12 fun things to do in the Wichita area this weekend (Sept. 12 and 13)
It’s the first weekend of the Kansas State Fair, and the weather has taken the hint and made a mellow turn toward fall. Ahhhhhhhh. Here are some of the events happening Saturday and Sunday in the Wichita area, including the fair in Hutchinson.
Kansas State Fair, 7 a.m. to the Joan Jett & the Blackhearts concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to the Sam Hunt with Old Dominion concert at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson; admission to fair alone $10 adults, $6 seniors, $4 children ages 6 to 12, free for ages 5 and under; kansasstatefair.com.
Derby BBQ Festival, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, High Park at 2801 James St. in Derby; $5 for samples plus other food for sale, free activities for children including pig races and inflatables; www.derbybbq.com.
Kansas Kids Connect, opening weekend for the new agricultural-themed permanent exhibit for children 5 and under at Exploration Place, including hands-on activities, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 300 N. McLean Blvd.; included in admission or membership; www.exploration.org.
Arts and crafts fair sponsored by the Orchard Breeze Neighborhood Association, including Ms. Tasha’s Fried Chicken food truck, 10 a.m. Saturday, Kiwanis Park, 5101 W. Second St.; $1 admission.
Art on the Trail/Junior Art on the Trail, artists along the trails of Chisholm Creek Park, nature craft for children, refreshments, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 E. 29th St. North; free; www.gpnc.org, 316-683-5499.
316 Music Unity Festival, including local R&B and hip-hop artists and poets, free haircuts for children, dental and blood-pressure checks and other health information, food vendors, product and service vendors, bounce houses and children’s games, 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, McAdams Park, 1329 E. 13th St.; $5 entrance to show in the gym (kids 10 and under free), kids area and other activities free; www.strongwillenterprises.com.
Celebration of the 150th anniversary of William Butler Yeats’ birth, presentation by Walt Racker on “Yeats in Kansas” during the annual meeting of the Kansas Folklore Society, 3 p.m. Saturday, New Al’s Old Bookstore, 360 E. William, free; and talk by Newman English professor Bryan Dietrich on the poetry of Yeats, a dramatic interpretation of a Yeats play by Newman theater professor Mark Mannette, and Irish music by the Merry Merchants of Gael, 6 p.m. Saturday, black box theater in the De Mattias Fine Arts Center at Newman University, 3100 McCormick, free.
Zoobilee, food and drinks, music, animals, live and silent auctions, 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd.; $150; scz.org.
Delores and the Pickin’-Fretter concert, 7 p.m. Saturday, Chapel Hill United Methodst Church, 1550 N. Chapel Hill Drive (near K-96 and 13th Street); donations accepted for performers.
Wichita Winguts playoffs vs. Laredo Lemurs baseball, 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Lawrence-Dumont Staditum; $8 to $15 (children 2 and under free); 855-755-7328, selectaseat.com; www.wichitawingnuts.com.
Wiener dog (and more) races in Lindsborg, 3 p.m. Sunday, Swensson Park tennis courts, 400 block of North Main in Lindsborg; registration at 2 p.m. for friendly pure-bred Dachshunds, small dogs and large dogs to compete in three separate races; donation jar to benefit the McPherson County Humane Society.
Driven bluegrass concert, lead-up to the Walnut Valley bluegrass festival next weekend in Winfield, 4 p.m. Sunday, Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine; gates open at 3; $10; www.bartlettarboretum.com.
This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 7:11 AM with the headline "12 fun things to do in the Wichita area this weekend (Sept. 12 and 13)."