Here’s a list of Wichita attractions Kansas students can visit for free this summer
If you’re running out of ideas to occupy your children over summer break, an annual program may provide some welcome relief — and free visits to zoos, museums and more.
Attractions across the state are participating in Sunflower Summer, a program that gives Kansas kindergarten through 12th-graders free tickets and admission over summer break. All you have to do is download an app.
The annual program kicks off again Saturday, July 12 and lasts through Sunday, Aug. 3.
“This program is a wonderful opportunity for Kansas attractions to welcome families from across the state,” Kansas Tourism Director Bridgette Jobe said in an April press release. “Sunflower Summer not only provides free admission to incredible destinations, it strengthens communities by making family adventures more accessible and extends the length of their vacations.”
Here’s how your student can participate in the activities this summer.
Who all can participate in Sunflower Summer for free activites?
The summer program is for Kansas residents in kindergarten through 12th grade. Public, private and homeschooled students can all participate in the program.
The program also provides one free ticket to an accompanying adult per attraction, the website says.
To get the free tickets, Kansas residents need to download the Sunflower Summer app on their smart phone. It can be found in the Apple store and in the Google Play store. It provides a list of available attractions across the state and allows you to claim available tickets.
You can only use one free ticket per student at each attraction. Once you scan a ticket through the app, that ticket cannot be used again.
If someone doesn’t have access to a smart phone, they can fill out a paper voucher to get their free ticket at any of the participating attractions, the website says.
Wichita attractions you can get in for free this summer
Here’s a list of Wichita attractions participating in this year’s Sunflower Summer. Some of them offer free entry all year:
Botanica Wichita
701 Amidon St.; Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
CityArts
334 N Mead St.; Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Exploration Place
300 N. McLean Blvd.; Open regular hours each day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 p.m. Friday. For Sunflower Summer, July 12 to Aug. 3, Exploration Place will stay open until 9 p.m. each day.
Great Plains Nature Center
6232 East 29th St. N.; Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.
Kansas Aviation Museum
3350 George Washington Blvd.; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Thursday.
Kansas Wildlife Exhibit
700 Nims N.; Open every day 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mark Arts
1307 N. Rock Road; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Mid-America All-Indian Museum
650 N. Seneca St.; Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.
Museum of World Treasures
835 E. 1st St. N.; Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
Old Cowtown Museum
1865 Museum Blvd.; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Sedgwick County Zoo
5555 W. Zoo Blvd.; Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
The Kansas African American Museum
601 N. Water St.; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Ulrich Museum of Art
1845 Fairmount St.; Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Wichita Art Museum
1400 Museum Blvd.; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum
204 S. Main S.t; Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed Monday.
This story was originally published July 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
