Check out the complete s and s collection. If you're looking for a particular Riverfest button, you can drop by the WFI button booth and purchase buttons from previous years to round out your collection. New this year, the Admirals Button Swap and Sale allows Riverfest enthusiasts to swap buttons and stories from past festivals. View Full Image. View All. What's New on Wichita. Old Wichita Riverfest Buttons May 30, Share by Email Tweet. Location: RedGuard Stage Area.
The largest foot race in Kansas is celebrating its 43nd anniversary in downtown Wichita! For complete information, visit RiverRunWichita. Start Time: a. Runners can celebrate with a cold beverage courtesy of Burgardt Liquor and samples of Smithfield products while strolling through Runners Village. Location: River Run Finish Line. A fun run for children ages 2 to 7. Competitors receive a medallion at the finish line. Registration includes a Tot Trot T-shirt and Riverfest button. Who will win this match of masked luchadores?
Expect to see some spectacular moves in this one-of-a-kind exhibition. More than a flash mob, a performance you can take part in! Location: South of RedGuard Stage. These majestic and colorful icons of the sky will fill the sky with color and the evening with light! All aboard for this fun and fascinating display of toy trains. Location, RedGuard Stage Area.
A unique outdoor spin class with all the fun, music and motivation of an outdoor ride. Local celebrities face off in this high-noon showdown with the winners claiming cash for the charity of their choice. Location: Main Street. Teams get two hours to create a design that reflects, resembles or looks something like a building, structure or iconic thing located in Wichita.
Location: Main St. Come learn about and play with the gadgetry that fuels workforce creativity and innovation now and into the future. Location: South of the RedGuard Stage. Watch as drone pilots test their speed, agility and performance. Presented by River Rock Ranch. Location: English and Main streets. One mile and ten obstacles make up this epic ninja warrior-style course event for youth ages Register for this event at WichitaRiverfest.
Presented by ShapeUsUp. Facial hair enthusiasts will face off in this 3rd-Annual Riverfest event. There are creative categories that allow you to create fine, fake facial hair. Looking for a particular Riverfest button? Drop by the booth and purchase buttons from previous years to round out your collection. Join other Riverfest enthusiasts to swap buttons and stories about past festivals.
Location: Douglas Street Bridge. Build a river-worthy vessel in 90 minutes or less with cardboard, duct tape, pool noodles and a box cutter. Location: Wichita Acura Dealers Stage; 4 p.
The spectacular launch of these colorful balloons at sunset is a Riverfest tradition not to be missed! Enter the wing eating contest for a chance to win great prizes, including cash! Open to the first 12 qualified participants who sign up. The nine-day festival takes place May June 8 in downtown Wichita. Buttons will be available at the door starting May VIP upgrades are available for specific concerts.
Artist-in-Residence George Ferrandi will conduct community workshops; attendees invited to participate in art and music projects.
Ferrandi, originally from Baltimore, is the creator and director of Jump! Star, a celebration and attempt to invent traditions — a thousand years in advance — that can be passed down to celebrate the eventual changing of the North Star. May 31 carrying large, illuminated, head-shaped sculptures representing the future North Star, Iota. Price Woodard Park , south of the Douglas Avenue bridge, p.
They are also the focus of a foot parade that will begin at the old library at 8 p. Star Iota will take place.
Ferrandi is the director of Wayfarers Studio Program and Gallery in Bushwick, and was the founding member of the touring performance project Cloud Seeding: Circus of the Performative Object.
Her work has been performed and exhibited around the world. She teaches sculpture and performance art at Pratt Institute, at Virginia Commonwealth University and at the Rhode Island School of Design and runs a small business specializing in the restoration of statues for churches.
Create a sound snapshot of Riverfest and take part in MapMusik, a team initiative established by local artists and musicians to document the soundtrack of our community.
Aspiring performers will want to join the fun when The Mp3 Experiment pops up at Riverfest at 5 p. A fusion of technology and live art, the event requires the participation of attendees who will be given specific instructions for performance in real time. Those who want to participate can register at WichitaRiverfest. No prior performance experience is necessary. Visit ImprovEverywhere. People will also have a chance to express their artistic side at the Decorated Bicycle Contest and Parade, starting at 2 p.
A Bicycle Decoration Station, manned by local artists, will be available from noon to 2 p. Other events offer opportunities to get creative, including the Sandcastle Build Competition and the Cardboard Regatta, which requires building a boat from cardboard, pool noodles and duct tape. There are also plenty of art-related things to see and experience at the festival, including the Human Car Wash, a walk-through installation by Mary Alexis Wirths. Admission for kids five and younger is free.
Details about the festival are available at WichitaRiverfest. The Wichita Riverfest mobile app can be downloaded for iPhone and Android. For more information, or to volunteer, contact [email protected]. But here, marshalled by Wichita Festivals, businesses and organizations band together to support Riverfest and other inclusive community events that help unify us and make our community better.
Over this same time period, broad community support has been reflected in event attendance up more than 50 percent, volunteer numbers doubling, and the organization cultivating more than new event partners.
This support has helped the organization rebuild reserves to meet future operational and facility needs. Our next leader will have the chance to continue that work as our city strives to imagine and create a great future for our riverfront and downtown. I believe that new perspectives and ideas have helped WFI stay relevant and succeed over the decades, and this is a chance to bring fresh eyes and talent to this important mission. Jarvis will serve through the Riverfest and help transition to a new leader following the festival.
Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter and professional references to [email protected]. Atnip began his career in law enforcement at 21, joining the Wichita Police Department. Captain Atnip commanded the Property Crimes Bureau prior to retiring after 33 years of dedicated service. He has contributed his skills and dedication to every facet of the festival, doing set-up and tear down, working with national brands and touring exhibits, keeping the festival warehouse in tip-top shape, providing experienced guidance around event security, and more.
Atnip is the 46th admiral, and he was introduced at an event at the former central branch of the public library, against the backdrop of the Riverfest grounds. Atnip has been a member of the Wichita Wagonmasters since The Admiral and his wife, Mylene, recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. They have one son, Chase, who graduated from the University of Kansas and now lives in the Kansas City area. As the official ambassador of Riverfest , Atnip will visit children in local hospitals, speak to Wichita civic organizations and help host dozens of events during the nine days of Riverfest, May June 8.
Full-price buttons will be available at QuikTrip beginning May 5. It will feature total events, including diverse stage shows, fireworks, fun on the Arkansas River, athletic and other contests, and engaging activities for all ages. Besides perennial favorites, the Riverfest will include 23 new events. Tickets for Riverfest VIP events went on sale at 4 p. Purchase tickets at Wichita Festivals, E. William, or online at wichitafestivals.
Wichita is home to such a rich and talented filmmaking community, we're eager to see what people submit. A briefing for photographers interested in participating will take place at p.
Commerce St. Central Ave. Seneca St. Woodlawn St. Webb Rd. Nelson Dr. The Wichita Festivals office at E. William also carries buttons during the early-bird and full-price sales periods. From popular hip hop and ska acts to New Orleans jazz and gypsy punk, the line-up is diverse.
Admission to every Riverfest concert is included in the price of an adult or child admission button. The symphony concert and fireworks soundtrack will be broadcast live on FM Their remake of La Bamba was a number one single in the U.
T95, Also that evening, a popular concert event will return to Riverfest. An American gospel singer, record producer, actress, and former radio host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show, she has sold 4. Gospelfest will also feature local groups and choir members. With a recording and producing career that has spanned two decades, Kweli has performed solo and in Black Star with Mos Def, and Reflection Eternal with producer Hi-Tek.
His company, Javotti Media, produces films, music and books. Radio While best known as a jazz musician, the Grammy nominee has worked with some of the biggest names in rock, pop, jazz, funk, and hip hop. Known for their theatrical stage shows, rockers Gogol Bordello will bring their high-energy show to the Kennedy Plaza Stage on Friday, June 7. A musical collaboration between Eric Wilson, formerly of the American ska punk band Sublime, and singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez, the group chiefly performs songs by the original Sublime, which was fronted by Bradley Nowell until his death in The Capitol Federal Fireworks Finale will close the festival with a bang following the concerts.
Admission to all Riverfest concerts is free with a Riverfest button. Full-price buttons will be available at QuikTrip locations beginning May 5. Wichita Festivals always brings energy and creativity to the unveiling.
And it was a great contest experience, thanks to the team at Wichita Festivals and Emprise Bank. The poster, sponsored by Docuplex, serves as an invitation to the largest community celebration in Kansas: Riverfest, set for May June 8. Star movement aims to celebrate and create new traditions around the eventual changing of our North Star. Throughout the festival, Ferrandi will host evening workshops for the public to contribute to an installation in A. Walter, a year-old designer, coder, husband and dad, lives in Wichita.
He grew up in Manhattan, Kan. Sure, there were games to be played, but also new ways to be creative, often with Microsoft Paint. At twelve, he unboxed his first Wacom tablet, which launched him down the path to graphic art and design. In high school, the artist was introduced to coding for websites, and success at his first job influenced his decision to forgo college for full-time web work.
Website design, according to the artist, is the perfect match between an interest in technology and an artistic eye. The River Run race series, celebrating 43 years of running downtown and on the river, is scheduled for June 1, on the first weekend of Riverfest Early-bird discounted registration continues through Feb.
It was supported by Bank of America and its local predecessors, including the Fourth National Bank, from to Kansas Health Foundation picked up the torch in and served as sponsor for the event through Admission buttons can be reserved by online presale at TicketSpice. Applications now available for Emprise Bank Poster-Art Contest, entertainers, event organizers and food vendors; Sponsors sought.
The planning season for Riverfest kicks off today. We are also always on the lookout for the best festival food available. Want to turn your hobby or out-of-the-box idea into an event? We want to hear the details. Riverfest belongs to you, so bring it! All artists 18 or older are invited to participate and no fee is required to enter. Entries must be received by 5 p. Friday, Dec. The winning artwork will be featured on the Riverfest poster, buttons, official T-shirt and other items, and will be used as the central artwork in promotional campaigns for the nine-day annual celebration, scheduled for May June 8 in downtown Wichita.
Original Wichitennial and Wichita River Festival designs dating back to were created by local artists. Conducted periodically throughout the year history of the festival, the annual contest was reestablished by popular demand in Release of the artwork is much anticipated and collectors value the pins, posters and buttons based on that artwork.
Local and regional entertainers also have an important place in Riverfest history. While national headline acts are much anticipated, favorite area bands and other performers have always been fundamental to the diverse flavor of Riverfest.
Plus, iconic Riverfest events such as the bathtub races have sprung from the minds of local hobbyists and civic groups. Sponsors are currently being sought for Riverfest and those interested can contact Jennifer Green at , ext.
A total of 1, photos were submitted by 78 photographers this year. Traditional events and new features inspire , citizens and visitors to celebrate the community. People stayed happy and hydrated, thanks to shade and misting tents, as well as the new Water Monster refill stations. We were on the river every day, hosted national performing acts visiting our area for the first time, and offered events and concerts that were incredibly diverse. Given the breadth of entertainment and activities, I was so pleased that citizens and visitors of every age and interest group were gathered together to enjoy this celebration.
Non-cash donations ranged from media advertising space and broadcast time to concrete barriers from Wildcat Construction to a variety of heavy equipment and air conditioned button booths from RedGuard Sitebox.
Festival officials expect work-hours for these volunteers to total more than 69, hours. Upcoming events, such as the Riverfest Classic Car Show and KidFest, as well as the kayak and canoe races and fantastic concerts, are going to be huge! And it all ends with a bang, with the Capitol Federal Fireworks Finale. Between now and then, we need folks to continue to stay safe in the sun and heat.
Visit the Health Fair to learn about health-related services and wellness programs, and take part in screenings and hands-on learning. Sponsored by Grene Vision Group. Enjoy tons of activities, vendors, demonstrations and just about anything else kid-related. Follow the giant footprints to a fossil dig site where emerging young paleontologists can search for actual dinosaur fossils!
Sponsored by Field Station: Dinosaurs. Want to display your ride? This team of pro athletes will defy gravity, flying 10 feet in the air on extreme pogo sticks and throwing down flips and incredible tricks. The 6 p. Are you a teen between the ages of ? We are looking for singers, dancers, groups, troupes, bands, comedians, poets and magicians. Presented by Youth Educational Empowerment Program. Download the Riverfest app to your iPhone or Android for a detailed lineup of acts and times.
A troubadour and dinosaur puppeteer will bring to life this wonderfully unique dinosaur bedtime story! Thank you, Wichita Wingnuts. Go Nuts! Experienced men and women rowers will race from South Riverside Park to Greiffenstein Bridge and back!
Watch from the banks of the Little Arkansas River or from bridges as rowers vie to be the first to make the turn around the stake and back to the finish. Presented by Wichita Rowing Association. Check out these impressive lowriders and other cool rides from cars and trucks to motorcycles, and even bike category for kids! Register onsite starting at 10 a. Presented by Midwest Super Car Show.
Teams of 15 players will compete in this 3rd Annual Riverfest Kickball Tournament. Presented by Wichita Kickball League. Nims St. Local pros and players will lead fun tennis games and activities for all ages. This game is just as much fun to watch as it is to play! Register your team at WichitaRiverfest. Downtown and Delano will be explored on this fun and education walk that focuses on the art, history and architecture found in both.
Walk will include frequent stops. This team of pro athletes will defy gravity, flying 10 feet in the air on extreme pogo sticks, and throwing down flips and incredible tricks.
The 9 p. Stop by the Speedy Cash booth for your chance to grab some cash from the cash box and great giveaways. Re-imagining your favorite Riverfest treats will be the challenge for students from Butler Community College Hospitality and Culinary Arts program. Each team will be coached by a local chef, and a panel of celebrity judges will determine which team takes home the golden whisk in this first-ever festival food throwdown!
Listen for chances to sign up on-air starting May Contestants will have 10 minutes to eat as many funnel cakes as they can! Participants must be 18 years of age or older. Vie for a chance to win cash and prizes. Experience this dynamic pyrotechnic performance and enjoy breathtaking colors, and tune to Visit this imaginative world inhabited by a flower-decked dinosaur, oversized lawn games and circus performers!
Come play alongside our Artist-in-Residence, JooYoung Choi, and help create a blanket of flowers for this immersive exhibit. Flowers made here will adorn this traveling exhibit in what will be the first stop of a cross-country tour. Check WichitaRiverfest. Do you have what it takes to escape before time runs out?
Free with a Riverfest button. Location: McLean and Douglas. A chance for all ages to take in Riverfest while riding tall in the saddle. Elimination round daily at Kennedy Plaza Tripodal Area. This circus troupe from Lawrence will amaze and delight you with feats of strength, agility and skill.
Be captivated by the beauty of these amazing fire performers. Cash prizes are up for grabs during the 12th annual Riverfest Photography Contest. Location: Ackerman's Backyard. Catch this action-packed show featuring log rolling, wood chopping, sawing, axe throwing and climbing, all with world champion lumberjacks! For a break from the heat, we brought the beloved Twilight Pops indoors, but everyone still got to enjoy the Textron Aviation Opening Night Fireworks on the banks of the river.
We had zero arrests, people stayed safe in the heat and sun, and I saw thousands of powdered-sugar smiles on the faces of happy festivalgoers. Start your week off with a family-friendly movie and your favorite food court lunch. Kee, p. A community choir joined by Bishop Cortez Vaughn will kick off this celebration of praise, culminating in a performance by gospel star John P. Sponsored by Lange Real Estate. Downtown and Delano will be explored on this fun and education walk that will focus on the art, history and architecture found in both.
Hands on for the kids! Admission is free with your Riverfest button. Celebrating 15 years of bringing the thrill of riding, roping, panning for gold and other fun activities to Riverfest for children ages Rev up your pedal power for some friendly competition during this inaugural Paddleboat Race as 2-person teams compete for prizes and glory! Sponsored by Wichita Eagle. Location: Lawrence Dumont Stadium.
Enjoy a Wichita Wingnuts game, free with your Riverfest button. Wear any official Riverfest button from the past for free admission today only.
Visit the Health Fair to learn about the health-related services, wellness programs and take part in screenings and hands-on learning. Downtown and Delano will be featured in this fun and educational walk focused on the art, history and architecture found in both.
This team of pro athletes will defy gravity flying 10 feet in the air on extreme pogo sticks, throwing down flips and incredible tricks. The p. Proceeds will support Goodwill job training and education programs. Sponsored by Westar Energy. Location: Distillery , N. Startup Grind is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire and connect entrepreneurs.
Sponsored by e2e Accelerator. Bring those hot and spicy skills to Riverfest and chop your way to Grand Champion! June 2-Fri. June 8, p.
June 7 if not found by then. Daily clues in The Eagle will lead you to a Sedgwick County location to find the hidden medallion. Download the app to capture QR codes at locations throughout the festival. Be captivated by the beauty of these amazing fire performers from hypnotic fire dancers to edge-of-your-seat fire eaters. The festival runs June in downtown Wichita. Kids 5 and younger are admitted free. So head down to the river with friends and family and take advantage of nine days of incredible entertainment, fun food and unique events, all organized for the community, by the community.
The 47th Riverfest features events and attractions, including 20 new events, all outlined on wichitariverfest. Festival attendees can also access daily event and concert schedules, the festival map and more by downloading the Wichita Riverfest mobile app on their Apple and Android mobile devices.
June 1: p. June 9, 11 a. June 7, or when the medallion is located. Locations: Friday June 1 and 8, and Sat. Riverfest gaming arena hosted by Midwest eSports with tournaments, prizes, workshops, virtual reality, free play, game development showcase and more.
Games are rated E for Everyone and T for Teen. Stop by and sample this world-famous treat. Location: Kennedy Plaza Stage. For the finale, the orchestra will be joined by the 1st Battalion, st Field Artillery Regiment and bells provided courtesy of the Bloomfield Carillion in performing Tchaikovsky's Overture.
Brought to you by Kansas Country The largest foot race in Kansas is celebrating its 42nd anniversary in downtown Wichita! Start Time: 7 a. Finish Line Celebration, a. Runners can celebrate with a cold beverage courtesy of Wichita Brewing Company and samples of Smithfield products while strolling through Runners Village. Participation may be subject to conditions, restrictions and prohibitions. Find complete details at arkriver. A family-friendly comic convention with activities, merchandise, artists and fun for everyone.
For more information visit wichicon. Strike a pose and grab a souvenir pic at this mirror photo booth experience! This tour highlights and celebrates the art and architecture of downtown Wichita. Ride will include frequent stops; helmets are encouraged. Location: Douglas Ave. Six-member co-ed teams participate in double-elimination rounds by age group. Register online at WichitaRiverfest. Stop by and sample this world- famous treat. Squonk Opera cleverly combines fun and science in a swirl of music, whirlygigs, whistles, bells and pure joy!
A pageant of double-decker bike-stages creates a merry Cycle Sonic ruckus! Drop by and visit with extreme meteorologist Reed Timmer and get an up-close look at Dominator 4, his armored storm chasing vehicle. Brought to you by La Raza. For more information visit www. Location: Carousel Skate, N. West St. Come out and thrill to some Roller Derby action with youth, men and women bouts. Enjoy free admission with a Riverfest button and be sure to take a ride on the original Joyland train!
Squonk Opera cleverly combines fun and science in a swirl of music, whirligigs, whistles, bells and pure joy! A pageant of double-decker bike stages creates a merry Cycle Sonic ruckus! Teams will have two hours to create a sandcastle design that reflects, resembles or looks something like a building, structure or iconic thing located in Wichita.
See if you and your friends have what it takes to be crowned Kings of the Court! For more information visit WichitaRiverfest. Location: Botanica, Amidon St. Opening of the butterfly house with activities, special guests and family fun. Drop by the WFI button booth and purchase buttons from previous years to round out your collection.
Brought to you by The Bull. One of the original events from the very first festival has returned! Entry is free, but teams must supply their own canoe, paddles and flotation devices. Presents Randy Houser, p. Location: Kennedy Plaza Stage; p. The nine-day festival takes place June in downtown Wichita. JooYoung Choi invites festivalgoers to help her reunite two imaginary brontosaurus siblings through art.
With this in mind, Choi plans a series of immersive art opportunities for Riverfest around two invented characters, a Brontosaurus named Perennial Favorites and her adopted brother, Big Time Believer.
Together they serve as catalysts for a series of projects Choi envisions. There will be a search initiated for Big Time Believer during the Sundown Parade, Choi said, and a garden of his favorite things will be created through the festival, prompting the characters to reunite. Whom-blooms and awesome blossoms, for example — flowers designed by festivalgoers to look like or remember loved ones — will eventually provide the inflatable animal with a mane of colorful flowers made by budding local artists.
She immigrated to Concord, N. This exhibit allows the festival attendee to not only enter her colorful, magical world, but to add to the creation themselves. My hope is that her work allows the festival audience to reconnect with their own playfulness and imagination.
The festival is an immense project and this is not a traditional way to show your work, so we try to explore that and let them engage with that however they want to. Oversized games, circus performers and plenty of riverfront activity can be easily discovered nearby. The artist invites Riverfest attendees to join her from p.
June to create a special flower for the installation. In addition, Choi will conduct a flower-making workshop at Harvester Arts, N. Washington, on Final Friday, May 25 starting at p. She will also present an artist talk at 6 p. For more information, or to volunteer your time to assist the artist, contact [email protected]. Discounted buttons available through May 5 at Meineke locations; New mobile app, powered by Westar, announced. It will feature total events, including diverse concerts, fireworks shows, fun on the Arkansas River, athletic and other contests, and entertainment and cultural performances for all ages.
Besides traditional Riverfest favorites, the festival includes 19 events brand new for this year. Norton, who served as Sedgwick County Commissioner for 16 years, worked as store team leader and master trainer for Target Stores for 22 years.
As mayor of Haysville, he provided strong leadership during the challenging clean-up that followed a devastating tornado in I am glad the crowd didn't realize how un-organized the weaves and intricate routines really were! The tradition of Admiral Windwagon Smith was established in , when John Bell first wore the red coat and represented the third Riverfest, then known as Wichitennial River Festival.
Norton is the 45th admiral. As the official ambassador of Riverfest , Norton will visit children in local hospitals, speak to Wichita civic organizations and help host dozens of events during the nine days of Riverfest, June Full-price buttons will be available at major button retailors Dillons and QuikTrip beginning May 6.
A digital press kit with a bio and photo of the Admiral and this press release is available at WichitaRiverfest. With mechanical magic and steampunk flair, this group of musicians and performers teach lessons about science that appeal to the entire family. The troupe will also take part in the parade on Friday. A Jewish-American reggae vocalist and alternative rock musician, Matisyahu is known for blending Orthodox Jewish themes with reggae, rock and hip hop beatboxing sounds.
Top 40 hit. He has released five studio albums as well as two live albums and two remix CDs. A pastor, Kee was named to the Christian Music Hall of Fame in and is known for mixing traditional and contemporary gospel and for his soulful, husky voice. Gospelfest will also feature local groups and choir members, as well as national recording artist, Bishop Cortez Vaughn. The show is sponsored by Lange Real Estate.
Cypress Hill is the first Latino America hip-hop group to release platinum and multi-platinum albums. The night will also feature southern California ska band Save Ferris.
A friend and collaborator of Prince since their high school days, Morris Day has released four solo albums and five with his band The Time. Presentation at Emprise Bank includes announcement of the Riverfest Artist-in-Residence and new events.
The art will be featured in promotional materials. Worley, the winning artist, is a freelance designer and illustrator, and a member of Brickmob, a Wichita-based artist collective active in the community.
He has been drawing and creating ever since he could pick up a pencil. His first sketchbook took the form of a school-issued day planner. He has worked at several local design companies. Worley engages in logo design, digital illustration, video game art, sprite animation and the occasional tattoo.
He also enjoys oil painting and doing caricatures in Old Town Square. A team of design professionals judged the competition on Dec. Discounted early-bird registration for the Kansas Health Foundation River Run races has begun and will continue through Feb.
For more information about Wichita Festivals or its events, contact Teri Mott. A digital press kit containing the artwork, more about the artist, and this press release is available at WichitaRiverfest. Applications now available for Emprise Bank Poster-Art Contest, festival entertainers, event organizers and food vendors.
Got an idea for a unique event or activity, or have a suggestion for improving a current event? Let us hear from you. Poster and button designs are sought for Riverfest The winning artwork will be featured on the Riverfest poster, buttons, official T-shirt and other items, and will be used as the central artwork in promotional campaigns for the nine-day annual celebration, scheduled for June in downtown Wichita.
Release of the artwork is much anticipated and collectors value the pins, posters and buttons based on the artwork. A total of photos were submitted by 24 photographers this year. Photographs submitted for the contest help document Riverfest and are used to promote the festival on its website, in advertisements and elsewhere.
Best of Show by Debbie Greene. River Madness concludes with six sunny days for new, traditional events to be enjoyed by a total of , festivalgoers. A particular highlight was the lunch business, which grew with the addition of a shaded and cooled tent, as well as the Food Court Business Lunch, which allows attendees to visit the festival for free 11 a.
Non-cash donations ranged from heavy equipment and hand-built furniture to hundreds of gallons of ice cream and media advertising space and broadcast time. Festival officials expect work-hours for these volunteers to total more than 45, hours.
Blacktop Nationals, which was moved inside Century II Expo Hall to give visitors a chance to take an air-conditioned break from the heat, noted attendance of 9, festival-goers. In addition, about 17, buttons were sold at the festival gates. This continues the stellar security record achieved in recent years by gating the event.
As recently as , there were more than law-enforcement issues associated with the event. Nearly , have attended the festival so far; large-scale events planned for Friday and Saturday. With the sun shining like it is, people should come prepared to have fun while staying safe. Bring sunscreen, stay hydrated and take care of each other in the heat and the crowds. Ride to the fest and park your bike for free. Those who tossed on a rain poncho and headed downtown were rewarded with a high-tech light show, giant puppets, balloons, confetti and a nine-foot tall unicorn thanks to The Flaming Lips and a high-energy family dance party at La Raza Fest.
Saturday also saw the debut of Riverfest Stock Tank Races. Watch for this event to return in Another new event, Wichicon, debuted to an enthusiastic audience, with nearly 6, shopping for action figures, costume pieces and film collectibles on Saturday and Sunday. Festival attendees can also download the Riverfest mobile app, sponsored by Westar Energy and developed by Clutch Studio, for Apple and Android phones to find concert times, event schedules and ICTreasure, a scavenger hunt-style game to play at the festival.
Simply present your military ID at any gate. Wear any official Riverfest button from the past for free admission. The nine-day festival takes place through Saturday in downtown Wichita. Everyone can enjoy our shared backyard — downtown — and get out on the river, together with family, friends and neighbors. Wichita can be very proud to host one of the 40 largest outdoor events in the world, which our supporters help make affordable and welcoming to all. Festival attendees can also access a full daily event and concert schedules and festival map on their Apple and Android mobile devices.
Test your stamina and skills! Cash prizes are up for grabs during the 11th annual Riverfest Photography Contest. Glow, p. Tune into KEYN Brought to you by ALT South of RedGuard Stage. An additional buttons are needed to close the gap between donated Riverfest buttons and the number of buttons requested.
Reintroduced in , Celebrations for a Cause is part of an effort to ensure Riverfest is an inclusive community event. Donors may give online at wichitariverfest. May 2, -- Wichita Festivals today announced that with the addition of Darryl Worley as a country concert headliner on Wednesday, June 7 at the RedGuard Stage, the Riverfest concert line-up is now complete. Details and ticket information is available at WichitaRiverfest.
Email [email protected] or call Teri at , ext. Discounted admission buttons available through May 4 at Cox Solutions Stores; Mobile app, powered by Westar, announced. Riverfest will take place June in and around the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita. Rock Road, S. Ridge Road and N. Rock Road in Derby. The app, developed by Clutch Studios, will provide attendees with maps, event and concert schedules, notifications of festival updates, and even a scavenger hunt game that encourages Riverfest fans to explore the festival and identify locations with a series of clues.
The Riverfest Mobile App will be available to download for iPhone and Android, starting later this month. Rudd and Standard Beverage Corp. Dascher, president and CEO of the e2e Accelerator. Newman to Wichita for a number of years. KEYN is the media partner for the concert.
To help build future Kansas entrepreneurs, Leslie Rudd Investment Company and Standard Beverage are excited to partner with e2e FuturEpreneurship and Riverfest to showcase and benefit student entrepreneurs. Full-price buttons will be available at major button retailors Dillons and QuikTrip starting May 5. She has been a proud member of the WFI operations committee since , including serving as Riverfest general chairperson lead volunteer in Johnson is the 44th Admiral and the second woman.
As the official ambassador of Riverfest , Johnson will visit children in local hospitals, speak to Wichita civic organizations and help host dozens of events during the nine days of Riverfest, June Full-price buttons will be available at major button retailors Dillons and QuikTrip beginning May 5.
Nine days of concerts and more than one hundred events are all free with a Riverfest button. These entertainers have a combined million-plus YouTube views, years of performance experience and more than 60 appearances in film and television, ranging from major motion pictures to Sesame Street.
Nowhere else can you attend nine days of high-caliber, diverse performances for such an accessible price. Prolific alternative music legends, the Lips have released fourteen studio albums, one soundtrack, fifteen singles, and fifteen EPs.
Students will join Wood onstage for this unique evening that will feature music, art, courage and encouragement. Mountain Deer Revival will open. McPherson will be the opening act. He has been nominated for 19 Grammy Awards and won three.
Denver hip-hop artists Flobots, will open. Experimental pop duo Lewis Del Mar will also perform. Art-filled presentation at Emprise Bank includes announcement of the Riverfest Artist-in-Residence. We have such a talented community of artists, and I think the quality of design surrounding Riverfest confirms that each year. Also, businesses and organizations that purchase buttons will have the opportunity to reserve group seating at the food court on weekdays.
Tech Midwest, which debuted last year as Hackathon ICT, will expand offerings to include speakers, vendors and other features for those interested in the tech industry. STEAM City, also established in , will grow to give even more young people a peek into the vast variety of careers available in Wichita.
Attendees were reminded to fit the planning and building of parade floats and decorating of bicycles into their spring plans for the Safelite AutoGlass Sundown Parade and Pedal Parade. New festival elements include a virtual tour of the new Wichita Public Library; large, jumbotron-style LED screens and a Riverfest mobile app, sponsored by Westar Energy.
Lewis, a graduate of Maize High School and University of Kansas, grew up with a habit of doodling on every handout ever given to her. In her spare time, she pursues her other creative passions of illustration, drawing and printmaking.
She is inspired by the creativity of children and strives to keep playfulness and joy at the forefront of her work. Formerly an apprentice under renowned Wichita artist Steve Murillo, Tripoli is an established muralist. Working with the Douglas Design District, Tripoli designs and executes public murals to encourage tourism and interest in local merchants. He is a teaching artist and muralist for Arts Partners Wichita, and a gallery assistant and artist at Reuben Saunders Gallery.
The artist progressively works toward a universal language for visual arts in the community. Annual financial results were positive, which will allow the organization to rebuild its reserves and organize high-quality programs in Our sponsors, donors, collaborators and volunteers — they are percent dedicated to making this community great. Sponsor support is up more than 40 percent in four years.
More information about Wichita Festivals, Inc. Open now: Emprise Bank Poster-Art Contest and calls for festival entertainers, event organizers and food vendors. Wednesday, Dec. Fulton of Grene Vision Group is chair-elect. The board secretary is Capt. Gavin Seiler of Wichita Police Department. The officers and directors were elected at the Wichita Festivals, Inc. Wilson, accountant. Crowds totaling , attended the 45th Riverfest June , up from , in Food and beverage sales were also up, with an increase of seventeen percent over As reported in June, According to the Wichita Police Department, there were only five arrests on or near the festival grounds, a new record for the festival and a result of securely gating the event.
This safe and inviting environment, along with cooperative weather and new events designed to draw a wider variety of attendees, contributed to the attendance and sales increases.
Community support for the festival continued to rise as well. Cash sponsorships are up thirteen percent since and a total of 48 percent since Celebrations for a Cause, an initiative to ensure that those in need are able to attend Riverfest, provided 2, buttons to 29 area non-profit charitable organizations that distributed them to those they serve, thanks to leading donors Greene Vision Group, King Arthur Flour, Rotary Club of East Wichita, Ron Ryan and Safelite AutoGlass.
Volunteer involvement continued to grow, with more than 7, people donating more than 35, hours of time before, during and after the festival, including new volunteers and volunteer groups from companies and organizations. This colorful fabric-art piece will re-appear alongside the river, south of the Hyatt Regency, for future Riverfests and other city events.
Headliner concerts continued to be a major draw, with 25, fans gathering for Elle King, presented by Koch Industries; 20, in attendance at the Violent Femmes concert; and 19, at the Coleman Country Concert with co-headliners Brothers Osborne and A Thousand Horses. Two Hispanic-themed concerts on Saturday, June 4 and Saturday, June 11 drew crowds of 10, and 17,, respectively. New events in included Blacktop Nationals Presented by Midwest Ford Dealers, previously a stand-alone event that was incorporated into Riverfest , and Riverfest Hackathon with support from the Knight Foundation.
Early numbers and safety, security record very positive; button sales and complete financial results still being calculated. We had exciting new events and partnerships — such as the Blacktop Nationals car show and a Habitat for Humanity blitz build right on site! Cash sponsorships are up 13 percent since and a total of 48 percent since Non-cash donations ranged from trucks, heavy equipment and air-conditioned RedGuard Site Boxes to media advertising space and broadcast time to publicize the festival.
Festival officials expect work-hours for these volunteers to total more than 35, hours. In addition, more than 23, buttons were sold at the festival gates, up about 10 percent from The 45th Riverfest took place June and offered a wide range of entertainment for all ages. All we ask is that people come prepared to not only have fun but be safe. The sun is great, but everyone needs to be smart: stay hydrated, bring sunscreen, and take care of each other in the heat and the crowds.
The 45th Riverfest takes place through June 11th and offers a wide range of entertainment for all ages. We want a great event, and that starts with being safe!
Festival attendees can also access a full daily event schedule on their mobile devices. We will randomly award prizes to attendees wearing their best Riverfest flair! The 45th Riverfest takes place Friday, June 3rd through June 11th and offers a wide range of entertainment for all ages. Gospelfest, which begins at p. Sheard, from Detroit, Mich. We are proud to showcase exceptional talent — not only Mr. Cortez and Ms.
Sheard, but also every local musician and performer gracing our stage. We hope the whole community comes out for this special night. Wichita should pull out their dancing shoes. Follow the Riverfest Gospelfest page on Facebook. Rachel Norwood; and Wichita Festivals staff members. Festival attendees can also access a full daily event schedule and festival map on their mobile devices. Cash prizes are up for grabs during the 10th annual Riverfest Photography Contest. One lucky festival attendee will pedal home on a custom cruiser.
Watch as volunteers build an energy efficient home in only 8 days! Ride to the fest and park your bike for free! Meridian -more-. Judging at 1 p. Sponsored by Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Shootout p. Country Two Step, p m. The 45th Riverfest takes place Friday through June 11 and offers a wide range of entertainment for all ages.
Second grader Carlie Hernandez from Seltzer was named overall winner of the competition and was also the recipient of the 2nd Grade 1st Place award. Nearly 2, contest entries were received from Kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders representing nine area public and parochial schools.
Francis of Assisi Lisa Lang. Division competition winners are as follows:. Francis of Assisi. The event is a fun run for children aged two to seven, where everyone who crosses the finish line receives a medallion. The Meritrust Tot Trot will begin at a. Registrants receive an event T-shirt and Riverfest button. Registration is currently taking place online at RiverRunWichita.
Dillard, president and a co-owner of Pickrell Drilling Company, Inc. Dillard joined the Operations Committee in and has contributed his talents in a number of areas, including button sales, food service, River Run, and in recent years, the Safelite AutoGlass Sundown Parade. A member of the Wichita Wagonmasters since , he has served as Captain, as well as in many other roles for the organization. I look forward to the opportunity to represent the festival and our community, and to the challenge of living up to the example set by so many excellent Admirals who have preceded me.
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