Latest news with #SunflowerSummer
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Enjoy free entry to 230+ Kansas attractions with Sunflower Summer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The 2025 Sunflower Summer program has begun, and Kansas Tourism is inviting families to the state for a season full of fun. The Sunflower Summer program, designed specifically for Kansas students and their families, provides free admission to over 230 attractions. The season begins on Saturday, July 12, and ends on Sunday, Aug. 3. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Participating attractions include museums, discovery centers, historic sites, arboretums, zoos and more. Click here for a full list of attractions for Sunflower Summer. 'Sunflower Summer is more than just a fun family outing – it's an investment in our future,' Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. 'By giving Kansas students the opportunity to experience the rich history, culture and natural beauty of our state, we're helping the next generation fall in love with Kansas. At the same time, this program drives real economic impact to our communities by supporting local attractions and generating increased visitor spending.' All Kansas school-aged children, from pre-K through 12th grade, including students in public, private, or homeschooling programs, are eligible for the Sunflower Summer program. The program covers admission costs for eligible students and one adult guardian per attraction. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Tickets can be claimed through the free Sunflower Summer app and redeemed at the venue upon arrival. You can download the Sunflower Summer app at the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kansas families can visit attractions for free with Sunflower Summer. What to know.
Billed by Kansas Tourism as a 'get out of the house free card,' Sunflower Summer — the program that has given thousands of Kansas families free access to attractions across the state during summer break since 2021 — is finally kicking off this month. More than 230 attractions statewide — ranging from museums, galleries, zoos and state parks to theater productions — are participating in this year's Sunflower Summer, which has a shorter season this year. The program kicks off on July 12 and runs through Aug. 3. To take advantage of the free admissions, Kansas families simply download the Sunflower Summer mobile app, available through Apple and Google Play stores, create an account and claim free attraction tickets for Kansas students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Once the ticket is scanned at the attraction, it can't be used again. Some participating attractions already offer free admission. Several of Kansas' most visited attractions are participating, including the Sedgwick County Zoo, which has a trio of new baby elephants; Botanica, which has a special summertime outdoor glass-and-steel sculpture exhibition; the Kansas Cosmosphere and Strataca in Hutchinson; the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene; and two museums dedicated to aviator Amelia Earhart in Atchison. There are some limited-time opportunities, as well, including tickets for the July 13 Wichita Wind Surge baseball game against the San Antonio Missions and tickets for this month's performances of 'The Music Man' in Kansas' longest-running outdoor theater located in Lindsborg. This year's shorter Sunflower Summer run is due to funding cuts by the Kansas Legislature. Last year, the Kansas Department of Commerce and its Kansas Tourism program spent $6 million on the program. Advocates, like Exploration Place CEO and president Adam Smith and officials from other attractions, were hoping for similar funding this year. The Legislature, however, provided $3 million. Another program change directed by the Legislature: Only one adult admission per attraction will be covered. In the past, the program covered two adult admissions at each attraction. Still, program officials think this year's shorter season will drive similar participation and economic impact numbers as last year's successful run. In 2024, 154,000 Kansas families used the Sunflower Summer mobile app to redeem nearly 500,000 admission tickets. The redemption rate was 55% more than in 2023. 'We attribute the dramatic increase to expanded marketing and word-of-mouth marketing,' according to an emailed response from Patrick Lowry, director of marketing and communications for the Kansas Department of Commerce. 'The residents who use Sunflower Summer love it, and they shared it with their friends and family.' The program, which won a national tourism award in April for best local impact, has been an economic success, as well. 'For every $1 invested in the 2024 summer program, Sunflower Summer generated $4.64 in non-reimbursed visitor spending. Including the tax revenue it received back as a result of the program, the state of Kansas drove $6.09 in business sales for every $1 it invested into the Sunflower Summer program,' Lowry said. Exploration Place's Smith said the program's success isn't just about economics, but about providing community engagement and educational equity. 'Sunflower Summer is an absolute big needle mover on that,' Smith said. 'It's important financially but it's also important as a societal thing, to get people out into the communities, learning and seeing.' In 2024, 55,000 of the science museum's 400,000 visitors used the Sunflower Summer program to gain entry, he said. 'This is the most impactful program I have seen in my life,' said Smith, who has worked in museums in Scotland and the U.S. since 1996. The Kansas Department of Education created the Sunflower Summer program in 2021, using $1.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for its first year, to provide a free education option during the summer. The program continued to expand and became part of the Kansas Department of Commerce when the Kansas Legislature started funding the program in fiscal year 2024. Here are some tips to get the most out of this year's Sunflower Summer. If you need to buy tickets for other adults or out-of-state visitors, check if other discounts are available such as senior citizen discounts, military and veteran discounts, or discounts for belonging to AAA or AARP. Several attractions participate in the national Blue Star Museum program, which offers free admission to active duty military and their families, including those in the National Guard and Reserve, from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day. More than 20 Kansas attractions participate in the Museums 4 All program, which provides free or reduced admission to families receiving food assistance; visitors need to present their assistance card and a photo ID. Use the map of participating attractions found on the Sunflower Summer website ( to help plan and visit multiple attractions if you're going on an out-of-town trip. The website also has extensive information for frequently asked questions. If you're going to be traveling on Kansas toll roads, consider getting a KTAG ( to save 50% on tolls. The Kansas Turnpike uses a cashless system so if you don't have a KTAG, you'll be billed based on your license plate information. Here's a list of Wichita attractions participating in this year's Sunflower Summer. Some of them offer free entry all year: Botanica Wichita, 701 Amidon; Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday. CityArts, 334 N. Mead; Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, 9a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd.; Open each day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 East 29th St. North; Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. Kansas Aviation Museum, 3350 George Washington Blvd.; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Thursday. Kansas Wildlife Exhibit, 700 Nims; Open every day 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mark Arts, 1307 N. Rock Road; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Mid-America All-Indian Museum, 650 N. Seneca; Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday. Museum of World Treasures, 835 E. First St.; Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 Museum Blvd.; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 W. Zoo Blvd.; Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday. The Kansas African American Museum, 601 N. Water; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Ulrich Museum of Art, 1845 Fairmount; Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Wichita Art Museum, 1400 Museum Blvd.; Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main St.; Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed Monday. Contributing: Lindsay Smith of The Eagle
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
230 places you can visit for free in Kansas this summer
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A summer program designed to connect students with attractions across Kansas is back for 2025; and its all free. The Sunflower Summer program is back for another year and runs from Saturday, July 12 to Sunday, Aug. 3. The tourism program helps students and their families get out of the house during the summer and explore new places in Kansas while also enjoying free admission. 'Castle on the Kaw' for sale at $888,000 in Topeka More than 230 attractions can be found in this year's Sunflower Summer program list. These sites are generally categorized as places with historic value, museums, art galleries, zoos, state parks and other interesting locations in the state. Examples of some places you can visit in northeast Kansas through Sunflower Summer are below: Topeka Great Overland Station. Kaw River State Park. Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center. Kansas Children's Discovery Center. Kansas State Capitol. The Historic Ritchie House. Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park. Museum of the Kansas National Guard. Combat Air Museum. Manhattan Midwest Dream Car Collection. Riley County Historical Museum. Sunset Zoo. A & H Farm/Pumpkin Patch. K-State Insect Zoo. Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art. Museum of Art + Light. Flint Hills Discovery Center. Emporia David Traylor Zoo. Red Rocks State Historic Site. Prophet Aquatic Research and Outreach Center. Schmidt Museum of Natural History. Johnston Geology Museum. Lawrence Clinton State Park – Reservoir and Wildlife Area. Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics. Haskell Cultural Center and Museum. KU Natural History Museum. Spencer Museum of Art. Watkins Museum of History. Lawrence Arts Center. Why are so many strange catfish coming out of this Kansas lake? Sunflower Summer is open to Kansas students who are enrolled in Pre-K through to 12th grade. One adult accompanying the students can also receive a free ticket voucher to the program. Participants get one free admission ticket per student for each attraction. To learn more about the program and to see a full list of participating locations, click here. You can download the app for Sunflower Summer for Apple and/or Android devices. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Advocates push to save Kansas' Sunflower Summer program
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Launched in 2021, the Sunflower Summer program offers Kansas families free educational attractions to boost learning and the economy. With funding now under review, supporters urge policymakers to sustain it. The initiative enables school-age children and their families to explore over 200 museums, historic sites, zoos, and nature centers, including the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, at no cost for admission during the summer months. Advocates say it enhances educational access, keeps children engaged in the summer, and generates economic benefits. Eric Kale, director of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, emphasized the program's far-reaching effects. 'We are very excited about the Sunflower Summer program that was introduced just a couple of years ago and has meant so much to a lot of families across Kansas,' Kale said. 'Last year, 150,000 families signed up, and for each of those, there were several kids participating.' Sedgwick County Zoo attraction now comes free Beyond its educational benefits, Sunflower Summer has also contributed to statewide tourism by encouraging families to explore different parts of Kansas. Kale highlighted its role in economic stimulation. 'It also brings people, mobilizes them to travel here in the state,' he said. 'It's one of the public education initiatives that actually generates money right then and there. It helps a lot with the tourism side of things because people are traveling across the state with their families to take advantage of what we have to offer.' Participation in the program is simple: Families download an app that provides free admission tickets to various attractions. Institutions offering free admission are then reimbursed through the program, ensuring their financial sustainability. 'For the historical museum, this has meant so much because we've seen firsthand the families that come in,' Kale said. 'Many families travel to Wichita from across the state, and many local families also participate.' As discussions continue regarding the program's future, advocates stress its dual role in education and economic growth. Kale urged policymakers to recognize its value. 'Our elected officials are very interested in knowing its value, and I think a lot of them do,' Kale said. 'When they look at educational spending in the state, they realize this is especially impactful.' Advocates are circulating an online petition in support of saving the program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department urges caution during dry conditions
Kansas City, Mo. – The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Prevention Division is advising residents to use caution to prevent accidental fires due to dry conditions in the area. The fire department wants everyone to be sure to properly dispose of smoking materials and not throw them out of vehicle windows into grass or other dry areas. Carelessly discarded smoking materials can easily start a fire in dry vegetation leading to dangerous fires. Kansas Museums Association launches petition to save Sunflower Summer Also, burning of yard waste, burning in barrels and other open burning is prohibited in KCK and subject to enforcement action. If you are interested in legal residential burning, the KCKFD allows limited yard waste burning in April. You must have a permit, and you may apply for a free permit starting at the end of March on the department's official website. You will be allowed up to three consecutive days of burning during the designated burn season. KCKFD wants to thank the community for its help in reducing fire hazards and keeping our city safe. You can get more information and apply for permits at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
