Happy Halloween-eve! We got into the spirit with a pumpkin-shaped pizza and have been soaking up all these 70° days outside. Wishing your kiddos full-size candy bars tomorrow night, and hopefully no rain!

In other news, College Hill’s famous Halloween decorations are back with a free shuttle to help you skip the parking headache, I’ve got a full lineup of weekend events from Beetlejuice at RiverFlix to Tanganyika Community Day, and this week’s video ranks every Wichita metro city by how much homes actually gained since 2021, using over 51,000 sales straight from the MLS... and one suburb you probably don’t think about beat Andover in dollars gained.

Let’s get into it!

– Caleb Claussen (your favorite Realtor 😉)

If you’ve ever spent Halloween in College Hill, you know this neighborhood does not mess around when it comes to decorations! Every year, the historic homes, front porches and entire streets get decked out with some seriously impressive Halloween displays. From elaborate haunted houses and spooky scenes to fun, creative themes, there’s always something new to see. Broadview is usually the star of the show, but plenty of homes throughout the neighborhood get in on the fun. It's become one of those Wichita Halloween traditions that you just have to experience at least once!

A little history: College Hill’s Halloween tradition actually dates back to 1977, when a couple of neighbors started decorating their homes. It has grown quite a bit since then, now bringing thousands of trick-or-treaters and spectators into the neighborhood each year.

A few things to know before heading out:

📆 Date: Saturday, October 31
⏰ Street barricades: Starting at 5:30 PM, with roads expected to reopen around 9 PM
📍 Area: College Hill, especially around Douglas and Broadview
🚧 Road closures: Douglas Avenue will be closed in both directions, along with Broadview, Belmont and Crestway between Douglas and First Street. Traffic will be diverted to Fountain Street for eastbound traffic and Terrace Street for westbound traffic.

🚌 FREE Halloween Shuttle: Wichita Transit is bringing back the Witch-ita Express! Buses will leave The Hub (207 S. Sycamore) every 30 minutes starting at 6 PM, dropping riders off at Douglas and Hillside. Return pickup will be available along Douglas, with the last bus leaving College Hill at 9:15 PM. The first 100 riders will even get a spooky surprise!

My advice? Get there early, wear comfortable shoes and plan to walk around and check out as many houses as you can. Even if you've been before, there's always something new to see. It's one of those Wichita traditions that makes Halloween around here so much fun!

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’ THIS WEEKEND?

🎃 Halloween Nights
Exploration Place is turning up the Halloween fun with two nights of spooky activities! Bring the family out for Halloween-themed experiences, festive fun and plenty to explore throughout the museum. It’s a great option if you’re looking for something fun to do before trick-or-treating weekend wraps up.
📍 Location: Exploration Place
📆 Date & Time: Friday–Saturday, October 30–31 | 6–9 PM
🎟️ Tickets: $21 adults | $16 youth and seniors | Free for ages 2 and under. Exploration Place members receive 50% off!
🔗 More info

🧹 Click Clack Boo: Once Upon a Time Series
Get ready for a Halloween performance with a fairy-tale twist! Wichita Children's Theatre brings its Click Clack Boo: Once Upon a Time Series to the stage for a seasonal show that's a fun option for families and little ones.
📍 Location: Wichita Children's Theatre & Dance Center
📆 Date & Time: Friday–Saturday, October 30–31 | Various showtimes
🎟️ Tickets: $10
🔗 More info

🦇 Fangs & Folklore
Looking for a Halloween experience after dark? Fangs & Folklore at the Sedgwick County Zoo offers a spooky evening for adults looking for something a little different. Get ready for an eerie atmosphere and a Halloween outing unlike your typical trip to the zoo!
📍 Location: Sedgwick County Zoo
📆 Date & Time: Friday–Saturday, October 30–31 | 10 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $20
🔗 More info

🍬 Mall-O-Ween Trick or Treating
The kids can get an early start on their candy collection at Towne East Square! Dress up in your favorite costumes and visit participating stores for a fun, indoor trick-or-treating experience.
📍 Location: Towne East Square
📆 Date & Time: Friday, October 30 | 4 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free
🔗 More info

🍿 RiverFlix — Beetlejuice
It's showtime! Grab a blanket and head to Exploration Place for a free outdoor movie night featuring the Halloween classic Beetlejuice. It's a fun way to kick off Halloween weekend, so bring your snacks and settle in for a spooky movie under the stars.
📍 Location: Exploration Place
📆 Date & Time: Friday, October 30 | Check event page for movie timing
🎟️ Tickets: Free
🔗 More info

🎭 Tosca
Opera fans, this one's for you! Wichita Grand Opera presents Tosca, one of the most celebrated operas in the repertoire. Expect dramatic storytelling, powerful music and an evening of live performance at Century II.
📍 Location: Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center
📆 Date & Time: Friday, October 30 | 7 & 9:30 PM; Sunday, November 1 | Check event page for showtimes
🎟️ Tickets: $20–$85
🔗 More info

🪩 It's a 2000s Party
Break out the low-rise jeans, throwback tees and early-2000s hits! The Cotillion is hosting a 2000s-themed party on Halloween night, bringing back the music and nostalgia from one of the best eras for a night of dancing and fun.
📍 Location: The Cotillion
📆 Date & Time: Saturday, October 31 | 9 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $14.48
🔗 More info

🏃 Monster Dash
Start Halloween morning with a little movement at the Monster Dash! This spooky-themed race at Strataca is a fun way to get outside, get active and enjoy a unique setting for your Halloween weekend.
📍 Location: Strataca, Hutchinson
📆 Date & Time: Saturday, October 31 | 8 AM
🎟️ Tickets: $55
🔗 More info

🐾 Tanganyika Community Day
Wrap up the weekend with a visit to Tanganyika Wildlife Park! Community Day offers a chance to enjoy the park and spend time with family while supporting the Tanganyika Wildlife Foundation. It's a fun Sunday outing for animal lovers of all ages.
📍 Location: Tanganyika Wildlife Park
📆 Date & Time: Sunday, November 1 | 9 AM–6 PM
🎟️ Tickets: $20
🔗 More info

Kansas is a non-disclosure state, so sale prices aren’t public and sites like Zillow are mostly guessing. For this week’s video, I pulled every home sale in the Wichita metro since 2021 straight from our local MLS, over 51,000 of them, and ranked 12 cities by how much homes actually gained. The dollar and percentage rankings look very different, and one suburb most people never consider gained more dollars than Andover. I also share the one lesson that matters more than which suburb you pick. Whether you bought in 2021 or you’re thinking about buying now, this one’s worth a watch!

(Click Each One To See The Full Listing!)

If you—or someone you know—is thinking about buying, selling, or investing in real estate around Wichita, I’d love to help! And even if you’re just tackling a home project and need a solid contractor recommendation, I’ve got plenty to share. The easiest way to reach me is by call or text at 316-259-1995. Or if it’s easier, you can grab a time on my calendar and I’ll follow up with you!

That’s all for this week! I hope you have an awesome weekend!

-Caleb Claussen

P.S. If you or a friend is looking to buy, sell, or invest around the Wichita market, I’d love to be your real estate resource of choice! Reach out anytime!