Things to do this week in Wichita

From live music to farmers markets, you’ll find a few in-person activities this week along with the continuation of virtual programming that’s become the norm during the past few months. Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for protecting yourself from exposure to COVID-19 include: avoid close contact (maintain at least 6 feet away from others and don’t gather in groups), wash your hands often, cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others and clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

Free: Bloomfield carillon concert

Noon to 1 p.m. Friday, downtown

Hear international concert organist Lynne Davis play an hour-long Bloomfield carillon concert, one of about five to eight she performs each year from the top of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, typically during the Friday lunchtime before select holidays.

The best place to hear the organ and bell music, broadcast from the tower by speakers, has always been outside the museum at 204 S. Main. For the best sound, try to be within two blocks; the Century II parking lot is a good spot.

Free: Farmers markets

various, in person and online

The virtual Funky Fresh Farmers Market, which replaced the indoor market held at Wave in downtown Wichita, offers delivery and parking lot pickup on Wednesday and Saturday. See what’s available and order at waveict.com.

The area’s open-air markets include:

River Trail Farm Produce Market, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, 837 N. Baltimore in Derby (parking lot of the old Charlie’s Chicken)

Old Town Farm & Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 835 E. First St. (Farm & Art Plaza)

Kansas Grown Farmers Markets:

▪ Wichita West, 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, 7001 W. 21st St. (outside the Sedgwick County Extension Office)

▪ Derby, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, 512 E. Madison in Derby (Madison Street Central Park)

▪ Wichita Downtown, 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, 701 E. Douglas (outside Union Station)

Check the markets’ Facebook pages or websites (oldtownfarmandartmarket.com and kansasgrowninc.com) for COVID-19 precautions and participating vendors.

Free: Ice cream benefit at Papa’s General Store

Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, 3700 E. Douglas, Suite 30

Papa’s General Store, an ice cream, coffee shop and novelty store that recently took over the former Flavors Coffee & Ice Cream Bar space in Clifton Square, is honoring brain cancer awareness month by giving away one free scoop to customers who stop by from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Donations also will be accepted to benefit Dragon Master Foundation, a nonprofit for which Papa’s owner Derek Sorrells is a board member. The foundation’s goal is to help find and accelerate cures for cancers by supporting the use of big data to aid researchers in identifying patterns and furthering their research.

A Band In Kansas concert

7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, virtual and at the Brickyard, 129 N. Rock Island

Brickyard, the outdoor music venue adjacent to Old Town gastropub Public, is holding its first event of the season. Organizers will live stream the music on Facebook for free from 8 to 11 p.m. To comply with restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the venue is offering limited tickets that must be purchased by table: a table for three people for $30 up to a table for six people for $60. As of Tuesday, limited tables remained for sale. (find the link on the Brickyard’s Facebook event page).

Seating begins at 7 p.m. with Brandon Ellis taking the stage at 8 p.m. followed by alternative/rock/emo cover band A Band in Kansas at 9 p.m. The event page says Ellis is “back in town from Nashville for this show only.” Guests won’t be able to dance and must remain seated for the show. Each table has a server for drinks and food; food service from Public is available until 10 p.m.

Free: Wichita Symphony Orchestra recital

2-3 p.m. Monday, virtual

This week’s interactive Zoom recital with Wichita Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Holly Mulcahy features American composer and violist Kenji Bunch. Attendance is free, but space is limited to the first 100 registrants. Sign up through WSO’s Facebook events page.

Mark Arts’ online workshops

Wednesday and Thursday, virtual

This week’s lineup of Mark Arts’ online workshops, conducted on Zoom, include a sunflower painting session friends can sign up to take together and a cake baking workshop ideal for a family duo to complete together.

Invite your friends to register alongside you for Girls Night In: Sunflower Strong from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 28. The $40 fee includes a material kit you pick up in advance at Mark Arts. Learn beginner techniques ideal for ages 6 and older in Unicorn Cake – Side by Side, scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 28. The $50 fee includes all cake and decorating supplies you’ll need to finish with one decorated, two-layer, six-inch cake.

Enroll at markartsksonline.com at least 48 hours in advance so you have time to pick up your supply kit.

Free: K-State Extension’s Garden Hour

noon Wednesday, virtual

K-State Research and Extension is hosting an online garden hour every Wednesday, and this week’s topic is “Taking Care of Tomatoes.” A horticulture extension agent from Douglas County will cover tasks including training, irrigating, pruning and insect management, while someone from the K-State Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab will discuss tomato diseases that occur in Kansas and how to manage them. Registration is required for this free event; sign up and see a list of the full series at hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center.

Wicked Wind 100K virtual challenge

through June, virtual

The Wicked Wind 100K is the largest fundraiser for the development of rail trails in the Wichita metro area. This year organizers made it a virtual event, allowing riders to sign up and complete their rides whenever they want and using any route. They’ve extended the event through June because May was so rainy. Sign up at prairiesunsettrail.org and find out more about the 25 mile road, 62 mile (100K) road or 42 mile gravel options. Registration is $25 per person and you can also support the rail trails by purchasing a T-shirt or making an additional donation.

Sponsor a butterfly at Botanica

anytime, virtual

Normally, Botanica would be celebrating the opening of its Butterfly House with an event this month. This year you can instead sponsor a live butterfly at botanica.org that will be released in the enclosure, which is set to open to the public June 1 with admission limits if the state’s reopening phases continue on schedule. With each $10 butterfly sponsorship, you will receive an emailed certificate of recognition to keep or give as a gift.