After a great deal of study and communicating with event experts all over the world and also local health officials, we think this is the best approach to keep people safe and also give them what they want, which is a big outdoor party, said Teri Mott, the festivals marketing and communication director. Boards around the rink have been damaged and worn with little to no repair and when repairs are done they are cheap and don't last. Organizers also have added a Riverfest triathlon, a paddle board 5K and a couple of virtual parades. Safelite AutoGlass Sundown Parade Application Apply now for 2023! At Wichita Festivals, Inc., our mission is to create community celebrations. Wichita Festivals, Inc., (producer ofRiverfest) is a member and co-founder of the. The Eagle Medallion Hunt is returning on Monday, though it will be abbreviated. It will be staged on and near Century IIs Kennedy Plaza downtown as usual. Riverfest Car Show Registration Register now for 2023! Along with that, there is a vibrant, growing number of kids ranging from 4 up to 17 years old, both boys and girls, that have the desire to skate, to play, to learn, and be a part of these great activities in our city, but are stifled due to management and lack of support available. charges for activities. Obviously good weather is very important for Riverfest, the designer said. Kansas Here are the events we currently produce: Riverfest Originally a one-day event to recognize Wichita's centennial in 1970, the Wichita River Festival, now known as Riverfest, has grown into the largest community event in Kansas. Goalies are moved to a new team every few games. Instead, it will run over seven days split between two different seasons summer and fall. Parade begins at 6:30 PM. This year Riverfest is back and better than ever taking place over nine consecutive days: June 3-11. Public Figure. Field Trip / Groups. //-->, Sundown Parade at Riverfest The maintenance and upkeep of our ice rinks pale in comparison to any of the surrounding rinks and facilities. Official mobile app of Wichita Riverfest 2022, powered by Evergy! So set sail for Wichita. Your donation helps WFI achieve its goal of community celebration and supports events that build community pride. Cash awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Welcome to the Wichita Ice Center, Wichita's only full-sized double ice-skating rink! In 2019, the Medallion was found by buddies Bryan Edwards and Justin Selby on the fifth day of the hunt wrapped in a brown QuikTrip napkin and tucked inside a crack in a knee-high limestone retaining wall just north of the Lincoln Street Dam, on the east bank of the Arkansas River. That part of the festival will be gated and will require a button for entry. They wont run in the print edition of the paper. The Riverfest Photo Contest is BACK! So many of you hadnt seen it yet, and we are so happy to have the chance to update it. Mott wouldnt say whether last years Admiral Windwagon Smith, Clay Bastian, who was named before the festival was canceled, would serve again. In addition to the River Run, the June Riverfest dates will also include a softball tournament and a plein air (outdoor) painting festival. Open to all artists from novice to professional! Broomball. Visit Wichita is responsible for bring thousand of people to Wichita to experience the awesome cultural attractions, events, shopping, and dining. It will also include kids events like Touch-A-Truck as well as the Sundown Parade. google_ad_slot = "7565819021"; Registration has already started for the River Run at RiverRunWichita.com. Non-subscribers can purchase a Digital Day Pass for 99 cents, which grants unlimited access to Kansas.com for one day. Also, the time clock computers are falling apart with fraying wires, plugs that don't stay in the outlet, and malfunctions that occur so regularly that players have begun to think it's normal. Hunters are encouraged to keep in mind that no Medallion Hunt clues, nor the hiding place, require entry onto private property. Diese Seite ist durch reCAPTCHA geschtzt und es gelten die Google. As a result of last years cancellation and the pandemics effect on the festivals other big event the Autumn & Art Festival, which was conducted virtually in September Wichita Festivals Inc. faced a 90 percent loss of revenue in 2020 and had to cut a third of its staff, said Ann Keefer, a longtime festival staffer who is now serving as the festivals interim president and CEO. Shop RIverfest Artists will celebrate the beauty of the Arkansas River and the iconic views around Wichita at the 2nd Annual Riverfest Plein Air Event. The Douglas Design District has a new combination gallery, boba tea and coffee shop with an Alice in Wonderland theme. Sep. 27The second half of the split-in-two 2021 Wichita Riverfest launches Thursday in downtown Wichita, and the four-day fall installment will include most of the annual event's marquee. Genesis had also started charging the public for parking, allowing the general public to take over the lot, decreasing parking availability even more for the hockey players. We know this can both bring a much better profit to the city of Wichita as well as provide an upstanding image for public skating, figure skating, adult hockey, youth hockey, and many other functions that the Wichita Ice Center can provide in the heart of downtown Wichita Kansas! Those who bought Riverfest 2020 buttons can use them for admission to the fall portion of the festival, which will be gated. Public Skating. The Wichita Riverfest will be back this year after being canceled in 2020 for the first time in its 49-year history because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we also have to have a way to keep people safe.. The other will be a porch parade, in which fans will decorate their porches and send the festival their address to be included on a list of porches people can drive by and check out. In early 2019, after three (3) months of not paying the KHOA, it took a strike and getting the news media involved before Genesis agreed to pay the outstanding bills. Make a donation today! The Wichita ice center is used year-round by adults part of the Wichita Adult Hockey League (WAHL) with games throughout the week, as well as the children and parents of the Wichita Youth Hockey Association (WYHA) with games and practices throughout the week. The fall event will look more like the traditional Riverfest celebration with the return of the food court, headliner concerts, fireworks, the Sundown Parade and more. The entire upstairs of the WIC was renovated with a brand new Genesis Fitness Center which is now, per the city contract, a 100% profit center for Genesis because all the utilities (rent, water, electric, heat, etc) are paid for by the city and tax payers with accessibility only to those with Genesis Fitness memberships. Traditionally a nine-day festival, in 2020 the event had to go virtual and suffered a 90% loss in revenue. Price Woodard Park in only one of several food venues at River Fest, Chan's chicken on a stick was the best of several dishes we sampled, The Substitutes performing on the floating stage at A. Wichita, Kansas 877-WFIFEST June 3 - 11, 2022 $15 button give access to all facilities and events Additional charges for activities Sundown Parade Wichita River Festival opens with the Sundown Parade and a fireworks display along the Arkansas River which is launched from 3 locations. 3pm launch. Sections of this page. Adult Hockey. Pictures from Garden City Kansas Hockey at the Wichita Riverfest Tournament. Event Calendar. Two person crews will row in a custom 6-foot long tub designed by WSU GoCreate using special oars during Downtown Get Down. Her Dining with Denise Facebook page is the go-to place for diners to get information about local restaurants. $1900 in prizes will be awarded. Then at 9:45 PM, the Opening Night Fireworks is along the Arkansas River These vendors have chosen to no longer do business with the WIC, which greatly affects the skating and hockey community as well. $15 This is a huge social event that also brings in a lot of fans from the area, as well as a large amount revenue for the rink. button give access to all facilities and events Registration has begun for Fidelity Bank River Run at RiverRunWichita.com. Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection, Air Capital Bacon, Bourbon & Brews Festival, Automobilia Moonlight Car Show & Street Party, Smoke on the Plains Derby BBQ & Music Fest, Victorian Christmas at Old Cowtown Museum, Frontiers in Flight Open House & Air Show, Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, Affordable & Free Things to Do in Wichita. Instagram. Buttons are $10 for adults and $5 for children (five years and younger get in free) and can be purchased online and at area QuikTrips starting September 6. For more information and to register click below. ; The final weekend of Most activities at The second half will look more like the festival fans are used to and will happen from Sept. 30 through Oct. 3. Instead of nine days of activities, Riverfest 2021 will be. Series History. Every year, the WIC holds its annual RiverFest Hockey Tournament, which coincides with the two weekends of the Wichita RiverFest. The fees for these services from the KHOA are paid for by the players in the WAHL at the beginning of the season. Buttons for the fall festival will go on sale in late August, Mott said, and theyll be the same price as last year $10 for adults and $5 for children. Starting May 29 through June 6, it will be virtual! Skip to content Events Partner Volunteer About Us Donate Prev Next Sports team. Normally featuring two full weekends of hockey and teams from across the United States competing against each other to hoist the cup. 406 were here. Games are played on Thursdays, Level 2: Advanced League: (3-level 1 caliber players allowed), Juniors, or High School level players - Games are played on Sundays, Experienced recreational level players - Games are played on Sundays, Level 5: Novice League: (No level 1 caliber players allowed), Novice/beginner level players - Games are played on Sundays. Wichita Festivals, Inc. (WFI) is a not-for-profit corporation with the purpose of creating diverse and inclusive community celebrations in the Wichita area. tournament, the "upscale" tent at WaterWalk with restaurant dining and FYI Wichita Riverfest Tournament is coming up in June: Jump to. Restaurants Kansas Travel Initially, organizers said they would replace the festival, which had been scheduled for May 29-June 6, with a smaller downtown party in the fall, but the pandemic crushed those plans, too. The rink is a great place to come join your friends and skate, play hockey, have an ice-skating party or learn to skate from one of our many highly qualified instructors. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The first part of the festival, scheduled for June 4 through 6, wont be a gated event. This story was originally published September 24, 2021, 4:14 AM. Learn more about our Faces, Our Places, Our Hearts. )www.wichitariverfestival.com Tourney/Rink website: www . Shes a regular judge at local food competitions and speaks to groups all over Wichita about dining. beach volleyball, bicycle tours, helicopter rides, horse rides, a hockey Be Sure to Search for and Select "Wichita Jr Thunder Hockey Assn". Click the Sign In button on the top-right corner of the homepage and follow the steps listed under Im a Print Subscriber to activate your digital account if you havent already. Things The south rink, known as the NHL ice, has two scoreboards, one of which has not been turned on or used in decades. Our 50th RIVERFEST! The contest will end at midnight on Oct. 1 or whenever the medallion is found. The time clocks/scoreboards have not been maintained/upgraded, and what has been repaired is hardly functioning at this point. The person who decodes the clues and finds the medallion gets $1,000. It seems like a good time to slow down and introduce ourselves. The City of Wichita has a contract negotiation which would effectively change the current contract (in ways we have not become familiar with yet) on August 1. Whoever finds the medallion should call 316-268-6200 and leave a detailed description of where the Medallion was found as well as contact information during normal business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. in 1972 as the Wichitennial River Festival and Traders Day. Use this app to see the festival map, concert line-up, food options and to check out and register for festival events in and around the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita, Kansas. The Kansas Cup adult hockey tournament has been an annual adult hockey tournament hosted since the ice center opened. Additional the River Fest are close to the Arkansas River. New Event Proposal Participate in the Party! Our professional staff of coaches and instructors are eager to assist you along the way. Wichita Riverfest still a go, but heres what you can expect in 2021, Police: Suspect dies after shooting, killing manager in Oklahoma City, Police: Fatal shooting at Hobby Lobby distribution center in Oklahoma City, Passenger dies after thrown from car in southeastern Kansas crash, Home in north Wichita a total loss after morning fire, Evergy replaces large poles from NE Wichita neighborhood, Contact information: 316-831-6166 or investigators@kwch.com. /* 728x90, created 6/27/08 */ These leagues are supported by the Kansas Hockey Officials Association (KHOA), which has had numerous negative experiences with Genesis including refusing services due to 2+ months of outstanding bills totaling over $10,000. Many of the Wichita hockey players travel to other tournaments throughout the year, i.e. & Tourism Home. Put your cornhole skills to the test at the 2022 Riverfest/KGSO Cornhole Challenge. It will include many of the festivals popular outdoor components that can be conducted in a socially distanced manner, including the River Run and a softball tournament. This tournament is a great opportunity for people outside of Wichita to come and visit and see what a great city we have, but instead it is dominated by Genesis Fitness. The clues can be found at kansas.com and theyll also be posted by noon each day near the front doors of the Wichita Eagle offices at 330 N. Mead. The route starts at 3rd & Main, travels River Use this app to see the festival map, concert line-up, food options and to check out and register for festival events in and around the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita, Kansas. The Zamboni's that maintain the ice are original to the rink and have been poorly maintained with one of the two often not running, thus leaving one Zamboni to surface both sheets of ice. We highlight the good news about the people and places in the area. One year ago we were honored to have our poster selected for Riverfest, said Juanta. down Main to Douglas, west on Douglas to Waco and north on Waco to 3rd. An annual alfresco fine arts show and sale full of food, drinks, and games hosted at Bradley Fair in Wichita. Price Employees and their immediate family members of The Wichita Eagle, the McClatchy Company, and Wichita Festivals Inc., and board members of Wichita Festivals Inc. and their immediate family, are not eligible to participate. The game is scheduled on 03 Mar 2023, and the match will start at 20:05. Copyright 2021 KWCH. The contest is open to legal residents of Kansas who are at least 18 years old as of Sept. 27, 2021. Yes, it is what it sounds like! google_ad_client = "pub-0468606833551520"; 406 were here. We as a community will do whatever it takes to see our WIC thrive again under the proper management. Festival organizers announced in March of 2020 that they were canceling the nine-day Wichita Riverfest, an annual event that draws thousands of people to downtown Wichita, because of mounting COVID-19 concerns. Northland Softball League. All rights reserved. The latest GM was an original supporter to the opening of the rink back in 1995 and had great passion to bringing back the passion that we all have a the WIC. Games are played on Wednesdays. Artists will celebrate the beauty of the Arkansas River and the iconic views around Wichita at the 2nd Annual Riverfest Plein Air Event. Awards for 1st place! Now, its almost time to search again. this conestoga wagon "Windwagon", Some of the street displays at the 2015 Blacktop Nationals - this has The ice rinks have seen little to no improvements in the last nine (9) years of Genesis managing the facility. The hunt is a Riverfest tradition that offers up cryptic clues meant to lead players to a 2-inch plastic coin hidden on public property in Sedgwick County. Those who wish to participate can register for the events they choose. Photo Contest Rules | Photo Contest Categories | Photo Tips for Success. Denise Neil has covered restaurants and entertainment since 1997. Gather your team of 6 (3 male, 3 female) and register for this testament of strength that takes place at Downtown Get Down. The ice is also rented privately by members of the community to hold pick-up hockey games. Since that time, the overall opinion of many that use the rink on a weekly basis as well as those that have dealings with the Wichita Ice Center (WIC) including vendors, suppliers, service providers (Kansas Hockey Officials Association), organizations (Wichita Youth Hockey Association, Wichita Adult Hockey Association, Wichita Figure Skaters) and even utility providers have not been pleased with way the location is managed, maintained, and utilized. Facebook. $1900 in prizes will be awarded. WYHA Hockey Equipment Buy, Sell, and Trade Group. Riverfest admission buttons for the fall event will be available starting in late August at area QuikTrip locations: $10 for adults and $5 for children. Jet ski racers from across the nation race at speeds reaching 80 mph. 2023 by Wichita Ice Center and Rink Management Services Corporation, Advanced League: (3-level 1 caliber players allowed). This years special fall installment of the Riverfest opens on Thursday and runs through Oct. 3. Woodard Park on Saturday, June 4, 2011, Bicycle X-Change RiverFest Crit Race in 2011, Free entertainment at Ruben's Mexican Grill Blockfest in 2011 found by buddies Bryan Edwards and Justin Selby, Eagle Medallion Hunt 2022: The rules and how to play, See more than 40 years of Riverfest posters, A little bit of sunshine: Wichita Riverfest reveals artwork for 2023 button, poster, See details of a new $400M riverbank proposal that saves Century II, former library, Another Wichita police officer has been suspended in the text message scandal, chief says, Brent and Brad Steven are refreshing their longtime Old Town club, Police investigate after woman in her 20s is shot in front of south Wichita home, Former K-State star part of husband-wife duo leading Newman womens hoops turnaround, Here are events for the last day of Wichita Riverfest: Fireworks, Family Stone and more, Updated: Riverfest again cancels activities on the water for safety reasons Saturday, Get ready for classic cars and a celebration of culture and art at Riverfest on Friday, Theres more to see and do at Riverfests Hispanic event, Fiesta Del Rio, this year, Fever dream will come true when Rudy Love Jr. joins The Family Stone at Riverfest, 2022 Eagle Medallion Hunt clues explained. $1000 worth of cash prizes will be given away at the finals! Our 50th RIVERFEST! However, in the past few years this event has trended towards becoming a Genesis Fitness social gathering. Facebook. Sunday, June 4, 5pm-7pm (Prelims) & Saturday, June 10, 2pm-4pm (Finals). River Fest is the Riverfest Classic Car Show on June 10 & 11. Wichita Festivals - Official website of Wichita Festivals, Inc. riverfest autumnart riverrun golftourney Support All We Do: Join Festival Crew! Recreational-Novice level players that sign-up as individuals. Fresh air and painting too, thats what Plein Air is all about! being canceled in 2020 for the first time, Autumn & Art Festival, which was conducted virtually in September, See more than 40 years of Riverfest posters, Whats on tap for Wichita and Kansas in 2021? Parking has been allocated to members of the Fitness Center during these events leaving those coming from far away (paying good money) to struggle to find any parking for paid for/scheduled games. Thanks to the citizens and businesses of Wichita who have supported Wichita Festivals, Inc., the not-for-profit that produces Wichita Riverfest, the event will be back, but presented over two extended weekends: June 4-6 and Sept. 30-Oct. 3. 2023 by Wichita Ice Center and Rink Management Services Corporation. Email or phone: Password: . We are excited to welcome back Meghan and Juanta Wolfe as our Official Riverfest Artists! Buttons are also available at WichitaFestivalsShop.com. Players would rather be able to spend their hard-earned money in the Pro Shop, and support the local community, and unfortunately, thats not possible. No matter your skill level, anyone can join the cornhole fun this year at Riverfest during the Downtown Get Down! WFI is funded through earned income realized from button, food and merchandise sales at Riverfest and Autumn & Art. been replaced with the Riverfest Classic Car Show, Zipline across the Arkansas River next to the Douglas Avenue Bridge. Those interested in participating in the USA Softball tournaments can find more info at WichitaRiverfest.com. The WIC Pro Shop cannot carry player equipment very much anymore, due to the fact that Genesis has not paid vendors and outfitters, such as Bauer, CCM, and Easton. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Weve been inspired by the events of the last year when deciding on changes, and we feel like the poster has been tailored for 2021.. Watch the fun from the east bank of the Arkansas River at Douglas Street. be appreciated without purchasing tickets. As my colleague Denise Neil wrote earlier this month, the . to Kansas City, Dallas, Oklahoma, and the welcoming we receive in these other cities is far greater than what is seen here. The Garden City Community College Music Departments spring musical, Plymell Elementary School fifth grader Easton Bailey won the Garden City residents can show their affection for friends Garden City Hockey at Wichita Riverfest Tourney, Sun Sets on Last June GCHS Football Workout, GCCC spring musical performances this weekend, Bailey bests seclusion to win Spelling Bee. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Riverfest 2023 is still more than four months away, but one of the first events has already happened the choosing of the artwork that will grace admission buttons and . Kansas City Yetis. Genesis was selected to manage the rink by the City of Wichita in 2011 and given a contract of ten (10) years with the option for one (1) renewal of five (5) years. Here's a quick guide to the best of the new events at Riverfest this year: New parade route. Print subscribers of the Wichita Eagle already have unlimited digital access to Kansas.com. The festival food court, headliner concerts, fireworks, iconic kids events and the Sundown Parade will all be featured during the second half of Riverfest, scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 3. Ready, set, PULL! . Updated March 05, 2021 12:07 PM. But she said the festival would make an admiral announcement on April 1. The festival will release more details on its plans in the coming weeks and months, Mott said. Wichita Festivals, Inc. is the local not-for-profit that makes Wichita Riverfest, Autumn & Art, and other community events happen in Wichita. Greater Garden City provides community news & information from Garden City, Finney County and southwest Kansas. Partners. Open to all artists from novice to professional! Riverfest occurs towards the end of May or early June. Most participatory event registrations for the early summer event include a button. June 3-11, 2022 www.wichitariverfest.com 2,000 buttons were sold at $1 each. Organizers put on the first half of the festival, usually a nine-day event, back in June, when it staged outdoor participatory events like the River Run and a softball tournament. 2021 10U Champion - Sioux City Jr Musketeers 2021 12U Champion - Wichita Jr Thunder This website is powered by SportsEngine's Sports Relationship Management This league is recommended for first time player as we have players/coaches to assist the new player in learning the game of hockey. Keefer said she did not know when the Riverfest board would name a permanent replacement. This event has brought in many of the local teams as well as teams from surrounding areas, such as Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma and even Texas. Denise Neil has covered restaurants and entertainment since 1997. Highly-skilled players who have played Pro-level, College, Juniors or High School Hockey. Now, the jam-packed, fun-filled event is the largest, longest-running, and most anticipated festival in the region. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. The Sundown Figure Skating. Cleaning of the facility is primarily focused on the fitness facility with little attention being provided to the rest of the more publicly used facility. Newly appointed President and CEO Ty Tabing, who took over the head job in November 2019 after Mary Beth Jarvis resigned, was among those cut in September. Twitter. Not a business. Contact. We are scheduling those events in June that are easier to present with social distancing, said Ann Keefer, interim president/CEO of WFI. Because this part of the festival, which will include concerts and the food court, will be only four days, the hunt will have only five clues. Contestants will race along the Arkansas River in stock tanks. The Wichita Ice Center is an indoor ice arena located in Wichita, KS and offers public skating sessions, figure skating opportunities, and hockey leagues. Youth Hockey. Cash awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places and Best in Show. RIVERFEST Riverfest is BACK! Beyond Riverfest, here are the events we currently produce: Riverfeststicket sales rank it in the top 50 of Pollstars. An annual tournament honoring long-time Riverfest volunteer and former WFI board chairman, International Festivals & Events Association. days. The players benches have rotted so much that they aren't even bolted to the floor in places anymore. Each user will be able to watch the hockey match Wichita Thunder and Utah Grizzlies from any device online, without registration. Wichita Riverfeststarted nearly 50 years ago as a way to celebrate and unify the community during Wichita's Centennial. 2022 GreaterGardenCity.com. River Run Registration Register now for 2023! The dates for this event have already occurred, please check back again for new dates. June 3-11, 2022 www.wichitariverfest.com In these other cities, we see rinks that take care of their players and skaters, well- maintained rinks, and ice-focused facilities. The buttons will use last years art of a robot DJ created by Meghan and Juanta Wolfe, though the artists have updated the artwork to go along with the 2021 festivals theme: The River Rocks Again.. Friday, June 2, Sunday, June 4, Saturday, June 10. This is the 46th anniversary of the Medallion Hunt, nearly as old as the Riverfest itself. But it won . Every year, the WIC holds its annual RiverFest Hockey Tournament, which coincides with the two weekends of the Wichita RiverFest. Home.