What to do this weekend: Hit the fair, see a ’90s throwback show, get garlic breath

Entertainment seekers in Wichita have almost too much to choose from this weekend and into the coming week. In addition to the opening of the Kansas State Fair in nearby Hutchinson, the calendar is filled with big-name concerts, free performances in city parks, a fly-in and more.

Here’s a rundown of some of the many entertainment options available:

Kansas State Fair opening weekend

Kansas State Fairgrounds, 2000 N. Poplar, Hutchinson

The Kansas State Fair opens in Hutchinson on Friday, and the first weekend will include all sorts of activities. It all starts at 11 a.m. Friday with an opening ceremony at the fairgrounds’ Peoples Bank and Trust Arena, and Friday will also include the debut of a traveling act called the Flying Fools High Diving Show. Saturday’s highlight will be a 7:30 p.m. Grandstand concert by Parker McCollum with opening act Priscilla Block. And on Sunday, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias will perform at the Grandstand. For tickets and a full schedule, visit kansasstatefair.com

Garlic and Crave-able food

Crave is 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday at MarkArts, Orie’s Garlic Fest is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Public at the Brickyard

Wichita foodies have choices this weekend. In addition to Saturday’s annual Zoobilee fundraiser at the Sedgwick County Zoo, Saturday marks the return of two big culinary events. One is the finale of the Mark Arts’ Crave Culinary Festival, which wraps up with a Foodie Fair set for 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the venue. It costs $25 a person and features speakers and samples from local restaurants. Tickets are available at markartsks.com/crave. Sunday is the day for Orie’s Garlic Fest, an event by Orie’s Farm Fresh that will fill Public at the Brickyard with garlic vendors and garlic-based foods from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Also: $175 tickets for Zoobilee, which is from 6 to midnight on Saturday, are still available at tickets.scz.org

Air Capital Fly-In

8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 3612 N. Webb Road

The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 88’s annual Air Capital Fly-In happens on Saturday at Col. James Jabara Airport and will include aviation-related vendors, aircraft on display, a car show, candy drops, a model rocket display, children’s activities, food and free airplane rides for kids ages 8 through 17. The event lasts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and free for kids ages 17 and under.

Backstreet’s back

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Intrust Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman

Iconic ’90s boy band Backstreet Boys is finally making up a twice-postponed (because of COVID) concert at Intrust Bank Arena. The group, known for hits like “I Want it That Way,” “Everybody” and “As Long as You Love Me,” will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets are still available and range from $74 to $240 at www.selectaseat.com, by phone at 316-755-SEAT or in person at the Select-A-Seat Box Office at Intrust Bank Arena.

Hanson in concert

8 p.m. Sunday, Cotillion, 11120 W. Kellogg

Another 1990s throwback band — the trio Hanson — will be in Wichita on Sunday as a part of its Red Green Blue 2022 Tour. The band, which consists of the three Hanson brothers, is best known for songs like “MMMBop,” “Save Me,” “I Will Come to You” and more. The Tulsa natives will perform at 8 p.m. on Sunday night at the Cotillion. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $39.50 and can be purchased at thecotillion.com

Shakespeare, ballet in the park

Various Wichita-area parks

Wichita-area parks are about to be filled with cultural performances when they’re taken over by Ballet in the Park and Shakespeare in the Park. Ballet Wichita’s annual Ballet in the Park series starts on Friday at Linear Park Pavilion in Goddard and will travel to various suburban Wichita parks through Sunday. Dancers will put on a free 45-minute performance of a ballet called “Tom Sawyer.” For a complete schedule, visit balletwichita.com. Meanwhile, the Wichita Shakespeare Company will tour its production of “Macbeth” through city parks starting on Friday at 7 p.m. at College Hill Park. Performances continue at parks in and around Wichita through September, and admission is free (though donations are accepted). For a list of performances, visit www.wichitashakespearecompany.org

Bluegrass trio at The Arb

4 p.m. Sunday, Bartlett Arboretum, 301 N. Line St., Belle Plaine

Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine will be home on Sunday to a concert by the Darrell Scott Bluegrass Trio. The group is lead by the multi-instrumentalist Scott, a Nashville-based artist who has collaborated with the likes of Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris and more. Gates open at 3 p.m., and the concert is at 4 p.m. Admission is $15 at the gate.

Mickey, Minnie and Spider-Man

6 p.m. Wednesday, Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway

Disney Junior Live on Tour: Costume Palooza will be at the Orpheum Theatre on Wednesday. The show will bring together Disney Junior and Marvel favorites like Mickey Mouse, Spider-Man, Goofy and more. The show will include songs from some of Disney Junior’s hit shows as well as some new original music. The show is at 6 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $75 and can be purchased at selectaseat.com, by calling 316-755-SEAT or in person at the Select-a-Seat box office inside Intrust Bank Arena. Ages 2 and up require a ticket.

Heritage Square concert series

Noon, Wednesdays through September, Heritage Square Park, 115 E. William

The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum’s annual Heritage Square Concert Series has started its 2022 run, and a new show will happen at noon every Wednesday during the month of September in Heritage Square Park, which is next to the museum. This week’s show will feature Mariachi Jalisco, followed by The Embarrassed Men on Sept. 21 and Steve Cormier and Tom Page on Sept. 28. Attendees should enter the square through the Historical Museum. Admission is free.

Concerts announced this week

Wichita’s many music venues have been busy booking shows lately. Here’s a look at the most recent additions made to Wichita’s concert calendar:

Circus on Ice, Sept. 22, Orpheum Theatre, tickets on sale at selectaseat.com

Charles Wesley Godwin, Dec. 8, Wave, tickets on sale at 11 a.m. Friday at waveict.com

Switchfoot, Dec. 10, The Cotillion, tickets on sale at noon Friday at thecotillion.com

Machine Head, Dec. 17, Wave, tickets on sale Friday at waveict.com

Smells Like Nirvana, Jan. 28, The Cotillion, tickets on sale at thecotillion.com

This story was originally published September 9, 2022 at 5:03 AM.