Fall in Kansas is a sight to see. It’s a beautiful and dynamic season characterized by cool, crisp weather and changing colors. It’s also a great time to experience fall festivals, and Wichita has more than 15 to choose from.

In Wichita, the Heart of the Country, fall is festival season. Starting in September, there are outdoor festivities for everyone. Family fun can be found at Kansas Railfest, Wichita Water Lantern Festival or the third annual Drone Light Festival at Exploration Place. Foodies and beer aficionados can dive into flavors at Orie's Garlic Fest, Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cookoff, Prairieland Beer and Music Festival, Oktoberfest at Prost, and more!

Save the dates for these annual Wichita fall festivals.

Zoobilee, Sept. 7

Food and beverage stations featuring restaurants from throughout the area plus a great cause make the annual Sedgwick County Zoo fundraiser Zoobilee one of the biggest charitable parties of the year in Wichita. This year’s event is Saturday, Sept. 7. Get your tickets early as it typically sells out.

Kansas Railfest, Sept. 7

The Kansas Railfest, organized by the Great Plains Transportation Museum, gives attendees the chance to learn about the history of trains and the railroad in Wichita. The festival, held at the museum, features food, local musicians and activities such as a scavenger hunt. Train rides will be available for an additional $5 per person.

Orie's Garlic Fest, Sept. 8

The only festival of its kind in the region, Orie’s Garlic Fest brings herb lovers together for a unique celebration of all things garlic. The annual food and art festival includes samples, tastings and workshops, as well as family-friendly fun, food and shopping opportunities. It will happen on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Brickyard.

ICT Fest, Sept. 12-14

Expect local, regional and national artists at this three-day, no genre restriction, no age restriction celebration of music at various music venues in Wichita. Mark your calendars for Sept. 12-14 for ICT Fest and plan to see acts such as Tunic, Marrice Anthony, Keo & Them and Lorelei.

Autumn & Art, Sept. 13-15

Celebrate creativity at Kansas’ premier boutique alfresco fine art show. Autumn & Art at Bradley Fair is purposely limited to no more than 100 invited artists from around the country, who show and sell their works in a variety of media—painting, photography, jewelry, sculpture and more. This is the 14th year for the free, alfresco fine art show. There’s also live art demonstrations and art-themed activities for children throughout the event, Sept. 13-15.

Crave Culinary Festival, Sept. 17-21

This five-day festival features an artistic fusion of food and friends benefiting Mark Arts. A variety of culinary and libation evening workshops featuring local and national culinary experts happen from Tuesday, Sept. 17 through Friday, Sept. 20.

The festival then culminates on Saturday, Sept. 21 with a Foodie Fair where guests can sample food from Wichita chefs and restaurants, plus vote for their favorite. Each event during the Crave Culinary Festival has a separate ticket and tickets are on sale now.

ICT Yoga Fest, Sept. 20-21

This two-day indoor/outdoor festival is packed with classes, workshops and activities representing different styles of yoga and movement taught by teachers from throughout the region. ICT Yoga Fest is Sept. 20-21 inside and around the Wichita Boathouse.

Latin Fest ICT, Sept. 21

The annual Latin Fest ICT is Saturday, Sept. 21 in Old Town Square. Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the culture and traditions from Central/South America, Mexico and the Latin Caribbean. There will be live dance and music performances, presentations and exhibitions, games, a car show and a variety of authentic cuisine and merchandise. Bring a lawn chair for this free outdoor event.

Drone Light Festival, Sept. 20-22

This is one of Wichita’s coolest festivals, with 300 synchronized drones, floating Chinese water lanterns, projections on the buildings, a concert lit by more than 2,000 candles plus plenty to do before the sun goes down.

Start by enjoying the exhibits inside Exploration Place, food trucks and activity booths before the drone show. Then at dark, you’ll be gazing into the beautiful Kansas sky in downtown Wichita watching hundreds of choreographed drones creating formations. The Drone Light Festival happens Friday through Sunday, Sept. 20-22. As a special bonus for 2024, this event marks the grand opening of the new Wichita Foundation Amphitheater and an all-new event plaza at Exploration Place. 

Prost’s Oktoberfest, Sept. 26-28

Wichita’s German restaurant Prost is throwing its authentic, family-friendly Oktoberfest from Thursday, Sept. 26 through Saturday, Sept. 28 at its urban biergarten at the Revolutsia development. Expect imported German beers on tap, polka music, a special festival food menu, fun contests like a stein hoisting contest, kids activities and more from Prost’s owners, who have attended Oktoberfest in Germany several times.

Wagonmaster’s Downtown Chili Cookoff, Sept. 28

Get your tasting kit and sample the best chili in the Midwest at the Wagonmaster's Downtown Chili Cookoff on Sept. 28. The event takes up several downtown blocks with nearly 80 teams of chili makers, live music and silly contests.

Prairieland Beer and Music Fest, Sept. 28

Celebrate brews, music and fun in Wichita at the Prairieland Beer and Music Festival, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Hyde Park across from Central Standard Brewing. Attendees can sample more than 100 beers from 40+ breweries while listening to live music. Proceeds benefit a local animal rescue group.

Great Plains Renaissance & Scottish Festival, Sept. 28-29

Held biannually, the fall Great Plains Renaissance & Scottish Festival happens Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-29 at Sedgwick County Park with a full royal court. There will be jousts and jests, knights and knaves, bagpipes and blacksmiths, fire breathers, fairies, the Scottish Highland games and more.

Open Streets ICT, Oct. 13

Open Streets ICT started in 2017 as an annual fall event along Douglas Avenue in Wichita. It has grown into a biannual occasion with the addition of a spring event at the Nomar Market. The fall 2023 event is Sunday, Oct. 13, and participants are encouraged to bike, walk, or run while experiencing live music and dancing, entertainment, art, food, yoga, and more through local businesses and activity hubs set up along Douglas Avenue. For this event, the street is closed to vehicle traffic on a 4-mile stretch from College Hill to the Historic Delano District.

ICT Bloktoberfest, Oct. 11-12

The family-friendly, free ICT Bloktoberfest is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11-12 at Naftzger Park. This Wichita block party with a traditional Oktoberfest flair features music, food, beer, games and entertaining contests from the Wiener Dog Olympics to the stein hoist.

Wichita Asian Festival, Oct. 12

The 43rd annual Wichita Asian Festival brings authentic food from as many as 15 Asian countries under one roof. The event also offers multiple cultural stage performances, art vendors and the Miss Wichita Asian Festival Scholarship Pageant. The annual event is Oct. 12 at Century II and is organized by the Wichita Asian Association.

Prairie Fire Fall Marathon, Oct. 13

The Prairie Fire Race Series offers spring and fall races on flat, fast courses through the heart of Wichita. The Fall 2024 Prairie Fire Event is Sunday, Oct. 13 and offers a marathon (Boston Marathon qualifier), half marathon, 5K and Family 5K.

Tallgrass Film Festival, Oct. 24-27

Wichita’s annual film festival has long been considered among the best for filmmakers. In 2023, it made the list of the top 25 coolest film festivals in the world to attend, according to MovieMaker Magazine. In 2024, the publication named it one of 50 film festivals worth the entry fee in 2024. The 22^nd annual Tallgrass Film Festival runs from Oct. 24-27 at various locations, mostly in downtown Wichita. Expect short and feature films from around the world, filmmaker labs, roundtables, VIP receptions, gala parties and more.

Check out all of Wichita's fall festivals and events and head to our calendar of events for more fall fun in Wichita.