Wichita Moms Guide to October 2018 Events

things to do in Wichita this weekend October

There are SO many fun fall activities coming up – we have plenty of things on our Halloween and Fall Fun list, as well as many more events highlighted below!

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 September events below (bolded items are WMB picks for Mom Faves!):

Botanica

Family Latin Concert Series

October 4, 5:30 – 8:00pm, $10 and $5 for members. Celebrate Latino culture with a weekly concert in the Children’s Garden Meadow. Find “Frida” for a festive prize. There will be a piñata before the music begins, food trucks and frozen drinks. Escandaloso Show De Durango will be playing from 6:30 to 7:30pm.

Jack O’Lantern Spectacular

October 10-12, 6:00-9:00pm, $9 and $6 for members. Enjoy everything there is to love about fall while strolling through the gardens for three fun-filled nights. Throughout the gardens, there will be around 500 uniquely carved pumpkins lit up for everyone to see, carved by volunteer groups and individuals in the Wichita community. There will be live music, local craft beer, a full bar and adult popsicles provided by The Anchor, and food for purchase from local restaurants and food trucks.

BOOtanica

October 13, 11:00am-4:00pm, $9 for non-members and $6 for members. Botanica’s biggest family-friendly event transforms all of the gardens into different stations with activities for children of all ages. Visit for a day filled with all kinds of activities and experiences! Costumes, accompanied with a smile, are encouraged. This event includes a petting zoo, bounce house, animal visitors, craft stations, lawn games, a scavenger hunt and more!

Spooky Pooch Parade

October 21, 2:00pm, $10 per dog and Owner(s) pay general admission or $3 for members. Show off your dog’s costume during the Spooky Pooch Parade throughout the beautiful gardens. Dogs are welcome in the gardens after 1pm to start lining up. The parade will start at 2pm in the Children’s Garden meadow. There will be prizes and dog rescue organizations present with adoptable dogs. Registration required.

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

Sedgwick County Zoo

Croctoberfest

October 4, 6:00 – 8:30pm. $5. Enjoy live music, silent auction, food, and craft beer while supporting crocodilian conservation.

5th Grade Fire Prevention Day

October 9, 9:00am-2:00pm. Fire Prevention Day at the Zoo provides fifth-grade students an opportunity to learn about fire safety while enjoying the wilds of the Zoo. This educational event includes demonstrations from area fire departments and emergency response teams and the opportunity to be up close and personal with the heroes keeping our community safe. Admission is free for pre-registered fifth-grade school groups.

Monkey Butt Poker Run

October 20, 8:00am – 3:00pm. $20 Early Bird registration, $25 day-of registration. Passengers ride free. Registration includes one poker card, t-shirt, and breakfast. Extra cards, breakfast, and merchandise are available for purchase. Hit the open road for one WILD ride! The day will include breakfast at the Zoo to get your motor running, a ride through beautiful Kansas scenery in the fall, great prizes, and a ton of fun. Hit the road while you work to build the best poker hand. The ride is about 100 miles and begins and ends at the Zoo.

Plant Donation Drive

Oct 20-21, 9:00am – 4:00pm. Donate your unwanted plants and the Zoo will use them in a variety of places including the Tropics, Downing Gorilla Forest, and KOCH Orangutan and Chimpanzee Habitat. Tropical plants and perennials (no annuals) in containers 12-inches or larger are accepted. Ferns, selloums, and ficus are always popular donations. Cacti and succulents will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Creature Campouts: Outdoors

October 20, 5:30pm – 9:30am. $30 members/$35 non-members, Ages 5+. Join us for an overnight adventure! We’ll be around when the rest of the Zoo is closed so we will see who may be awake! All campers need to bring their own tents and sleeping bags. The adventure includes pizza from the Beastro, a guided tour, activities, an animal encounter, and a bedtime snack. The theme for 2018 is “Zoo Families.” In the morning, the adventure continues with continental breakfast and an optional 9:30 a.m. tram ride. We welcome individuals, families, and friends to attend the Creature Campout.

Night of the Living Zoo

October 26-28, 6:30pm – 8:30am. $7 for Zoo members and $9 for non-members. Spooky fun activities can be found throughout the Zoo, as well as visits with Dracula and fortune tellers. Wear your costume if you dare and stroll down Jack-O-Lantern Lane and visit Candy Land! Please note: you may see animals in their outdoor exhibits, but most will not be in attendance at the event.

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


October 2018 Events in Wichita

Week:: September 30-Oct 6

Sept 30: Enjoy Chimps and Salsa at the zoo.
Sept 30
: Sunset Yoga never looked so good.
Oct 2: Pusheen Cat will warm your heart AND it’s National Cat Day.
Oct 3: If you are downtown at lunch time, don’t miss this free concert.
Oct 3
: Wind down at Wine Down Wednesday.
Oct 4: Croctoberfest features live music, silent auction, food, and craft beer while supporting conservationism.
Oct 4: The Family Latin Concert Series at Botanica sounds like a rocking good time.
Oct 4: Board & Brush opens its doors with a night of food, fun and giveaways.
Oct 4: Newton is just a short drive north, and worth the trip for the 32nd Annual Taste of Newton.
Oct 4-5: Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook is a fun show for the family. 
Oct 4-6: Tuck Everlasting is now a musical and you can see it at Trinity Academy.

WEEKEND October 5-7
Oct 5-6: Don’t miss out on ICT Blocktoberfest – a fun celebration with food, drinks and more!
Oct 6
: Lego fans rejoice! Head to CreateSpace at the Rockwell Library branch.
Oct 6: The furry kids are celebrated too – Woofstock is at Sedgwick County Park.
Oct 6: Come Fly a Kite at the park!
Oct 6
: Get your hands on the engineering activities downtown.
Oct 7: The whole family will enjoy some sticky, silly fun at the Grape Stomp.

Week:: October 7-13

Oct 8-12: It’s not to late to sign up for Walktoberfest!
Oct 9: Exercise your creative muscles with some Sidewalk Chalk Shenanigans.
Oct 10-12
: Hand-carved pumpkins line the gardens for the Jack O’Lantern Spectacular.

WEEKEND October 12-14
Oct 12: Spend some time sipping cocktails and discussing art with WAM.
Oct 12: Mulvane Public Library is showing Hocus Pocus on the lawn!
Oct 12: Head to Goddard to see Hotel Transylvania at the park (indoors!)
Oct 13: Start your weekend on the right foot with Yoga on the Lawn
Oct 13: Sign your daughter up for the free Girls in Aviation Day
Oct 13: Kayaking, food trucks and more at this Open House
Oct 13: Bootanica is a fun, not scary, fall celebration with tons of activities.
Oct 13
: Midwest Beerfest is here, with tons to do, eat and drink.
Oct 13-14
: It’s a Wichita tradition – the 85th Annual Lebanese Dinner.
Oct 14
: Get your ghouls for the Spooky Sip and Shop.
Oct 14: Shop, eat and drink local at Art and Ale.
Oct 14: If you enjoy dance, you won’t want to miss this Fall Ballet.
Oct 14: Speaking of ballet, support the arts by drinking beer at CSB.

Week:: October 14-20

Oct 17-21: The Tallgrass Film Festival is back and better than ever.
Oct 18
: Harry Potter fans can play their own quidditch game.
Oct 18
: Drinks, food and science? Don’t miss EP21.

WEEKEND October 19-21

Oct 19-20: Little Red Riding Hood will be showing at the Wichita Center for the Performing Arts.  
Oct 19: If you haven’t see Coco (or even if you have), this viewing is a great opportunity.
Oct 19: ICT Pop Up Park is showing Hocus Pocus – bring your lawn chairs and blankets.
Oct 19: With inflatables, a maze, and trick-or-treating, Pumpkins at the Park is always a great time for the entire family. 
Oct 19: If you are looking for a fall-themed art camp for the kids, this one‘s for you.
Oct 20: Bel Aire is a small town that knows how to throw a Fall Festival.
Oct 20: Enjoy this trunk or treat while supporting a local booster club.
Oct 20: If you ride motorcycles, don’t miss the Monkey Butt Poker Run.
Oct 20: Baseball, activities and costumes? You’ll love Shocker Halloween SCREAMage.
Oct 20-21: All things garlic are being celebrated at this Garlic Fest.
Oct 21: Enjoy hot air balloons, food trucks and more at Prairie Hill Vineyards.

Week:: October 21-27

Oct 25: Learn about recycling and make a bird feeder at this free activity. 
Oct 25: A Taste of Derby goes 80s with food, fun and music.

WEEKEND October 26-28
Oct 26-28: Night of the Living Zoo is a can’t miss night of Halloween fun!
Oct 27
: Watermark is hosting a special storytime with the author of a book about gratitude.
Oct 27: Get the entire family involved in The Little Read at WAM.
Oct 27: The Goddard Library is hosting their second Wine & Color party.
Oct 27: Experience cultural enrichment at the 38th Annual Wichita Asian Festival.

Week:: October 28-31

Oct 29: Color, sip some coffee, and support trauma survivors.
Oct 31
: Take your little caterpillars out to Coutts Museum for a morning of fun.
Oct 31: Celebrate safely at Trunk or Treat – Around the World.

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.

 West Wichita/Goddard/Maize Group is having a play date at Moxi Junction on October 10.
North Wichita/Bel Aire Group is getting an afternoon coffee together on October 22.
Preschool Playdates and East Wichita/Andover Groups are getting together at the pumpkin patch on Oct 12.
Derby/South Wichita Group is meeting up at the library for a movie night on October 23. 


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.