Thank you to Wichita Festivals for sponsoring this guide and for bringing quality events to Wichita families.
You know summer has arrived when Riverfest is here; jam-packed with fun, food and music for the entire family! This year’s festival is June 3-11 and the price is right – only $10 for adults (ages 13 and up), and $3 for kiddos (ages 6-12). Little ones five years and younger get in free!
Established in 1970 to celebrate Wichita’s 100th anniversary, Riverfest is celebrating its 45th festival this year. The largest community event in Kansas, this 9-day party is one of the largest on Earth, ranking #50 in PollStar’s Top 100 of Outdoor Events Worldwide.
There are more than 125 events to choose from at Riverfest 2016. Where else can you and the family have nine days of fun for so little cash? Buying a Riverfest button shows your support for our community as well as our community party, and besides, both buttons are darned cute!
Here is a guide to Riverfest 2016, so you can get the most from this year’s celebration.
A Family Guide to Riverfest 2016
Festival Zones
Most Riverfest events take place in and around the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita. You’ll find these festival zones at Riverfest 2016:
Cox Kids Corner
A favorite at Riverfest, Cox Kids Corner on the Hyatt lawn opens at 2 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends. Costume characters, performers, games, art and science projects, inflatables and paddleboats are just some of the family-friendly fun you’ll find with little kids in mind. Jet Ski Races take place the first weekend of the festival, and you can watch them here. Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue offers horse rides on specific days. See the Riverfest Guide for details.
Ackerman’s Backyard at A. Price Woodard Park
Ackerman’s Backyard is a great place to kick back during happy hour and enjoy beers from local craft breweries, groove to local DJs and play oversized games like jenga and Human Foosball. Although this area was created as a playground for grown-ups, kids are welcome, too. Pose with the photo cutouts designed by local artists and post a favorite on Wichita Riverfest’s Facebook page. The artist whose cutout receives the most posts will win $500. You’ll find the Zipline ($10 for a round-trip ride across the river) and Wagonmasters River Tours (free with your button) in Ackerman’s Backyard, too.
Kennedy Plaza
Riverfest has two main stages this year and this is where you’ll find the biggest one, on the north side of Century II. Bring your chairs or blanket and get ready to enjoy your favorite artists, grab your favorite snacks at the food court and visit the beer garden if you’re thirsty. Buy this year’s darling kid’s tee shirt, the official Riverfest 2016 tee and other merch and novelties at the Riverfest Merch tent.
RedGuard Stage Area
You’ll find the second concert stage here, just south and east of the Hyatt Regency Wichita, along with food vendors, exhibitors and fun events of all kinds.
Century II Food Court
If you’re a fan of corn dogs, funnel cake, chicken-on-a-stick, fresh-squeezed lemonade or any of hundreds of tasty festival treats, you’re likely already planning your visits to the Food Court. This year, you’ll find food vendors in four locations. The Century II Food Court is on Century II drive, just east of Kennedy Plaza. The RedGuard Stage Area will have a variety of vendors, as will Ackerman’s Backyard. Some vendors will also be scattered on Douglas between Water and Waco streets. You’ll need to buy your food tickets with cash, so bring it with you or take advantage of the ATMs nearby.
Blacktop Nationals
This popular car show is now part of Riverfest! From Ford Ride and Drive Experience and Dyno Drag (for grown ups) to Display Your Ride and The Admirals Collection (for kids of all ages), this event-within-an-event is a must for everyone who loves cars, trucks and motorcycles. Find a list of Blacktop events here.
Family Resources
Parking
Did you know there are more than 23,000 parking places in downtown Wichita? You can find the most complete info about parking in downtown Wichita on the Wichita Downtown Development website. Take a look, plan ahead and make your parking experience so much easier! (Or travel by trolley.) If you’re heading to Cox Kids Corner, the closest free parking is in the WaterWalk garage and Gander Mountain garage, both free and close!
Weather Information
Up-to-the minute weather info is available at KSN.com and AccuWeather.com. Download the free KSN weather app or AccuWeather app for a custom Riverfest forecast.
Lost and Found
Lose something at Riverfest? Call the Wichita Festivals office at (316) 267-2817. If someone has turned your item in, it will be stashed there. Find an item at Riverfest? Drop it off at a festival entrance, at Volunteer Headquarters or with a volunteer in a red shirt.
Care Stations and Lost Parent Services
These two stations, provided by Sedgwick County EMS and Wichita Children’s Home, are located at Cox Kids Corner and Kennedy Plaza. They offer a diaper-changing area and breastfeeding area for moms on the go. Direct young ones to head to these stations if they become separated from their grown-ups. Grown-ups can check here for lost kids. First aid services are also available here.
For the Sight and Hearing Impaired
Braille and large-print versions of the Riverfest Guide and food court menus are available at button sales booths, courtesy of the South Central Kansas Chapter of Wichita Federation for the Blind. Need sign-language services? Call (316) 267-2817 for information.
Top 10 Riverfest Tips
1. Bring lots of sunblock and reapply it frequently!
2. Make sure everyone is equipped with comfortable shoes and socks.
3. Live in biking distance of downtown? Ride your bikes and leave them at the Bike Walk Wichita Bike Valet. This secured bicycle parking lets you avoid parking your car and get to the festival action more quickly.
4. While outside food and drink is not allowed, food and formula for infants IS allowed.
5. Backpacks and diaper bags may be brought into the festival, but will be searched at the gates.
6. The festival guide goes to press in March and a lot can change before the actual festival. The most updated concert and event info can be found at WichitaRiverfest.com. Check there first to make sure times or locations have not changed.
7. Enjoy free wifi at Cox Kids Corner courtesy of Cox Communications.
8. Don’t bring pets. Lots of dogs are good with people, but some aren’t. Keep it fair for everyone and leave Barkey at home.
9. Leave coolers at home, too. They aren’t allowed inside the festival gates.
10. Pick up your button and guide early, so you can plan your Riverfest adventure!
Family and Kid Contests
June 4
Tot Trot: River Run’s race, for little ones only! 10:45 am Saturday, June 4 at the River Run Finish Line.
YMCA 2-Mile Family Fun Walk: Just the right pace for everyone. 8:30 am at Waterman and Wichita streets.
June 5
Sandcastle Competition: Teams have two hours to build a sandcastle that reflects or resembles a building, structure or iconic object located in Wichita. Noon to 2 pm, Sunday, June 5 at 
Main and William streets. Registration starts at 1 pm.
Cardboard Regatta: Build a river-worthy vessel in 90 minutes or less with cardboard, duct tape, pool noodles and a box cutter. No team size limit, but at least one team member (age 12 or older) must ride in the vessel. Sunday, June 5: Construct your vessel from 1:30-3 pm; Launch is at 3 pm on the river below the Douglas Street Bridge.
Paper Airplane Drop: Create a paper airplane and try to land it in the target zone to win a radio-control airplane. Sign up on-site from 6-7 pm in Century II Exhibition Hall.
June 11
Riverfest Pedal Parade: It has its own kids’ division and remember, all human-powered wheeled vehicles can enter, including trikes and strollers from noon to 1 pm.
Recyclable Raft Race: Build a functional raft completely from recyclable materials and race it! Prizes will be awarded for Fastest Time, First Loser (second raft to cross the finish line), Most Original Design and Feat of Engineering Award to the raft with the most unorthodox and exaggerated form of propulsion. 5 p.m., Saturday, June 11 on the river below the Douglas Street Bridge
Recyclable Raft Race: Build a functional raft completely from recyclable materials and race it! Prizes will be awarded for Fastest Time, First Loser (second raft to cross the finish line), Most Original Design and Feat of Engineering Award to the raft with the most unorthodox and exaggerated form of propulsion.
10 Riverfest Traditions
1. Safelite AutoGlass Sundown Parade: 6:30 p.m., Friday, June 3 in downtown Wichita
2. Twilight Pops starring the Wichita Symphony Orchestra: 6:30 p.m., Friday, June 3 on Kennedy Plaza.
3. 40th Kansas Health Foundation River Run: 7-11 a.m., Saturday, June 4, starting at 7 a.m., Saturday, June
4. Riverfest Photography Contest: All 9 days
5. Wichita Eagle Medallion Hunt: starting June 2
6. Wagonmasters River Tours: All 9 days
7. Hot Air Balloons: Launches at 6 a.m., Saturday, June 4 and 6 p.m., Sunday, June 5. Glow at 6 p.m., Saturday, June 4. Weather permitting
8. 20th Gospelfest: 5:30 p.m., Monday, June 6
9. Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Social: 6:30-8 p.m., Wednesday, June 8
10. Goodwill Cajun Food Fest: 5-8:30 p.m., Thursday, June 9
10 Riverfest Kid Favorites
1. Cox Kids Corner: Performers and costumes characters; Full STEAM Ahead art and science projects and presentations; inflatables, paddles boats and much more for kids. All 9 days on the lawn of the Hyatt Regency Wichita.
2. Horse Rides by Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5; 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, June 8; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 11. Suggested donation of $5.
3. Toy Train Display: For train fans of all ages-11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 at Cox Kids Corner.
4. Hoop Art: Hula your way to a unique work of art!-Noon to 2 p.m. and 3-5 p.m., Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 at Ackerman’s Backyard.
5. Wings of the Wind Kite Festival: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5 at the RedGuard Stage area.
6. Take Flight, Butterfly Fest: With the opening of their Butterfly House, Botanica will be celebrating anything that flies or has wings. Families can enjoy the gardens and many activities including a butterfly release, scavenger hunt, recycled arts & crafts, dancing fairies and more! 1-5 p.m., Sunday, June 5 at Botanica, 701N. Amidon. $3 with a Riverfest button.
7. STEAM City: a chance for middle school and high school-aged youth to see a variety of Wichita businesses demonstrate what they do best and discover skills and careers they may have never known existed. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, June 5 at Main and Williams streets.
8. Wichita Children’s Theatre Presents “The Three Little Pigs”: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 7 and Wednesday, June 8 at Century II Mary Jane Teall Theatre.
9. CNH Industrial Buckaroo/Buckarette Rodeo: 5-9 p.m., Wednesday, June 8 at Cox Kids Corner.
10. KAKELand Touch-A-Truck: a toddler’s paradise of trucks, emergency and service vehicles, big rigs and other giant things on wheels. Be sure to bring your ear plugs. There will be plenty of honking!-5:30-8 p.m., Thursday, June 9 on Waterman adjacent to Cox Kids Corner.
Riverfest Date Night Ideas
Riverfest has plenty of fun for moms and dads who want to have a little fun on their own. Here are some date ideas to suit a variety of moods!
Nerds in Love
Share a love of coding and digital technology? Spend 24-hours together with your homies at Hackathon ICT. This 24-hour competitive brainstorm pits teams against each other to solve civic challenges with technology-based solutions. You’ll arrive at Century II around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, and team up. Through the day and overnight you’ll create a presentation to share at 1 p.m., Sunday, June 5 to city officials. The winning team will receive prize money to help get their project off the ground. Not everybody’s cup of tea, but if it’s yours, this is a unique experience to share with your geeky sweetie. And registration is absolutely free with your button.
Music Lovers
The Riverfest concert line-up this year can’t be beat. Whether you like old-school hip-hop, country, classical, pop, punk or alternative, there is at least one concert for you. Pick your night (or nights), come on down early and have a dinner for two at the Century II Food Court. Then grab a wine, sangria, craft beer or fresh-squeezed lemonade and cozy in at Kennedy Plaza or the RedGuard Stage area. Bring lawn chairs and a blanket, don your favorite festival-wear and enjoy a beautiful June evening together. Remember, both opening night and closing night feature fireworks displays!
Kennedy Stage Concert Schedule
RedGuard Stage Concert Schedule
Duo De-Stress
Forget your responsibilities for a change and grab an Uber to Ackerman’s Backyard. This playground for grown-ups is set up in A. Price Woodard Park, between Century II and the river. Play oversized game like Giant Jenga, pose with photo cut-outs created by local artists, and groove to a different DJ every night. Blow off some steam with a Zipline ride, or stroll the Arkansas River to Cox Kids Corner and take a leisurely paddleboat ride together. Beer from Wichita’s favorite local craft breweries and New Belgium will be available, with a different brewery highlighted each day.
Biking Buddies
If the two of you are often spotted on two wheels together, Riverfest has got you covered this year. Ride downtown and park your bikes at the Bike Walk Wichita Bike Valet. This secured bike parking is open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. on, and starting at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sunday. When you’re there, sign up to win a New Belgium special-edition bike and take off on an I Bike ICT Tour. These casually paced, themed rides take place from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 4 (Art & Architecture), 11 a.m. to noon, Sunday, June 5 (Urban Photography) and 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 11 (Hometown Heroes). On Thursday evening, ride right up to the Wichita Magazine Throwback Theater showing of “E.T” at 9 p.m. at the RedGuard Stage. It’s planned as a walk-in and bike-in movie experience!
Which Riverfest events do you plan to attend this year?
Follow along with us at #WMBRiverfest!
[…] June 3-11: Grab your buttons and head to Riverfest! Need some help figuring out what all to see and do? Get the details in our Ultimate Family Guide to Riverfest 2016. […]