Exploration Place exhibit will make visitors question if what they see is real

A new year means a new exhibit at Exploration Place, Wichita’s children’s museum and science center, and visitors won’t believe their eyes — or shouldn’t, anyway. The exhibit, which opens today, is titled “Illusions” and will have people questioning if what they see is real.

It’s one of many fun events to check out in and around Wichita this weekend. Following are details on it and several other diverting activities.

New Exploration Place exhibit

Exploration Place, at 300 N. McLean, will open a new exhibit today called “Illusions,” which will challenge visitors to ask whether they can really trust their eyes. The exhibit will include a 25-minute live science show called “Perception Deception” that contains illusions and challenges that help demonstrate how the human brain sometimes gets things wrong. The show will run through May 3 and is free with Exploration Place admission: $18 for ages 12-64; $13 for ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and over; and free for ages 2 and under.

The Golden Girls are back

Roxy’s Downtown, at 412 ½ E. Douglas, is bringing back its popular parody show “The Golden Girls” for a ninth season. The “girls” will again be portrayed by well-known Wichita actors Tom Frye, Scott Noah, Kyle Vespestad and Monte Wheeler. It opens Friday and will run Wednesdays through Saturdays through March 7. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. with Saturday matinees that start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $42 at tickets.roxysdowntown.com

Rodeo champs

The PRCA Championship Rodeo will be in Park City this weekend at the Heartland Credit Union Arena, 8151 N. Arena Drive. The event, which is at 7:30 both Friday and Saturday, will feature top professionals from across the country competing in seven events in hopes of making it to the Wrangler National Finals in Las Vegas. Tickets are $22-$42 at ticketmaster.com or at the Heartland Credit Union Arena box office. Children under 12 get in free on Friday. One child will be admitted per each paid adult. Ticket prices go up by $5 the day of the show.

Celebrate Kansas Day

Kansas Day is coming up on Jan. 29, but one local venue will celebrate it this weekend. Great Plains Nature Center, at 6232 E. 29th St. North, is teaming up with Wichita Park & Recreation for a party that will last from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. It will include free games, crafts, trivia and a naturalist program at 11 a.m. People will also get a preview of the events the center has planned for the year. Admission is free.

Snow Glow

Snow Glow is becoming an annual event in Wichita, and the Wichita Park & Recreation event will return for its 2026 installment on Saturday outside the Mid-America All-Indian Museum, 650 N. Seneca. The event will offer sledding on snow made by Snow Bros Snowmakers plus music, food trucks and a fire pit. Tickets are $15 for ages 3 and older. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the makeup date will be Jan. 31. People must pre-register for the event at bit.ly/ICTSnowGlow

This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 5:08 AM.