Things to Do in Derby

At Wichita Ice Center, ice skaters glide and pirouette on Olympic- and NHL-size rinks during classes, league sessions, and open-skating hours. Several full-length viewing windows span the length of each rink, enabling parents and loyal fans to peer in on class sessions without having vision blurred by clouds of foggy breath. The ice center’s instructors teach adults as well as children 2.5 years and older. Their curriculum follows a structure promoted by the United States Figure Skating Association and—like lessons on how to be a polar bear—includes equal parts of on-ice and classroom instruction.

When autumn's crisp breezes carry October into Kansas, Mr. Gourdman's Pumpkin Patch swings open its gates to help families celebrate the season with pumpkin picking, horseback rides, and an assortment of other fall-related activities. Visitors can simply soak in the scenery or take on some of the property's challenges, including a hay maze and an unofficial grass-eating contest against Mr. Gourdman's donkey, Leroy. During breaks, a picnic area lets groups gather around snacks from their own cooler, and an arts-and-crafts stand doles out keepsakes with which to remember the day.

Stationed inside a vaudeville venue first designed by the Boller brothers in 1928, the Crown Uptown Theatre has continued to nourish creative appetites with delectable dinners and Broadway-style productions since 1977. Concocted by an expert culinary team led by Kevin Gillenwater, formerly of Chester’s Chophouse and Wine Bar, plated entrees are served alongside helpings of soup, salad, and rolls. An enthusiastic waitstaff delivers each meal directly to customers' tables. Crown Uptown Theatre can accommodate up to 400 theatergoers or scarecrows stuffed with recycled playbills during evening performances each Thursday–Sunday, and matinee plays for children every Friday and Saturday.

Registered yoga instructor Tonya Henning's inviting studio helps students from all walks of life expand their yoga practice through alignment-based yoga and heart-centered meditation. Her background in special education and support of her fellow certified yoga teachers make it possible for students of all abilities to participate in the classes together, as medical concerns and particularly stiff muscles can be accommodated with modified poses. For more focused instruction, students may take semi- or completely private yoga lessons before joining the rest of the downward-facing dog pack.

At The Strike Zone, batters of any age can practice their baseball or softball swings against the pitches of fast- and slow-speed machines. Machines' pitching height can also be adjusted to accommodate guests' varying heights or a child's minute-to-minute growth spurts. When the batting cages aren't being used, kids can practice their form with the help of a T-ball stand. Shaved ice in 60 flavors keeps batters cool and refreshed throughout the day.