In This Week’s Email

• 45th Annual Wichita Asian Festival

• What’s taking place this weekend

• Your weekly rundown of live music in Wichita

FEATURE EVENT

45th Annual Wichita Asian Festival

Celebrate culture, community, and connection at the 45th Annual Wichita Asian Festival—an unforgettable evening inspired by this year’s theme, Journey Across Borders. On October 17, 2026, join us at Century II in Wichita, Kansas as we come together to honor the richness and diversity of Asian cultures through movement, connection, and celebration.

Experience an evening filled with vibrant performances, a cultural pageant, and a wide variety of authentic cuisine. From traditional dances to modern expressions, the festival showcases the beauty of heritage and the power of community coming together across borders.

General Admission begins at 5:00 PM, with tickets priced at $5. Guests who qualify for SNAP benefits can purchase discounted tickets for $3 at the door. For an enhanced experience, VIP tickets ($15) grant early entry at 4:00 PM, offering first access to the freshest food, premium seating for performances and the pageant, and a more relaxed atmosphere before the crowds arrive.

This Week’s Events

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This is just a small sample of what’s on the slate. Due to email size limitations, we can only share so many. Be sure to visit the event calendar for the complete listing.

■Wild Lights - Sedgwick County Zoo
Wed. Oct. 14-18 | 6 p.m. | Sedgwick County Zoo
Light up your evening at Sedgwick County Zoo with stunning hand-crafted Asian lantern sculptures glowing across the grounds during Wild Lights.

■5th Annual ICT Plant Hop
Wed. Oct. 14 - Sun. Oct. 18 | Dutch's Greenhouse
Spend a month exploring Wichita's local plant shops and florists, collecting passport stamps with each purchase during the 5th Annual ICT Plant Hop.

■Halloween Nights at Exploration Place
Thu. Oct. 15-Sun. Oct. 17 | 6 p.m. | Exploration Place
Exploration Place transforms after dark this October into a thrilling Halloween experience packed with spooky fun inside the museum, Dome theater, and Adventure Playscape.

■Tallgrass Film Festival
Thu. Oct. 15 - Sun. Oct. 18 | Downtown Wichita
Downtown Wichita comes alive October 15-18 as Tallgrass Film Festival and Harvester Arts team up to celebrate local voices alongside filmmakers from around the world.

■Deutsch-Tober Festival & German Car Show
Fri. Oct. 16 - Sun. Oct. 18 | Sedgwick County Park
Celebrate German heritage with food, fun, and a fantastic car show at Sedgwick County Park during the 17th Annual Deutsch-Tober Festival, free and open to all.

■Wicked Island
Fri. Oct. 16 - Sat. Oct. 17 | O.J. Watson Park
Brave Wichita's only island-based haunted attraction at OJ Watson Park on Friday and Saturday nights through Halloween for a seriously spooky good time.

■IX'TICHA** Spider-God of the Amazon
Fri. Oct. 16 - Sun. Oct. 18 | Kechi Playhouse
Kechi Playhouse closes out its 44th season with the fan-favorite comedy IXTICHA: Spider-God of the Amazon, written and directed by the talented Misty Maynard.

■RiverFlix
Fri. Oct. 16 | 6 p.m. | Exploration Place
Bring your blanket and snacks to the Wichita Foundation Amphitheater for a magical family movie night under the stars along the river.

■Pop Up Party: Celebrating Educators
Fri. Oct. 16 | 6 p.m. | Wichita Art Museum
WAM is raising a glass to local educators with a free drink ticket and a special artmaking session just for K-college teachers at this fun Pop Up Party.

■Furry Film Friday
Fri. Oct. 16 | 6 p.m. | Kansas Humane Society
Kids in grades 1-5 can enjoy pizza, popcorn, ice cream, movies, and furry friends for a delightful evening at the Kansas Humane Society's Furry Film Friday.

■Matt Matthews: Not What I Ordered World Tour
Fri. Oct. 16 | 7 p.m. | Kansas Star Casino
Southern comedian Matt Mathews brings his signature blend of honesty, wit, and charm to Wichita on his Not What I Ordered World Tour.

■Zach Rushing
Fri. Oct. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | The Cotillion
Mississippi comedian Zach Rushing rolls into Wichita with his big personality and hilarious Redneck Logic Tour for a night of unfiltered laughs.

■Adult Skate Night
Fri. Oct. 16 | 9:30 p.m. | Carousel Skate Center
Lace up your skates for a grown-up Friday night out featuring a live DJ, a full bar, and all your favorite hits from the 90s to now.

■Exploration Place Presents the Dome of Doom
Fri. Oct. 16 | 10 p.m.
Experience horror like never before as Exploration Place's massive 60-foot dome screen turns your favorite scary films into a fully immersive fright fest.

■Kansas Grown Farmers Market - 21st & Ridge
Sat. Oct. 17 | 7 a.m. | Kansas Grown Farmers Market
Visit the Kansas Grown Farmers Market at 21st and Ridge for fresh local produce, artisan goods, live music, food trucks, and a friendly community vibe.

■MVMT Run Club
Sat. Oct. 17 | 7 a.m. | MVMT Fitness
Walkers and runners of all paces are welcome to join MVMT Fitness for a free, feel-good 5K run club meetup on Saturday morning.

■Old Town Farm & Art Market
Sat. Oct. 17 | 8 a.m. | Old Town Farm & Art Market
Head to Old Town every Saturday for a beloved Wichita tradition featuring local growers, artists, musicians, and great food that has brought the community together for over 30 years.

■Outdoor Vintage Flea Market at Paramount Antique Mall
Sat. Oct. 17 | 8 a.m. | Paramount Antique Mall (West Kellogg)
Shop over 50 outdoor booths packed with antiques, vintage treasures, furniture, and unique finds at Paramount Antique Mall's monthly flea market, held every third Saturday from April through October.

■Wichita Wellness Collective
Sat. Oct. 17 - Sun. Oct. 18 | We Ride
Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Day with a two-day wellness weekend hosted by We Ride, Unity Yoga, and Run 316, filled with movement, community connection, and inspiration right here in Wichita.

■Cars & Calibers with Strategic Science, Noveske, and Nighthawk Customs
Sat. Oct. 17 | 11 a.m. | Rainier Arms Firearms Academy
Cap off the year with a fun afternoon of live fire demos, food trucks, giveaways, cool cars, and special appearances by Strategic Science, Noveske, and Nighthawk Custom at this exciting local event.

■Theres No Place Like Home Bully Bash 2.0
Sat. Oct. 17 | 11 a.m. | Century II
Bring your best pups and join the fun at Wichita's most exciting bully breed bash, welcoming American Bullies, Frenchies, Bulldogs, and all breeds for a day of community and celebration.

■Empty Bowls Wichita
Sat. Oct. 17 | 11 a.m. | Woolsey Hall, Wichita State University Campus
Enjoy unlimited chili and soup samples, take home a handcrafted ceramic bowl, and help fight local hunger at the Empty Bowls Wichita Chili Cook-off at Wichita State's Woolsey Hall.

■Ghouls and Goths Fest
Sat. Oct. 17 | 11 a.m. | Nomar International Market
Get your goth on at Nomar Market for Ghouls and Goths Fest, a wonderfully weird celebration of all things dark, creative, and spooky running from 11 AM to 6 PM.

■Bewitched at the Boathouse - Monster Bash
Sat. Oct. 17 | 4 p.m. | Wichita Boathouse
After the family fun wraps up, adults can enjoy a spooky and spirited Monster Bash at the Boathouse featuring witchy bingo, festive fun, and VIP early entry starting at 4 PM.

■Shop & Grub
Sat. Oct. 17 | 5 p.m. | Naftzger Park
Wichita's original outdoor shopping and food market, Shop and Grub, returns monthly from April through October with over 40 vendors, thousands of shoppers, and great local eats.

■WORLD PREMIERE 'Harrison Ford Comes to Wichita' Documentary
Sat. Oct. 17 | 5 p.m. | Orpheum Theatre
Catch the world premiere of 'Harrison Ford Comes to Wichita' at the historic Orpheum Theatre as part of the Tallgrass Film Festival, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

■Sunflower Mirage Gala Evening
Sat. Oct. 17 | 7 p.m. | Harvester Arts
Enjoy a dazzling evening of belly dance, Samba, and cultural performances at the Sunflower Mirage Gala Evening, held at Harvester Arts in Wichita with special guest artist Janelle Issis.

■12th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Wichita
Sun. Oct. 18 | Noon | Equity Bank Park
Lace up your shoes and join thousands of Wichitans at the 12th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk to honor survivors, support caregivers, and raise awareness for a great cause.C CALENDAR

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