The Kansas State Fair returns this Friday with fried food, concerts and carnival rides
It should be a beautiful, cool September weekend in the Wichita area, and people will have several opportunities for outdoor fun. The biggest one will be the opening of the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, which is just an hour’s drive from Wichita. But people also can also get outdoors and enjoy the Kansas Railfest, the annual Orie’s Garlic Fest and the monthly Flea Market, which this weekend is at Riverfront Stadium.
Here’s a list of some of the best things to do in and around Wichita this weekend.
It’s Kansas State Fair time
Today-Sept. 15, Kansas State Fairgrounds, 2000 N. Poplar, Hutchinson
September has arrived, and the Kansas State Fair is never far behind. The big event starts today at the fairgrounds in Hutchinson with an opening ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. The fair will continue through Sunday, Sept. 15, with all the usual attractions, including carnival rides on the Midway, wild fried foods at the food court, and concerts at the Grandstand that will include acts ranging from Wynonna Judd (tonight) to Goo Goo Dolls (Saturday) to Oak Ridge Boys (Sunday, Sept. 15.) Admission tickets at the gate are $10 for adults, $6 for seniors 60 and up, $6 for children ages 6-12, and free for ages 5 and under. Grandstand tickets and a full list of events are available at www.kansasstatefair.com
Kansas Railfest
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Great Plains Transportation Museum, 700 E. Douglas
Kansas Railfest, an event by the Great Plains Transportation Museum, is on for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the museum in downtown Wichita. Train enthusiasts will be able to enjoy train rides, music, displays, vendors, a scavenger hunt and more. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and over, $5 for ages 7-12, free for ages 6 and under when accompanied by an adult. Train ride tickets are an extra $5 for ages 3 and up. For more information, visit www.ksrailfest.org
Return of Garlic Fest
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Public at the Brickyard, 129 N. Rock Island
The seventh annual Orie’s Garlic Fest, an event by the owners of Orie’s Farm Fresh in west Wichita, returns this weekend to Public at the Brickyard and will again feature garlicky food and drink vendors and artisans. The event will have an even larger footprint this year as the festival will stretch from Public at the Brickyard and the surrounding streets into Old Town Plaza. The festival also will include music on the Brickyard stage from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but attendees should bring money for food, drinks and shopping.
Flea Market time
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Riverfront Stadium, 275 S. McLean
It’s time for the monthly Wichita Flea Market, which in September will be one day instead of two. It happens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday on the concourse at Riverfront Stadium, where the Wind Surge play in downtown Wichita. It will include vendors selling crafts, vintage items, collectibles, artwork, jewelry, toys and more. The market also will include a scavenger hunt with a $100 cash prize. Admission is $3 for ages 13 and up, free for 12 and under. Customers should enter at the northwest corner of the stadium.
It’s First Friday
Friday evening, art galleries and venues around Wichita
It’s First Friday in Wichita, meaning that lots of art galleries and venues across town will be opening shows, putting on receptions and organizing other fun events for art lovers. One First Friday event this month is an artisan market that will be set up at Muse Meridian, a new venue in the old Metro-Meridian School at 301 S. Meridian. Sponsored by the Enchanted Mermaid, it will feature handmade crafts, face painting, henna tattoos, food trucks, live performances by Flow Foundry and live music. The market lasts from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday. For a complete list of Final Friday activities, visit downtownwichita.org/discover/things-to-see-and-do/first-friday
Throw some pottery
1-3 p.m. Saturday, rooms 106 and 107 of Henrion Hall, 24 Perimeter Road, Wichita State University
Empty Bowls is a big annual fundraiser for HumanKind Ministries that happens in October and lets people sample soup from local restaurants and keep their handmade bowls. On Saturday, the Wichita State University Ceramics Guild is inviting people to help make the bowls using wheel-throwing or hand-building techniques. Anyone can participate. Bowls will be made from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday in rooms 106 and 107 of Henrion Hall at Wichita State University. Admission is free, and all bowls made will be donated to the October event.
