What to do this weekend: Celebrate The Fourth, see a concert, find the food trucks
The Fourth of July is on a Tuesday this year, and the celebrations have already started, with several more planned for this weekend and into early next week.
The Wichita entertainment calendar this weekend also includes several concerts from both local and national acts, some artistic events at the Wichita Art Museum and even a couple of food truck rallies.
Here’s a closer look at some of the fun things happening in Wichita:
Fourth of July in Wichita
Fourth of July weekend has arrived, and the traditional events that happen every year in Wichita are back. The Eagle has a long list of events and fireworks shows happening all over the metro area at kansas.com/holidays, but below is a list of the big ones happening this weekend:
Red, White & BOOM, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Riverfront Stadium, 275 S. McLean Blvd. While the Wind Surge plays out of town, Riverfront Stadium and Wichita Park and Recreation will host a free Fourth of July community event. Concessions will be open inside the stadium while the Wind Surge game in Tulsa is streamed onto the Jumbotron. A fireworks display will happen at 9:40 p.m., and the Hyatt Lawn will host food trucks such as Busy B’s and Smokin’ Diner, with the lawn available to fireworks spectators. For more information on the event and on road closures, go to wichita.gov/boom
Celebrate America!, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd. The living history museum will be filled with a staged gunfight, sack races and more during Saturday’s patriotic event. Kona Ice will also be there offering cool treats. Regular ticket prices apply. For more information, visit oldcowtown.org or check out Old Cowtown’s event listing on Facebook.
Red, White, and Broadway, 8 p.m. Saturday, Botanica, 701 Amidon St. This musical celebration of Independence Day is presented by Music Theatre Wichita on the grand lawn at Botanica. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Saturday through Tuesday with a matinee at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Chairs will be provided for the first 1,500 attendees. Audience members must be 5 or older. Fireworks displays will be held after the Sunday through Tuesday evening performances. Tickets are available at mtwichita.org.
KEYN concert series continues
8 p.m. Friday, 1607 E. Central, Andover
The Concerts in the Park series put on by KEYN at the Capitol Federal Amphitheater in Andover continues on Friday with a free show by well-known cover band Annie Up. Food trucks will be set up at the event, and people are encouraged to bring their blankets and lawn chairs — but to leave their coolers at home. The show starts at 8 p.m. The final concert in the series happens on July 7 with a performance by another popular local cover band — Lucky People. For more information, visit www.andoverks.com/612/Capitol-Federal-Amphitheater
Journey tribute
8 p.m. Saturday, the Cotillion, 11120 W. Kellogg
A Journey tribute band called Journey of a Lifetime will perform on Saturday at the Cotillion. The band, which hails from Oklahoma City, performs Journey’s most recognizable hits, from “Separate Ways” to “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The concert starts at 8 p.m. with local opening act Bottoms Up. The doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 at thecotillion.com
Food truck rallies
5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Wichita Boathouse, 515 S, Wichita St., and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Reborn Boutique and Marketplace, 6346 S. Broadway
A couple of big food truck rallies are happening in Wichita this weekend. One is the Final Friday Food Truck Rally at the Wichita Boathouse, which lasts from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday. It’ll include at least 15 food trucks set up outside of the Boathouse, including Taters n Toppings, Cheezepanzee, Churros El Carnaval and more. The event will also have live music and yard games, and art vendors will be set up inside the Boathouse. Then on Saturday, another food truck rally will take place at the Reborn Boutique and Marketplace in South Wichita. Food trucks at that event will include Wheat Street Dogs, Cousin Hector’s, Kona Ice and The Big Nerd. Food trucks will serve from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and vendors will offer their wares from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free to both events.
WAM Nights
6 p.m. Friday, Wichita Art Museum, 1400 Museum Blvd.
The Wichita Art Museum is putting on another of its WAM Nights events on Friday. This installment will feature two attractions. At 6 p.m., artist Hallie Linnebur will be painting a piano in the River Lobby, and visitors can help her. The project has been ongoing since June 2. Then, starting at 6:30 p.m., dance artist Mina Estrada will serve as a “dancing docent” and guide visitors through the galleries, incorporating movements at various works of art. Admission is free. WAM Nights features after-hours access to the galleries, shopping at the museum store, and dinner at the museum restaurant — 1400 by Elderslie — which will also offer happy hour drinks from 3 to 6 p.m.
Dirty Heads at Wave
7 p.m. Sunday, Wave ICT, 650 E. Second St.
Dirty Heads, a group from Huntington Beach, California, that mixes hip-hop, reggae and rock sounds, will perform on Sunday at Wave as part of its Island Glow Tour 2023. The show starts at 7 p.m. with opening acts G. Love & Special Sauce as well as Tropidelic. The doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25, $35 and $50 at waveict.com
Recent concert announcements
Here’s a look at the recent additions made to Wichita’s concert calendar:
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, Sept. 12, Cotillion, tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at https://thecotillion.com
Common Kings, Steel Pulse, Sept. 22, Wave, tickets on sale at waveict.com
Electric Six, Sept. 28, Wave, tickets on sale at waveict.com
Girl Named Tom, Sept. 28, Orpheum Theatre, tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at www.selectaseat.com
Texas Hippie Coalition, Oct. 14, Cotillion, tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at thecotillion.com
Kevin Gates, Oct. 20, Cotillion, tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at thecotillion.com
Marauda, Nov. 11, Wave, tickets on sale at waveict.com
Pests of the Midwest Fest featuring Slowthrust, Nov. 18 Wave, tickets on sale at waveict.com
Riot 10, Dec. 8, Cotillion, tickets on sale at noon Friday at thecotillion.com
Contributing: Casey Loving of The Eagle
