Four of Wichita’s biggest fall entertainment events all happen this weekend
The final weekend of September is a big one this year in Wichita. No fewer than four of the city’s most popular fall events are all happening at the same time: The Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cookoff, the Wichita Asian Festival, the Great Plains Renaissance Festival and Open Streets ICT in downtown Wichita.
Find details about all of those, plus a couple of other fun fall time events, below:
Wichita Asian Festival No. 44
5-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Century II, 225 W. Douglas
Usually, the big Wichita Asian Festival happens in October. But this year it’s been bumped up to September. The event, which always draws thousands of people for cultural performances, a Miss Asian pageant and lots and lots of food vendors, will happen from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Century II’s Convention and Exhibition halls. The event, put on by the Wichita Asian Association, is in its 44th year. Tickets are $5 and available in advance at selectaseat.com or at the door. Children under 10 get in for free.
Open Streets on Douglas
Noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Douglas from Grove to Seneca
Open Streets, the big annual street party designed for walkers, runners and bikers, will cover a little less ground this year. It will be set up from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday along 3 miles of Douglas: from Grove to Seneca. (In previous years, it covered 4.1 miles.) The route will be closed to traffic, and people who travel it will find dancing, street vendors and food. Several stops along the way will be hubs for activity: Kennedy Plaza in front of Century II, Naftzger Park, East High School. Admission is free, and pets are welcome, but no motorized vehicles will be allowed.
Downtown Chili Cookoff
Noon, Saturday, 500 block of East Douglas
The annual cookoff and public tasting starts at noon Saturday in the 500 block of East Douglas, adjacent to Naftzger Park. As always, attendees will purchase $5 tasting kits then travel from booth to booth sampling creations made by groups of friends, coworkers and restaurants. A panel of judges will pick the best chili in a number of categories, and there will also be a people’s choice award. The cookoff also will include a pepper eating contest at 3:15 p.m. People who want to sample lots of chili should be there by noon because chili can run out quickly. Tasting kits are available at the gate.
Great Plains Renaissance Festival
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sedgwick County Park, 6501 W. 21st St.
The Great Plains Renaissance & Scottish Festival’s 25th anniversary edition happens from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Saturday and Sunday at Sedgwick County Park and, as usual, will feature jousting, jesters, blacksmiths, fire breathers, pirates, falconers, bagpipers and giant turkey legs. Adult one-day tickets are $13 in advance, and weekend passes are $25. Kids passes for ages 12 and under are $6, but people who purchase an adult day ticket or weekend pass also get a free pass for a child age 12 and under. Advance tickets are available at www.greatplainsrenfest.com/onlinetickets. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.greatplainsrenfest.com
Two horror film fests
Friday-Oct. 29, Starlight Drive-In, 3900 S. Hydraulic, and Boulevard Theatres Old Town, 353 N. Mead
October is almost here, and it will bring to Wichita two film festivals centered around scary movies. The first one is the September Fright Fest, which launches at the Starlite Drive-In on Friday and will run through Oct. 26. Its lineup will include titles like “Freddy Vs. Jason,” “Scream” and “Beetlejuice.” (For a full lineup, visit www.starlitefun.com). Admission to the drive-in movies will be $10, and carloads will be $20. The movies start around dusk. Then, on Wednesday, the 10th annual October at the Old Town Horror Movie Festival will start at the Boulevard Theatres in Old Town and run every Wednesday through October. Each night will offer a double feature that starts at 7:30 p.m., and titles will include “Day of the Dead,” “Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” and “Trick or Treat.” Admission is $15. For a complete lineup, visit oldtown.blvdtheatres.com/the-movies
Return of Paranormal Cirque
Friday-Monday, parking lot at Towne East Square, 7700 E. Kellogg
The big black-and-white tent is going back up in the parking lot of Towne East Square for another installment of Paranormal Cirque. It’s a traveling circus for a more mature crowd that describes itself as “a crazy yet fun fusion between circus, theatre and cabaret.” Shows happen at 7:30 p.m. today; 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday; 5:30 and 8:30 Sunday; and 7:30 p.m. Monday. Attendees must be at least 18 with a photo ID. Ages 13 through 17 can attend if accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Tickets are $20 to $65 at black.cirqueitalia.com