You can help decide who makes the Wichita area’s best burger at Saturday’s Burger Battle
This weekend will be a warm one, and lots of fun activities are happening outdoors, including the annual KETCH Burger Battle, the Kansas Pond Society’s Water Garden Tour, the launch of KEYN’s annual summer concert series and the Stearman Bar & Grill Fly-In.
Here’s a list of some of your best bets for fun in and around Wichita this weekend:
Return of the Burger Battle
5-9 p.m. Saturday, Capitol Federal Amphitheater at Andover Central Park, 1607 E. Central, Andover
The annual KETCH Burger Battle, a long-running fundraiser for the organization, returns on Saturday to the Capitol Federal Amphitheater at Andover Central Park. The event, which lasts from 5 to 9 p.m., will allow ticket holders to sample burgers prepared by local restaurants, listen to live music, and take in a car show. The event also will feature adult beverages for sale and a Kid Zone. Tickets are $30 for adults, free for children 6 and under. There’s also a buy-three-get-one-free deal that costs $90, and a VIP ticket, which includes two drinks and a swag bag, is $50. Tickets are available online at ketch.org/burgerbattle or by phone at 316-383-8889. Tickets also will be available at the gate.
KEYN summer concert series
6:30 p.m. Friday, Naftzger Park, 601 E. Douglas
Radio station KEYN will launch its annual free summer concert series on Friday with a show by Across the Pond in Wichita’s Naftzger Park. This year, the shows — which happen most Friday nights through Aug. 16 — will rotate between Naftzger Park and Andover’s Capitol Federal Amphitheater. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m., and the shows will start at 8 p.m. People are encouraged to pack a picnic. For a full lineup of this summer’s shows, visit www.audacy.com/keyn/latest/keyn-summer-concert-series
Water Garden Tour
9 to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 13 locations
The Kansas Pond Society will put on its 2024 Water Garden Tour from 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The event features 13 homes and other spots throughout the Wichita area that have water gardens and features worth seeing. Most include colorful koi fish and goldfish, and the ponds vary in size from a few hundred to several thousand gallons. Tickets are $10 a carload and include a map of all the stops. Tickets and maps are available at Johnson’s Garden Centers, Scenic Landscapes, and Hong’s Landscape and Nursery.
Annual Stearman Field Fly-In
Starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Stearman Field Bar & Grill, 14789 SW 30th St., Benton
Stearman Field Bar & Grill’s annual Fly-In is scheduled for Saturday in Benton. It will include many different aircraft on the tarmac that visitors can inspect up close. It will also have live music by Rebel Outlaws from noon to 4 p.m. and by Lucky People from 7 p.m. to midnight. The day will start with a breakfast buffet served from 8 a.m. to noon. The restaurant will offer a full menu inside and will serve hot dogs and hamburgers outside starting at 11 a.m. A beer garden also will be set up. No coolers are allowed. Admission is free. RSVP for the event on the Stearman Field Bar & Grill Facebook page.
Lavender Haze at Prairie Pines
6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Prairie Pines, 4055 N. Tyler
At Christmastime, it sells Christmas trees. At Halloween, it transforms into a Field of Screams. But in the summer, Prairie Pines farm at 4055 N. Tyler is all about lavender. This weekend, the venue will put on a Lavender Haze Garden Party featuring music from Molly Neeley. The event lasts from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and will include a bar serving cocktails and mocktails, self-guided garden walks, and access to the farm’s lavender shop. Patio tables will be open, and admission is free.
Time Travelers Vintage Expo
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Century II Expo Hall
Love old stuff? The Time Traveler’ Vintage Expo, an event planned for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in Century II’s Expo Hall, is a traveling vintage market that includes retro-style clothing, jewelry, home decor items and more. It will include more than 80 vendors from across the country. Tickets are $10 at www.century2.com/events/detail/vintage