Fun things to do in Wichita

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame at 238 N. Mead closed to the public as of Monday, September 7th 2009. The hall of Fame is moving to the Wichita Boathouse and the Newton Chisholm Trail Center. It is hoped that the Kansas Sports Museum at the Newton Chisholm Trail Center will open in November 2009 and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame at the Wichita Boathouse in early 2010.

The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame features hundreds of colourful displays, video and photos devoted to the state's sports history.

May 2009

Running for over five years the Cinco de Mayo festival in Old Town had over 12,000 people attending last year’s three-day festival and draws people of all ethnic backgrounds. The festival (May 5th) holiday in Mexico does not have the same significance as it has in the United States. In the U.S. it is a celebration of Mexican culture, and sometimes mistaken for Mexican Independence Day.

Activities include: - Latino artists and bands performing each night, with dancing under the stars. Boxing competitions, with help from a grant from the Lattner Foundation, the Latino association founded a boxing centre for youngsters several years ago to promote fitness and achievement. Authentic Mexican food, with several vendors selling Mexican food as well as more traditional carnival fare such as funnel cakes and hot dogs. Adult beverages, including margaritas are also sold.

This years opening times (typically held during the first week of May).
Friday to Saturday: 11:00 am to midnight
Sunday: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm

Admission $5

May 2009

“After Shopping” was sculptured by Bruno Lucchesi (1926-current) in 1979, and shows a mother and her young daughter, tired from shopping and resting in a chair. The mother, whose shoes have slipped off, holds her barefoot daughter asleep in her lap. A shopping bag of food and other items hangs on the back of the chair.

May 2009

Bronze sculptures by Puget Sound, Washington artist Georgia Gerber were placed along streetscape of Wichita along East Douglas Avenue in the late 1990s. It is now a challenge to spot all 31, this can be done with or without children, and it can be quite difficult to spot some of the smaller ones as they cling to the side of a planter or peek out from under leaves growing around them. Start at Reflection Square Park on the south side of Douglas between Market and Broadway because that's where the highest concentration is, then proceed east to Topeka, cross north, then west to Main, then cross south, and come full circle."

This photo shows Georgia Gerber’s bronze lunch counter on the former site of the F. W. Woolworth dime store in Lewis Reflection Square Park, apparently people sometimes bring their lunches and sit at the counter. Some of the other sculptures can be seen in my travelogue.

May 2009

Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center

The Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center is a multi-functional facility that was completed in 1969 despite the suicide of its architect John Hickman. The Convention Centre was built to commemorate Wichita’s 1970 centennial with funding from the Urban Renewal Agency.

When Century II opened for business it had a Concert Hall, Convention Hall, Exhibition Hall and a theatre. The Expo Hall was be built in 1986 and in 1997 the Hyatt Regency was attached to the south end of the centre.

May 2009

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THERE ARE CERTAINLY PLENTY of churches to choose from, here are a couple of examples seen near Interstate (bypass)235 in Western Wichita, plus a couple on Broadway, a north-south street just west of I-35:

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Due to an accident on I-35, we were diverted over to a street called Broadway. Broadway is a north-south street a few blocks west of the interstate.

It turned out to be an interesting drive. Here are four photos we took along the way.

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We have always had the Indian statue but last year they upgraded him by the new bridge and upraised the Indian and had added fire bins that light up each night at 8,9 and 10pm if the weather permits it.