June Riverfest dates, other events collide
The Wichita River Festival's new dates for next year would conflict with other longstanding events both large and small, but festival officials say they are considering remedies to ease concerns, including moving the finale pops concert and fireworks to opening night.
The festival, which officials announced last week will be moved to June 3-11 next year, will go up against Music Theatre of Wichita's opening weekend and the Special Olympics' Summer Games, along with other events.
But there's no reason to think that all events can't be staged successfully, said Janet Wright, the festival's president. Conflicting events are a sign of a vibrant community, she said, and they're likely to continue happening.
Wayne Bryan, producing artistic director of Music Theatre, said he does not know how street closings, sound interference, and parking issues will affect MTW's 40th anniversary opening weekend, which is June 8-12.
To see what patrons thought, Music Theatre distributed surveys at its shows last weekend. Of the 2,919 surveys completed, the majority of people said Riverfest would not affect their attendance, though 17 percent said they would not attend the first show.
Music Theatre books Century II five years in advance, and Bryan said he has already negotiated contracts for 2011. Bryan said he is not opposed to the festival moving, but he thinks next year is too soon.
"Many people feel that June is the right time for the River Festival," he said. "It just has to be handled with fairness for everybody, with enough planning time to do it correctly and not just rush in for next year, which is already set for many of us."
Traditionally, Music Theatre puts on an event called the Festival of Broadway on the Tuesday of Riverfest, which would fall on the show's dress rehearsal for its first show next year. Bryan said he is still considering the event, maybe with a second company of performers, though it would put a strain on staff and crew during show week.
With the festival's date change, Riverfest officials will have to cancel their current contract for May with Century II, which does have financial implications, said John D'Angelo, Wichita's arts and cultural services manager. Due to the date change, D'Angelo said Century II would not be available to the festival in June because other events already have contracts. This includes the outdoor Kennedy Plaza, where the Art, Book and Craft Fair has been.
"There really is no opportunity for them to use the building like they have in the past," D'Angelo said.
Besides moving the location of festival events away from Century II, Riverfest officials are also considering moving the finale pops concert and fireworks show to the first Friday of the festival next year, which would be June 3.
The first Friday is when the Sundown Parade is traditionally staged, and in recent years a concert and fireworks show have taken place after the parade. Wright said she was uncertain what kinds of events might replace those usually staged on the festival's final night.
Koch Industries Inc. has sponsored the Koch Twilight Pops concert for 30 years, but The Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation is also a founding sponsor of the 5-year-old Symphony in the Flint Hills, set for the same Saturday.
"Sponsoring two major outdoor symphony events on the same night would be a concern," said Susan Addington, community relations manager for Koch Industries and the Koch Foundation. "We hope options can be worked out to ensure that each event has its own dedicated night."
Sharon Benson, festival coordinator for the Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina — scheduled for June 9-12 — said Kansas tourism could be hurt by having so many popular events on the same weekend in June.
"I just don't think it's good for any of us to have people choosing," Benson said.
Though some groups think Riverfest will detract from their events, Mitch Guthrie, regional director for south-central Kansas Special Olympics, said he did not think the Special Olympics' Summer Games would see a decrease in volunteers. River Festival also relies heavily on volunteer support.
"A lot of them have done it for so many years that I don't think anything can pull them away from our event," Guthrie said.
Guthrie also said there is talk of incorporating the games with Riverfest, possibly making the Law Enforcement Torch Run a festival event, which he said would attract more attention.
Though people are split on the new dates, Wright said moving the festival further into June wasn't an option due to a Jehovah's Witness convention, which has been guaranteed 1,700 downtown parking spaces. Moving into July means Riverfest would possibly be going up against Kansas heat.
D'Angleo said he has a meeting Wednesday morning to discuss plans concerning the date change with Wright. Bryan, who was invited, said he would attend.
"I do not believe there's been enough confirmation of details to render it doable by next June," Bryan said. "I feel this kind of major planning... should have adequate planning time and a great deal of cooperation and dialogue."
This story was originally published June 29, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "June Riverfest dates, other events collide."