What to do this weekend, next week: Automobilia, concerts by Parker McCollum, Bela Fleck
Automobilia — the annual car show that almost didn’t happen this year but then did — will return for its 29th annual installment on Saturday in downtown Wichita. And if cars aren’t your thing, you can catch concerts by nationally known artists Parker McCollum and Bela Fleck or even go to Wave for a Taylor Swift dance party.
Those are just some of the diverting events happening around Wichita this weekend and into next week. Details below:
Automobilia is back
4 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Douglas from Emporia to Hydraulic
The 29th annual Automobilia downtown car show returns on Saturday and will feature close to 1,000 show vehicles lined up along Douglas, music from seven bands, three food courts, fireworks over the Douglas Street Train Bridge and an after-hours “Draggin’ Douglas” event. Automobilia lasts from 4 to 11 p.m. and will be set up along Douglas from Emporia to Hydraulic. The fireworks happen at 10:30 p.m., and those traveling downtown on Saturday evening will need to be aware of multiple road closures. Admission to the event is free. For more information and a map of the show, visit kansascarshows.com
Parker McCollum at Intrust Bank Arena
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Intrust Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman
Country star Parker McCollum, known for songs like “Pretty Heart, “To Be Loved By You” and “Handle on You,” will headline a concert that starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Intrust Bank Arena. His opening acts will be Jackson Dean and Tyler Halverson. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $34.50-$74.50 at www.selectaseat, by phone at 316-755-7328 or in person at the Intrust Bank Arena box office inside Intrust Bank Arena.
Bela Fleck at Wave
7 p.m. Saturday, Wave, 650 E. Second St.
Grammy-winning banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck will perform at Wichita’s Wave venue on Saturday night. The all-ages show will be on the outdoor stage. It will start at 7 p.m. and will also feature musicians Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz and Bryan Sutton. Doors open at 6 p.m., and tickets are $15-$75 at waveict.com
Water Works
Reception 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Gallery 12, 412 E. Douglas Suite A
Gallery 12 is opening a new exhibition called “Water Works” with a First Friday reception scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday. The show, which will be on display through July 29, features work from local artists centered around water — all of them measuring 12x12 inches. The mediums of the works submitted include pastels, acrylics, oils, photographs, tapestry and more. The show also will feature ceramics by Brandon Smith. The gallery’s hours are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. first Fridays. Admission is free.
Taylor Swift dance party
10 p.m. Thursday, July 13, Wave, 650 E. Second St.
Maybe you weren’t able to get tickets to see Taylor Swift in Kansas City this weekend. But Wave, the downtown music venue, will be home to a consolation party of sorts. The “Tay Tay Party,” scheduled for 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, bills itself as the “Ultimate Taylor Swift DJ Party,” and attendees will be able to dance and sing along to their favorite Swifsongs. Doors for the event, which will be staged in the indoors part of the venue, open at 9 p.m., and tickets are $15. They’re available at waveict.com
Tornado chaser
8 p.m. Thursday, July 13, the Cotillion, 11120 W. Kellogg
Reed Timmer, a nationally known storm chaser and owner of “The Dominator” armored chasing vehicles, will be at the Cotillion on Thursday, July 13, for a presentation that takes audience members inside a tornado. Timmer also will talk about the science behind extreme tornadoes and about his experiences during 25 years of chasing storms in tornado alley. Attendees also will be able to see inside his Dominator 3 vehicle, which was used to launch a data-collecting rocket into an EF-4 tornado in 2019. Tickets to the show, which starts at 8 p.m., are $30-$40 a thecotillion.com
This story was originally published July 6, 2023 at 7:18 AM.