A little bit of sunshine: Wichita Riverfest reveals artwork for 2023 button, poster
Dozens of people stood in the lobby of Emprise Bank in downtown Wichita on Monday for the unveiling of the poster and button designs for Riverfest 2023.
A rower on the river, a runner crossing the finish line and a guitar flowing into fireworks in the sky all are part of the poster design.
A smiling sun is the top element in both the poster and buttons.
“Obviously good weather is very important for Riverfest,” said Adam Anderson, senior art director and designer at Gardner Design, who did the work.
“You have your sun here at the top kind of wrapping an embrace around the entirety of the poster symbolizing a warm and inviting symbol of what we want.”
The 51st Riverfest will be held June 2-10. Adult buttons and kids buttons will be available for purchase at area QuikTrips starting May 8. Adults buttons will be $15 and $5 dollars for children. Kids five years and younger get in for free.
Early-bird purchase of buttons will be available online April 17- May 7. Buttons will be $10 during this time.
The poster and button designs took about 30 hours to create, or a little over a month, Anderson said. This includes conceptual thinking, brainstorming, and sketches.
“They really wanted to highlight the history and past of Riverfest, but also look forward to the future,” he said of Wichita Festivals, which organizes the festival. “So that was the real inspiration.”
“We’re wanting to create something that feels very connected,” Anderson said.
Nancy Duling, president and CEO of Wichita Festivals, commended Anderson and his team for the design.
“The poster and artwork capture the milestone of 50 years of Riverfest while including the excitement for what the future holds for the festival,” she said.
This story was originally published January 23, 2023 at 2:20 PM.