With so many things to do on our Wichita Summer Bucket List, it is positively impossible to be bored with over 100 of our favorite ideas for every budget, interest, and age. You may even see a few favorite repeats from the last couple of years. (Please note to check each event/business website for the most up to date information.)

Backyard Specialists , the one stop shop for all backyard recreational needs including play sets, trampolines and basketball goals, is the first hidden gem to highlight on our bucket list, and we want to thank them for partnering with us again this year to create this guide. Pack a picnic lunch and bring the kids to play Thursdays anytime from 10:00-5:00 at Backyard Specialists for free-play on the playsets, trampolines, and basketball court for only $2 per child. And check out their summer bash on May 30th! 

Now let’s get started, and be sure to follow along all summer long! And show us YOUR summer adventures by using the hashtag:

#WMBSUMMER

Wichita Summer Fun for the Whole Family

• Enjoy $2 pay to play at Backyard Specialists on Thursdays from 10:00 – 5:00 and attend their Summer Bash on May 30th!
• Have a delightful morning at the Bramble Cafe at Elderslie Farm, with a kick off berry blossom celebration May 11th, visit the goats at the new Creamery, and taste the cheese and gelato
• Take Flight at the butterfly festival at Botanica, May 25th from 10am-2pm
• Enjoy an animal encounter by feeding the lemurs and checking out the pygmy hippos and more at Tanganyika
• Pack up the car and head out for a family-friendly day trip from Wichita or a weekend getaway to OKC
• Find a table in the shade at Chicken’n’Pickle and enjoy lawn games, food, drinks, and a great atmosphere
• Dance and sing “Do Re Mi” and check out this year’s performance of The Sound of Music with Music Theatre Wichita
• Or take a quick day trip to Topeka (who knew our state’s capital was such a hidden gem?) 
• Create family art masterpiece at a Friday evening workshop at Monart School of Art
• Bring a lawn chair and set up for this year’s Riverfest Sundown Parade on May 31st
• There is a little something for everyone at Revolutsia – eating, drinking, shopping and more
• Take the fam to one of Wichita Children’s Theater Picnic Theater lunch matinee or dinner shows, Cinderella – June 13-15, The THree Little Kittens – June 27-28, and Alice in Wonderland – July 11-13
• Pack a picnic dinner and take a walk down by the Keeper of the Plains and then stick around to watch the magic of the 15 minute Ring of Fire at 9 pm
• Get out of the house and burn some energy at family game night at Nerf Warz
• Ride the Q-Line, Wichita’s Downtown Trolley service, running from noon – 6 pm on Saturdays, and hop off at one of your favorite shops or restaurants
• Ride a pony, put your muscles to use on a paddleboat, or play a round of mini golf at OJ Watson Park
• Cool down and celebrate Wichita Art Museum‘s birthday at their ice cream social on July 21st
• Bring a blanket and lawn chair and catch an outdoor movie for Exploration Place’s Riverflix series (limited seating for this FREE event)
• Step back in time and enjoy a wagon ride or try a sarsparilla drink at Old Cowtown Museum, FREE on Sundays from April – October
• Go on a hunt for the Wichita Troll (and let us know if you find him!)
• Head to Stearman for dinner on the patio, and watch the planes, play on the playground, and listen to live music while you wait
• Splash Aqua Park opens this summer with inflatables and swimming for all ages

Wichita Summer Fun for the Littles:

• Check out one of our favorite 25 Things to Do with Kids Under 5 in Wichita
• Cool down at any of Wichita’s interactive fountains and splash pads, open June – Labor Day
• Rock out to musical instruments and bond with your littles at Music Together of Wichita or Riverside Music Together (DEMO classes are free!)
• Join the WATER Center for story time and a nature surprise the second Tuesday of every month at 10 am
• Check out one of the many options in Wichita for favorite Active Tot Spots
• Teach your baby to swim
• Splash around at Toddler Time (Wichita’s version of a mini waterpark) at any of the designated YMCAs around town
• Field Station: Dinosaurs has amazing life-sized animatronic dinos and activities every hour
• Head to the Downing Children’s Garden for Daily Drop-In Activities at Botanica, from 9 am – noon Monday through Friday in June and July
• For the really hot weeks, head to an indoor play place, like Towne East or Chick-fil-a, or hit up another favorite place for indoor fun
• Create little bookworms with a local storytime. *Our team LOVES the central story times. Hint: there are usually bubbles! 
• Pack up the stroller and go for a walk before it gets too hot
• Keep the toddler(s) busy with one of these simple busy toddler activities
• And if you are still looking, here are plenty of Things to Do With Babies & Toddlers in Wichita

Wichita Summer Fun for the Bigs (School Age Kids and Beyond):

• Enroll in a summer camp or program (fun for all ages, schedules, and budgets) 
• Make it a late bedtime night and check out the wonder of our solar system  at Lake Afton Public Observatory
• Spend a summer day with Wichita Art Museum for Hot Art for Cool Kids (ages 6-12)
• Volunteer and work with fur babies at the Kansas Humane Society (for ages 9 and up)
• Explore the inner workings of planet earth and the solar system at the Cosmosphere
• Explore the salt mines in a safari shuttle at Strataca in Hutchinson
• Take them to relive your childhood at The Arcade
• Cool off and lace up the ice-skates at $2 Tuesdays at Wichita Ice Center
• Bowl a STRIKE and register the kiddos for Kids Bowl Free to receive two FREE games of bowling everyday all summer long
• Climb, attend a lock in, or enroll for a camp at Bliss Bouldering and Climbing Complex
• Learn to be a Zookeeper at a Junior Zookeeper camp at Tanganyika
• Register for a Kids Skate Free roller skating pass (ages 12 and younger) for the summer
• Play extreme dodgeball, get in touch with your inner ninja, or make an air dunk at Aviate
• Become a time traveler at Old Cow Town Museum
• Take a Weekend Getaway with Teens
• Create and innovate with a STEAM class at MarkArts (up to age 11)

Wichita Summer ICT Love:

• Walk down Douglas Design District and marvel at the art, murals and
  sculptures created by local artists. Here is a Mural Map
• Attend this year’s Cinderella for Ballet in the Park with Ballet Wichita, (various locations the weekend of June 8)
• Catch a show with the girls, your significant other, or with the whole fam at a Music Theater of Wichita 
• Spend the morning supporting local farms and artisans at one of Wichita’s Farmer’s Markets
• Celebrate all things local with live music, favorite local artisans, and plenty of food at The Workroom‘s 2nd Saturday Artisan Market
• Take family selfies with 7 Classic Wichita Photo Ops
• Stroll through the art gallery at City Arts, and sign your kiddos (or yourself) up for an art class
• Shop local, save money, and dive into our community at Second Saturdays
• Get involved with the community by finding a rock, painting it, hiding it – and here is everything you need to know about kindness rocks
• Ride a trolley and hop off at local galleries in support of the arts in the Douglas Design District on a Final Friday
• Grab coffee, lunch, or dinner and play on the play structure at the ICT Pop-Up Urban Park 

Wichita Summer ICT Eats:

• Dine al fresco at one of WMB’s favorite patio restaurants around town (we have so many favorites!) 
• Make some peach cobbler after picking fresh peaches from a Wichita Orchard 
• Put the kids to bed for 30 seconds, then run in and tell them it’s time to get in the car and go get ice cream – we particularly love Flavors coffee and ice cream bar (bonus: they have an upstairs playspace!!) and Andy’s Frozen Custard
• Cool off with a milkshake from Old Mill Tasty Shop or Jimmie’s Diner. 
• Get a group together and go on a brewery tour, bonus points if it has an outdoor patio (our favorite is Central Standard Brewing!)
• Stuff your belly full with delicious brunch at one of our favorite Wichita brunch spots
• Try a new donut spot every weekend of the summer, and start with some of our favorite donut spots in Wichita
• Summer is synonymous with burgers, right? Check out some of our favorite burger joints in Wichita
• It’s iced coffee season! There are so many options, visit one of the many coffee shops in Wichita
• Because kids are the best, they eat free (or cheap) at lots of restaurants in Wichita
• Summer means ice cream and popsicles! Check out the 15 best ice cream and cool treats in Wichita
• Get your happy hour on because it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. 
• Hit up one (or all) of our favorite Wichita food trucks this summer at Food Trucks at the Fountains every month or the ICT Pop-Up Urban Park
• Funky Monkeys 21+ Shaved Ice has a new home downtown
• Jenny Dawn Cellars is opening a storefront in Union Station
• Take a Sunday drive and eat at Old Oxford Mill before or after a hike at Wellington Lake 
• Don’t forget a sweet treat at The Dapper Doughnut

Wichita Summer Outdoor Adventures:

• Get moving at a favorite local park – our  team favorites are here and here, and here are 6 out of the way playgrounds that are totally worth it
• Get up close and personal with the wildlife at the Sedgwick County Zoo or Tanganyika 
• Attend a concert or summer event at Andover Central Park
• Catch a dancing WaterWalk fountain show in downtown Wichita 
• Finally learn how to horseback ride at Wichita Riding Academy
• Take in the beauty of the Bartlett Arboretum, and bonus if you get to catch a concert under the canopy. (Totally worth the drive!)
• You won’t want to skip the tallest park in Kansas
• Rent a canoe and take an adventurous Fall River Canoe Trip near Eureka, KS 
• Go fishing with littles – here are some local fishing spots to check out
• Take a hike and check out the wildlife around Chisolm Creek Park
• Test out a SUP (stand up paddleboard) at OJ Watson Park or on the river
• Appreciate the beauty of Kansas by hiking the Flint Hills Nature Trail, followed by watching the sunset
• Get “naturally crafty”, walk around the pond, and feed the ducks & turtles at Great Plains Nature Center
• Catch a gorgeous Kansas sunset, here are 7 favorite spots to watch
• Paddle the Ark River for a Saturday Float (including overnight camping) or Twilight Float (weekday evenings from 5:30-8:30 pm)
• Hike the beautiful trails in Elk River and then go camping

Wichita Summer Festivals and Concerts: 

• Enjoy the gardens while you wine, dine, and listen to a live band at Botanica’s Tuesdays on the Terrace. (Every Tuesday, May – September from 6-8 pm)
• The lineup for this year’s Wichita River Fest is better than ever, May 31st – June 8th
• Experience the ultimate concert weekend at the third Dam Music Festival at El Dorado Lake, July 25-27
• Held in a rustic log cabin, with one row balcony seating, enjoy an afternoon or evening concert at Prairie Pines for Chamber Music at The BARN
• Grab your lawn chairs and enjoy the summer KEYN Concert Series at the Wichita Waterwalk
• Splurge on tickets to the breathtaking Symphony in the Flint Hills on June 15th
• Check out the incredible live entertainment that is the Drums Across Kansas show in El Dorado, July 15th
• Take a break for the free Summer Concert Series at Bradley Fair on Thursdays in June. 
• Take in the beautiful botanical scenery at a summer concert at Bartlett Arboretum
• Enjoy the last bit of summer with a parade, rodeo, and carnival at the Mulvane Old Settlers, a tradition for over 144 years!
• Spend the weekend at Frontier Western Days, the ultimate rodeo with a parade, concerts, food trucks, and cowboy church in El Dorado
• Uncork the Music at Wheat State Winery

Wichita Summer Learning Fun:

• Get exploring at Exploration Place through one of their many camps or discovery programs, including Tot Tuesday or Kansas Kids Preschool Classes
• Sign your little one up to read 1,000 books before kindergarten and your big one up for Wichita Public Library’s summer reading program 
• Learn stories and experience art reflective of African American culture at The Kansas African American Museum
• Open every second and fourth weekend of the month, visit the Wichita Toy Train and Club Museum
• With a museum, traditional American Indian artifacts and artwork, and an outdoor learning center, the Mid-America All Indian Center is a great place to educate on the heritage of Native Americans
• Spark creativity and innovation with a Mark Arts STEAM summer class
• Take a little drive to El Dorado for FREE Family Fun Day at the Kansas Oil Museum, every 3rd Sat 12-4
• Visit the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
• Simulate a flight and learn about aviation at the Kansas Aviation Museum 

Wichita Summer Sports and Fitness:

• Get and stay active and healthy this summer – tons of choices in our Guide to Fitness 
• For ages 3-12, stay active with swimming, gymnastics, games and crafts – sign up for the week or by the day for a drop in class at Wichita Gymnastics Club
• Climb the 38 foot wall, take a climbing class, or host a birthday party at Bliss Bouldering and Climbing Complex
• Sign the kiddos up for baseball, softball, or t-ball
• Get into team spirit as the NBC tournament comes to town at Lawrence Dumont Stadium, July 27 – August 11
• Watch our very own hometown WSU Shockers hit it out of the ballpark at Eck Stadium
• Cool off, catch a puck, or simply watch the Zamboni with the Wichita Thunder Hockey team
• Get your run on at one of the many races this spring and summer

Wichita Summer Date Night (or Date Day): 

• Take a night off and enjoy a Brush Lettering workshop or a Final Friday with Love of Character 
• Take a walk on the WSU campus and visit the Ulrich Museum of Art (which is completely FREE to the public)
• Have the kids spend the night with grandma and grandpa and spend the morning at one of these 7 spots to watch Wichita sunsets
• Check out the College Hill Frank Lloyd Wright’s (named the greatest architect of all time) Allen House with a guided tour
• Hit the town and enjoy a show at Music Theater Wichita, like A Chorus Line or In the Heights.
• Get some stress relief by throwing an ax at Blade and Timber
• Enjoy smooth jazz with a beautiful outdoor view at a Bradley Fair Jazz Concert 
• Tour a local vineyard and enjoy wine tastings at one of the Kansas Wineries in the Wichita Area
• Pack up the car with blankets and lawn chairs, grab some caffeine and watch 3 feature films at the Starlite Drive-In Theater
• Stroll down by the river and stop by Wichita’s version of the infamous Bellagio Fountains in Vegas at Fountains at WaterWalk, where you will see a “dancing fountain” light and music show
• Spend the evening painting the town at an adult class with Paint the Towne
• Stargaze and spend the evening watching a meteor shower
• Catch a family-friendly classic in a historic theater setting at The Orpheum
• Downtown and needing a pick-me-up? There’s a new oxygen bar for that
• Or do one of these 200+ unique things to do for every budget for an out of the box date night in Wichita

Wichita Summer Homebodies:

Still Need More Ideas?

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