School is out soon and summer will be here before we know it! If you’re looking for parks, more parks, or indoor activities, we got you covered. Keep reading for more fun things in the Wichita area this month!
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 April events below:
Botanica
Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects® at Botanica
May 11 – Sept 19, General Admission applies. This exhibition includes a variety of animals, insects and plants, built with the intent to serve as an educational platform and artistic expression for all ages. Some of Kenney’s life-size pieces built out of LEGO® bricks include a pansy and bee, photo op cut-out, lily pads with flowers, frogs and koi, a hummingbird and flower, a dragonfly and more.
- Nature Connects® VIP Opening Night – May 9, 6:30pm, $75 per person, 21+. Be the very first to see Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects® at Botanica! Guests can enjoy a variety of food stations, local music groups, a photo booth, fire spinner and more!
- Nature Connects®Family Grand Opening with Fireworks – May 10, 6-10pm, $7 members, $10 non-members. Join us for the Family Grand Opening of Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects®. The first 250 kids will receive a gift card for a free kid’s meal from Chick-Fil-A. The Downing Children’s Garden will be full of activities – face painting, bounce house, LEGO® inspired crafts, and a Lamphouse photo booth. For adults we will have a bar and live music on the terrace. Dinner will be available for purchase. The fireworks display is at 8:45 pm!
Tuesdays on the Terrace
May 14, 21, 28, 6:00 – 8:00pm, $10 and $5 for members. Come enjoy local and regional live music as you take in the beautiful gardens, great food, cocktails, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. May 14 – Mountain Deer Revival; May 21 – Jason Callahan; May 28 – Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy
Mother’s Day at Botanica
May 12, 11:00-5:00, This Mother’s Day, Moms get in for $5. All others, general admission or membership prices apply. Guests can stroll the gardens and enjoy an adult beverage, shop the local artist market, eat lunch at the Garden Café or Lolo’s crepes food truck, get your picture taken in the Lamphouse Photo Booth and more. You can also reserve a spot to paint. Paint the Towne will be partnering with us on three opportunities for you to come and paint in the outdoor studio in the gardens at Botanica. They will provide all materials and step-by-step instructions. Time slots will fill fast so make sure you sign up for one of the three sessions (noon, 1:30pm and 3pm).
Savor the Season: MODA, A Mother Daughter Experience
May 16, 6-8pm. If you are looking for a fun and unique way to celebrate mom, moms-to-be, and everyone in between, join others for an evening of relaxation and pampering, food, wine, and some great giveaways! There will be a “MOM-osa” bar, sliders and a dessert bar. Ladies can create a wine charm “make-and-take”, participate in spa stations, including a blending bar and hand pampering station. Additionally, each lady will have the opportunity to make a bud vase floral arrangement to take home. Of course, Nature Connects® will be going on too, so you can visit the sculptures throughout the gardens! For more info contact Janet Lyda at [email protected] or 316-264-0448 ext. 109.
Take Flight: Butterfly, Bird & Bee Festival
May 25, 10am-2pm, $7 members and $10 nonmembers. Fly into summer for Botanica’s BIGGEST summer family event celebrating the grand opening of the Alexander Bee House, the opening of the Butterfly House and anything that flies. There will be activities related to butterflies, planes, bees, birds, kites and more. Come play games, learn and enjoy art projects related to anything that flies. The first 100 kids will get to release a butterfly in our Butterfly House.
Blooms, Brews, and Bloody Marys
May 31, 6:00pm, Get ready to kick back and enjoy the finer things in life! Stroll our beautiful gardens, and taste Bloody Marys and small bites from local restaurants. Local bars duke it out for the best Bloody Mary in town! Also, enjoy local beer from some of our favorite breweries in town. DJ Carbon will be doing his thing and keeping us all entertained.
>>Click HERE for a list of all Botanica events in May<<
Sedgwick County Zoo
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
May 5, noon-6pm, regular admission applies. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the Zoo. Enjoy food, music and fun! There will be a fiesta with exhibitors, authentic Mexican food vendors and live music on the main stage.
Mother’s Day
May 12, 8:30am-5pm, moms get in free with paid admission, regular admission applies. Treat your mom to a Zoo visit on her special day! Stop by the Pavilion from 9 am-1 pm and enjoy a wonderful all-you-can-eat pancake & sausage brunch from Chris Cakes for just $5 a plate.
Flocktail: Farms and Tropics
May 23, 5:30-8:30pm, $10. Fla-mingle at the zoo! Enjoy yard games, live entertainment, food and drink at these after-hour events designed exclusively for adults (must be 21 or over to attend). Food and drink are not included in the ticket price, but are available for purchase. The event will be held in a different area of the Zoo each month, complete with special animal features just for Flocktail guests.
Farms Festival: Heritage Breeds Day
May 25, 10am-2pm, general admission applies. Come to the Children’s Farms for fun, games, and learning about different aspects of a real farm. Meet all of the Heritage Breeds at the Zoo and learn how we help each other. Purchase unique gifts and handmade items.
>>Click HERE for a list of all Zoo events in May<<
May 2019 Events in Wichita
More events will be added as the month goes on – check back soon!
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.
North Wichita/Bel Aire Group is Chicken’n’Pickling on May 9.
East Wichita/Andover Moms are heading to Norton’s on May 30.
Preschool Playdates are meeting at the park, the zoo and Aviate!
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.
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
