Kids Summer Activities in Wichita

Welcome to my kids’ guide to summer!  Below are some ideas for inexpensive summer fun with kids in Wichita – summer activities for kids, fun things to do, and family-friendly ideas that will help keep them busy and happy all summer long.

Be sure to also check out the NEW All Ages Checklist of Summer Activities in Wichita and FREE Things to Do in Wichita, KS

Our guide has tons of ideas for summer family outings, events, and more things to do with your kids in Wichita this summer. Can you think of some other inexpensive and fun summer activities for kids in Wichita? If you see that we’ve missed something, please let us know in the comments!

In this article:

• Kids Summer Events in Wichita
• Summer Activities for Kids in Wichita

Check out Kid-Friendly Attractions in Wichita and our Wichita Summer Checklist for more fun.

Summer Activities for Kids & Families in Wichita

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explore the Playgrounds – With over 14 great parks in, and around, Wichita, you can explore until your heart’s content! Some of the most unique locations will be OJ Watson Park, Andover Central Playground, Dalton Palmer, Riverside Park, and Sedgwick County Park. 

• Best Playgrounds in and around Wichita
• OJ Watson Park

Wichita Summer Camps

Need a break from the kiddos (and do the kids need a break from the grown ups)? Summer camps can be a great way to shake things up during break and allow the children to explore and learn new things! Wichita has a mile-long list of camps available.

Be sure to check out our updated article on Kids Summer Camps in Wichita to find the latest available programs in Wichita. These are affordable and provide engaging activities for younger children.

Go out to Dinner where Kids Eat FREE – Nowadays, for most families, going out to dinner is a decision based on how much money is in the budget. Wouldn’t you love a convenient list compiled of local Wichita kids eat free (or cheap) deals? We tracked down some of the most budget-friendly and kid-friendly restaurants in Wichita. 

• Kids Eat Free or Cheap

Wichita Public Schools will offer free meals for Children and Teens across Wichita. Kids and teens ages 1-18 can get healthy meals during the summer months when school is out of session. Adults can get breakfast and lunch as well for a fee.

• FREE Summer Meals for Kids: Summer Food Program

Grab a Groupon

Before you head off to the sports complex or kid-friendly attraction, be sure to check Groupon for local deals that will save you 20-50% off. If you can find a Groupon promo code, it will be an even better deal!

Troll the Keeper

• Every evening, you can watch the ring of fire around the Keeper of the Plains light up our sky.
• Get to the Keeper area a little early so you can look for the Troll. He’s hidden under the sidewalk that goes along the river – you’ll know when you’ve found him!!

Explore walking trails

• Get a breath of fresh air and some exercise with our list of Walking trails in Wichita.

Enjoy nature

• Visit The Great Plains Nature Center for some completely free fun with nature, for every age group, including kids.
• Check out Sedgwick County Zoo’s Summer Learning Adventures for kids ages 4-17.

Park yourself

• Be entertained for hours without paying a dime at Riverside Park Zoo, playground, and splash park. (Splash parks open Memorial weekend.)
• Play all afternoon at O.J. Watson Park, which has a miniature train to ride, pony rides, pedal boats, miniature golf, and three playgrounds. Activities are all very inexpensive, but you can also buy coupon books for even more savings. The park is at 3022 S. McLean Blvd. in Wichita.

Related: Best Parks and Playgrounds for Kids in Wichita

Go for 300

• Kids bowl free, and grown-ups bowl cheap all summer long.

Pick some summer fun

• Find a farm to pick some fresh berries, apples, peaches, or pumpkins at a you-pick farm near Wichita.

Become a Kansas tourist

• A vacation in your own state can be just as refreshing and fun as a long-distance trip, with the added bonus of getting there faster! Check out our series of Kansas road trips for some ideas! Here’s a good place to start: Kansas Road Trip Travel Essentials
• TravelKS, from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Tourism, is also a good place to start, as is their Facebook page, to get ideas and find ways to save.
• Explore Wichita like a visitor and get $2 off admission at some of our favorite local attractions.
• Check out Emily’s list of Wichita’s kid-friendly attractions.

Go wild

• The Sedgwick County Zoo is open, and if you have a family membership, it’s a great way to spend the day. If not, you can look forward to Twilight Tuesdays at the Zoo again this year.

Cultivate art

• Stroll through the “roofless museum” of the Wichita Art Museum’s Art Garden. Admission is free year-round, and it’s always open. on the third Saturday morning of the month, they have docent-led tours, also free.
• The Wichita Art Museum Permanent Collection is Free, and on select Saturdays, they have the Free Family Artventure. While you’re visiting, stop by the Art Museum’s free kids’ area, called PLAY.
• The City Arts building in Old Town Square is fun and free to visit. Or you can sign up for some art classes (kids and adults). You’ll see them listed in the city’s Evolve guide.
• Crawling isn’t just for babies. The First Friday Art Crawl is a wonderful time to enjoy the art in Wichita.
• Find every Wichita mural.
• Visit some awesome outdoor Sculptures around town.

Go to town

• Relive the old west days with free admission to Cowtown on Sunday afternoons.

Treasure hunt

• Visit some citywide and/or neighborhood garage sales.
• Or you might enjoy these barn sales and outdoor markets.
• And take a stroll through our very own farmers’ markets.
• Check out the monthly Wichita Flea Market.

Become a bookworm

• Summer reading programs are back and there are prizes!

Cast your cares and catch some family time

Here’s one of the classic summer activities for kids! Every year, the state of Kansas allows for a weekend of “free fishing” where anglers are not required to pay for a fishing license. This is a great way to take your kids out fishing and get their feet (and lures) wet for the first time without having to incur the expense of a licence! It is typically always the first weekend in June so the 2026 dates are June 6th and 7th.  

• Did you know that fishing is free for kids under 16? (They don’t need a license.) Find your favorite spot for fishing in the Wichita metro area.
• Also, the first weekend in June is free fishing for everyone in Kansas. Find out more about Free Fishing in Kansas HERE.

Discover some artifacts

• Learn some history about our city via our city museums and attractions.
• Museum of World Treasures offers discounted admission each month on Late Nights.

Treat yourself

• Go out to eat at a restaurant with a kids eat free special!
• Take a culinary tour of cheap eats in Wichita by trying out every $5 lunch special

Fly a kite

• Your summer will be looking up when you watch your kite take flight! Check out our favorite kite shop in Wichita, Wings of the Wind Kites and Toys.
• Most years, you can find a free, family-friendly kite-flying event in Wichita and nearby. Tip: If there are no kite-flying events, find a nice area in the park where there are few trees and no power lines to get tangled up in. We have a list of great places to fly a kite in Wichita.

Enjoy the Drive-in

• Enjoy one of the very last drive-ins and check out a movie at Starlite Drive-in.

Get your game on

• We have arcades, board games pinball and more here in Wichita

Putt-putter around town

• Kids love to play mini-golf! Watson Park and All Star Wichita are two places that have mini-golf.

Be friends with the Bison

• Kids under 12 should sign up for the free City Crew club! Registration is open now and it looks like they have some really fun events planned for this summer.

Be a sports nut

• Visit the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame on a Saturday afternoon or the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame at the Boathouse on a weekday. Admission is free, although donations are accepted.

Learn something new

• Sign up for classes and activities through the Wichita recreation department HERE.

Go to school??

• School is fun when you don’t need a hall pass to walk around. Visit the McCormick School Museum on Sundays and Wednesdays when you schedule an appointment. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

Golf fore free

This year, kids ages 17 and younger can golf free at any Wichita Public Golf Course! It’s totally true (and totally free)!

Debut a family Movie Night

• Do the Dome at Exploration Place
• Make Tuesday movie night with cheap tickets at AMC Northrock 14.
• Watch FREE movies on the lawn at the Capitol Federal Amphitheater.
• Beat the heat by coming to watch some inexpensive movies with your kids at Derby Plaza Theatre.
• Watch a $1 kids’ movie at Regal Cinemas in Wichita
• Or see the whole list of Summer Movies in Wichita! (<– This is the one that will update automatically as we add new movie events we find.)

Groove with the music

• Kick back and listen to music in the heart of Bradley Fair.
• Enjoy a summer concert on the lawn at the new CapFed Amphitheater.

Waltz at the Waterwalk

• Cool off by watching the waltzing waters at the Waterwalk Fountains.

Be a literal cheapskate

• Chill out with $2 ice skating days at the Wichita Ice Center.
• Lace up your skates and let your kids can enjoy two free skating sessions this summer with the Kids Skate Free Program.
• Check out the cheapest skate days at Carousel Skate Center

Make a splash

Due to their popularity, Splash Pads have blown up here in Wichita. There are over 20 location options in and around Wichita to choose from so you can fill your entire summer with a splash pad tour! We also do still have swimming pools and swim lessons; be sure to check out the scholarships below!

• Cool off with FREE Interactive Fountains and Splash Pads in the Wichita area.
• Get the kids in swimming lessons with these Swimming Scholarships
• Go swimming for free! Visit all the city pools on Free Swimming Days.
• Or check out our complete guide to Where You Can Swim in Wichita.
• Spend the evening splishing and splashing at Rock River Rapids with $5 after 5.

Learn Something New

• Take up a new hobby with kids’ craft classes at Home Depot, Michaels and other local maker-type stores
• Or, learn something old with these Free Summer Programs at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

Still need confirmation for this year:

Ride the Carousel at Botanica – Sticking with the theme of Old-Fashioned Good Times, make sure you take the kids to Botanica Gardens to ride the gorgeously restored Joyland Theme Park Carousel. This checklist item makes for great lasting memories and some fun photo opps too! As a bonus, the ride is inside a fully air-conditioned building so it’s a great way to beat the heat! While you are there, be sure to take some time to explore the Downey Children’s Garden, as it’s incredibly unique and a fun way to explore nature. Click HERE to see how to ride the Carousel for FREE.  

Still not enough ideas? Sign up for our free email newsletter to get updates on new events or activities as we learn about them.

Do you have littles in the toddler set? You’ll appreciate this big, big list of free and cheap kids activities!

Feeling hot? Enjoy some of these free and inexpensive Indoor Play Places.

See the full list of free or inexpensive summer movies in Wichita!

Pin this to your Wichita Kids Activities board!

And subscribe to the free Wichita on the Cheap e-newsletter so you never miss a deal.

Make sure you check the Wichita Free & Cheap Events Calendar too, because we’ll be adding events to it throughout the summer.

Summer List for Kids and Families 2026

Summer (June, July, August)

• Kids Free Summer Meals Program (Free Summer Meals)
• Splash Pads
• 4th of July
• Free Swim Days at Wichita Pools
• Moonlit Mania
• Ballet in the Park
• Free Fishing Weekends
• NBC World Series (Some Free Days)
• Shakespeare in the Park
• Kids Bowl for Free Summer Program
• Taste of Newton
• First Responders Day at the Zoo
• Edge of Old Town Truck & Car Show
• New Market Square Kids Summer Series
• Ice Cream Social at the the Historial Musuem
• McAfee Free Pool Days
• Sedgwick County Fair in Cheney
• Barns & Noble Free Book: Summer Reading
• Planet Fitness Free Gym Membership
• Sonic Summer Free Food
• Free Kroger Ice Cream to start Summer
• Automobilia
• Smoke on the Plains
• Summer Reading Programs
• Fathers Day
• Free Golf for Juniors
• Kids Free at Riverfest
• Art in the Park
• National Aviation Day – August 19

Back to School

• Back to School Free Haircuts
• Free Rug for Teachers