Beer, burgers and brats: Saturday will be busy with three big food events in Wichita
If you like burgers, brats — or Hatch green chiles — this weekend is a good one to live in Wichita.
Three big events are on the calendar for the weekend, and each will offer food, drinks and fun:
IRON CHILEHEAD
Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Johnson’s Garden Centers, 2707 W. 13th St.
This annual parking lot party — which celebrates the arrival of Hatch green chile season — returns for its ninth year on Saturday and will again include a mini beer fest featuring local breweries and their version of a beer infused with the chiles. Wine and kombucha vendors also will be there this year.
The event will also include at least eight local food trucks serving their signature items plus special dishes made with green chiles. Judges — of which I am one — will choose the best green chile dish and best green chile beer, and their inventors will get trophies.
The event also will feature live music by the raucous Bolzen Beer Band, a hip young group from Nebraska that turns rock and pop songs into polka tunes.
It’s free to enter, but those ages 21 and up who want to sample unlimited beers from the 18 local and regional breweries will need a $30 ticket, which will include a tasting glass to keep and an Iron ChileHead sticker.
Tickets to the beer tasting are available at ironchilehead.com and at either Johnson’s Garden Centers store. (There’s also a store at 6225 Shadybrook.) Those who pick tickets up in person will get a free koozie.
Attendees are asked to park at Asbury Church at 2801 W. 15th St. or on surrounding streets. Those who want to bike to the event will be able to check their bikes in and have them safeguarded while they party.
Iron Chilehead got started as a way to promote the annual Chile Fest at Johnson’s. Every August since 1999, owner Marry Johnson has traveled to Hatch, New Mexico, to pick up bushels and bushels of green chiles then drive them back to town to roast them to sell to his customers. Saturday’s attendees also can purchase roasted chiles while there.
BURGER BATTLE 2022
11 a.m.-3 p.m., O.J. Watson Park, 3022 S. McLean Blvd.
This burger sampling event was founded in 2013 as a fundraiser for KETCH, and over the years, its organizers have moved to different locations and tried different approaches. But for 2022, they’re mimicking the setup from last year.
The event will again happen at O.J. Watson Park and will have a family feel. In addition to sampling burgers, people who buy family packs of tickets will be able to visit the park’s various kid-friendly attractions, including a train ride, boat rides and mini golf.
Instead of stationary restaurants, the burgers again will be prepared by food trucks, who will have their rigs set up at the park. Ticket holders will visit participating trucks, sample burgers then choose a favorite. The trucks signed up so far: Southeast Carryout, Shurley Concessions, The Critical Cart and Personal Chef Roberto. Non-completing vendors offering sweets are Kona Ice, Cameo Cakes and Primos Food Truck.
Tickets, available at www.ictburgerbattle.com, are $20 for ages 12 and up, $10 for ages 2-11 and include unlimited burger samples. There’s also a $50 family four-pack package that includes unlimited burger samples and four park activity tickets.
Money raised will go to KETCH’s programs and services for adults with disabilities.
WALTON’S BRATFEST 2022
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 3639 N. Comotara
Barbecue store Walton’s Inc. is putting on its first ever BratFest on Saturday, an event that will offer attendees samples of brats and sausages made by Walton’s, Walnut Valley Meat Market and Peabody Sausage House. A bratwurst and hot dog lunch also will be available, and Shaken or Stirred bartending will be there selling adult beverages.
The event will also include a car show and activities for kids. Presale tickets are $12.50 through Friday. Then, they’re $15. Get them at eventbrite.com
This story was originally published August 17, 2022 at 11:15 AM.
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