Local Activities & Information
Wichita, Kansas: Where Midwest charm meets vibrant city life, offering endless adventures, cultural delights, and a warm welcome that will leave you wanting more. We invite you to explore Visit Wichita! It is your ultimate gateway to discovering the endless possibilities that await you in the vibrant city. Whether you're a food enthusiast, a caffeine aficionado, a night owl, or an adventure seeker, they have curated a comprehensive guide to Wichita's remarkable array of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and activities, ensuring that your visit will be nothing short of extraordinary.
Conference Activities
Wednesday, September 20
Meet & Greet Reception | 7:30-9:00 PM CT | Wichita Public Library - Advanced Learning Library
Catch up with your ARSL community, make new connections, and enjoy catered snacks and a no-host bar at our kickoff celebration!
Transportation Information:
The Welcome Reception is located just a 10-15 minute walk away at the Wichita Public Library's Advanced Learning Library. For those who need or would prefer to take a shuttle, there will be two shuttle buses available to transport conference attendees to and from the Welcome Reception. The shuttles will be running approximately every 15 minutes. One of the shuttles is ADA accessible.
Pick-up will be at the Hyatt Regency Wichita's east entrance. The first bus will depart at 7:15pm. The last bus will depart the Advanced Learning Library at 9:15pm.
Thursday, September 21
Dine-Arounds | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Experience the camaraderie and diverse culinary delights of our dine-arounds, where you can connect with fellow attendees over delicious meals and create lasting memories together.
EveryLibrary Party | 7:30-10:30pm CT
Join EveryLibrary for their Thursday Night ARSL Party again this year! Enjoy a fun night of games, networking, and seeing old and new friends at the Chicken N Pickle. This event will sell out so get your tickets now, which include an open bar, appetizers, and games. We look forward to seeing your pickleball skills in action!
Friday, September 22
ARSL Trivia Night Fundraiser | 7:00–9:00 pm CT
What’s the collective noun for a group of librarians having a great time? Join as at Trivia Night to flex your knowledge of all things trivial, win the admiration of your colleagues, and support the ARSL Scholarship Fund! Teams will be limited to 8 people. If you arrive in a small group or solo, we’ll join you up with a larger team. We'll play two games of three rounds each. Admittance is by donation, with a suggested minimum of $10.
Saturday, September 23
Author Fest | 1:00–3:00 pm CT
Celebrate the vibrant talent of authors from Kansas and beyond at our afternoon Author Fest! Meet your next favorite authors, hear readings, and purchase copies of books to get signed. Check out our exciting lineup of authors below!
Additional Conference Activities
Touring the Advanced Learning Library
Embark on a captivating library tour of the Wichita Public Library Advanced Learning Library with fellow attendees, where you'll delve into the world of knowledge and connect with others who appreciate the treasures of literature and learning.
Scheduled Tours, please meet at the West entrance for gathering:
- Wednesday, Sept 20 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. CT
- Thursday, Sept 21 from 6-7 p.m. CT
- Friday, Sept 22 from 5-6 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Sept 23 from 4-5 p.m. CT
Roxy's Downtown Golden Girls 2023, a Parody
Tom, Scott, Kyle, Monte and Christine are back for the 7th season of the show audiences can't get enough of. Join us for this lovely look at these four iconic characters as we parody what was THE GOLDEN GIRLS. Use the promo code, ROXYS35, for discounted tickets.
Museum Crawl
Join fellow attendees on an inspiring museum crawl, where you'll explore captivating art and history while forging meaningful connections with like-minded individuals who share your passion for culture and discovery.
Additionally, you can pick up an Explore Card at the Visit Wichita office (515 N. Main, suite 115) or simply pay full price at the first attraction you visit and receive an Explore Card good for a $2 discount for each ticket you purchase at participating attractions.
Non-Conference Activities
Our Local Arrangements Coordinators have identified some "extracurriculars" to add to your conference schedule. Wichita and the surrounding area offer a myriad of activities to connect with its rich history and culture.
Shopping Areas (in town)
- The Marketplace at Clifton Square
- Union Station District Venue
- Old Town District
Outdoor Activities (in town – Hiking, Biking, Birding, etc.)
- Keeper of the Plains
- Sedgwick County Zoo
- Tanganyika Wildlife Park
- Great Plains Nature Center
Indoor Activities (in town)
- Heritage Museum (Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum)
- Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
- Casinos CrossWinds
- Casinos Kansas Star
- Exploration Place Drone Show
- Thursday, September 21, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
- Friday, September 22, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
- Saturday, September 23, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Libraries
- Old Public Library
- Carnegie Library
Transit
Parking
Hyatt Regency Wichita offers garage self-parking for $2/hourly and $12/overnight. Valet parking for $16/day. Garage height clearance 7 feet.
Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview - Wichita offers on-site covered parking $10 per night.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Wichita Downtown offers complimentary on-site parking. Free parking on levels 2 or higher of WaterWalk Garage adjacent to hotel. Garage height clearance 7 feet 8 inches.
Wichita Shuttle Service: Q-Line
The Q-Line allows visitors and locals to explore downtown and enjoy FREE transportation to many of Wichita's popular districts and businesses in the city’s core. The service runs approximately every 15 minutes along Douglas Avenue.
Bike Share ICT
Grab your helmet and strap in to Wichita’s bike-sharing program. With more than 200 bicycles at 40 stations around Wichita, Bike Share ICT is a venture funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the Knight Foundation (through the Wichita Community Foundation), to promote health and easy access to the heart of the city. By using Tandem Mobility, a city bike provider, riders are able to find bicycle stations and cruisers at the touch of a finger, through the Movatic app.
Electric Scooters
Zip around downtown Wichita in style with the city's newest mode of transportation - electric scooters. With hundreds of scooters available for rent, visitors and locals now have another option for exploring the city's core.
Airports
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is just ten miles from Wichita Downtown and offers nonstop air service from more than 13 U.S. cities on seven major airlines: Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.
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