If you are attending an event in downtown Wichita, such as the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds, we’ve put together a list of five experiences you can’t miss, all within walking distance (or a short ride on the free Q-Line) of INTRUST Bank Arena. We want to make sure you don’t miss any of the action inside or outside of the arena.
Eat, drink and have fun
Our downtown eateries serve tasty food but if you’re looking for a different type of cuisine, you’ll find everything from local sandwich shops to fine dining among the hundreds of restaurants in the downtown Wichita area.
Check out a few popular eateries within walking distance from the arena: Solly & Jude’s, Tor Brewing, Doo-Dah Diner, The Depot, Old Mill Tasty Shop, Homegrown Wichita, The Kitchen, The Envision Bistro at NICHE, Lotte, Station 8 BBQ, Public, Emerson Biggins Old Town or Nortons Brewing Co.
Shop ‘til you drop
Hop on the Q-Line and discover works of art, bath and body products, clothing, jewelry, home décor, antiques, snacks, and Wichita souvenirs. You’ll find shops like The Workroom and GROW Plant Bar within just blocks of the arena, plus many more in nearby Old Town Wichita, Historic Delano and Douglas Design District. Click here to find more unique shops.
Peruse art
Just a couple blocks north of the arena, in the heart of downtown, you’ll find Gallery XII, Wichita's longest running artists’ cooperative art gallery. You can also find Gallery Alley and Envision Art Gallery within walking distance.
Along the Arkansas River, you’ll want to explore the Wichita Art Museum—the state’s largest art museum devoted to American art—and indigenous art at the Mid-America All-Indian Museum, including the largest collection of Blackbear Bosin paintings.
As you explore downtown Wichita, you’ll notice many businesses are adorned with murals representing ICT pride. You’ll certainly see the Wichita flag while here and can recognize the symbol painted on storefronts, sides of buildings, billboards, trash cans, overpasses, and other random places throughout the city.
Wichita is a pipeline of creativity and expression. Take the family on a Public Art Tour, exploring the different kinds of free art exhibitions popping up around Wichita. From 30-plus bronze sculptures along Douglas Avenue to dozens of murals and paintings throughout downtown.
Explore museums
Wichita has more than 30 museums and many are close to the arena. Depending on your interests, you might be interested in: Great Plains Transportation Museum, Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, The Kansas African American Museum, Museum of World Treasures, or any of the six Museums on the River, which cover art, culture, gardens, history, and science.
See the Keeper of the Plains
People come from all over the world to see the Keeper of the Plains. This five-ton, 44-foot-tall steel sculpture is the most recognizable landmark in Wichita and is one of the region’s most photographed pieces of public art. It symbolizes inclusiveness as it brings together locals and visitors from all walks of life to marvel at its rich history and beauty.
The majestic work by Native American artist Blackbear Bosin (1921-1980) stands in downtown Wichita, where the Big and Little Arkansas rivers join. It is common for crowds to gather near the Keeper during its nightly Ring of Fire ceremony, watching as five fire drums illuminate the statue and the water below. The firepots, known as the “Ring of Fire” when lit, happen each night (7 p.m. during Standard Time). If the winds are calm, the firepots are lit for 15 minutes.
Download our most recent visitor’s guide for even more inspiration for visiting the Heart of the Country. To find answers to your NCAA questions, or to read more blogs about things to do while in downtown Wichita, check out our Fan Central guide.
