Things to do this weekend: Winterfest, First Friday, walking book club

The holidays are over, and the Wichita entertainment calendar is a little slower. But there’s still plenty to do around town this weekend. Here are some ideas:

Winterfest 2023

Friday-Sunday, Monikahouse, 1121 N. Bitting

Monikahouse, a Riverside venue dedicated to providing a stage for local artists and musicians, is putting on a three-day event this weekend called Winterfest 2023. It happens Friday through Sunday and will feature 30 bands plus pop-up visual artists. It runs from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, from 2 to 11 p.m. on Saturday and from 2 to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 for a single day, $25 for a two-day pass and $30 for a three-day pass and are available at WinterFest2023.eventbrite.com

Arctic Adventure is ending

Friday-Sunday, Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean

Arctic Adventure, the winter-themed temporary exhibit that’s been luring visitors to Exploration Place since early November, will close after this weekend, so visitors have just a few more days to catch it. The exhibit, which was created in-house by the Exploration Place staff, features a snow machine that creates indoor snow, a snow globe people can put themselves inside, and lots of interactive games and activities. It’s open today through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for ages 12-64, $10 for ages 3-11 and those older than 65, free for ages 2 and under and for members.

A colorful First Friday

5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Vertigo 232 Gallery, 232 N. Market

Vertigo 232 Gallery in Wichita will be among several local galleries participating in First Friday events this weekend. Its show features colorful art quilts by Tara Hufford Walker and photography by Mark Walker. All items will be for sale. The First Friday event lasts from 5 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, which is above Hewitt’s Antiques at 232 N. Market. Admission is free.

Walking book club

2 p.m. Friday, Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 E 29th St. North

If your New Year’s resolution includes more physical activity and more reading, it might be time to check out Great Plain Nature Center’s Walking Book Club, which will have its first meetup of the year on Friday. The club’s January selection is “Bewilderment” by Richard Powers. Participants should meet at the center at 2 p.m. and be ready to discuss the book on a nature walk. The group will discuss a different book each first Friday of the month. For more information, visit gpnc.org/programs-events/

Sleight-ly Tipsy

5 p.m. Saturday, The Loony Bin, 215 N. St. Francis

Wichita comedy club The Loony Bin has several shows scheduled for this month including one on Saturday called Sleight-ly Tipsy. It stars comic magician Christian Manahl, whose 90-minute magic show is described as “gauche and spontaneous.” Saturday’s showtime is 5 p.m., and he’ll be back doing shows on Feb. 4 and March 4. The show is for ages 18 and over. Tickets are $18 at wichita.loonybincomedy.com/