2016 Labor Day Events

Did you know that Wichita is home to its very own 3-day music festival? ICT Fest will feature 24 bands this year, performing at the District Marketplace on Commerce. One of a very few all-ages music events in the city, ICT Fest is intentionally curated with very young, local bands as well as widely successful groups from all over the Midwest.

ICT Fest, which will take place on Sept. 2 and 3, spans the spectrum of music, featuring genres like hip-hop, punk, doom, experimental, indie, shoegaze, and everything in between.

Tickets are priced at $20 for the weekend, or $12 per day. Children ages 12 and under are admitted for free.

To see the festival lineup, click here. 

Catch Beehive the Musical at Roxy's Downtown this weekend! Offering a tribute to the iconic women in the music of the 1960's, this throwback show will have you dancing in the aisles! More of a jukebox than a show, you'll recognize hits from all you favorite female music artists from the decade!

You can catch the show at Roxy's Downtown, 412 E. Douglas, on Friday and Saturday night. The show will run from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $20-$30. Reservations can be made by phone at 316-265-4400.

Calling all Pokemon Trainers! If you're looking to up your Pokemon GO game, head to Tanganyika Wildlife Park's Poke-Palooza on September 2. The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and it's jam-packed with action! All of the park's Pokestops will have active lures for the duration of the event and epic team battles will be held. Work with you team to power up the gym before the fight, and give it your best shot! (Even though team Valor will win. They always do.)

That's okay, though, there are still plenty of chances for team Mystic and Instinct to win. The event also boasts a costume contest, so come dressed as your favorite Pokemon or trainer! Prizes will also be awarded for rarest catch, catch with the highest combat power, and the most catches! If that's not enough, there will also be prizes for a photo contest!

In addition to the virtual creatures you'll be catching, you can enjoy the company of real-life rare animals at Tanganyika! 

Admission is $20 per person, and team shirts will be available for $15. Tickets can be purchased online.

Find out what goes on after hours at the Sedgwick County Zoo by attending a Creature Campout! At this unique event, you can find out what animals stay awake when everyone else goes to sleep. The Creature Campout includes a dinner, an animal encounter, a guided tour, a bedtime snack and several other activities, but the fun doesn't stop at bedtime! In the morning, guests will receive a continental breakfast and a tram ride around the zoo! The theme this year is Green and Growing, so come ready to learn about all kinds of plants!

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, September 2 and runs until 9:30 a.m. the following morning. Be prepared to stay for the entire event, and be sure to bring your own sleeping bags and tents. All participants must be at least five years of age, and those under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Creature Camp Outs are $30 per person for members and $35 per person for nonmembers. Event t-shirts  will be available for $10 each. Space is limited, so register now. 

On Saturday, September 3, Chalk it Up 4 Charity at Towne West Mall! From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., come out and support Make-A-Wish Kansas by decorating a reserved space in the parking lot with chalk! Participants will be given an allotted amount of time to draw while they listen to tunes from a DJ. Big Apple Food Truck will be serving delicious treats. The event is free to attend, but donations are necessary to reserve a space to Chalk it Up! 

Chalk It Up 4 Charity is the first event of its kind at Towne West, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish Kansas to help makes wishes come true for kids battle life-threatening illnesses. Prizes awarded for various categories at the end of the event, so come out and chalk it up 4 charity!

Catch the Wichita Grand Opera's performance of Verdi's "Rigoletto" at Century II on September 3 from 7 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. "Rigoletto" is among the top ten most popular operas ever written, featuring heartbreaking drama, vivid characters, and irresistible melodies.

Rigoletto" is based on a controversial play by Victor Hugo, better known as the author of "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and "Les Misérables." Rigoletto is an outsider—a hunchbacked jester—trapped between his desire to be “normal” and his hatred of those who are. 

Ticket prices range from $37 to $85, and can be purchased by phone at (316) 262-8054 or online.

Celebrate the release of Morrison County's first-ever album release concert!

The group will perform at this weekend's Uncork the Music hosted be Wheat State Wine Co. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m. 

Tickets are priced at just $20 per carload, so fill your car with friends and head to Winfield to check it out!

Learn more here.

Start your Labor Day at Sedgwick County Park with the 5K Labor Run from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The family-friendly run/walk features medals for the top-time in  children, youth and adult groups. The run is open to all ages and will be professionally chip-timed. 

Admission is priced at $25 for children ages 6-12, $35 for aged13 and up, and children under the age of 6 are free. Please note that registration packets for children under 6 will not include t-shirts. 

Following the run, stick around for a pancake feed. This is included with paid registration and is available to non-registrants for $6.