There are a lot more options that just getting flowers and a card this year for Valentine's Day. With plenty of events, activities and experiences taking place for Valentine's Day weekend, Wichita ensures this year’s holiday will be celebrated a bit more romantically. To help you formulate a plan, Visit Wichita has created five Valentine’s Day date ideas:
1) Feel the music Whatever your type of music, you’ll find it at one of Wichita’s live music venues. There is a full and varied schedule of concerts on and around Valentine’s Day this year, starting with a recreation of ABBA’s last live concert by tribute band ABBA Mania on Feb. 14 at the Orpheum Theatre. The historic downtown Wichita theater also is bringing Eagles tribute band Hotel California on Feb. 10 and Tower of Power performing their own brand of funk, soul and R&B music on Feb. 15. Choose from blues rock or a local-and-hard-to-define favorite at The Cotillion. The west Wichita venue is hosting Anthony Gomes with Amanda Fish on Feb. 11 and Split Lip Rayfield on Feb. 18.
For a mix of cultural musical experiences, Music Theatre Wichita and the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (WSO) are collaborating on a semi-staged production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical in “Carousel: A Concert” on Feb. 11. Or grab tickets for WSO’s A Night at the Opera with Alan Held on Feb. 18 and 19, and prepare hear one of the world’s most sought after Wagnerian bass-baritones. In addition, the 28th annual Winter Bluegrass Festival is Feb. 17 through 18 at the Wichita Marriott. A full slate of performers, including Grammy-nominated The Boxcars, are lined up for Friday night and all day Saturday.
2) Experience love in the Old West
The Prairie Rose Rangers will perform a special Valentine’s program at the Prairie Rose on Feb. 11. Take your sweetheart on a horse-drawn wagon ride or watch a classic cowboy movie, then sit down for an all-you-can-eat chuckwagon supper followed by the show performed by talented cowboy and cowgirl musicians.
3) Visit a winery Local winery Grace Hill Winery and Vineyards, about 25 minutes northeast of downtown Wichita, is hosting a food and wine pairing on Saturday, Feb. 11. The cost is $25 per person and includes five courses, each paired with your choice of a sweet or a dry wine. There are two sessions: the first at 12:30 p.m. and the second at 3 p.m. If you’re wanting to keep things casual, Grace Hill offers free tastings with three wine flights to choose from. No appointment is necessary for groups fewer than eight and the tasting room is open noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday and Thursday. Free 20-minute tours of the 11-acre family vineyards are available at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday, with an additional tour at 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. To create your own mini-wine tour, add Wyldewood Cellars to your itinerary. The family-owned business offers free tastings every day of the week of 32 varieties of fruit, berry and grape wines at their main operation at the Mulvane exit on I-35 and their store in west Wichita.
4) Make art together Paint as singles or paint as a couple and produce two pieces that go together to create a romantic masterpiece at Pinot's Palette. Local artists guide you step-by-step through a featured painting that you get to take home, and you can sip your favorite BYOB while getting creative and spending time together.
5) Pamper your date at the movies Dinner and a movie is always a solid choice for date night, and Wichita’s Warren Theatres can help you take it up a notch. The Warren Oldtown is the only all-digital theater in Kansas that serves food and beverage in each of its seven theaters. Relax in ultra-luxurious, high-back rocking chairs and stretch out in the extra wide aisles, eat a meal and movie snacks served at your seat, sip premium cocktails, beer and wine and enjoy the show. After 8 p.m., all guests must be 18 or older. Snuggle up on a love seat in the balcony at the Warren Theatre East or opt for the Warren 21 experience – reclining, heated seats and individual armrests, reserved seating and an expanded bar and food menu. See a blockbuster on one of the largest IMAX screens in North America at the Warren Theatre West.
In addition to the five Valentine’s Day ideas, Wichita has 8,000 hotel rooms, from affordable to splurge-worthy. Check out Visit Wichita’s list of hotels to find the amenities you’re looking for, then check out the hotel’s website for romance and Valentine’s packages, some of which include wine, chocolates, flowers and late checkout. There are also more than 1,000 restaurants to choose from throughout the city, many also offering special Valentine’s Day packages. Two of the city’s premier hotels, Ambassador Hotel and Wichita Marriott Hotel, have fine dining right at the hotel. At Ambassador Hotel, you’ll find Siena Tuscan Steakhouse Restaurant and at the Wichita Marriott, you’ll find Fireside Grille.