Need ideas for where to go and things to do on the cheap for kids, teens, and college students for spring break in Wichita? We’ve compiled this huge list of Wichita spring break activities, but if you see something we missed please leave a comment below.
Bookmark this page, because we’re going to keep adding to it. By the time we’re done, there will be a lot of spring break activities listed here. And keep scrolling past the list of spring break events to see some really fun ideas for your spring break vacation.
We’ve divided the list into sections to make it easier to find what you’re looking for: Events, Indoor Activities, Outdoor Activities.
p.s. In every post I link to more information or give a phone number you can call. Please double-check all the details before you head out.
Events During Spring Break
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Thursday, August 22, 2019
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Thursday, September 12, 2019
Friday, September 13, 2019
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Indoor Activities (in case of rain or cold weather during Spring Break)
First, if it happens to be cold or raining during spring break, check out Emily’s article that’s just packed with suggestions for Indoor Play Places and Kids Activities. You’ll have more options than you can fit into a spring break week!
Visit a Museum (or all the museums!) Pick up a Wichita Explore Card and get $2 off admission per person at 11 Wichita museums and attractions. You can pick up a card for FREE at the Visit Wichita office, or pay for admission at one of the participating attractions and ask for the Explore Card. You’ll be able to get the discount at any other participating attraction through the end of the year. If you pick it up in person at Visit Wichita, the discounts start right away. The office is at 515 S. Main St., Suite 115, 316-265-2800.
Take in a Movie You have lots of options for taking the kids to the movies “on the cheap” during spring break! Check out our full list of discount movies in Wichita.
Go to School The McCormick School Museum is open Sunday afternoons and Wednesday mornings and admission is by donation. (School is always more fun when you don’t have to go! 🙂 ) The 100 year old school houses the history of USD 259.
Karg Art Glass It’s free to go in and watch the artists blow glass Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and noon, and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. You may want to call first to be sure artists are working. The gallery is at 111 N. Oliver, Kechi 67067, and you can call to confirm their hours at 316-744-2442.
Go Bowling for Less The Wichita State University Shocker Grill and Lanes has a spring break discount on bowling. The $20 Spring Break Play Pass will get you unlimited bowling and billiards from March 11-15! The bowling alley is located in the Rhatigan Student Center and it is open to the public.
Go Retro with Games Wichita now has places where you can play pinball, hang out and play board games, or beat your old high score on Ms. PacMan (at The Arcade)!
Try Milkfloat If you’ve been too busy, now is the time to fix that. You’ll like it. If they have the Girl Scout Thin Mint Pie, which is a seasonal item, get that! 😀
Learn more about kid-friendly attractions in Wichita.
Outdoor Activities for Spring Break
The Downtown Pop-up Park at 121 E. East Douglas Avenue is open Monday through Friday with Wichita food trucks parked there from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. I’m thinking spring break is the perfect time to enjoy lunch outside in downtown Wichita! Of course, you’ll want to bring money to cover lunch (and maybe a special treat for dessert), but there’s no fee to enjoy the park. Facebook for ICT Pop Up Urban Park.
Take a Hike during spring break! Explore miles of urban or natural trails in Wichita – whichever sounds like the most fun to you. Bring a camera along to document your discoveries along the way. I’ve gathered all of my family’s favorite places to walk – and a few walks we have yet to try – here: Where to Walk in Wichita
Sedgwick County Art Walk This is new! When you enter Sedgwick County Park from the south entrance on 13th Street, there will be a parking lot on your right. Behind that is a meadow that is being transformed into an “art walk.” Right now it has a limestone maze in the shape of a turtle. Later they’ll be adding some large sculptures. Sedgwick County Park is already a fun place to spend a sunny day, so the new art walk will just add to that. The art installation is privately funded. You can learn more about it here: SedgwickCountyArtWalk.org
Ride a Bike Bike/Walk Wichita has a terrific page listing bike trails, bike paths, and maps of places you can ride your bike in Wichita. If you feel like you need to brush-up on your bike skills first, they have Bike 101 videos and even Bike Skills classes.
Take a Tour and Photo Walk of Wichita with two new apps that will help you see your city in a new way!
- Bike/Walk Wichita and the Wichita Public Library teamed up to put together the Wichita History Walk app. Walk through stories of Delano’s rowdy past, the enterprising history of Downtown, and the 1920s building boom on East Douglas. Learn more and get the app.
- The Douglas Design District has made it even more fun to find the murals that were painted during Avenue Art Days. The app gives you a map with all the locations, and when you click on an icon, info about that mural and the artist pops up. Download the app for Android | Apple and share your photos on social media with the hashtag #AvenueArtDays.
This is one of the spring break activities I am looking forward to doing! I seriously hope we have good weather!
Ride the Trolley The Q-line Trolley in Downtown/Delano is completely free and runs at various times Monday through Saturday. Read more about how to ride Wichita’s Q-line trolley here. It will take you to some of the fun spots we mention below!
Paint and Hide Kindness Rocks This is the perfect spring break idea for kids, since it combines crafting, getting outside, and helping others. If you haven’t heard of this or you need to know how to get started, read Emily’s article, Spreading Kindness with Painted Rocks. The idea is to inspire, uplift, or encourage someone who happens upon your masterpiece – you just do it to make someone’s day!
Go on a Scavenger Hunt Have you ever seen a picture of something cool in Wichita and wondered where it was? Spring break is the perfect opportunity to find it! This is probably better with older kids, teens, and/or college students, but it’s REALLY fun! Take pics!!
The Wichita WATER Center is an interactive and FREE educational center that adjoins Hermann Hill Park. Visit the museum and aquariums and then take a hike on the nature trail that follows a man-made creek to the Arkansas River. (Trail guide pamphlets are located at the trail head.) The park also has a disc golf course.
Sedgwick County Zoo Get the most from your membership (or the cost of admission) by timing your visit to take in a Keeper Talk or animal feeding time. Check the Daily Schedule and Planning Your Visit pages to find out what’s happening when. And don’t forget to save $2 on zoo admission with the Wichita Explore Card! (If you visit frequently, see how a zoo membership can save you a ton of money.)
Tanganyika Wildlife Park reopens on Friday, March 16 and will be open daily during Spring Break from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is a terrific place to go if you can. From March 1-14, 2019, you can purchase a season pass for $19.99 (the price of only one visit). If you missed that deal, you can still save $2 per admission with the Wichita Explore Card. 316-794-8954
Starlite Drive-In Thanks to a whole lot of people who weren’t willing to let it go, the Starlite Drive-In is open again in Wichita, currently showing double features on weekends! Those two weekends during spring break might be a great time to go revisit the drive-in, but it will be open from now until sometime next fall. What a win, Wichita!
For more ideas, also see: Wichita Attractions on the Cheap, 25 Free Things to Do in Wichita Kansas, Movies on the Cheap in Wichita, and the Event Listing here at Wichita on the Cheap.
What are YOUR ideas for Spring Break on the Cheap? You can let me know in the comments section below or on Facebook or Twitter.
Note: I’ve provided links to the various websites or phone numbers so that you can double-check the times, dates, and prices. The information is accurate to the best of my knowledge, but if things change I don’t always hear about it. You can use this as a general guide, but it would be smart to check the links or call before you head out.
I saw a commercial on T.V. that Tanganyika is offering 1/2 price child admission with a paid adult admission for spring break.
Going to add a link to your blog from mine! Thanks for the ideas! http://mylittlebitoflife.com/?p=1024
You can actually get a Buy one adult admission, get one child admission free, through Recyclebank.
Hi!
On spring break? Don’t forget the Wichita Public Library! There are always lots of programs and fun things to do at the Central downtown library, and all of the branch libraries. Most are free! http://www.wichita.lib.ks.us/Calendar.htm?date=3-17-2011 is the website that will take you to the calendar.
Also, the Central library has a wonderful used bookstore that is run by the Friends of the Wichita Public Library. They have the best buys on used books in town. Most are .50 and $1 for gently used books. Lots of kids books too! And the best part is, the money goes right back to the library for the programs and more books. 🙂
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call me.
Gail Fisher
President
Friends of the Wichita Public Library
316-683-4420