What to do in Wichita: Celebrate Earth Day, relive the Civil War, shop for gems
Earth Day arrives this weekend, and several Wichita entertainment venues are celebrating with fun activities. This weekend also includes a diverse assortment of events, including an antique watch and clock show, a gem and mineral show, two days of Civil War reenactments and more.
If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, consult the list below:
Earth Day events
Various locations, Saturday
Earth Day is Saturday, and several venues around Wichita are celebrating with fun activities. Among them:
Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean: The children’s museum on Saturday will celebrate Earth Day with a park run and litter pickup that starts at 8 a.m. on Festival Plaza; a volunteer river cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon; Earth-friendly movies every hour from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; a community painting event from noon to 5 p.m.; and a student choir performance at 1:30 p.m. The museum will also celebrate the grand opening of its Exploration Gallery Place, a project that will re-imagine the Exploration Park overlooking the Arkansas River as a gallery space. For more details on each event, visit exploration.org/event/earth-day/
Botanica, 701 Amidon: Botanica has been celebrating Earth Day all week, and the celebration will continue through Saturday with activities that are included with general admission. They include an Earth Day-themed scavenger hunt, hands-on activities, craft stations, yard games and more. Saturday’s events, which last from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will also include an Earth Day photo booth, a seed craft station and an Earth Day book reading and activity in the amphitheater.
Firefly Farm, 15615 E 21st St.: The annual Earth Day Celebration and Starter Plant Sale at this farm lasts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and will include lots of tomato, pepper and other vegetable plants and herbs for sale. It will also feature vendors selling produce, flowers, art and specialty foods. Fresh-food vendors including Viola’s Pantry, Funky Monkey Munchies, Buffalo Brew Coffee Co. and 86 Cold Press also will be there selling ready-to-eat items. Admission is free.
The return of Shop & Grub
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Exploration Place Plaza, 300 N. McLean
FestiveICT’s Shop & Grub, an outdoor monthly market in that is now in its third year, will have its season opener from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, and it will feature a long list of vendors selling items like vintage clothing, art, jewelry, home goods, wine, prepared food and more. The event features two big changes this year. First is the location: Shop & Grub has moved from Naftzger Park To Exploration Place Plaza, 300 N. McLean. Also, during the hottest months of the summer — June, July and August — the market will happen from 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday nights rather than during the afternoon on Sundays. The night markets are on June 23, July 21 and Aug. 18. The Sunday afternoon markets are on May 21, Sept. 17 — when the market moves to Century II to participate in Open Streets ICT — Oct. 15 and Nov. 19, which will be a holiday market. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.festiveict.com/shop-grub-main
Civil War Weekend
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Old Cowtown museum, 1865 W. Museum Blvd
Old Cowtown’s annual Civil War Weekend happens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and will feature war reenactments, cannon demonstrations, interactive encampments, saloon girls and more. On Saturday, President Lincoln, General Grant, General Lee and John Brown will make appearances. Admission is $10 a person, free for kids ages 4 and under, Cowtown members, teachers and veterans.
Old clocks, old watches
5-8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sedgwick County Extension Center. 7110 W. 21st St. North
Wichita’s annual Antique Watch and Clock Show and Sale returns this weekend at the Sedgwick County Extension Center. The event, now in its 51st year, is put on by the Wichita Antique Watch & Clock Collectors and will feature old clocks, watches, music boxes, fountain pens, pocket knives and antique jewelry for sale. It will happen from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 pm. Saturday at the Sedgwick County Extension Center.Admission is $2 at the door. For more information, visit wawcc.com
Rodeo time
7 p.m. Saturday, Intrust Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman
The PBR Wichita Invitational on Saturday night at Intrust Bank Arena will feature some of the best bull riders in the world. It will also mark the 26th event of the new individual season for the PBR’s expansion series. Riders will be in a race for points toward the 2021 PBR Velocity Tour Championship. The rodeo starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $28-$105 at www.selectaseat.com, by calling 316-755-7328 or in person at the Select-a-Seat box office inside Intrust Bank Arena.
Shiny gems
9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Cessna Activity Center, 2744 George Washington Boulevard in Wichita, Kansas.
The Wichita Gem & Mineral Society is putting on its 69th annual Wichita Gem and Mineral Show from Friday through Sunday at Cessna Activity Center. The event allows visitors to see and shop for crystals, beads, gemstones, agates, polished stones, meteorites and fossils from around the world. Demonstrators will also show attendees how jewelry is made from gems, how gemstones are identified and how arrowheads are made. The show also will feature children’s activities and a silent auction on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $1 for ages 13 to 17, free for ages 12 and under with an adult. Adults can find $1 off admission coupons at wichitagemandmineralsociety.org/show/
Recent concert announcements
Wichita’s many music venues have been busy booking shows lately. Here’s a look at the recent additions made to Wichita’s concert calendar:
The Midwest Freaknik Jam 23, May 20, Wave, tickets on sale at waveict.com
Shaggy, June 2, Wichita Riverfest, Kennedy Plaza, ticket is a Riverfest Button
Gin Blossoms, June 7, Wichita Riverfest, Kennedy Plaza, ticket is a Riverfest Button
Parmalee, June 10, Wichita Riverfest, Kennedy Plaza, ticket is a Riverfest Button
Bela Fleck, July 8, Wave, tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at waveict.com
Stephen Marley, July 17, Wave, tickets on sale at waveict.com
Whose Live Anyway, Sept. 26, Orpheum Theatre, tickets available at selectaseat.com
Nate Bargatze, Oct. 19, Hartman Arena, tickets on sale at hartmanarena.com
