What to do in Wichita this weekend: Buzz at Botanica, celebrate art, show your Pride
Wichita has plenty of activities to offer this weekend for those willing to do a little sweating, including a buzz-worthy event at Botanica. Here’s a look at some fun things happening around town over the weekend:
Summer Buzz at Botanica
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Botanica, 701 Amidon
Botanica will be buzzing this weekend with an event called Summer Buzz. It’s intended to celebrate bees and butterflies and will include crafts, games, food trucks, face painting, music and more. Visitors will be able to check out an educational station by The Butterfly Hatchery where they can hold and interact with live caterpillars, and R&J Bee Rescue will display Botanica’s new bee hive, put on a honey tasting and offer several other activities in the bee house. Flow Foundry will also be there with a portable aerial trapeze for guests to try out. Summer Buzz is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Botanica. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for children and members, and they must be purchased in advance at botanica.org.
Anime Festival
Friday through Sunday, Hyatt Regency Wichita, 400 W. Waterman
The Anime Festival of Wichita returns this weekend and will feature several cosplay contests, skits and more. The festival will also feature special guests like martial arts instructor Andrew McGhee and “DragonBall Z” voice actor Mark “KidWok” Britten. The festival is a three-day event that starts at 5 p.m. on Friday and continues Saturday and Sunday at the Hyatt Regency hotel. More information and ticket details can be found at afwcon.org.
WAM opening
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd.
“All in Time,” a new exhibition by artist Beth Lipman, will open at the Wichita Art Museum this weekend. The show features glass still life pieces that explore the issues of life, creation, decay and death, and the museum will celebrate its opening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Great Plains Nature Center will be there highlighting the prairie grasses from the Flint Hills that influenced Lipman’s sculpture installation “Living History,” and the event will also include family art making and a performance by Pop and the Boys. Admission to opening day is free.
Pride parade and picnic
10 a.m. Saturday, parade starts at Old Town Square
Wichita Pride will celebrate Pride Month with a unity march and family picnic this weekend. The Unity March in support of LGBTQ+ rights will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the plaza at Old Town Square, 353 N. Mead. Participants will march to Naftzger Park, 601 E. Douglas Ave., where a family picnic will feature burgers, hot dogs and fun activities for kids. Admission is a $7 button that will be good for all Wichita Pride events for the rest of the year.
Patton Oswalt comedy
7 p.m. Saturday, Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway
Comedian and actor Patton Oswalt will bring his stand up comedy tour “Who’s Ready to Laugh?” to Wichita on Saturday. Oswalt is best known for his Emmy- and Grammy-nominated Netflix special “I Love Everything” as well as for his guest appearances on popular shows such as “Parks and Recreation” and “Young Adult.” Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets range from $49 to $69 and are available at selectaseat.com, by calling 316-755-7328 or in person at the Select-A-Seat box office inside Intrust Bank Arena.
Kechi Fair
Saturday, Kechi Park, 442 N. Oliver
The 37th annual Kechi Fair happens this weekend and will include an ice cream social, face painting, turtle races, an egg toss, a street dance and more. The fair starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Kechi Park, 442 N. Oliver. Prairie Smoke Band will headline the street dance, which will happen in the F&H parking lot from 8 to 11 p.m. Several Kechi businesses also will be offering events and specials, including Karg Art Glass, which will put on its annual Ridiculous Glass Sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Junk In the Trunk, which is putting on an outdoor market with more than 50 booths. Admission to the street dance requires a $5 bracelet, available at the gate.
Chimps & Salsa
Noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 W. Zoo Blvd.
The annual Chimps & Salsa Mexican Food Fest returns to the Sedgwick County Zoo on Sunday. It lasts from noon to 5 p.m. and will include Mexican food vendors, including La Hacienda, Tacos tj 664 and more, set up in the food plaza. The event will also include live music from Boyz of Kumbia and other acts, free T-shirts for the first 200 people there and kids activities like pinatas and face painting. Regular zoo admission applies.
Concerts announced this week
Wichita’s many music venues were busy booking shows this week. Here’s a look at the additions made to Wichita’s concert calendar:
Austin Meade, July 13, Wave, tickets on sale at waveict.com
Silversun Pickups Aug. 14, TempleLive, tickets on sale at ticketmaster.com
Shamarr Allen, Aug. 26, Wave, tickets on sale at waveict.com
Million Dollar Quartet, Sept. 9, Stiefel Theatre, Salina, tickets on sale at noon Friday, stiefeltheatre.org
I Prevail, Sept. 18, Wave, tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, waveict.com
Judas Priest, Nov. 12, Hartman Arena, tickets on sale Friday at ticketmaster.com
William Clark Green, Dec. 3, TempleLive, tickets on sale 10 a.m. Friday at ticketmaster.com