Wichita River Festival History
In 1970, Wichita celebrated its 100th birthday. In honor of the anniversary, city leaders, both public and private, decided to host a Centennial Celebration. Lasting the entire year, the Centennial had a strictly hometown flavor – lots of displays, a parade, a queen and her court and events showcasing Wichita’s history.
Since the Arkansas River was an important city resource, organizers designated the last day of the celebration the “Wichitennial Water Festival.” A carnival, hoe-down, hometown fair, water shows, a pow-wow and fishing contest were held. The day ended with a reception and dance for the Queen’s Council, a parade of floats on the river and a fireworks finale.
Realizing the popularity of the year-long event, leaders responsible for the Centennial decided to establish an annual celebration to maintain the progress they had begun. In late 1970, John Bell called supporters together to discuss making the Wichitennial an annual event. By the fall of 1971, it was decided to form a permanent non-profit organization, Wichita Festivals, Inc., to be responsible for the Festival. It took a year to form the framework and in May of 1972, the first Wichitennial River Festival took place.
By 1974, the Wichitennial River Festival had proved such a success it expanded to 10 days. This was also the first year for the Festival ambassador, Admiral Windwagon Smith, and the support group known as the Wichita Wagonmasters. In 1979, the name of the event was changed to the “Wichita River Festival®.”
From the very beginning, the Festival’s success hinged on a public-private partnership, with button sales and corporate underwriting the basis for it’s financing. In 1972, 2,000 buttons were sold to individuals in the community along with corporate support from The Coleman Company, KG&E, The Gas Service Company and several banks.
Thirty-six years later, this tradition remains the foundation of the Festival’s funding base, with 120,000 buttons sold in 2006 and approximately $650,000 in cash generated in corporate sponsorships. Hundreds of local businesses purchase buttons each year for their employees and corporate clients, while retailers across Wichita and Kansas sell buttons to the public.
The Wichita River Festival has grown from a one-day event with an attendance of several thousand, to a nine-day event attracting over 350,000 participants from Wichita and across the State of Kansas.
Festival facts
- More than 150 hours of musical entertainment, performed by more than 100 bands.
- Volunteers serve more than 4,000 hours in planning and implementation.
- Each year, more than 90% of the 160 sponsors return to sponsor events.
- Riverfest is the only event of its size held in the Mid-West during May.
2006 Riverfest
- Attendance: record crowd - 370,000-390,000 over 9 days!
- Economic impact: $25.6 million
- Sponsor commitments: 163 companies, investment value - $1.75 million
- Record crowds: estimated 20,000-25,000 at Nick Lachey & REO Speedwagon concerts and many others
The Wichita Wagonmasters accompany the Windwagon in the parade.
The Sundown Parade
Walk Fest group