Free Things to do in Wichita, Kansas

Free Things to Do in Wichita

Iconic Wichita Landmarks

Keeper of the Plains Plaza

The centerpiece of Wichita is one of the best free attractions in Wichita. Everyone should visit at least once, and preferably during the nightly lightly of the Ring of Fire. If you’re very clever, you might find Wichita’s Troll statue (across the river from Exploration Place – hint, hint!). For more info, read our article: Keeper of the Plains and Wichita Troll

Pizza Hut Museum

Wichita is where the original Pizza Hut restaurant was started. Really! And the original Pizza Hut restaurant still stands as a free museum open to the public. To get all the info, read our article: The Original Pizza Hut in Wichita, KS

Free Museums & Cultural Local Attractions in Wichita

Wichita Art Museum

Our art museum is fun and unique! The permanent collection with over 6,000 works of art, including 20th and 21st-century work, is free to visit, along with their kids’ PLAY area with toys and art supplies. Traveling exhibits will usually require a paid ticket. Our article: Free Admission to the Wichita Art Museum

Old Cowtown Museum

You should experience this Old West treasure while you’re in Wichita! Old Cowtown Museum offers free admission on Sundays from April through October. Explore the Wichita of the 1800s by walking through real and reproduction buildings, watching a gunfight at high noon, and moseying up to the saloon for some sarsaparilla. Our article: Free Admission to Old Cowtown Museum

Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

This is the clock tower building! It’s impossible to miss when you’re downtown. Admission is free every Sunday. WSCHM is truly one of our best, housed in Wichita’s old city hall building with a unique focus on local Wichita history and great programs year-round, many of which are free. They also usually have free programs on Final Fridays. Here’s our article: Free Admission to Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

Great Plains Nature Center

One of our favorite places to learn about nature and admission is free year-round. Right next door to Chisholm Creek Park and near Home Depot on the east side. Great Plains Nature Center (GPNC Events & Info)

Kansas Wildlife Exhibit at Riverside Park

This is one of the best free attractions and kind of hidden inside Riverside Park. Learn more about it here: The Kansas Wildlife Exhibit (aka Riverside Park zoo)

City Arts (CityArts)

Always free. Three floors open to the public with weekly gallery exhibits in Downtown Wichita. You might catch an art class in progress. One of the more beloved free galleries in the city. Fun to walk around Old Town Square while you’re there. Read more about it in our article: City Arts Wichita, KS

The Mark Arts Gallery

The Mary R. Koch (MARK) Arts Center is one of the oldest visual arts organizations in the Wichita area. The building is newer, and free to visit! The Mark Arts Gallery features artwork on display for the public to enjoy. Read more in our article: Mark Arts Classes & Galleries in Wichita

Wichita State University — Free Museums & Art

WSU’s campus features two great free museums: the Ulrich Museum of Art (20th and 21st-century art, traveling exhibits, permanent collection) and the Original Pizza Hut Museum (Dan and Frank Carney borrowed $600 from their mom to open the first Pizza Hut ever). WSU also has 81 works of art across its 330-acre campus as part of the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection — use the free Smartify app for a self-guided tour.

• Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State
• Pizza Hut Museum

Baseball Museum at Riverfront Stadium

Free to the public and always open during games. Here’s our article with handy tips on how to find it! Wichita Baseball Museum at Riverfront Stadium

Outdoors & Recreation

Parks and Playgrounds

Wichita has a myriad of options when it comes to free, beautiful, conveniently located and unique parks and outdoor spaces. We’ve collected them into one article here: Wichita Parks and Playgrounds

Swimming and Splash Pads

Free water recreation abounds in Wichita! First, we have the most wonderful Splash Pads & Interactive Fountains. Next, we get several FREE Swimming Days every summer!

Fishing

Outside the cost of a fishing license, you can fish for free at a huge number of lakes and ponds in south central Kansas. To find a nearby fishing hole, read our article: Where to Fish in Wichita

Walking & Biking

These are the ultimate free outdoor sports. To find all your options, read Where to Walk in Wichita and Bike Trails in Wichita, Kansas.

Disc Golf

The City of Wichita maintains disc golf courses in Oak Park and Hermann Hill Park that are free to play. There is also a course in Derby at Stone Creek Park. See our post about Disc Golf Courses in Wichita

Paddling / Floats

The Ark River Coalition sponsors free Twilight Floats on the Big or Little Arkansas River for anyone with a kayak or canoe. You are welcome to borrow a canoe with a suggested $15 donation. This free activity will give you a whole new perspective on the city. Twilight Float on the Arkansas River

Kite Flying

Well, we certainly don’t lack for wind, do we? Grab a kite and head out to one of The Best Places to Fly Kites in Wichita.

Dog Parks

You and your best friend can get fresh air and some much-needed socialization (for whichever of you needs it most) at one of the many Wichita Dog Parks.

Running and Fitness

Free yoga is a thing, and it’s surprising how many places offer it from time to time! Check out our roundup of Free Fitness Classes in Wichita. If you don’t see anything there, head over to Saturday morning’s Free Park Run or Free Yoga and Zumba Class at Exploration Place.

Watch the Sunset

The sky is transformed by fire-lit clouds at sunset on any given day here in Wichita. If you drive just 5 minutes outside the city limits, ordinary fields stretching out to the horizon take on a golden glow. The view can be breathtaking.

Public Art, Murals, & Sculpture

Wichita Murals

We have over 100 murals to visit all over the city. To find them, check out our article: Wichita Murals

Public Art

Wichita is home to an outstanding collection of bronze sculptures and other public art. This is part of the unique flavor of our local streets. Whether you’re driving or walking downtown or really anywhere in Wichita, you will likely come across a sculpture that is beautiful, interesting, or downright surprising. (I’m almost always startled into tapping my brakes when driving by one particular sculpture on Douglas. In my peripheral vision, it looks like a person about to cross the street! Thankfully, I don’t think it’s caused any accidents yet.)

Here is an article we started and honestly just got overwhelmed with how much there is still to add!! Ha ha. If you’re so inclined, please volunteer to add more of these amazing offerings. Wichita Sculptures and Public Art to Visit for Free

Wichita State University Art Walk

Get the Ulrich Museum app and go on a self-guided tour of the 80-something works on WSU’s 330-acre campus. In particular, be sure to look for the milliped, LOVE sculpture, and the toucan tile mural, Personages Oiseaux. (It isn’t really the toucan tile mural; that’s just what I call it.)

Sedgwick County Park Art Walk

Sedgwick County Park is one of those places that shows up on our list of free things to do for lots of different categories, because it has so many neat features. One of the newer features is an art installation we call the Art Walk. It’s near the north entrance, right back behind the Sunflower Shelter.

Free Admission Programs

Sunflower Summer

If this deal returns again this year, jump on it! The Sunflower Summer app is a free, no-strings-attached deal that allows school age kids free admission to many state and local attractions. Read more about it: Kansas Sunflower Summer Program

Blue Star Museums

This program offers free museum admission for military families. Read more about it: Kansas Blue Star Museums

Bank of America Museums on Us

Bank of America cardholders get free admission to some local attractions. Local participation varies, so read more here: BOA Museums on Us Wichita, Kansas

Wichita Explore Card

Anyone can get the FREE Wichita Explore Card, which offers discounts on local Wichita attractions. Read more: The Wichita Explore Card

Library Passes

Get free passes to local attractions at one of the Wichita Libraries. Wichita Public Library Experience Passes | Library of Things

Free Recurring Events in Wichita

First or Final Friday Art Crawl

An ongoing monthly event when galleries, museums, and retail shops open their doors for free. Some provide free light refreshments and entertainment. Wichita First/Final Friday

Third Thursdays in Derby, KS

Free to attend with live music and activities. Derby Third Thursdays

City Crew

Kids can sign up for free activities, events, and more provided by the Wichita Park and Recreation Department. City Crew Kids Club in Wichita

Home Depot, Lowes, and Michaels Free Kids Workshops

Free building and crafting workshops just for kids. So fun. Sometimes Michaels craft stores also has free demos, make-and-take, or mini-classes for kids, but they usually have them posted in store locations.

• Home Depot FREE Kids Workshop
• Lowes Kids Workshop FREE

Naftzger Park Story Time

May through October, look for the free outdoor story time in Downtown Wichita. Free Story Time in the Park, Wichita

Wichita Boat House Food Truck Rally

Free to attend; bring $$ for food, of course! Food Truck Rally at Wichita Boathouse

Shop & Grub

Monthly outdoor market, April through October. Free to attend, fun to shop. Wichita Shop & Grub

Farmers Markets

Weekly markets in and outside of Wichita. Wichita-Area Farmers Markets

Riverflix

Free outdoor movies at Exploration Place, typically from the middle of April through the middle of October on Friday nights. Riverflix Wichita

WAM Book Sale

Mini Book Sale at Wichita Art Museum is a recurring event and free to attend, and the permanent collection is also free to visit.

Garage Sales

Looking for some bargains? Citywide Garage Sales is a great place to find multiple sales in one place. Free to treasure hunt, but bring cash in case you find something you can’t live without.

Bingo at Chicken N Pickle

You can play Bingo for free on Sundays at Chicken N Pickle or enjoy their game yard.

Smoke on the Plains

Derby’s free summer BBQ festival is lots of fun and tasty too. Derby Smoke on the Plains Festival

Shakespeare in the Park

The Wichita Shakespeare Company performs at various parks during the summer, and the performances are always free. More info on Shakespeare in the Park in Wichita

Wichita Ballet in the Park Wichita has offered several free — and wonderful! — performances in the summer and fall at area parks that are perfect for both adults and kids. These are not to be missed! Find out about upcoming Wichita Ballet in the Park performances

Free Concerts and Live Music in Wichita

So many free summer concerts and live music events to choose from:

• Bradley Fair Summer Concert Series
• Audacy (formerly KEYN) Summer Concerts
• Live Music at Chicken N Pickle
• Clock Tower Carillon Concert Series
• Sunset Concert Series at Hartman Arena

Old Town & Downtown Wichita

You can have fun just walking around downtown, visiting all the shops and seeing the architecture. Do a little window shopping for free, or bring some spending money if you have it. Here are some specific Old Town/Downtown things to do:

• Old Town Farmers Market
• The Fountains at Waterwalk
• Q-Line Free Downtown Bus
• City Arts Gallery
• Free Historic Wichita Walking Tour

The Fountains at Waterwalk Each Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from May through October, enjoy a 10-15 minute choreographed show with lights and music at noon, 8 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. Park for free in the Gander Mountain parking garage, the Waterwalk parking garage, or in the lot just across from the boathouse. The fountain show won’t go on if winds are higher than 15 miles per hour.

Free Food Deals

• Free Fries Friday at McDonald’s
• Wendy’s Free Nuggets Wednesday
• Free Slice of Pie at Spears on Thursdays
• Free Cooking Classes at the YMCA
• Wichita Kids Eat Free or Cheap
• Tax Day Freebies and Deals
• Veterans Day Freebies, Events, and Deals
• Birthday Freebies in Wichita

More Free Things To Do:

• Read the Wichita Eagle for Free.
• Places to Play Board Games in Wichita.
• Dolly Parton Free Book is a great thing to sign up your littles for. You will receive a free book every month. My daughter gets so excited when a new book comes in the mail.
• Volunteering in Wichita is a great way to give back to our community.
• If you are in your car exploring all these free things to do, make sure to use our Cheapest Gas Prices in Wichita.

Free Things To Do with Kids