More Answers to your Questions!

Thanks for many of our Facebook fans, we have a new slew of questions for you! After reading these and you feel like you have some burning questions for us, send them our way via our Facebook page, Twitter (twitter.com/Riverfest) or e-mail them to allyson@wichitafestivals.com.

We love your questions and we hope you love our answers! Responding again is WFI's fearless leader, Janet Wright...

Stephanie Crow asks...
Why did you drop the poster contest?

Answer: We received fewer and fewer quality entries so we had to make a choice about how to best get something that represented the Festival. That’s why we did away with the contest. We’re looking at potentially bringing it back for the 40th anniversary in 2011.


Mandy-Melinda Price-Yokom asks...
Can you bring back the Legend of Windwagon Smith? I think it's important to tell the Legend if we're going to have the Admiral be a big part of Riverfest!!

Answer: You read our minds! We were just having this discussion last week. We need to find a way to make it entertaining and not to cost prohibitive. But, we’re working on it. It may be something that comes back in 2011 for the 40th anniversary celebration.


Jackie Bigley asks...
What happened to the beach party? I was young, remember lots of sand, beach balls, and music! FUN!

Answer: That was before my time here, but it sounds great. We’ve been looking into some of the events from years past to bring them back. This might be one. Thanks for reminding us!


And lastly, Carolyn Ramsey asks...
Is there anyway to find the names of the musicians who played at the corner of Douglas and S. Waco Circle (west of Century II) on Saturday, May 14, 1974 around 5 p.m.? My husband and I met while standing on that corner listening to them.

Answer: Unfortunately we don’t have good files going back that far. Sorry! But, I’m glad you have a great memory like that to share with us.

Your Questions Answered

Thanks to everyone who sent us questions regarding Riverfest! We know that there are probably many, many more questions out there and we would love to hear them and answer them for you!

Our lovely WFI President/CEO, Janet Wright, was given five questions to answer ... and here are her responses:

Question: Why do I have to buy a button to attend Riverfest when I pay taxes?

Answer: Good question! Riverfest isn’t funded by the City of Wichita. Wichita Festivals is an independent non-profit organization. We rely on corporate sponsorships, charitable contributions, button and food sales to pay for Riverfest. We receive a grant from the City to help off-set costs and they provide help through the Park and Public Works Departments, but they don’t fund the Festival.


Question: I have a great idea for an event at Riverfest. Who do I need to talk to about putting this in place?

Answer: We love new ideas! Check out our web site at wichitariverfestival.com or click here for information on how to propose a new event. Or, if you’d like to talk to someone for more information call our office at 267-2817 and ask to speak to Kathryn Ewing, Director of Events. She’d love to hear your idea!

Question: Why is Riverfest held at the beginning of May? I’ve heard a lot of people complain about the timing… I just assumed that it was a ‘tradition’ to have it then.

Answer: Yes, the timing of Riverfest is primarily tradition. It’s always been Wichita’s celebration of spring. We’ve checked into having it in June thinking the weather might be better, but records show we have as much rain in June as in May, so there appears to be no ideal time. We may consider moving it to later in the month of May for 2011, but nothing is confirmed at this time.

Question: Can you please get a big-name entertainer to Riverfest?!

Answer: We’ve had several big-name entertainers recently, Daughtry and Nick Lachey to name a couple. But in terms of even bigger “stars” their fees can range from $150,000 to $500,000 depending on the person. Unfortunately that’s just not in our budget at this time.

Question: I’m 25 and have lived in Wichita for the past three years, but have yet to go to Riverfest. Is there anything for people my age to do or anyway to get involved?

Answer: (Answered by the 26-year-old staffer!) I, also, have only lived in Wichita for a few years. When I first learned of Riverfest, I was told about the concerts and the food... which is wonderful! After having worked the Festival, I have learned there are plenty of things for someone your age to enjoy. If you are active, try participating in Plunge or the Dodge Ball tournament and win some money! If you like to sit back and relax, find a spot in Downtown Wichita on First Friday and watch the parade, bring a chair down and go to the concerts at West Bank Stage and Kennedy Plaza or just come and people watch! And the food and drinks are always great... If you want to become more directly involved, think about volunteering or being on a Riverfest committee. There is also Festival Crew, which is a way for individuals to support Wichita Festivals and Riverfest while also enjoying special benefits such as backstage passes to the concerts, special seating at the parade, VIP chalet passes to West Bank and Kennedy Plaza concerts, etc.

Hope this satisfies your curiousity for now! Again, if you ever have any questions, feel free to call our office at 267-2817 or contact any of the staff and we'll be sure to find the answers for you!

Come Sail Away with Wichita Festivals!

Interested in spending five days in the sun and water during one of the coldest months in Wichita? Then you've come to the right place!

Wichita Festivals has teamed up with Royal Caribbean to offer a 'Friends of the Festival' Cruise, departing from the Sunshine State on February 22, 2010.

The five-night cruise offers a round-trip itinerary from Miami, Fla., and will make port of call stops in Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, Belize on the Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. Four stateroom options are available at various price points.

Not only will passengers have the chance to mingle with fellow Wichitans and support WFI and Riverfest, they will be aboard a cruise ship with some of the cruise industry’s most amazing features: a rock-climbing wall, basketball court, ice skating rink, in-line skating track, a five-story theatre, casino, miniature golf course and a three-story dining room to name a few.

Included in the per person cruise fare is a $50 tax-deductible contribution to WFI. Royal Caribbean will match a portion of the contribution, making this a win-win for everyone!

For more information about the 'Friends of the Festival' Cruise, click here or call Devin Hansen, Sunflower Realty, at (316) 634-1700.

Make your reservation today and support Riverfest 2010!

Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill out our Riverfest feedback survey. We were very pleased with the responses and have taken the comments into consideration for planning of the 2010 Riverfest.

We had our wonderful Admiral Windwagon Smith XXXVI, Dave Carter, draw the winner of the two (2) free roundtrip AirTran Airways tickets out of a hat. I promise you, they were mixed up, tossed and jumbled numerous times before the actual winner's name was drawn.

Want to know who won... just for filling out a survey?!

Click here to find out!

Again, thanks to everyone who participated. We look forward to seeing you at next year's Riverfest, May 7-15, 2010!

The Results are in...

Thanks to everyone who filled out the survey regarding Riverfest. All of the comments and suggestions have been compiled for the entire Wichita Festivals staff to see.

Now for the winner of the two FREE roundtrip AirTran Airways tickets...

Drum roll, please...

NOT SO FAST!

Check back here (or on Twitter... or on Facebook) next Thursday, August 13, to find out the winner via a *special* announcement!

Thanks again! See you next Thursday!

We Need YOUR Feedback!

Would you like the chance to give Wichita Festivals, Inc. (WFI) your feedback on Riverfest 2009 AND be entered into a drawing to win two (2) roundtrip AirTran Airways tickets?

Then look no further!

WFI has prepared a 12-question survey with questions relating to Riverfest events, entertainment, how did you hear about the Festival, etc. Your feedback will help determine how WFI moves forward in 2010.

Click here to take the survey for your chance to give us your thoughts and for us to give you a chance at free AirTran Airways tickets!

Thanks in advance... and Good luck!

Going Paperless

Over the course of the past year, in attempt to save money… and a few trees along the way, WFI went paperless.

Sort of!

Instead of sending out entry forms for all of the Riverfest participatory events this past year, a postcard was sent to former participants, notifying them that all entry forms were available online at wichitariverfestival.com.

This year, we will continue our ‘Going Paperless’ endeavor, sending out invitations, brochures, as well as the participatory event entry forms via e-mail this year. Not only are we saving money (and our precious trees!), but we are staying with the times and moving to the digital world.

We realize that not everyone has the capability to download the information from our website. If you need a hardcopy of a brochure, an entry form, etc., give the WFI office a call at (316) 267-2817 and we can drop one in the mail for you or have you stop by our office and pick a copy up!

Be sure that you’re not left out and send us the e-mail address you want to use for getting Festival updates to info@wichitafestivals.com. Then be sure to watch your inbox for news and updates!