Open Streets NoMar returns to Wichita’s north end Sunday after a two-year absence
Open Streets NoMar is coming to Wichita’s north end this weekend after a two-year hiatus.
The event was first put on by the city of Wichita in 2019. It was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Shana Appelhanz with the city’s park and recreation department.
The event, from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, will stretch a mile on 21st Street, which will be closed to vehicle traffic from Broadway to Woodland. Attendees can roam the street on foot or bike.
Closings for streets along the perimeter of the event will start at 10 a.m. Streets will reopen around 6 p.m., city officials said.
One business along 21st Street that participated in 2019 is ready to welcome back the crowd. Adrian Santiago owns El Pollo Dorado al Carbon de Wichita at 2200 N. Wellington Place.
Santiago’s business is known for its large outdoor grill near the intersection of 21st and Waco. It grills chicken tacos daily.
“I’m very excited for Sunday because I know it will be good for my business that’s going on year eleven now. We’ve had people from all walks of life come and try our chicken tacos.”
Santiago says his staff will start to prep Sunday morning around 7 a.m., and will be ready for the crowd by 10:30 a.m. He says he hopes for a large turnout similar to in 2019.
“It was a huge crowd that year ... the line almost looked like a curled snake because of all the people waiting in line to buy food, that and you have people who pass by and get a whiff of the grilled chicken and immediately get in the line as well,” Santiago says.
“A lot of those people still come back for the food. I hear my customers say they drove from Hutchinson, Newton, McPherson, Salina, Harper to name a few,” Santiago added.
Appelhanz said there will be two hubs of events. The first hub at Woodland Park will host food trucks, games, activities and shopping. The second hub will be the site of the NoMar Plaza mercado organized by non-profit Empower. It will host live entertainment and multiple vendors selling food and specialty items.
Those wanting to know more about the event can visit Wichita.gov/ParkandRec
This story was originally published April 29, 2022 at 12:00 AM.