Wichita can get a taste of fall at one of these popular annual foodie events
The calendar just flipped to September, which means Wichita can leave summer behind and start preparing for the chili, egg rolls, beer and bloody Marys that autumn always brings.
The weeks between now and Halloween are, as always, filled with food events that people always look forward to, from the downtown chili cookoff to Oktoberfest parties.
Here’s a list of some of the foodie events planned for September and October along with information on how to attend.
September
Crave Culinary Festival, Sept. 6-10, Mark Arts, 1307 N. Rock Road: This five-day foodie event is back for its second year and will feature culinary workshops, tastings, a farm-to-table dinner and a big foodie fair with samples provided by local restaurants. It will also include a keynote speech by Michigan-based chef and James Beard nominee Abra Berens. Each event is separately priced. The farm-to-table dinner, which is on Sept. 9, is $150 a person, and tickets to the Foodie Fair and keynote speech, which are from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 10, are $25 for ages 5 and older. To see a full lineup and get tickets, visit markartsks.com/crave
Zoobilee, Sept. 10, Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd.: Wichita’s zoo closes only two days a year: the day of and the day before this big fundraising event that features food samples from local restaurants, adult beverages and live music. Tickets are now on sale and this year are $175 — all but $30 of which is tax deductible. The event lasts from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are available at SCZ.org, by phone at 316-266-8273 or at the Zoo membership desk.
Orie’s Garlic Fest, Sept. 11, Public at the Brickyard, 129 N. Rock Island: The fifth annual Orie’s Garlic Fest, an event by the owners of Orie’s Farm Fresh in west Wichita, lasts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will again feature food and drink vendors, artisans, live music and complimentary garlic shots. Participating food vendors will provide ready-to-eat dishes made with garlic plus garlic-y beverages. Admission is free, but attendees should bring money for food, drink and shopping.
Blooms, Brews & Bloody Marys, Sept. 15, Botanica, 701 Amidon: This popular annual event fills the gardens at Botanica with local bars and restaurants that are all competing to make the best Bloody Mary. Attendees get to sample the drinks plus small bites of food provided by local restaurants and beer from Wichita breweries. Live bands also will be stationed around the grounds. Tickets to the event, which starts at 5:30 p.m., are $65 or $55 for Botanica members. They’re available at botanica.org/blooms-brews-bloody-marys/
Haus of Brews, Sept. 17, Treescapes and Big Wave Pools, 1202 N. Andover Road, Andover: This annual beer-centric fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Andover will run from 6 to 10 p.m. and will include local craft beer tasting, wine sampling, an all-you-can eat buffet and live jazz music. Tickets are $35 until Sept. 10 at www.andoverrotaryclub.org, then go up to $50. Money raised will go toward local community service projects.
Oktoberfest at Prost, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2721 E. Central: This German restaurant is bringing its traditional Oktoberfest celebration back, and it will feature food, German beer, contests, games, a stein-holding contest, polka music and more. The event, which is for ages 21 and over, requires a ticket that includes a glass stein to keep. An event pass good for all three days is $40, a one-day pass is $30, and a two-day pass is $35. It runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 29 and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com
October
Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Coofkoff, Oct. 1, downtown Wichita: This annual fall cookoff always draws big crowds downtown, and this year the crowds will be centered in the 500 Block of East Douglas, near Naftzger Park. The event, which will start at noon, will feature teams competing for chili-cooking bragging rights and prize money, and attendees will be able to sample their creations with a $5 tasting kit, available at the gate. For more information, visit www.wagonmasters.org/chili-cookoff
ICT Bloktoberfest, Oct. 7-8, Union Station, 701 E. Douglas: Xclusive Events and Sledgehammer Creative is bringing its big Oktoberfest party back for 2022. The two-day event will include food, beer, games, wiener dog races, food eating contest and even a “dad bod” contest. The event, the group’s seventh annual, will start on Oct. 7 with a Beer Fest featuring more than 99 beers to sample. It requires a ticket that’s $50 in advance or $60 the day of the event. Admission on Oct. 8 is free. For Beer Fest tickets and more information, visit https://ictbloktoberfest.com
Wichita Asian Festival, Oct. 15, Century II: This annual event is always a big draw for foodies, who walk around Century II sampling food and drink from dozens and dozens of booths. The event, which will last from 5 to 9:30 p.m., will also include cultural stage performances, art vendors and the Miss Wichita Asian Festival Scholarship Pageant. For the first time, instead of offering free admission, the festival will charge $5 admission at the door for attendees older than 10. For more information, visit wichitaasianassociation.org
This story was originally published August 31, 2022 at 2:12 PM.
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