Wichita Riverfest returns Friday for first ‘normal’ outing in 3 years. What to expect:
The Wichita Riverfest returns on Friday for its 50th anniversary outing — marking the first “normal” Riverfest since 2019.
Attendees will find that many aspects of the festival have changed in 2022: The adult button price has gone up to $15, the concerts will be consolidated on one big stage, and the footprint will be a bit smaller as most activities are moved closer to Century II and away from the WaterWalk.
They’ll also find, though, that many of the festival’s old favorites will be back to their usual formats. The event will include both opening- and closing-night fireworks shows, for example, and fan favorites like the Sundown Parade, River Run, Twilight Pops concert, food court, Kids’ Corner, ice cream social and Cajun Food Fest all will be back. And so will concerts by big-name performers: Country legend Willie Nelson will appear at the festival on Saturday.
Putting together this year’s festival has been a bit of a challenge, said Nancy Duling, who was hired in January to take over as president/CEO of Wichita Festivals Inc. — a job that had been vacant since 2020. Though she has past experience — Duling served as the festival’s director of events from 1990 to 1996 and as its director of development from 2000 to 2001 — she and her staff had to put things together quickly.
Those who were on staff in 2021 — when because of COVID precautions the bulk of the festival was put on as a four-day fall event in late September and early October — had to rebound rather quickly to do it all again.
They’ve done an outstanding job, Duling said, but it wasn’t easy, and the process has been complicated by a reality that’s facing everyone of late: inflation.
The festival has had to deal with significantly higher prices on things like porta-potty and tent rentals, trash service and paper for printing programs, Duling said. Supply chain issues have also plagued the festival.
Still, the staff is optimistic for this year, and they’ve heard few complaints about the button price hike — the first since 2015, when adult buttons doubled in price from $5 to $10.
“I think people are recognizing the value of what they’re getting,” said Jenny Venn, the festival’s new director of marketing and communication. “Now they know that we’re bringing in national acts for this, and we have all these events. . . . And there are so many people who are such fierce advocates on social media, who are like, ‘Are you kidding me? You’re going to see Willie Nelson for $15.’”
It’s been a tough couple of years for the festival, organizers admit. Like all events designed to entertain big crowds, it had to absorb some big losses during COVID-19. The festival was canceled in 2020, the first time that’s happened since the first festival was staged in 1972. And was split into two parts in 2021, with the annual River Run anchoring the June half and all the marquee events saved for an abbreviated four-day run that happened Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
As a result of all the COVID interruptions, the festival had to cut staff — including its new president and CEO Ty Tabing — in 2020, and that same year, it even asked patrons for emergency cash donations. But the festival got through the hard times with a COVID assistance grant, Duling said.
Now, the staff and the festival’s longtime fans are ready for a return to normal, and the staff decided to celebrate the event’s big 5-0 this year even though, because it was forced to skip 2020, this year’s festival will technically be the 49th.
“Everyone’s really excited about it being back,” Venn said. “And so I’ve been pleasantly surprised walking into this about the excitement of people for this and the sponsors being ready to be back at it with us. That’s been a blessing.”
Most events at the Wichita Riverfest are free with a button. They’re $15 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under. Buttons are available at the Riverfest gates and at local QuikTrip stores.
Here’s a list of some of the changes and additions to this year’s festival:
The headliners will be concentrated on one stage: For years, the festival has spread its musical headliners among two big stages. The main stage has always been at Kennedy Plaza just outside Century II, but through 2019, a second stage was set up at the Wichita WaterWalk. Last year, some of the big name acts performed on the stage at Wave, the musical venue at 650 E. Second St.
For 2022, though, the festival has decided to go with just the main stage on Kennedy Plaza, and that’s where people will see acts like Willie Nelson and family on Saturday, War on Sunday, Gov’t Mule on Wednesday and The Family Stone on closing night, June 11. See a full list of concerts at wichitariverfest.com/music
The food court stage will still be active, too, and fans will be able to hear local and regional acts perform there throughout the festival.
The festival will have just one main food court: Pre-COVID, the festival always spread out onto the Wichita Waterwalk on the south side of the Hyatt, and when it did, it would always have two big food courts. But this year, the food vendors will mostly be concentrated at the main food court on the east side of Century II. (Though there will be some satellite vendors at the Kid’s Corner in A. Price Woodard Park.)
The food court during last fall’s event was smaller, but this year’s will be back to full power with all the favorite vendors from the past, including Tad’s Bodacious Burritos, Original Corn Roast, Chan’s Concessions and D&J Pronto Pup — plus a few new vendors. The food court will be officially opened at 11:45 a.m. on Friday with a ceremony that will feature daytime fireworks. Food will still need to be purchased with tickets, which can be purchased at the food court.
Downtown Get Down is this year’s marquee event: This event, intended to hearken back to the Riverfest Block Party that festivalgoers once loved, will happen from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sunday on Main Street between Douglas and English. It will be one of this year’s biggest attractions and will include several of the festival’s favorite activities, including the Celebrity Egg Toss, the Funnel Cake Eating Contest, the Wing Eating Contest and Portraits with the Admiral. It’ll also include a corn hole contest, trike races, a tug of war, yard games, a button swap, a kids book giveaway and a martial arts demonstration. Also, members of the Wichita State University men’s basketball team will be there signing autographs and playing HORSE.
Fiesta Del Rio will grow into an all-day party: In the past, Fiesta Del Rio was a one-night Riverfest concert that drew hundreds of people to see popular Norteno bands. This year, the festival is turning it into an all-day party scheduled for 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, June 10. The event will feature packaged Mexican food being sold all day, a Mexican “mercado” with Hispanic vendors, mariachi bands and dancing lessons on the food court stage, and pinatas shaped like the Windwagon and the Admiral. Starting at 5 p.m., popular bands Bryndis X Siempre and Grupo Pesado will perform on the Kennedy Plaza Stage.
Fiesta Del Rio used to happen on the secondary stage, but it drew such big crowds in 2019 that organizers decided it needed to be promoted and expanded, Duling said.
The Budweiser Clydesdales will be in attendance: People love the majestic Budweiser Clydesdale horses, and they’ll be at this year’s festival through Tuesday. Not only will the horses march in the Sundown Parade on Friday, but they’ll also be on display in a special stable area the festival is setting up for them at 223 S. Main.
Riverfest Artfest Pop Up Art Market will be an opening weekend event: The festival has partnered with Haute Handmade for a big outdoor market featuring more than 65 vendors. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Century II Exhibition Hall.
Returning events
Here’s a list of other favorite festival events that will be included in this year’s festival, some of which haven’t happened since 2019.
Fireworks: The festival will again have opening and closing night fireworks that will start following the pops concert on Friday and at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. Best viewing will be along the Arkansas River from Maple and Waterman to First Street.
Sundown Parade: The parade, which last year was a static event people drove past, will return to normal this year and last from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. The route runs south on Main starting on Second Street then heads east on English then back north on Market to Second Street, where it ends.
Twilight Pops Concert: The Wichita Symphony Orchestra will perform the “William Tell Overture” and more from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Friday on the Kennedy Plaza Stage.
River Run: The annual race happens from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday. For complete race information and registration, runners should visit RiverRunWichita.com
Kids’ Corner: The event will include bouncy houses, games, arts and science projects and more and will be set up at A. Price Woodard Park from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Monday through June 9; and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and June 10-11. The inflatables will be set up near the Tripodal sculpture northwest of Century II and will be open the same time as Kids’ Corner with the exception of Wednesday, when they’ll be closed.
Carnival: The big carnival that used to be set up outside of the Riverfest is now part of the Riverfest and will return from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and June 10-11; and 6 to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday. It’ll be in a lot at 511 S. Water and will include a big Ferris wheel and more. Admission to the carnival is free, but people will have to buy ride tickets on site.
Hot Air Balloons: Weather permitting, the balloons will glow and possibly fly from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and from 7 to 8 a.m. Saturday. They’ll be set up and launched in the 500 block of South Water.
Ice Cream Social: it’s back and scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on Douglas Avenue in front of Century II. Fans can line up for free bowls of Hiland Dairy ice cream and toppings and watch an ice cream sandwich eating contest.
Cajun Food Fest: This popular eating event returns from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Century II Exhibition Hall and Kennedy Plaza. The dinner includes chicken etouffee, red beans and sausage served over rice, and homemade bread pudding with bourbon custard sauce. The meals cost $10 at the event.
Wagonmasters River Tours: The Wagonmasters will once again be offering pontoon boat cruises on the Arkansas River from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through June 10; and noon to 5:30 p.m. June 11. The tours depart under the Douglas Avenue Bridge on the north side of Douglas, east of the Arkansas River, and are free with a Riverfest button.
Paddle boats: People can once again take paddle boats out onto the Arkansas River from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday; 3:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 5 to 8 p.m. Monday-June 9; and 1 to 8 p.m. June 10-11. The boats will launch from the Arkansas River Boats & Bikes facility at River Vista, 150 N. McLean.
Helicopter rides: For $40 a person, festival fans can fly overhead in a helicopter. The copters will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday; 5 to 9 p.m. Monday-June 9; 2 to 9 p.m. June 10; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 11.
Riverfest Classic Car Show: Car lovers can check out a huge collection of classic cars inside the Century II Expo Hall from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 10, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11.
Medallion Hunt: The Eagle Medallion Hunt launches on Thursday, and a new clue will be offered daily through June 9 or whenever the medallion is found. A $1,000 cash prize is up for grabs. For for full details, visit kansas.com/riverfest
For more information and a full schedule: Visit wichitariverfest.com or download the Wichita Riverfest App
This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 5:01 AM.
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