What not to miss at the 2024 Wichita Women’s Fair

Amy Geiszler-Jones
·3 min read

You can find several other things to do — if shopping isn’t your bag — during the annual Wichita Women’s Fair being held Friday through Sunday, April 26-28, at Century II in downtown Wichita.

Now in its 26th year, the fair will feature cooking demos, spirits sampling, runway shows, a parade of pups, and concerts, including one featuring a Kansas contestant from “The Voice,” in addition to the more than 300 vendors and exhibitors selling clothing, accessories, home décor, gourmet foods, culinary gadgets and a variety of services.

The Wichita Women’s Fair hours are noon-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The first 100 individuals through the doors on Friday and Saturday will receive travel-sized skincare products from Imbue Aesthetics and Wellness. Tickets, available through Select-A-Seat, are $12 for ages 13- 64, $11 for ages 65 and up, $8 for ages 7-12, and free for those 6 and younger. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are $10 each.

With input from show co-owner Sari Schrepferman, here are five things to not miss during the Wichita Women’s Fair.

  • A Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday. The party’s cooking demo will feature Michael Cochran, Century II’s executive sous chef, making braised short ribs, and a parsnip and potato puree served with roasted rainbow carrots for partygoers to sample. Cocktail samples will include a sweet Kansas peach cocktail and the latest flavor-infused vodkas from Greatness Vodka, which is based in Wichita. A concert by the Emerald City Chorus and members of the Sweet Adelines follows the party at 8 p.m.

  • Cooking demos by other select Wichita chefs. Executive chef Salvador with ASM Global, who oversees the culinary operations at Intrust Arena and Century II, will prepare and serve pan-seared chicken breast, mint and asparagus salads, roasted radishes and baby potatoes with brown butter, chili and honey, along with a signature cocktail, at 2 p.m. on Saturday. At noon on Sunday, Chefs Luis Pena and Scott Peggie, along with culinary students from the Redler Institute of Culinary Arts at Butler Community College, will make pork belly bao buns.

  • An acoustic set by rising country star Savanna Chestnut at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27. From Valley Falls in the Kansas Flint Hills, Chestnut was mentored by Blake Shelton on season 20 of “The Voice” competition show. She got her start singing in her grandparents’ karaoke bar and has gone on to win multiple songwriting contests.

  • If you missed sampling Greatness Vodka at the Friday Happy Hour, company CEO Troy Brooks will offer a mixology session at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 27, featuring drinks like “Shooting Star,” made with Greatness’ strawberry-pineapple-infused vodka and lemonade, and a peach tea cocktail made with Greatness’ peach-cherry vodka, some peach schnaps, sours and a lemon-lime soda.

  • A parade of adoptable pups from the Beauty & Beasts rescue will take to the catwalk in canine couture from show vendor Pups Got Style. KFDI radio on-air talent Bobby Knight will host the show. Beauty & Beasts will take applications from those interested in adopting the dogs.

A complete listing of vendors and events can be found at womensfair.com.

For folks who really like shopping experiences, Schrepferman and her business partner Kathleen Yeoman, who own the Wichita Women’s Fair, will offer a weekend shopping event at Century II in early December.

Wichita Women’s Fair

Where: Century II Expo Hall, 225 W. Douglas. Free parking and shuttle rides available from the former Gander Mountain parking lot, 600 S. Water.

When: Friday-Sunday, April 26-28; hours are noon-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission: $12 for ages 13- 64, $11 for ages 65 and up, $8 for ages 7-12, and free for those 6 and younger. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are $10 each. Available through Select-A-Seat, selectaseat.com/wf2024

More info: womensfair.com