Wichita usually celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy with an event by the Kansas African American Museum.
Cars for Charities Car Show
Cars for Charites (formerly Starbird-Devlin car show) is a two-day event held inside Century II in January each year. Kids 11 and younger get in free, and coupons for adult admission are often available at QuikTrip.
More info: Cars for Charities
March Recurring Festivals:
Screening of Academy Award Short Films
Usually, the beginning of March
Our Wichita library was one of the first places in the United States to offer screenings of Academy Award-nominated Short Films. This has been an annual event in Wichita for more than 30 years! Best of all – it’s free.
More info: Oscar Shorts
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
St. Patrick’s Day is always March 17, but the parade is usually the weekend before.
2023 Date: March 16
You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy historic Delano’s annual parade. Stake out your spot along Douglas Avenue next March, and be sure to wear your green!
More info: St. Patrick’s Day Parade
April Recurring Festivals:
Belle Plaine Downton Tulip Festival
Early April
The Belle Plaine Downtown Tulip Festival in April isn’t just about seeing the beautiful blooming tulips. You can spend the weekend soaking up the spring sunshine at the parade, carnival, and food court or stroll through the serene Bartlett Arboretum gardens.
More info: Belle Plaine Tulip Time Festival
Great Plains Renaissance Festival
Beginning of April
Wichita’s Renaissance Festival is held twice a year – in the spring and fall. You’ll find medieval delights like jousting, folk singing, jesters, falconry, and fried turkey legs bigger than your forearm. These days, the RenFest also now includes the Wichita Highland Games and Celtic Festival, so you’ll get bagpipes and kilts too!
More info: Great Plains RenFest
Engineering Expo
Usually, the first weekend in April
The Society of Women Engineers put on this STEM festival every year for kids. The Kids Engineering Expo offers high-quality, fun, and educational activities to help kids get interested in science, technology, engineering, and math! Admission is FREE.
More Info: kids’ Engineering Expo
Wichita Jazz Festival
Usually, in Late April
The Wichita Jazz Festival happens all around Wichita in late April and shows off some of the best jazz artists from around the country.
More info: Wichita Jazz Festival
May Recurring Festivals:
St. Mary’s Mediterranean Festival
Usually, in the middle of May
St. Mary’s Mediterranean Festival in May is one not to miss. Their annual Festival at St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church offers homemade Mediterranean food, traditional dancing, and the most delicious baked goods you will ever eat (p.s. get the rice pudding).
More info: St. Mary’s Mediterranean Festival
Art & Book Fair
Mother’s Day – The second Sunday of May
The Wichita Art Museum is a Mother’s Day weekend tradition, with FREE admission to see selected art, books, and performances.
More info: Wichita Art Museum’s Art & Book Fair
June Recurring Festivals:
Wichita Riverfest
Typically the first week/weekend in June
You don’t want to miss the biggest event of the summer, with live concerts, fireworks, competitions, food vendors, and fun events happening all along the Arkansas River—the Wichita River Festival kicks of in June in downtown Wichita.
More info: Wichita River Festival
Smoke on the Plains BBQ and Music Festival
Beginning of June
The annual Derby BBQ Festival in Derby’s High Park is always lots of fun! This is an annual festival that is a family-friendly event with live music, food, and kid’s activities. And admission is FREE. They average about 50 professional BBQ teams from the Midwest.
More info: Derby’s Annual BBQ Festival
Lavender Festival and Craft Show
Beginning of June
Take a trip to beautiful Burrton in mid-June for Gertie’s Lavender Festival. Listen to the live music, and grab a snack while you shop craft vendors.
More info: Gertie’s Lavender Festival
Wichita Taco Fest
Usually, the middle of June
You can sample tons of tacos, sip on some tequila, try different margaritas, and enjoy live entertainment. They also have corn hole, bean bag toss, and oversized games.
July Recurring Festivals:
Automobilia
Beginning of July
Wichita’s FREE Automobilia happens in downtown Wichita every summer. There will be live music, vendors, food, a swap meet, and a model car contest.
More info: Automobilia Car Show and Street Party
Air Capital Bacon, Bourbon, and Brew Festival
Usually, the Middle of July
Visit local restaurants and breweries for this unique foodie event. You can sample premium bourbons, taste more than 75 beers, and tons of bacon samples from local restaurants.
Sedgwick County Fair in Cheney
Usually, the Middle of July
The Sedgwick County Fair in Cheney is a classic, All-American event that happens mid-summer each year. You can expect a parade, demolition derby, carnival rides, live music, bbq cook-off and more.
More info: Sedgwick County Fair in Cheney
Kansas Wheat Festival
Usually, the Middle of July
The Kansa Wheat Festival in Wellington has a long-running arts & crafts show, car show, parade, kite festival, and much more, all included with your button.
More info: Kansas Wheat Festival
Dam Jam Music Festival
Usually, the 3rd weekend in July
This event offers two days of live music at Lake Afton. You can also enjoy camping at the festival, a cornhole tournament, a car show, and more.
More info: Dam Jam Music Festival
August Recurring Festivals:
ICT Comic Con
Usually, the end of August
2023: August 26th & 27
For true believers, the ICT Comic Con has become a don’t-miss event in August. This affordable event is for fans of comics, gaming, sci-fi, fantasy, horror movies, and more.
More info: ICT Comic Con
September Recurring Festivals:
Kansas State Fair
At the beginning of September
The Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson is the largest in the state, with carnival rides, concerts, and the best fair food around. Although the fair happens in September, the fair concert discounts and ride packages begin being offered as early as July!
More info: Kansas State Fair
Wichita Air Show: Frontiers in Flight
Typically Mid to late September
McConnell Air Force Base is opening its gates to the public during the Frontiers in Flight Open House and Airshow in September! The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform alongside many other professional airshow performers! Admission is free.
More info: Air show and open house
Walnut Valley Festival
Usually, the middle of September
2023: September 13 – 17
The Walnut Vally Festival in Winfield happens every September. This event showcases bluegrass-style music with live performances, as well as an art fair and contests like the “National Flat Pick Guitar Championship” to see who has the best pickin’ skills. Camp out at the Winfield Fairgrounds for all 5 days of the festival, or buy tickets for as many days as you’d like to attend.
More info: Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield
Kansas RailFest
Usually, Mid-September
Wichita’s interest in trains is growing (and we’re hoping to get an Amtrack stop here soon)! This event is hosted by the Great Plains Transportation Museum at Union Station, in September.
More info: Kansas Railfest
Autumn and Art at Bradley Fair
Usually Mid-September
2023: September 15 -17
Enjoy a stroll down Bradley Fair for Wichita Festivals’ Autumn and Art event in mid-September each year. Admire the art displays and shop from a variety of local and national artists while listening to live music and sipping on drinks available for sale. Kids can participate in arts and crafts activities.
More info: Autumn and Art
October Recurring Festivals:
Fall Renaissance Festival
Usually at the beginning of October
2023: September 30 & October 1st
The Great Plains Renaissance Festival has all your medieval fun in one place in both spring and fall. The Fall RenFest is usually held in September each year when cooler temperatures make it bearable to wear a full suit of armor.
More info: Great Plains Renaissance Festival
ICT Bloktoberfest
Usually Mid-October
2023: October 13 & 14
Bier and brats and being outdoors – that’s what Oktoberfest is all about, whether you’re in Munich or Kansas. Wichita’s Naftzger Park will be transformed into a Biergarten featuring live music, food, games, and of course – BIER! It’s a party for everyone! There is tons to see and do for free! Local vendors will have food and drinks for sale. Our tap trucks will be loaded with a fantastic selection of local, regional, and German beers.
More info: Blocktoberfest
September Recurring Festivals:
ICT Fest
Early September
2023: September 8
ICT Fest is an annual outdoor music festival featuring dozens of local and regional bands in many genres, including noise rock, punk, and electronic. The festival is usually held in early September in one of Wichita’s downtown-area districts.
More info: ICT Fest
Tallgrass Film Festival
Typically the beginning of October
2023: October 5- 8
The Tallgrass Film Festival happens at theaters around Wichita each October. The festival features around 200 short and feature films from around the world, hand-selected by a Wichita volunteer group who seeks out the best films. This film festival is a big deal; filmmakers come from around the world to participate.
More info: Tallgrass Film Festival
Wichita Asian Festival
Typically the end of October
The Wichita Asian Festival in October is a FREE event celebrating Asian culture with live performances, traditional Asian clothing, a pageant, and food from around the world. It all happens downtown at Century II Convention and Exhibition Halls.
More info: Wichita Asian Festival
Air Capital ComicCon
Usually, around the end of October
2023: October 28 & 29
Drawing inspiration from the larger national comic conventions, the Air Capital ComicCon provides a welcoming and fun atmosphere and almost 10,000 square feet of vendors, artists and panels for fans of “comic book culture and all things geek.” The annual Air Capital Comic Con is held in October.
More info: Air Capital Comic Con
November Recurring Festivals:
Veterans Day Parade
Veterans Day is November 11th but sometimes the parade is on a different day
Not to be missed, the Veterans Day Parade is held in November each year in downtown Wichita. Celebrate with some of our nation’s finest at this fun-filled, FREE parade.
Related: Veterans Day freebies and deals in Wichita KS
Fall Parades, Fairs and Annual Events near Wichita
For a full (really full!) list of small-town family fun, check out our complete list of Fall Festivals in the Wichita area. You’ll find more cotton candy, carnivals, and turtle races than you can shake a stick at.We typically update this article in September.