Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the United States military. To observe this holiday, Americans hold family gatherings and barbecues and participate in memorial celebrations and parades. The weekend is sure to be a good time in the heart of the country, thanks to exciting events, a variety of museums and attractions and tons of great food to be found.

Find inspiration below for Memorial Day activities in Wichita.

Kids play on a large play structure at Sedgwick County Park in Wichita on a clear day

Get Together

Memorial Day can be considered the unofficial start of summer – the kids are out of school, grown-ups are ready for a three-day weekend away from work and everyone is itching to get outside and enjoy the early summer sun. What you’re cooking matters, but so does what you’re cooking with. Get great ingredients at places like The Spice Merchant and The Douglas Avenue Chop Shop, connected to The Anchor. Area farmers markets including Kansas Grown Farmers Market and Old Town Farm and Market are also great options for finding local goods.

Of course, you don’t have to do all the cooking yourself. Most Wichita barbecue joints cater holidays and parties, including local favorites Bite Me BBQ, Delano Barbeque Co., B&C Barbeque and Station 8 BBQ. Find the best barbeque in Wichita.

Depending on the size of your guest list, a backyard cookout might not be in the cards. Luckily, Wichita is home to beautiful and spacious parks perfect for get-togethers with family and friends. Sedgwick County Park features several shelters – open and enclosed – and charcoal grills for rent. While the burgers are on the grill, family and friends can enjoy the park’s fishing docks, playgrounds and courts.

Find the best Wichita park for your Memorial Day weekend.

Exploration Place DBF

Explore Attractions

Putting a Memorial Day barbecue together might not be in your party plans. There are plenty of Wichita-area attractions, museums and restaurants to help you find things to do on Memorial Day weekend. Plus, many museums like Exploration Place are a part of the Blue Star Museum program, in which military members and their family members may visit the museum free of charge. Other Blue Star Museums in Wichita include Botanica Wichita where a concert will take place on Memorial Day, Old Cowtown Museum, the Wichita Art Museum and the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum.

Additionally, many Wichita area water parks, pools and splash parks like the one at Tanganyika Wildlife Park will be opening for the summer season over Memorial Day weekend.

 

Make sure to visit Wichita’s Veterans' Memorial Park. This 4.5-acre riverfront park sits between downtown Wichita and the Historic Delano District, near the Keeper of the Plains Plaza and the Museums on the River. The park is a great place to visit on Memorial Day and year-round.

If dining out is top of mind, take a look at the many restaurants in Wichita offering American cuisine. From burgers and fries to scrumptious barbecue, Wichita is overflowing with tasty options! Find the best Wichita eateries in Wichita or find a refreshing beverage with this list.

Wind Surge Baseball Game at Riverfront Stadium

America’s Favorite Pastime

End your weekend festivities enjoying an American pastime – and a hotdog cooked on someone else’s grill – with the Wichita Wind Surge. Although the Surge have away games throughout Memorial Day weekend, they do start a six-game home series against the Frisco RoughRiders on Tuesday, May 31.

For a list of events you can expect when you spend your Memorial Day Weekend in Wichita this year, head to our calendar of events and go here for a complete list of events happening in Wichita.