Nearly 20 participating attractions and experiences make Wichita one of the easiest places to use the state’s popular summer program Wichita - Kansas families looking to make the most of the 2026 Sunflower Summer program will find one of the state’s largest collections of participating attractions and experiences in Wichita. Sunflower Summer is designed to help Kansas families explore the state through free admission to museums, zoos, historical attractions and other destinations.
From July 9 through Aug. 2, the Sunflower Summer program gives Kansas students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade free admission to more than 200 participating attractions across the state. Eligible students attending public, private and faithbased schools, as well as home-schooled students, can participate, and one accompanying adult also receives free admission. In Wichita and the surrounding area, nearly 20 participating attractions make it easy for families to turn a day trip or weekend getaway into a memorable summer adventure.
“One of the things that makes Wichita so special during Sunflower Summer is the incredible variety of experiences families can enjoy,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita. “With nearly 20 participating attractions in the area, visitors can build an adventure that’s uniquely their own – from meeting four baby African elephants at the zoo to exploring aviation history, discovering hands-on science and catching a Music Theatre Wichita performance.”
From aviation, art and science to wildlife, history and hands-on educational experiences, Wichita offers one of Kansas’ largest collections of Sunflower Summer attractions. Tickets are accessed through the free Sunflower Summer mobile app and may be used once per attraction during the season, making it easy for families to build their own itinerary.
The nearly 20 participating attractions in the Wichita area include Botanica Wichita, CityArts, Derby Historical Museum, Exploration Place, Field Station: Dinosaurs, Great Plains Transportation Museum, The Kansas African American Museum, Kansas Aviation Museum, Mark Arts, Mid-America All-Indian Museum, Museum of World Treasures, Music Theatre Wichita, Old Cowtown Museum, PBS Kansas Cochener- Garvey Children’s Education & Discovery Center, Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum and the Wichita Wind Surge.
Families are also encouraged to take advantage of special limited-time Sunflower Summer opportunities, including Music Theatre Wichita’s production of “Elf the Musical” on July 11 and 12 and a free Wichita Wind Surge game on July 12.
For many Kansas families, Sunflower Summer is also an opportunity to rediscover Wichita.
