Riverfest highlights: Where to catch the parade, watch the fireworks, ride the river

Wichita’s biggest downtown party kicks off its nine-day run Friday with fireworks and a parade. Most of the events take place near Century II – on the east side of the Arkansas River, in an area roughly bounded by Douglas, Waterman, Main Street and the river.

Admission to all events is a button: $10 for adults and $3 for children ages 6-12.

Remember: No pets, weapons, coolers or outside food and drink inside the festival gates. Wear your button; you’ll need it even to get into the food court.

Sundown Parade

The Safelite AutoGlass Sundown Parade will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 3. The parade starts at Third and Main by the County Courthouse, then runs south on Main, west on Douglas, and north on Waco back up to Third Street. The viewing stand is on Douglas in front of Century II. There are 120 entries this year.

Fireworks plus pops

There are two fireworks show during the fest, on opening night and closing night – at 10 p.m. Friday, June 3, and at 10:30 p.m. June 11. The fireworks for both shows will be shot off from the same spot over the Arkansas River, with best viewing along the river from Lewis Street to First Street, though construction blocks the west bank from Douglas to First. Tune the radio to 97.1 BOB-FM for accompanying music both nights.

The Wichita Symphony Orchestra will perform the Twilight Pops Concert before the opening-night fireworks on Friday, June 3, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the Kennedy Plaza Stage, next to Century II. The concert will end with the traditional 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky. The 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery Regiment cannons and bells from the Bloomfield Carillon at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum will join in the dramatic work. The concert also will be broadcast on 97.1 BOB FM.

Human foosball

In human foosball, people line up along a pole and try to kick a ball with their feet, moving only side to side with the pole, their hands always remaining on the pole. You can show up and try it out during open play for $5 during these three time periods: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 4 and 5, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 11 in Ackerman’s Backyard at A. Price Woodard Park, 401 W. Douglas. It is played with teams of six, but individuals can play if there’s a team to join.

There also will be a tournament for teams that have already registered, from 2 to 6 p.m. June 11.

Into the Darkness

Put on a blindfold, receive a cane, and join a guide in a blacked-out tent to get a sense of what it is to be blind. Guiding Paws will sponsor Into the Darkness, during which participants will try to identify objects using their senses other than sight. There also will be a mock-up of crossing a street where participants will have to listen for traffic sounds and audible cues from traffic lights. The experience will take about half an hour. Times are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, in the grassy area behind the Wichita Public Library, 223 S. Main. It’s included with a Riverfest button, and donations also will be accepted for Guiding Eyes for the Blind.

Rollin’ on the river

The Riverfest is monitoring river levels and currents to see if it is safe to stage water events following recent rains. Definitely a go: anything powered by a motor, namely the Wagonmasters River Tours and Jet Ski Racing. The river tours will set out daily on a fancified pontoon boat, giving participants a chance to see the Keeper of the Plains from the water. Hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 4 and 5, and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. June 11, setting out from under the Douglas Avenue Bridge. It’s free with a button.

Jet Ski Racing – in the form of the IJSBA Mid-America Watercross Championships – will be 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 4, and 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 5, on the Arkansas River by the Hyatt.

Paddle boats were scheduled to be available daily, but last year they weren’t until the Wednesday of the fest, and this year, once again the decision will be made each day as to whether they can go out. (The schedule that they keep if they can go out: 3 to 8:30 p.m. weekdays and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 11.) They are at Cox Kids Corner on the Hyatt Regency lawn.

Check the Riverfest website for the latest on particular events: wichitariverfest.com.

Ride the zipline

The Riverfest Zipline will take off from Ackerman’s Backyard, 401 W. Douglas, daily for $10 with a Riverfest button. Hours will be noon to 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday and 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Hot-air balloons

At this year’s Riverfest, there will be two balloon launches, weather permitting – before the River Run, at 6 a.m. Saturday, June 4, and 6 p.m. Sunday, June 5 – adjacent to the RedGuard Stage, near the Hyatt. “Glows” – during which the balloons will be fired up but remain on the ground to glow – will be 6 p.m. Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4. The balloons will be based south of the RedGuard Stage.

Kite and butterfly fests

People can send kites into the air during the Wings of the Wind Kite Festival on two days — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5. You can bring your own kite or buy one at the event in the RedGuard Stage area, near WaterWalk. And with a Riverfest button, you can get into Botanica, 701 N. Amidon, for $3 from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday for the opening of the butterfly house and many activities. The first 100 children will get to release a butterfly.

Shopping at the fest

In addition to picking up Riverfest merchandise, there are a couple of other opportunities to shop at the fest. The Riverfest Marketplace will be open two days — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Douglas and Main — featuring 36 booths of local artisans, makers, upcyclers, junkers, crafters and curators. There also will be a farmers market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday on Kennedy Plaza.

“E.T.” under the stars

Of all movies, “E.T.” should be seen under the stars, and it will be, at 9 p.m. Thursday during Wichita Magazine Throwback Theater at the RedGuard Stage, near the Boathouse at Maple and Water.

For the children

Every day of the fest at Cox Kids Corner on the Hyatt Lawn, you can find inflatables and kiddie rides, plus games, art and science projects and other surprises from 2 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 2 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. It’s included in a Riverfest button; no button is required for children 5 and younger.

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 3:30 PM with the headline "Riverfest highlights: Where to catch the parade, watch the fireworks, ride the river."