So far, the Kechi Kite Festival and Open House is still planned for 2020.
For several years now the city of Kechi, KS has planned a day filled with fun on the third Saturday in September.
It’s a Kite Festival, fall festival, outdoor antique market, arts fair, and small business open house day all rolled into one.
This year it *might* be a little different, depending on guidelines from state and local leadership. But we’ll find out more about that as we get closer to the event.
Kechi Kite Festival
For the kite festival, which is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy free kite-flying activities on the south end of town in the area west of Oliver, north of Highway 254.
You can get a new kite from Wings of the Wind or bring your own. You’ll see the kite-mobile: they’ll have kites flying and kites for sale and some kites that you can even try out.
During the festival, watch pro stunt-flying kite demonstrations from expert flyers! Also, look for a candy drop (from a flying kite) for the kids!
Kechi Vintage Market
In addition to all the high-flying fun of the kite festival, they’ll have a fall open house at the Vintage Rhinestone.
Kechi in general is a neat little vintage-artsy town. When I was in the little Kechi restaurant recently, I saw a cup that proudly proclaimed Kechi was the “Antique Capital of Kansas.”
Kechi Open House
Not only is Kechi, Kansas known for its antiques, it’s also known for its art. While you’re in town, be sure to look for some of these businesses. If they’re open, you’ll want to drop in and explore (and shop).
- The Vintage Rhinestone
- Geno’s Bar B-Q (see my comments about it below!)
- Kechi Playhouse (built in 1920)
- Kechi Quilt Impressions
- Honey Bee Hut KS (I have one of her “Sunflower” lotion bars, made with beeswax), inside The Vintage Rhinestone
- Cindy’s Quilts-n-More
- Richard’s Wood Shop
- Karg Art Glass
- Turkey Creek Weaving Studio
If you haven’t yet been to Karg Art Glass, make that a priority on your list, and then check out the other shops in the 61st and Oliver area.
Rollin Karg at the Wichita Art Museum Art and Book Fair, describing how they make the steel sculptures that provide a base for some of the art glass.
Festival Schedule
Although the kite-flying fun is in the middle of the day, there will be something to do pretty much most of the day in Kechi.
We’ll include an overview of events when we know more about the day.
Geno’s Bar B-Q
There’s a neat little restaurant in Kechi I can heartily recommend: Geno’s Bar B-Q. (Try the two-meat dinner with brisket and ribs.) We just had dinner there one summer, and it’s fantastic food at even fantastic-er prices. (Yum.)
For more information about the Kechi Kite Festival, visit their event listing on Facebook.
