Wichita Moms Guide to January 2019 Events

We’ve got your cure for a holiday hangover with tons of great things to do in Wichita this month! If the cold has got you going stir-crazy, check out our guides to Indoor Fun, Winter Activities, and Winter Dates!

We are thrilled to bring this resource in collaboration with some of our favorite community partners: Botanica and Sedgwick County Zoo! To make planning easy, we are excited to highlight their January events below (bolded items are WMB picks for Mom Faves!):

Botanica

Savor the Season

January 17, 6:00 – 8:00pm, $45 members/$50 nonmembers. Come warm up during the cold Kansas winter at Botanica’s first Savor the Seasons event! You and your friends will enjoy delicious appetizers and desserts accompanied by both a dry or sweet Grace Hill wine, local entertainment, and paint the ICT flag on wood with Paint the Town to take home. Each ticket purchased enters into a raffle of items donated by community merchants and artisans. Pre-registration required. Book admission to all 5 savor the season events and receive a $25 discount!

Homeschool Days: Chill Out!

January 25 and 26, 10:00am-2:00pm, $4 members/$5 non-members. Join us for a day of science exclusively for homeschool families! Students in grades 1 – 5, along with their siblings and parents, can explore science activities at centers in our main building and throughout the gardens. Investigate the special cold weather adaptations of plants and animals in the winter garden. Adult attendance required all activities are designed for adult interaction with students. Admission price covers all activity stations and unlimited access to all garden areas. Bring your lunch and spend the day!

>>Click HERE for a list of all Botanica events in January<<

Sedgwick County Zoo

Wee Wigglers

January 2-3, 10-11:00am. $3 for members/$4 for non-members. Ages 12-23 months. Your wee one will have a firsthand experience of the wonders of animals. Class includes interactive learning and an animal visitor. Choose 10–10:30 AM or 11–11:30 PM. Adult attendance is required. A ticket is required for all people over the age of six months, including adults. Space is limited. Tickets will be scanned at the door. All classes take place rain or shine. No cancellations, refunds, rain checks or exchanges; tickets will not be replaced if lost, stolen or unused.

Winter Wednesdays

Every Wednesday from November to February. General admission tickets are only $3 per person, or included with your membership. Migrate to the Zoo for Winter Wednesdays! 

Pajama Party

January 5 or 11, 6:30-8:00pm. $5 for members/$6 for non-members. Ages newborn through first grade. Kids wear their pajamas for this evening class, which includes a lesson, craft, Zoo experience, bedtime story, and snack. Adult attendance is required. A ticket is required for all people over the age of six months, including adults. Space is limited. Tickets will be scanned at the door. All classes take place rain or shine. No cancellations, refunds, rain checks or exchanges; tickets will not be replaced if lost, stolen or unused.

Sunset Safari

January 5 or 11, 6:30-7:30pm. $4 for members/$5 for non-members. Ages 1-6. Go on a learning safari after the Zoo is closed! Adult attendance is required. A ticket is required for all people over the age of six months, including adults. Space is limited. Tickets will be scanned at the door. All classes take place rain or shine. No cancellations, refunds, rain checks or exchanges; tickets will not be replaced if lost, stolen or unused.

Ewe and Me

January 9 and 10, 10-11:30am or 1:30-3:00pm. $5 for members/$6 for non-members. Ages 4 through kindergarten. This class includes interactive learning, Zoo walk, story time and a take-home craft. Adult attendance is required. A ticket is required for all people over the age of six months, including adults. Space is limited. Tickets will be scanned at the door. All classes take place rain or shine. No cancellations, refunds, rain checks or exchanges; tickets will not be replaced if lost, stolen or unused.

Homeschool Expeditions

January 16, 10-11:00am. $4 for members/$5 for non-members. Each 60-minute class covers various topics including animal science, life science, and physical science. Homeschool parents are actively involved in the classes. Contact the education department at 316-266-8213 for questions or more information.

Owlet

January 16 or 17, 10-10:45am or 11-11:45am. $4 for members/$5 for non-members. Ages 2-3. Kids will get a glimpse of wildlife up close! Each program includes interactive learning and an animal visitor. Adult attendance is required. A ticket is required for all people over the age of six months, including adults. Space is limited. Tickets will be scanned at the door. All classes take place rain or shine. No cancellations, refunds, rain checks or exchanges; tickets will not be replaced if lost, stolen or unused.

>>Click HERE for a list of all Zoo events in January<<


January 2019 Events in Wichita

Week:: December 30-Jan 5

Dec 31: Check out our celebrations around town here, and celebrate Noon Year’s Eve with the littles!
Jan 1: Start the new year off right and Take A Hike.
Jan 1: If you haven’t seen Toytopia yet, today is the last day!
Jan 2: It’s a Snow Day no matter what!
Jan 2
: My kind of storytime – “But First We Nap.”
Jan 2Winter Wednesdays at the zoo means reduced admission for enjoying all the exhibits.
Jan 2: Your teens may enjoy making their own fleece scarves.
Jan 2-3: Wee Wigglers can experience the wonders of the zoo firsthand.
Jan 3: Paint Your Resolutions and drink from your mug all year long.

WEEKEND Jan 4-6
Jan 4-6: Help Chase, Marshal and Skye save the day at Paw Patrol Live
Jan 5: Did you know the zoo throws a pajama party for the kids? Don’t miss it!
Jan 5: Go on a Sunset Safari and explore the zoo after hours.
Jan 5: Kidzfest 2019 will be full of free and fun activities for the family.
Jan 5: First come, first served for free ice skating lessons.
Jan 5: Decorate an adorable Snowman Mason Jar.
Jan 5: Let your inner kid out during Adult Skate Night
Jan 6: Amahl and the Night Visitors is an opera full of wonder.

Week:: January 6-12

Jan 7: Mommy Mondays at Songbird will help you start your week off right.
Jan 7: Take the littles along for this Mommy and Me book club.
Jan 7: At this month’s Creature Feature, learn about what animals do in the winter. 
Jan 9: Celebrate National Take the Stairs Day!
Jan 9Winter Wednesdays at the zoo means reduced admission for enjoying all the exhibits.
Jan 9-10: Preschoolers can enjoy a zoo walk and craft at Ewe and Me.

WEEKEND Jan 11-13

Jan 11: Sign your tweens and teens up for Frosty Freezeout.
Jan 11: Did you know the zoo throws a pajama party for the kids? Don’t miss it!
Jan 11: Go on a Sunset Safari and explore the zoo after hours.
Jan 12
: Learn about the zoo and the animals with a craft, story and lunch.
Jan 12: Keep up with your resolutions to be fit with yoga… and puppies!
Jan 12: First the boys, then the girls, get the chance to code their own game!

Week:: January 13-19

Jan 15: Celebrate National Hat Day with your preschooler with crafts and games.
Jan 15-19
: It’s Friend Week at Music Together of Wichita!
Jan 16: Homeschoolers can get hands on animal science learning. 
Jan 16: Winter Wednesdays at the zoo means reduced admission for enjoying all the exhibits.
Jan 16-17: Toddlers get up close and personal with an animal encounter during Owlets.
Jan 17: Head to Botanica to Savor the Season.

WEEKEND Jan 18-20
Jan 19
: Get some reading practice by reading to the animals at the shelter.
Jan 19: The new License to Spy exhibit opens today!
Jan 19
: Make something beautiful at the Mommy and Me Unicorn Cake Decorating Class
Jan 19: Watch How to Train Your Dragon 2 with your friends and family. 

Week:: January 20-26

Jan 21: Your daughter may be interested in the Girl Kindness Project’s discussion.
Jan 22
: Did you know the library hosts bilingual storytimes?
Jan 23
: Kick up your heels with free swing dance lessons.
Jan 23: Winter Wednesdays at the zoo means reduced admission for enjoying all the exhibits.
Jan 24-26: There are several performances of My Fair Lady for the whole family. 
Jan 25-26
: Homeschoolers can Chill Out at Botanica. 

WEEKEND Jan 25-27
Jan 25
: Swan Lake is beautiful ballet and this one will be great!
Jan 25
: Paint a Keeper for your home.
Jan 26: Celebrate Winnie the Pooh with all things A.A. Milne.
Jan 26: Bring the family to the art museum to explore all things planes and plains
Jan 27: Celebrate Kansas’s birthday! It’s Kansas Day!

Week:: January 27-February 2

Jan 28: Bring your stuffie to the library for a sleepover.
Jan 29: The Lego-lovers in your house will enjoy CreateSpace.

More events will be added as the month goes on – check back soon!

Our WMB calendar for the month (here) has all this and MORE. If you have an event to add, you can do that here.


WMB Neighborhood Group Meet-Ups

Wichita Neighborhood Mom Groups are having all kids of activities in your neighborhood and connecting online to share recommendations and advice. Click here to join your Neighborhood Group, and see below for what’s going on near you this month.

East Wichita/Andover Group and West Wichita/Goddard/Maize Group are meeting together at Fuzzy’s on January 14. 
North Wichita/Bel Aire Group is having a moms’ night out at Dempseys on January 18.
Sign up for the Preschool Playdates Group‘s visit to Papa Murphy’s on January 25.


Regularly Scheduled Programming

Many local places have recurring events that are great for moms and families, and you can find them here: 

  • Aviate has Junior Jump Monday through Friday for the younger crowd.
  • Botanica has a Garden Storytime every Thursday morning, in the Children’s Library or weather permitting in the gardens. 
  • Sensory Friendly play at Exploration Place on the second Sunday of every month
  • Urban Air has Jumparoo Toddler Jump every Tuesday and Friday.
  • Home Depot has a free Kids’ DIY workshop on the first Saturday of every month.
  • Family Night at Museum of World Treasures is the first Thursday of the month.
  • Every Friday the Kansas Aviation Museum has a special ticket price for families.
  • Make ICT has free access to their makerspace every other Monday.
  • Kansas Children’s Service League has a support group for Parents of Special Needs Children on the third Monday of every month. 
  • Moxi Junction hosts story and craft time every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:30am.
  • Local libraries have story times almost every day: check out our Guide to Wichita Story Times.

Other Resources for Things to Do with Kids

Top 10 Things for Wichita Kids & Parents to Do in ICT

Fun Stuff to Do in West Wichita 

Where Kids Eat Cheap or Free in Wichita

Guide to Wichita: Everything You Need to Know


Please Note :: While we make every effort to crosscheck current links and event details on our guides, we always encourage you to do the same before making final plans. If details are missing or incorrect, please let us know so that we can make every attempt to correct them.
Meaghan Koci
Meaghan wears many hats throughout the day: wife to husband of fifteen years, Jeremy, mom to two incredible children, Jacob and Aliza, legal assistant, foster parent, and surrogate. A Wichita native, she met her husband at K-State (Go State!) and they moved from coast (Los Angeles, CA) to coast (Manchester, NH and Groton, CT) before settling back down in Kansas. She is a big fan of her crock pots, has read more than a novel a day for the last five years, and crochets in her “spare” time.