The Sunflower Summer App provides various ways for families to get out, explore something new, and enjoy time together. Kansas families can visit museums, zoos, historic landmarks, and more for FREE! YES, you can visit attractions around KANSAS for FREE!!!
The Sunflower Summer Program benefits Kansas families with school-aged children, encouraging them to explore and fall in love with Kansas. With the Sunflower Summer app on your phone, Kansas families get FREE admission to attractions across the state this summer.
The Sunflower Summer app will start on July 9th and go until August 2, 2026
What is Sunflower Summer?
Sunflower Summer is an initiative launched by the Tourism Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce that offers Kansas students free admission to more than 200 attractions across the state.
Its purpose is to encourage Kansas families to get out and experience something new and enjoy time together.
The program includes a wide variety of participating attractions across the state, including museums, zoos and nature centers, historic spots, amusement parks, water parks, sports venues, and more.
As its website says, “Sunflower Summer offers Kansas families a get out of the house free card you can carry in your pocket.”
The free admission is offered primarily through a free app you can download to your Apple or Android device. Residents without smartphones can still participate by receiving paper vouchers from staff at many attractions.
How Do I Get the Sunflower Summer App?
Anyone with a smartphone can get the app. The Sunflower Summer app is available for iPhone in the App Store and Android in Google Play. Check out this year’s information on the Sunflower Summer web page!
You’ll download the app and make an account, which requires your name, email address, and mobile number. You have to agree to the Terms and Conditions. The terms include information about who is behind the app, which I thought was helpful. (I always want to know these kinds of things.) You should read the rest of the terms also, since you are agreeing to them.
Once you have the app, you can claim your tickets to Kansas attractions, as long as you’re eligible.
If a family does not have access to a smartphone, they can receive a paper voucher from staff or volunteers at a participating attraction, then work with a staff member to complete it.
2026 Sunflower Summer Program
Thanks to funding approved by the Kansas Legislature, the Sunflower Summer app is back for 2026, but with some changes. The 2026 Sunflower Summer program will begin on July 9, 2026, rather than on Memorial Day, as in previous years.
When does the Sunflower Summer App Start? July 9, 2026
When does the Sunflower Summer App End? August 2, 2026
This year, only one accompanying adult will get in free to Kansas attractions. In the past, the program has included two free adult admissions. But the kids enrolled in the Sunflower Summer program will still all get free admission.
“Sunflower Summer has been a great way for Kansas families to fall in love with our great state — and everything it has to offer,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Whether it’s visiting a museum, exploring a historic site or spending the day at the zoo — these experiences help families connect to the state we all love and admire.”
Why is the Sunflower Summer season shorter this year?
Sunflower Summer was uncertain last year, but funding for the program was secured when the Kansas Legislature approved this year’s budget. The program received $3.5 million, allowing Kansas families with school-aged children to continue enjoying free admission to various attractions across the state.
This was enough to keep it going, but “only allows for a shortened timeline,” according to the program’s home page.
If you would like to sign the petition to support keeping the Sunflower app going, you can do so below.
What is Included in the Kansas Sunflower Summer Program?
The Sunflower Summer Learning Program includes one free visit for Kansas pre-K to 12th-grade students, along with one adult, to many (many) popular attractions in Kansas.
Note the change: In 2026, only one accompanying adult admission is covered by the Sunflower Summer app. Additional adults will need to purchase their own tickets.
According to SunflowerSummer.org, each Kansas student (pre-K to 12th grade) and one adult can use a voucher to get in free to each participating Sunflower Summer attraction.
Which Kansas Attractions are FREE with the Sunflower Summer App?
The list is really long, so we’ve broken it up into categories below. At the very top of the categories is our short list of the free attractions that have been our FAVORITES.
Wichita Sunflower Summer App Participants 2026
This is your cheat sheet to participants in Wichita. Keep scrolling past this list to see the full list of 240+ attractions across Kansas.
Wichita Sunflower Summer Attractions (2026)
Wichita
- Botanica
- CityArts
- Exploration Place
- Great Plains Transportation Museum
- Kansas African American Museum
- Kansas Aviation Museum
- Mark Arts
- Mid-America All-Indian Museum
- Museum of World Treasures
- Old Cowtown Museum
- PBS Kansas Cochener-Garvey Children’s Education & Discovery Center
- Sedgwick County Zoo
- Wichita Art Museum
- Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
See below for the FULL list of participating venues!
2026 Sunflower Summer: History Museums and Historic Sites
Wichita
- Exploration Place
- Great Plains Transportation Museum
- Kansas African American Museum
- Kansas Aviation Museum
- Mid-America All-Indian Museum
- Museum of World Treasures
- Old Cowtown Museum
- PBS Kansas Cochener-Garvey Children’s Education & Discovery Center
- Wichita-Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum
Derby
- Derby Historical Museum
- Field Station Dinosaurs
Hutchinson
- Cosmosphere
- STRATACA
Newton
- Harvey County Historical Museum and Archives
- Kauffman Museum
- Warkentin House
Wellington
- Chisholm Trail Museum
- NDGA National Glass Museum
El Dorado
- Kansas Oil Museum
Halstead
- Kansas Learning Center for Health
Marion
- Historic Elgin Hotel Tours
- Marion Historical Museum
Arkansas City
- Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum
- Etzanoa Immersion Center
Winfield
- Cowley County Historical Society Museum
Peabody
- Peabody Historical Society Complex
Goessel
- Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum
McPherson
- McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation
Lindsborg
- Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum
Abilene
- Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
- Dickinson County Heritage Center
- Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum
- Greyhound Hall of Fame
- Old Abilene Town
- Seelye Mansion & Patent Medicine Museum
Atchison
- Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum
- Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum
- Atchison County Historical Society Museum and Santa Fe Depot
- Evah C. Cray Historical Home Museum
Dodge City
- Boot Hill Museum
- Historic Trolley Tour
- Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame and Gunfighters’ Wax Museum
Topeka
- Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park
- Combat Air Museum
- The Historic Ritchie House
- Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
- Kansas Museum of History
- Kansas State Capitol
- Museum of the Kansas National Guard
- Old Prairie Town at Ward Meade Garden
Manhattan
- Flint Hills Discovery Center
- Goodnow House State Historic Site
- Midwest Dream Car Collection
- Pioneer Log Cabin
- Riley County Historical Museum
- Wolf House Museum
Lawrence
- Haskell Cultural Center and Museum
- KU Natural History Museum
- Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics
Kansas City
- Grinter Place State Historical Site
- Kansas City Underground Railroad Museum of Quindaro
Overland Park
- Johnson County Museum
- Museum at Prairiefire
Olathe
- Kansas City Automotive Museum
- Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site
- Museum of Deaf History, Arts and Culture
Leavenworth
- C.W. Parker Carousel Museum
- Carroll Mansion Museum
- First City Museum
Council Grove
- Kaw Mission and Last Chance Store Museums on the Santa Fe Trail
- Trail Days Historic Site
Fort Scott
- Fort Scott National Historic Site
- Gordon Parks Museum
Coffeyville
- Brown Mansion
- Dalton Defenders Museum
Pleasanton
- Marais des Cygnes Massacre State Historic Site
- Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield State Historic Site
Marysville
- Koester House Museum and Gardens
- Marshall County Museum & Research Library
- Pony Express Home Station No 1, Barn & Museum
Salina
- Joyful Noise Playhouse
- Smoky Hill Museum
- The Garage
Hays
- Fort Hays State Historic Site
- Sternberg Museum of Natural History
Oakley
- Buffalo Bill Cultural Center
- Fick Fossil and History Museum
Liberal
- Coronado Quivira Museum
- Dorothy’s House and The Land of Oz
Cottonwood Falls
- Chase County Courthouse
- Chase County Historical Society & Museum
Ottawa
- Old Depot Museum
- Plaza Cinema Movie and Memorabilia Museum
Parsons
- Curious Minds Discovery Zone
- Parsons Historical Society & Museum Complex
La Crosse
- Kansas Barbed Wire Museum
- Rush County Historical Society
Cottonwood Ranch / Studley
- Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site
Great Bend
- Barton County Historical Society Museum & Village
Belleville
- Belleville High Banks Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Museum
West Mineral
- Big Brutus
Greensburg
- Big Well Museum
Blue Rapids
- Blue Rapids Museum & Arlington Gardens
Burlington
- Coffey County Historical Museum
Lecompton
- Constitution Hall State Historic Site
Scott City
- El Quartelejo Museum & Jerry Thomas Collection
Ellinwood
- Ellinwood Underground City Tour
Ellis
- Ellis Railroad Museum & Doll Display
Fort Riley
- First Territorial Capitol State Historic Site
Phillipsburg
- Fort Bissell Museum
Kanopolis
- Fort Harker Guardhouse Museum Complex
Wallace
- Fort Wallace Museum
Junction City
- Geary County Historical Society & Museum
Geneseo
- Geneseo City Museum
Eureka
- Greenwood County Historical Society Museum
Hanover
- Hollenberg Pony Express Station State Historic Site
Athol
- Home on the Range Cabin
Howard
- Howard Benson Museum
Independence
- Independence Historical Museum & Art Center
Osawatomie
- John Brown Museum State Historic Site
Garnett
- Anderson County Historical Museum
Iola
- Allen County Historical Society
Haviland
- Heart of America Science Resource Center
Ellsworth
- Hodgden House Museum Complex
Kiowa
- Kiowa Historical Museum
Lincoln
- Lincoln Historical Museum Complex
Medicine Lodge
- Medicine Lodge Stockade and Carry A. Nation Home Museums
Franklin
- Miners Hall Museum
Beloit
- Mitchell County Historical Museum
Elkhart
- Morton County Historical Museum
Oskaloosa
- Old Jefferson Town Museum
Oswego
- Oswego Historical Museum and Genealogical Society
Wamego
- Oz Museum
Republic
- Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site
Pawnee Rock
- Pawnee Rock State Historic Site
Seneca
- Pony Express Museum
Colby
- Prairie Museum of Art & History
Atwood
- Rawlins County Historical Museum & Church
Emporia
- Red Rocks State Historic Site
Larned
- Santa Fe Trail Center
Fairway
- Shawnee Indian Mission State Historic Site
Shawnee
- Shawnee Town 1929
Stafford
- Stafford County Museum
Montezuma
- Stauth Memorial Museum
Bird City
- Threshers Museum
Tonganoxie
- Tonganoxie Community Historical Society
Alma
- Wabaunsee County Historical Museum
Wilson
- Wilson Heritage Museum
Cawker City
- World’s Largest Ball of Twine
Bonner Springs
- Wyandotte County Historical Society & Museum
2026 Sunflower Summer App: Zoos, Animals, and Nature
Nature & Amimals
Wilson
- Wilson State Park
Norton
- Prairie Dog State Park
Ellis
- Cedar Bluff State Park
Scott City
- Historic Lake Scott State Park
Oakley
- Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park
Garden City
- Lee Richardson Zoo
Meade
- Meade State Park
Nickerson
- Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm
Flint Hills Trail State Park
- Multiple Cities (See Sunflower Summer Map)
Prairie Spirit Trail State Park
- Multiple Cities (See Sunflower Summer Map)
2026 Sunflower Summer App: Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Wichita
- CityArts
- Mark Arts
- Wichita Art Museum
Manhattan
- Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art
- Museum of Art + Light
Lawrence
- Lawrence Arts Center
- Spencer Museum of Art
Lindsborg
- Birger Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery
- Red Barn Studio Museum
Lucas
- Garden of Eden
- Grassroots Art Center
- Switchgrass Art Co-op
- World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things Roadside Attraction & Museum
Newton
- Carriage Factory Art Gallery
El Dorado
- Coutts Museum of Art
Salina
- Salina Art Center
Great Bend
- Shafer Art Gallery
Atchison
- Circle of Art Atchison
Kansas City
- Kansas City, Kansas Community College Art Gallery
Liberal
- Baker Arts Center
Greensburg
- 5.4.7 Arts Center
Mullinville
- M.T. Liggett Art Environment
Montezuma
- Stauth Memorial Museum
Pratt
- Vernon Filley Art Museum
2026 Sunflower Summer Limited Opportunities
Arvonia Historic Tours
Show: Ghost Town Tours
Dates: July 11 & Aug. 1
Time: 10 AM
About
Join us for tours of this well-preserved ghost town on July 11th and August 1st from 10 – 2 pm. We’ll be exploring the historic Arvnoia School, Calvinistic Methodist Church, and Arvonia Township Hall. Ready for your tour? Meet at Township Hall!
Broadway RFD – Lindsborg
Show: Oklahoma!
Dates: July 17-18 & July 24-25
Show Times: 6:30 PM
About
Broadway RFD Presents: Oklahoma! Set in Oklahoma Territory at the turn of the 20th century, Oklahoma! is a beloved musical that follows the budding romance between cowboy Curly McLain and farm girl Laurey Williams. Filled with humor, heart, and classic songs like “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” and “Oklahoma,” this timeless production celebrates love, community, and the pioneer spirit. Rated PG.
Great Plains Theatre – Abilene
Show: Cinderella
Dates: July 17-19 & July 22-26
Show Times: Wed at 2 pm; Thurs at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; Friday at 7:30 pm; Sat at 2 pm and 7:30 pm; Sun 2 pm.
About
Tickets are first come, first serve. Users will be able to request tickets two hours in advance of first showtime of the day. Experience the magic of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the beloved fairy tale brought to life with enchanting music, memorable characters, and a heartwarming story of kindness, courage, and dreams coming true. Featuring classic songs and a fresh, uplifting message, this family-friendly musical is a delightful experience for audiences of all ages. Rated PG.
Music Theatre Wichita – Wichita
Show: Elf the Musical
Dates: July 11 & 12 at 2 PM.
Show Times: 2 PM
About
Music Theatre Wichita Presents: Elf the Musical. Matinee Shows on July 11 and 12 ONLY. Tickets are first come, first serve. Users will be able to request tickets at 12 p.m. on day of performance, the show will begin at 2 p.m. Holiday magic that turns skeptics into believers. Experience the pure joy of Christmas in July! Follow Buddy the Elf’s heartwarming journey from the North Pole to New York City as he discovers that the real magic of Christmas lives in the connections we make with each other. Rediscover your sense of wonder, believe in magic a little longer, and leave the theater with lifted spirits and full hearts. Rated G.
Wichita Wind Surge – Wichita
Game: Wichita Wind Surge vs. NW Arkansas
Date: July 12
About
Come and support the Wind Surge as they take on NW Arkansas.
Well, there you have it! The Sunflower Summer info in a nutshell. It truly is a great “Wichita on the Cheap” style program everyone can benefit from.
If you can tour the state and visit some of these places outside the Wichita area, I would do it. Kids remember these kinds of trips for the rest of their lives.
(The newest state park – Little Jerusalem – was also included. What a trip that would be!)
Related: Free and Cheap Things to Do with Kids this Summer in Wichita
Who is Paying for the Sunflower Summer Program?
The Kansas State Department of Education provides this program through a grant funded by Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief (ESSER) from the American Rescue Plan Act. This is all information from the Sunflower Summer website, which you can see here.
Sunflower Summer is FREE to Kansas students and their families.
The website, sunflowersummer.org, has a list of Frequently Asked Questions and a video overview of the program. I highly recommend you check it out (and check back until you see a link to the app) for more information. This is all I know right now! But it looks like it will be a lot of fun for students!!
Sunflower Summer App Attractions you can Visit for FREE
6 Responses
When I check the app, it has not been updated for 11 months and does not include anything for 2025.
Not sure what I am missing…?
They have not released the 2025 participants and the program doesn’t start until July 12 this year. I have been in contact with the organizers and will update the article once the information is available.
Can grandparents bring Kansas students instead of parents to free activities.
Yes, it includes Grandparents. I hope they keep this program going for 2025.
The new program will start July 12!
Yes! Grandparents can bring the student.