Summer Staycation

Summer is fast approaching and with that, many are excited for a well-deserved break from school. People are now busy planning vacations, and looking for activities and events to fill up the long days. Wichita offers many different activities, festivals and concerts during the summer holidays that are fun to attend with friends and family.
From May 30 through June 7, one of the biggest outdoor parties, called Riverfest, will be coming to downtown Wichita. Wearing a Riverfest button gets you access to many activities. Music, food trucks, pop-up shops, competitions and fireworks are all key parts of Riverfest. The concert lineup for this year includes rock bands like Everclear and Marcy Playground. It also features some rap and country artists like Flo Rida and Chris Janson. Riverfest is one of the most popular and widely enjoyed festivals in Wichita.
“Riverfest is definitely an unusual event Wichita puts on but it can also be very fun,” said freshman Ella Stuhlsatz, who has been to Riverfest many times. “When I was younger my mom took me to see Elle King, because she was my favorite artist at the time, and I had a wonderful time.”
More concerts will be performed during the Summer Smash Music Festival, which is held at the Cotillion on June 15. Hosted by Peter Dante, and featuring Rehab, Mickey Avalone and others, the music festival is expected to be a hit. The Cotillion is also hosting the Wicked City Roller Derby vs. South Central Roller Girls on July 12, which will be attended by many people of all ages.
Baseball fans will gather in Wichita on May 13, when The Wind Surge play the Arkansas Travelers. The Wichita Wind Surge is a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League, and the game takes place at Equity Bank Park. Many more games will be played throughout the summer. Tickets can cost anywhere from $11 to $75 depending on where the seat is.
Food trucks, music, lantern decorating and watching hundreds of gleaming lanterns lighting, make the Water Lantern Festival unforgettable. It is a one-day festival, taking place on Aug. 16, where people have the chance to send a lit lantern to light up the water in O.J. Watson Park. In addition, the staff will make sure to pick up the lanterns at the end, and any other trash in, or near, the water. The Water Lantern Festival is not only a beautiful tradition that helps celebrate Asian cultures, but it is also eco-friendly.
Training in the summer is important if someone is looking to improve in a sport. Kapaun Mt. Carmel also offers many summer camps including, basketball, cross country, science, football, soccer, track, volleyball, weights and wrestling. Participating in one of these camps can help students stay conditioned in the summer months, and help them meet new people before the school year starts.
“I started coaching cross country in 2018,” coach Gage Garcia said. “It is a lifelong sport that pushes you to be your best. We run all over Wichita. Summer conditioning gives athletes the base and resilience they need to later build speed and more targeted endurance which in turn leads them to running fast.”
Another way to meet people is attending a summer camp like Prayer and Action (PANDA). Teenagers from many Wichita parishes will meet in Winfield for Prayer and Action Camp. Hosted by the Diocese of Wichita, PANDA is one of the most popular annual summer camps. It is a religious camp that lasts one week, and helps many grow closer to God and friends through acts of service.
“PANDA was an extremely fun way to spend a week of my summer,” sophomore Isaac Klausmeyer said. “During the week I met many new people from all across Kansas and made many new great friends. It’s a great way to grow in your faith life, meet new people, and have a lot of fun.”
In addition to all the events that Wichita provides, there are other ways to combat boredom during the summer months. For example, getting a summer job, volunteering or exploring new places, can be fun ways to fill up the summer.