Cowtown launches its summer season with a free party this weekend
Wichita’s Old Cowtown Museum is launching its 2019 summer season on Saturday with free admission, an art fair and a preview of its upcoming events.
The summer season also means the living history museum will be open Sundays with free admission.
“I’m very, very excited about all the events going on this season,” said Vanessa Golden, who’s been volunteering at Old Cowtown Museum for the past 12 years.
She and her 19-year-old daughter, MacKenzie Gross are among Cowtown’s 250 or so volunteers and often dress up in character for different events. For the April 20 Once Upon A Time event that features storybook and fairy-tale characters, Gross will dress up as Alice while Golden will be the White Rabbit from “Alice in Wonderland.” During the Oct. 26-27 Hay, Hooves and Halloween event, Gross will be a dead bride while Golden plays one of the Sanderson sisters from the “Hocus Pocus” movie.
Jacky Goerzen, Cowtown’s executive director, is calling this year’s launch party “massive.” Not only will it run for longer hours this year, but it also features an art fair with handmade creations by local vendors.
“It’ll be all over town,” she said. Cowtown’s 54 historic and recreated buildings sit on 23.5 acres.
The museum will host more than 15 events this year – some are longtime traditional events, some are returning after a hiatus, some are expanded to cover more days and some are new, including two adults-only night-time events.
During Saturday’s season launch, information about all of the events will be available. Volunteers who help entertain visitors at Cowtown events – including its vintage baseball team; Civil War re-enactors; its Dixie Lee Dancers and saloon girls, Victorian dancers and a new steampunk dance troupe; its Rivercity Renegades and Cowtown Cowboys gunfighters and more – will also be at the Saturday launch event.
Traditional and returning events are Once Upon a Time April 20; Civil War Day with Union and Confederate encampments April 27; Celebrate America with old-time carnival games and a vintage baseball game June 29; National Day of the Cowboy and Wichita’s birthday celebration July 27; Age of the Gunfighter Sept. 28-29; the County Fair Oct. 5; Hay, Hooves and Halloween Oct. 26-27; Victorian Christmas Dec. 6-7, 13-14; and Breakfast with Santa Dec. 7 and 14.
The museum has added a new event Aug. 31 called People of the Plains to showcase those who were living and moving into the Plains at the time of Wichita’s beginnings, Goerzen said.
With the popularity of steampunk – the combining of futuristic and Victorian themes, Cowtown has expanded its steampunk events to an entire weekend May 25-26 and Steampunk Day Take 2 on Sept. 7.
New adults-only events are A Night in Old Delano on May 11 and Boos and Brews on June 7, with the latter featuring ghost stories and tours by the Wichita Paranormal Research Society, which has conducted ghost hunts at Cowtown. Another adult event, the Roaring ‘20s is back on Sept. 20. Admission is $15 per person 18 and older; must be 21 to purchase adult beverages.
Cowtown’s Wine Mosey fundraiser will be Saturday, Oct. 12, and will include craft beers this year, Goerzen said.
Cowtown’s hours from April through October are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 adults, $8 seniors 62 and older, $7 for youth 12-17, $6 for kids 5-11, and free for kids 4 and under and Cowtown members. All admissions are free on Sundays (except April 21, May 26, Sept. 29 and Oct. 27).
As a participating Blue Star Museum, Cowtown also offers free admission for retired military and their family members and active duty family members from the Memorial Day through Labor Day holidays.
During April, Cowtown is offering a $10 discount on its $65 family membership package. The package is good for a year from the date of purchase and includes unlimited visits and admission to all regular daytime Cowtown events for two adults and all children under 18 in the family.
Old Cowtown 2019 season launch party
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Where: Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 W. Museum Blvd.
Cost: Free
More information: www.oldcowtown.org
This story was originally published April 5, 2019 at 12:00 AM.