Featured Events in Wichita in June, 2025 (May Updated)

About the BookFrom the celebrated author of Blankets and Habibi comes a new graphic memoir exploring the class divide, childhood labor, family, and our globalized world—all centered on Wisconsin's ginseng farming industry. “A sweeping story, gorgeously drawn and beautifully told — this is Craig Thompson’s masterpiece.” —Joe Sacco, author of Palestine and Paying the Land When Blankets first published in 2003, Craig Thompson's seminal memoir about first love and faith lost in rural Wisconsin debuted to rapturous acclaim. The winner of two Eisner and three Harvey Awards, it is to this day considered one of the all-time great works of graphic storytelling. Now, in Craig's long-awaited return to the autobiographical form, comes the story that Blankets left out. Ginseng Roots follows Craig and his siblings, who spent the summers of their youth weeding and harvesting rows of coveted American ginseng on rural Wisconsin farms for one dollar an hour. In his trademark breathtaking pen-and-ink work, Craig interweaves this lost youth with the 300-year-old history of the global ginseng trade and the many lives it has tied together—from ginseng hunters in ancient China, to industrial farmers and migrant harvesters in the American Midwest, to his own family still grappling with the aftershocks of the bitter past. Stretching from Marathon, Wisconsin, to Northeast China, Ginseng Roots charts the rise of industrial agriculture, the decline of American labor, and the search for a sense of home in a rapidly changing world. About the AuthorCRAIG THOMPSON is a cartoonist and the author of the award-winning books Blankets, Carnet de Voyage, Good-bye Chunky Rice, and Habibi. He was born in Michigan in 1975 and grew up in a rural farming community in central Wisconsin. His graphic novel Blankets has won numerous awards, including the Eisner, Harvey and Ignatz Awards, and has been published in nearly twenty languages. He lives in Portland, Oregon. About DevinDevin Dodson works in higher education as an Instructional Designer and part-time English Literature instructor. A Midwesterner through-and-through, Devin has spent his entire life between Nebraska and Kansas. He and his family live on a small farm outside Walton, Kansas, where his four kids and two dogs love romping through the fields and trees. His deep love of storytelling transcends format and includes novels, graphic novels, podcasts, radio programs, and more. Information Source: Watermark Books & Café | eventbrite

About the BookAn arrest for cocaine possession on the last day of a sweltering New York summer leaves Smith, a queer Black Stanford graduate, in a state of turmoil. Pulled into the court system and mandated treatment, he finds himself in an absurd but dangerous situation: his class protects him, but his race does not. It’s just weeks after the death of his beloved roommate Elle, the daughter of a famous soul singer, and he’s still reeling from the tabloid spectacle—as well as lingering questions around how well he really knew his closest friend. He flees to his hometown of Atlanta, only to buckle under the weight of expectations from his family of doctors and lawyers and their history in America. But when Smith returns to New York, it’s not long before he begins to lose himself to his old life—drawn back into the city’s underworld, where his search for answers may end up costing him his freedom and his future. Smith goes on a dizzying journey through the nightlife circuit, anonymous recovery rooms, Atlanta’s Black society set, police investigations and courtroom dramas, and a circle of friends coming of age in a new era. Great Black Hope is a propulsive, glittering story about what it means to exist between worlds, to be upwardly mobile yet spiraling downward, and how to find a way back to hope. About the AuthorBorn and raised in Atlanta, Rob Franklin is a writer of fiction and poetry, and a cofounder of Art for Black Lives. A Kimbilio Fiction Fellow and finalist for the New England Review Emerging Writer Award, he has published work in New England Review, Prairie Schooner, and The Rumpus among others. Franklin lives in Brooklyn, New York, and teaches writing at the School of Visual Arts. Great Black Hope is his first novel. Information Source: Watermark Books & Café | eventbrite

Our Summer Academy is five days of non-stop entertainment and learning that kids will love. This program includes all of the components that make up the great game of golf. From chipping, putting and full swing, to the rules and etiquette, kids will learn everything they need to know to improve their game. Each Academy is taught in a fun, relaxed atmosphere and is staffed with a low student-to-instructor ratio to ensure each Junior Golfer receives in-depth, hands-on attention while he or she develops a winning golf swing. WEEKLY SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday8:30 to 9:00 a.m. - Child drop off9:00 a.m. - Academy begins11:00 to 11:30 a.m. - Lunch12:00 p.m. - Child pick up$199 PER CHILD | ONE REGISTRATION INCLUDES: Entry to the AcademyTopgolf Game Play and Golf InstructionLunchTopgolf GiftsCertificate of CompletionDAILY MEALS Monday: Chicken bites & french friesTuesday: Cheesburger & grapesWednesday: Grilled cheese & friesThursday: Mini-corn dogs & grapesFriday: Chicken bites & friesAGE LIMIT: This program is designed for children between the ages of 6-12 years old. ATTIRE: Please have your child dressed in comfortable apparel based on the weather conditions. Children should have appropriate footwear, such as tennis shoes (no golf spikes, please). Golf clubs will be provided on site, but children are welcome to bring their own. For more information regarding our Summer Academy health and safety measures, please visit https://topgolf.com/summeracademy. Cancellations requested through 'Contact the Organizer' are required 48 hours prior to the Summer Academy start date to receive a refund. Information Source: Topgolf Wichita | eventbrite

Experience the unforgettable Blackberry Smoke: Rattle, Ramble and Roll Tour 2025 in Wichita at TempleLive Wichita on June 26, 2025. Immerse yourself in the soulful sounds of the band as they take the stage at 332 E 1st St N, KS, 67202. Don't miss out on this remarkable musical journey.

Pre Registration prices will end at midnight on 6/19/2023  Registration Hours Friday  Pre-Registration opens at 1 p.m., At the door Registration opens at 3 p.m. Both close at 8 p.m. Saturday  9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sunday  9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Event Hours Friday  5 – ? p.m. Saturday  10 a.m. – ? p.m. Sunday  10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Visit our website at: afwcon.org Information Source: Wolfmoon Productions, LLC | eventbrite