Ulrich celebrates 50 years of art 

The Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University kicked off its 50th anniversary with an exhibition featuring its world-class outdoor sculpture collection. Fully Dimensional: Artists of the Outdoor Sculpture Collection, Jan. 25-June 15, celebrates artists of the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection and their larger bodies of work.

Featuring over 90 pieces, the exhibition combines selections from the Ulrich permanent collection and special works on loan. The WSU outdoor collection includes works by such notable artists as Henry Moore, Louise Nevelson, Robert Indiana, Joan Miró, Fernando Botero and Andy Goldsworthy. 

For more info on the exhibition or the outdoor collection, visit ulrich.wichita.edu.

Kansas fall festivals offer tons of fun

In addition to corn mazes and pumpkin patches, Kansas is brimming with a wide range of festivals for fall 2023. Click on Calendar Highlights for even more ideas.

A September highlight for thousands of attendees is the Walnut Valley Festival at the fairgrounds in Winfield. The 51st festival, this year on Sept. 13-17, features five stages of live music, international flat-picking contests, crafts and food. 

Every other year, Lindsborg pulls out all the stops to honor its Swedish heritage with two days of traditional foods, dancing, music and crafts. A biennial event since 1941, the 2023 Svensk Hyllningsfest is Oct. 13-14. 

For more than a century, Independence has celebrated Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards). The festival was started in 1919 to keep kids out of mischief. The Oct. 20-28 event features parades, a carnival, coronation, arts and crafts fair, bandstand entertainment and food vendors.  

Curtain up on 2023 MTW season 

The 2023 season starts with “Rock of Ages,” May 31-June 4, the story of a Kansas girl seeking fame in Los Angeles. The outdoor extravaganza “Red White and Broadway,” July 1-4, combines Broadway tunes with patriotic songs and a fireworks finale. 

Disney’s beloved “Beauty and the Beast” takes the stage at Century II July 26-30. A special kids’ matinee is planned for July 27. “Ragtime,” a sweeping musical portrait of the early 20th century is Aug. 16-20. The season culminates with “Cats” Sept. 6-10.  

Single tickets go on sale in April. For info, go to mtwichita.org

Exploration Place hosts dinosaurs, circus

Wichita’s Exploration Place has turned back the clock 66 million years for Expedition: Dinosaur, which will invite visitors to walk among life-sized animatronic dinosaurs until May 7. A new live science show complements the exhibit. 

Circus! Science Under the Big Top will be in Wichita May 26-Sept. 4. The traveling exhibit reveals the science behind the circus through interactive exhibits, such as walking on a high wire. 

For hours and details, visit exploration.org.