Wichita on the Cheap

Live the Good Life for Less & Never Miss a Deal

Kechi Kite Festival and open house

The Kechi Kite Festival and Open House is on for 2021!

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.

Kite flying wichita

This year is going to be even better as we all get outside with our favorite kites and have a little fun in the fresh air. 

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!

There is no admission fee for this event, and it is weather permitting. 

Kechi Vintage Market

Please note: Since plans can change on short notice, be sure to use the links in each post to double-check all events before you go.

In addition to all the high-flying fun of the kite festival, they’ll have a fall open house at the Vintage Rhinestone and an antique market at Junk in the Trunk Emporium. 

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 as 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, Karg Art Glass
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.

See the poster below for an overview of events happening during the Kite Festival.

kechi fall festival kite festival 2021

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.

Latest Articles from Wichita on the Cheap:

FREE Swimming Days at Wichita Pools

FREE Swimming Days at Wichita Pools

I remember when I first heard about Wichita's FREE swimming days! They have them for each of the city's pools throughout the summer. Can you

Free Yoga and Zumba at Exploration Place, Saturdays in Wichita

Free Yoga and Zumba at Exploration Place, Saturdays in Wichita

Exploration Place is hosting free Yoga and Zumba classes in Wichita on Saturdays! That's right, you can take a yoga and/or Zumba class on Saturday

Wichita Public Library Used Book Bag Sale

Wichita Public Library Used Book Bag Sale

Is there anything better than saving money on a great book? How about saving lots of money on lots of books at the Used Book Bag

Lowe’s Kids Free Workshops 2026

Lowe’s Kids Free Workshops 2026

Lowes offers a free kids' workshop on one Saturday a month. In these workshops, kids participate in a hands-on building project, which is a great

RiverFlix: Free Outdoor Movies at Exploration Place 2026

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

Riverside Play Days: Free Summer Fun at the Wildlife Exhibit

Riverside Play Days: Free Summer Fun at the Wildlife Exhibit

Looking for a fun and FREE activity for kids this summer? Check out Riverside Play Days, a weekly summer program held at the Kansas Wildlife

2 Responses

  1. Hi Carolyn, I want to recommend Braums strawberry poppyseed salad as a cheap yet yummy meal. Not only are there fresh strawberries, blueberries and pineapple, it also has chopped pecans. An 8 oz container of cottage cheese, crackers and croutons come with this all for only $5.98. Best meal deal in town and it is good

Scroll to the top