12 fun things to do in the Wichita area this weekend (Oct. 7-9)

Now that the storms of this past week are out of the way, the fun can begin.

The weather this weekend is shaping up to be nice and autumnal, so you can start to wear those fall clothes if you haven’t already.

Here are our suggestions of fun things to do in the Wichita area this weekend:

FREE: Help beautify the Douglas Design District

9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.

Avenue Art Days returns to the Douglas Design District this weekend, this time focusing on Douglas Avenue from Grove to Oliver. Avenue Art Days – on Friday and Saturday – is a community-beautifying effort of adding murals and other public artwork to spaces along Douglas Avenue in the Douglas Design District. Light poles in the area will be painted, and the area will be cleaned up in general. Volunteers get a free T-shirt for their efforts – sign up online at www.avenueartdays.com.

Mingle with artists and other creative types

6 to 9 p.m. Fri.

Art Chatter at the Wichita Art Museum is described as “part open mic, part thought cocktail, part happy hour on a Friday night.” The event, which is presented with the museum’s Contemporaries group, will feature presentations by musician and The Donut Whole owner Michael Carmody, editor Tyler Cooper, artist Samantha Miller Gott, photographer Gavin Peters, KMUW radio personality Fletcher Powell, and singer/songwriter Jenny Wood. There will be a cash bar and ample opportunities for mingling.

FREE: Opening reception for Mark Arts’ Faculty Exhibition

5 to 7 p.m. Fri.

For the first time, Mark Arts, 9112 E. Central, is giving its talented faculty members an exhibition all to themselves. Friday evening, the gallery will host a free opening reception for its first-ever Faculty Exhibition. Light hors d’ouevres will be served, and there will be a cash bar.

Watch three new ballets at Friends

7 p.m. Fri., Sat., 2 p.m. Sun.

Friends University will debut three new ballets as part of its fall production this weekend. The first is a classical ballet by Friends’ ballet director Stan Rogers set to the music of Bizet. The second is a ballet by New York-based choreographer Felice Lesser, called “Connections.” Lesser was on Friends’ campus in mid-September setting the ballet. The third is by Colorado-based choreographer James Wallace, called “Terminal.” It features music by Vivaldi, Chemical Brothers and Sigur Ros. The ballets will be staged in Sebits Auditorium in the Riney Fine Arts Center, 2100 W. University.

Meet Nicholas Sparks

6 to 9:30 p.m. Fri.

Bestselling author Nicholas Sparks will visit Wichita on Friday for a signing of his new book, “Two by Two,” at Lincoln Heights Village, 4723 E. Douglas. The “Notebook” author will sign copies of the book from 6 to 9:30 p.m. $31 tickets are required to attend the event, which includes a copy of “Two by Two.” Sparks will only sign copies of “Two by Two” – so no signings from his back catalogue. He is also available for photos with fans, but no flash photography is allowed. Tickets are sold in 30-minute time slots between 6 and 9:30 p.m.

FREE: Walk through scenic gardens at night

dusk until midnight Fri. and Sat.

Scenic Landscapes Water Garden Nursery, 5911 W. Maple, is hosting its annual twilight garden tour this weekend. During the event, its four acres of gardens – with 25 water features – will be illuminated with candles, torches and night lighting. You can eat popcorn, campfire-roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, and drink hot apple ciders. Donations will be accepted for the Challenge Farm Orphanage in Kenya.

FREE: Final show in KMUW concert series

7 to 10 p.m. Fri.

Miss Tess and the Talkbacks, a Brooklyn-based roots band, will conclude KMUW’s free concert series with a performance in Old Town Square Friday evening. If it’s raining, the show will take place at Barleycorn’s. The Tom Page Trio will open.

Scare up a good time at Botanica

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat.

If you’re looking for a day of non-spooky Halloween-themed activities for children, Botanica has the afternoon for you. BOOtanica, Botanica’s annual Halloween event, features games, crafts, live performances, shows and more fun. Regulars at BOOtanica, the Studio Singers – led by Amy Menas – will perform selections from “School of Rock,” currently on Broadway.

‘Eroica’ at the Wichita Symphony Orchestra

8 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun.

The Wichita Symphony Orchestra will feature the young chamber group The Claremont Trio this weekend for its performance of Beethoven’s “Eroica.” The performance includes three Beethoven works – the “Prometheus Overture,” “Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano,” and “Symphony No. 3, ‘Eroica.’” One hour prior to the performance, join WSO Maestro Daniel Hege for “Concert Talks,” which gives background on the works to be presented at the concert.

FREE: Have a cold one – and fun for all ages – at Union Station

noon to 11 p.m. Sat.

A new event this year, Bloktoberfest, promises fun for all ages – food, polka music, wiener dog races and much more are on the docket Saturday. The event, held on the Union Station plaza, 701 E. Douglas, is put on by Xclusive Event Services. Admission is free but beer sampling is $15, sausage sampling is $15, or beer and sausage sampling plus a T-shirt is $40. A $75 VIP package includes beer samples, sausage samples, VIP seating, a commemorative stein, tokens for the beer garden, a hat and a T-shirt. P.S. – for those interested, the wiener dog races will start at 12:30 p.m. Sat.

FREE: Cheer on runners in the Prairie Fire Marathon

quite early in the morning, Sun.

If you plan on driving in Wichita early Sunday morning, be aware the Prairie Fire Marathon will be held Sunday. The Prairie Fire Marathon runs from downtown to near 13th and Rock, then back through College Hill to Riverside and back downtown. Runners always appreciate encouragement along the 26.2-mile marathon, so if you want a fun and free way to spend your morning, pick a spot to set up and encourage the runners. Both the full and the half marathons take off at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

FREE: Watch a film at the Donut Whole

8 p.m. Sun.

A short film written and directed by local filmmaker Nick Brown, “New Dimensions,” will play at the Donut Whole, 1720 E. Douglas, Sunday evening. Local artist Torin Andersen helped produce the film.

This story was originally published October 7, 2016 at 7:23 AM with the headline "12 fun things to do in the Wichita area this weekend (Oct. 7-9)."