This Labor Day weekend in Wichita is a great one, with awesome weather forecast and plenty of fun, frugal (or FREE) things to do. Labor Day 2022 is on Monday, September 5. For many of us it’s a long weekend, so you might be looking for fun and inexpensive things to do for Labor Day.
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According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, Labor Day is “a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”
This year has been another full of laborers (whether seen or not) who have contributed to the strength and prosperity of our country. We are excited to give you this list of what is happening in Wichita this Labor Day weekend.
Note if you’re heading out on a Kansas day trip: Fill up the tank before you leave with the cheapest gas prices in Wichita.
In this article:
- Things to do in Wichita Labor Day Weekend (and holiday closures)
- Kansas Road Trips/Day Trips from Wichita
- Labor Day Weekend Restaurant Freebies and Deals
Note to military: This will be your last weekend until next year to take advantage of FREE museum admission through Blue Star Museums!
Wichita Labor Day weekend things to do
We have several fun ideas of things you can do with your holiday weekend. Be sure to scroll down to see things happening in Wichita each day of Labor Day weekend!
Kansas Maze Sunflower Festival
August 24 through September 11, enjoy the sunset over one of Kansas’s most iconic features at the Gaeddert Farms Sunflower festival.
Hours:
Saturday, Sunday, Labor Day = 2pm -8pm
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday = 5pm – 8pm
Closed Monday & Tuesdays
Price: Each ticket includes admission, all-access to sunflower filed, trails and photo props, one sunflower of the guests choice and access to their jumping pillow and playland activities. $9 and kids 3 and under are FREE
The 20 acres of sunflowers will be available to enjoy for all. The Sunflower Festival is an experience for all to enjoy! We invite you to spend as much time as needed taking pictures, exploring around the field, and enjoying quality time with your family and friends. Each ticket includes one ‘stem’ or LIVE cut sunflower. Parking is FREE.
Lets go Camping
Thinking of going camping? Check out our Camping in Kansas post about how to find a great campsite and where to make reservations, or find out how to rent an RV for Labor Day weekend travel.
Swimming
Last chance to give you and your family a chance to enjoy all of the Wichita area pools and splash parks. They will all be closing after Labor Day. The last day to swim in the YMCA Waterparks this year is Labor Day Monday. Wichita public swimming pools will also close after Labor Day, Monday, so get in your last splash.
Bowling
If bowling is more up your alley (see what I did there?), then check out some of the local bowling and entertainment places. They often have specials on holiday weekends!
Live Music
Wichita has a ton of awesome live music venues, from small, intimate places to large concert stages. Check out our local live music page to find out who’s playing where on Labor Day weekend.
Fun & Games
All Star Sports usually has a Labor Day special like all-day fun passes for a discounted price. O.J. Watson Park will be OPEN from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with rides open from noon until 8 p.m. This is a great, fun Wichita park for kids.
Attractions
Washed Ashore will on display at Botancia through October 23rd. This traveling exhibit features giant sea life sculptures made entirely of marine debris collected from beaches to graphically illustrate the tragedy of plastic pollution in our ocean and waterways. The 14 oversized sculptures are placed throughout the 20 acres of gardens. They are having a discounted price for admission which includes the exhibit for $8 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Dogs! A Science Tail will be on display at Exploration Place through September 5th. Step into a dog’s world through playful, immersive science exhibits. Test your running pace against the top speeds of different dog breeds. Get inside a dog’s head to see and hear like a dog.
Play Outside
Wichita golf courses, Riverside Tennis Center, and Botanica are usually open (regular hours) on Monday, Labor Day. Or you can find a great walking trail in or near Wichita.
Fishing
Sit back, relax, and reel ’em in. Find good places to fish in and around Wichita.
Day Trips
If you haven’t been to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve yet, this would be a good weekend to go. They’ll be open and will have a quilt display, plus the historic ranch and one-room schoolhouse should be open. (Masks are required in some circumstances. Be sure to look at the notice at the top of the park website.) Here are some other popular Day Trip Destinations and getaways we’ve written about.
Go See the Sunflowers
Several spectacular Kansas sunflower fields should be blooming over Labor Day weekend. If you haven’t done this yet (or even if you have), make sure to do it now or you’ll have to wait until next year.
Day by Day Labor Day Weekend Event List
Friday
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.
Little Aviators Have a budding aviator on your hands? The Kansas Aviation Museum has a fun program for kids 1-12 on Friday mornings, and they will be opening their learning center on Friday, which has educational, fun aviation themed activities. Little Aviators is available on Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon and admission is FREE!
Grinter Farms (in Lawrence, KS) andThe Heights Wedding Reception Venue (near Coronado Heights) are also expecting their sunflower fields to be in bloom over Labor Day weekend!
First Friday at Old Cowtown Museum On the first Friday of every month, Cowtown in Wichita is open in the evening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This makes for a different experience, so be sure to check it out this Labor Day weekend. Admission is discounted too! Cowtown Under the Stars is only $6 per person and gets you a night full of history and old west fun. (Members get in free!)
First Friday Downtown Most galleries use First Friday to unveil and debut new shows or as a closing reception. Venues are free and open to the public and several galleries incorporate artist demonstrations and/or live music.” – First Friday Gallery Crawl
Friday, September 3, 2021
Saturday
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.
Farmers Market Stroll through a Farmer’s Market in the cool of the morning! The K-State Research Extension Center will have 25 vendors available inside the (air conditioned) building that you can shop at! Although the Farmer’s Market happens every Saturday, this vendor fair is a special labor day event! Masks are required inside.
Sunflower Festival If you love sunflowers, do not miss the Kansas Maze sunflower festival on Saturday. The fields are in Buhler, KS and admission is $9 and kids 3 and under are FREE.
Sunflower Trails If a drive in the country is more your style, be sure not to miss the awesome Sunflower Trails this weekend near Lindsborg. Head out immediately after work on Friday and see the sunflower fields during the golden hours, or wait until Saturday when you’ll have more time to explore and snap pictures to your heart’s content.
Saturday, September 4, 2021
Sunday
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.
Cowtown Get in to Old Cowtown Museum for FREE on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cowtown will be open the weekend before Labor Day and closed as usual on Monday. This makes for a fun and free Labor Day weekend event! Thanks to a generous sponsor, Cowtown is always free on Sundays.
Fireworks Sunday evening, September 4th at 9pm, Cheney lake will be doing fireworks! These fireworks will be shot off at Sail Boat Cove and the best place to view them will be Hobie beach boat ramp or cove. There’s a $5 per vehicle charge to enter the state park unless you have your State Parks Passport sticker.
Go during daylight hours and check out the Spring Creek Nature Trail or Geifer Hill Nature Trail, or you can just go swimming in the lake.
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Monday
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.
Remember that the weekend stretches into Monday for many of us, so there’s more fun to be had then. (Or you can spend the day resting up from all the weekend activities!)
Monday, September 6, 2021
Labor Day Holiday Closures
These City of Wichita services and places are usually closed on the Labor Day holiday:
City Hall, Neighborhood Resource Centers, Wichita Public Library locations, Park & Recreation centers, Great Plains Nature Center, Old Cowtown Museum, Mid-America All-Indian Center, Century II administrative offices, Wichita TIX administrative offices, Transit administrative offices, CityArts, Wichita Art Museum, Animal Shelter, Brooks Landfill, WATER Center and Environmental Health.
There will be no Wichita Transit, Paratransit or Q-Line service on Monday.
City of Wichita Golf Courses, Botanica, and Riverside Tennis Center are open regular hours on Monday. OJ Watson Park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. with rides available from noon to 8 p.m.
Labor Day weekend restaurant deals
Many restaurants are offering Labor Day weekend discounts and freebies in case you don’t want to cook over the holiday. Some of the deals are only valid on Labor Day; others are good before and after, so click on the links below for more details. You do need to double-check that the restaurant location you choose is participating in the deal, and that there’s no blackout on discounts for holiday weekends.
Monday, December 5, 2022
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Do remember to ask about any restaurant special before you order. (Maybe even call ahead!) Not all locations participate in these national promotions.
Labor Day weekend getaways
And you’ll definitely want to check out our Getaways page to get ideas for fun family road trips, day trips from Kansas, etc.
First, make sure you’ve packed the car with these Kansas Road Trip Essentials. Then, head to any of these awesome destinations:
Tallgrass Prairie National Park
Mushroom Rock and Kanopolis State Park
Henry’s Candy Co. in Dexter, KS
Spring Creek Nature Trail at Cheney Lake
Lindsborg, Kansas (best on Saturday, since some of the attractions will be closed on Sunday and Monday)
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