We are excited to welcome TBEX Summit America 2025 to Wichita, the Heart of the Country, in October. If you’re planning on arriving a little early or staying a few days after the conference, you’re in for a fall festival extravaganza! Here are the must-attend events to add to your itinerary:
Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cookoff – Sept. 27
For more than three decades, the Wagonmasters have hosted this can’t-miss fall tradition in downtown Wichita, bringing together dozens of chili teams from Kansas and beyond to compete for glory. Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cookoff is a delicious dive into Wichita’s vibrant fall culture and is great for food lovers, families and anyone who wants to taste the community spirit – spicy or mild! Plus, every penny raised goes to local nonprofit organizations.
Great Plains Renaissance Festival – Sept. 27–28
Step into the past at the Great Plains Renaissance & Scottish Festival, Wichita’s twice-yearly voyage into medieval merriment, where knights clash in jousts, falconers showcase birds of prey and pipers and dragons delight the crowd. Expect immersive fun like throw-your-axe games, pirate and unicorn meet-and-greets, belly-dancing, fire-breathing shows and more. With 70-plus artisan and food vendors dishing up turkey legs, mead, handmade wares, chain mail demos, plus cosplay contests and a Kansas Authors’ Pavilion, it’s a weekend of historic energy and entertainment.
44th Annual Wichita Asian Festival – Sept. 27
Dive into a rich mix of Asian cultures with traditional dances, crafts, shopping and a range of authentic cuisines – from Thai boba teas to Filipino lumpia, dumplings, banh mi and beyond – at the Wichita Asian Festival. Drawing over 10,000 attendees annually, it’s a celebration of Asian heritage featuring 15-plus live cultural performances, a youth pageant showcasing multiple ethnic backgrounds and more than 40 food and craft vendors that bring the flavors and traditions of Asia to Wichita.
Open Streets ICT – Sept. 28
Open Streets ICT is Wichita’s large-scale, free street festival that temporarily closes busy thoroughfares in distinct neighborhoods several times a year to motor vehicles, transforming them into vibrant public spaces. In the fall, you can stroll, bike, skate, run or roll down Wichita’s popular Douglas Avenue, where there will be activity hubs featuring fitness classes, art projects, live music, dance, family games, food and vendor booths.
Oktoberfest at Prost – Oct. 2-4
Experience authentic Bavarian fun at Oktoberfest at Prost: traditional German beers, bratwursts, dances, live music and games like wiener toss, costume contests, and prize-filled activities for all ages at Prost, Wichita’s beloved urban biergärten, serving scratch-made German classics alongside imported lagers brewed under the 1516 Reinheitsgebot purity law. Prost’s team dons lederhosen and dirndls, adding into the immersive German atmosphere.
Drone Light Festival – Oct. 3-5
The Drone Light Festival in Wichita is a mesmerizing multimedia event at Exploration Place that brings together drone artistry, tranquil water lantern releases, candlelit musical performances, local food trucks, live STEM demonstrations and music-choreographed shows—all set against the iconic Keeper of the Plains backdrop. Turn your eyes to the sky to witness 300+ synchronized drones create stunning formations in the night sky above the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita. This one is during the time TBEX Summit America is in Wichita so, there’s a good chance you won’t miss this one!
ICT Bloktoberfest – Oct. 10–11
ICT Bloktoberfest is a spirited celebration of community, German-inspired flavor and good times – whether you come for the beer, the contests or the lively street-party atmosphere. Enjoy a massive beer garden with 100+ local, regional and German-style beers, stein-holding contests and tap trucks. Free Saturday festivities include live music, Wiener dog races, dad-bod contests, axe-throwing, yard games and a bustling local vendor market.
Ongoing fall vibes
Don’t miss Wichita’s autumn charm with scenic places to capture fall colors, public concerts like Twilight Tunes on the Terrace at Botanica Wichita and seasonal art markets and pop-ups throughout the city.
Insider tips
- RSVP or buy tickets in advance for events like Oktoberfest and the Renaissance Festival.
- Plan for Kansas weather. Layers, a sweater and rain gear are recommended.
- Book early, as fall weekends fill up fast with these popular events.
Whatever your flavor – beer, Jägerschnitzel, medieval battles, chili or cultural celebrations – this fall in Wichita has something special waiting for you. Plan a little extra time to take in this festive season in the Heart of the Country when you are planning for TBEX Summit America 2025. We can’t wait to welcome you!
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