What to do in Wichita this weekend: Bloktoberfest, Ren Fest, Holiday Galleria and more
Some of Wichita’s most anticipated annual events are on the calendar this weekend, including ICT Bloktoberfest, Holiday Galleria and the Great Plains Renaissance Festival.
Here are details on those events plus some other fun things happening around town this weekend and into next week:
ICT Bloktoberfest
Friday and Saturday, Union Station Plaza, 701 E. Douglas
ICT Bloktoberfest, a big annual fall party by Xclusive Events, is a two-day event that will include food, beer, games, wiener dog races, food eating contest and even a “dad bod” contest. This year’s event is the seventh annual and will be set up on the Union Station Plaza. It starts on Friday with a beer fest featuring more than 99 beers to sample that lasts from 6 to 9 p.m. and requires a ticket that’s $50 in advance or $60 the day of the event. Saturday’s fun starts at noon, and highlights include a pretzel-eating contest at 1 p.m., wiener dog races at 2 p.m., a pumpkin smash at 3 p.m. and the dad bod contest at 6 p.m. Live music starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s admission is free. For Beer Fest tickets and a complete schedule, visit ictbloktoberfest.com
Return of Holiday Galleria
Friday and Saturday, Century II Expo Hall, 225 W. Douglas
The Junior League of Wichita hasn’t put on its big Holiday Galleria “upscale” shopping event since before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. But it will return this weekend and will fill Century II’s Expo Hall with more than 120 vendors selling things like clothing, food products, crafts, jewelry and more. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and it will also include a Girls Night Out party from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday. Admission is $12. Girls Night Out admission is $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Advance tickets for the event are available at selectaseat.com/galleria
Fall Renaissance Festival
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sedgwick County Park, 6501 W. 21st St.
The 22nd annual Great Plains Renaissance and Scottish Festival returns to Sedgwick County Park this weekend. The event, which happens from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, will feature jousting matches, vendors, food and more. Tickets are available online at www.greatplainsrenfest.com and are $11 for adults with one free child’s ticket or $5 for a child’s ticket. Discount two-day passes, which also include one free child’s ticket, are $18. Day-of tickets are $14 for adults.
‘Deep Greenwood’
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Hughes Metroplex, 5015 E. 29th St. North
A musical stage play called “Deep Greenwood: The Hidden Truth of Black Wall Street” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Wichita State University’s Hughes Metroplex. The play, a traveling production out of Atlanta, depicts the story of the Greenwood district, a thriving black business district in Tulsa in the early 1900s commonly referred to as “Black Wall Street” that was nearly destroyed in the infamous Tulsa Massacre of 1921. The cast includes gospel artist Byron Cage and R&B singer Cherelle. Tickets to the performance are $37.50 and available at ticketstorm.com.
Ani DiFranco at Wave
7 p.m. Sunday, Wave, 650 E. Second
Grammy-winning folk rock singer/songwriter Ani DiFranco, a feminist icon known for creating her own record label and for songs like “Fire Door” and “Both Hands,” will perform at Wichita’s Wave venue at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Singer/songwriter Jess Nolan will open the show. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are $25-$70 at waveict.com
Theo Von at The Orpheum
Tuesday and Wednesday, Orpheum Theatre, 200 N. Broadway
Theo Von, a popular comedian and podcaster whose comedy special “Regular People” streams on Netflix, will bring his Return of the Rat Tour to Wichita’s Orpheum Theatre this week. Demand for tickets to see him at his originally scheduled Wednesday show was so big that the venue added a second date, and he will also perform on Tuesday. A few tickets are still available at selectaseat.com, by calling 316-755-7328 or at the Select-a-Seat box office inside Intrust bank Arena.
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:
Kolby Cooper, Dec. 2, Cotillion, tickets on sale 10 a.m. Friday at thecotillion.com
Diamond Rio, Dec. 21, TempleLive tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at ticketmaster.com
Frank Foster, April 1, TempleLive tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at ticketmaster.com
Contributing: Eduardo Castillo, The Wichita Eagle
This story was originally published October 7, 2022 at 5:03 AM.