The Wichita River Festival can expect some grumbling over the decision to raise the admission button price from $3 to $5: Nobody ever likes to pay more. But even at $5 a head, the 35th anniversary festival’s nine days in May will remain a bargain. And the higher price will help give the festivalgoers what they say they want: bigger name musical entertainment, for the price of the button rather than for an additional ticket price; more family friendly events; more parking and shuttle transportation; and the comeback of the popular booklet-style festival schedule. “We believe that this is a real value still,” Janet Wright, president and CEO of Wichita Festivals, told The Eagle editorial board Thursday. Agreed.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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15 Comments
The River Festival should be rescheduled for early June. In May, it conflicts with exams in our schools and final school year activities.
Also River Festival activities should be less concentrated and spread across the month of June. Its much more productive to obtain medium size crowds than a few large unruly crowds during the festival and on the final night.
Some of it is tradition and, I know, “its always been done that way.”
Having attended my first River Festival last year, I haven’t yet figured out why I bought a button. It didn’t entitle me to much of anything that I noticed. But, will probably toss in the $5 as a donation anyway.
I just wish they would change the policy on the food tickets..the no-refund policy means people wind up with unused tickets, wasting money. Seems like a cheap ‘carny scam’ to me.
You are right Ray, it has become a circus and a bad one. It really hasn’t been worth going for several years now. I will keep my five bucks thank you.
I believe this is the wrong move for Wichita Festival, Inc. I know their job is to provide festival events and as a nonprofit orginization, they tend to think they will be ok by raising button prices.
Well! Marketing and sales doesn’t work that way. You don’t raise prices hoping to bring in more money. It will be the reverse. Remember when they did the aviation festival and charged $10? They only got I think it was around 12,000 people, comparied to the 250,000 that came to the free aviation shows of the past. They said it was a success. No! It was a complete failure.
They will sell a lot less buttons by raising the price to $5. They can raise more money by selling them for $1 then $5. But I don’t think they know that.
The Wichita River Festival is a great thing for Kansas. $5 isn’t too much to pay because of the all the options available.
I do agree with Ray about the ticket refunds.
I have very mixed feelings about the price of the buttons going up this year. I would like to see adult prices of $5 and children’s button prices of $2 or $3. Even though $5 is generally a great value for entertainment, larger families who attend the festival will have to shell out more for buttons, as well as pay those high prices for the food at the food court! (May can be a very expensive month for many families — with graduations, weddings and other celebrations.) Bottom line — the proof of the price hike will be in the quality of the entertainment value — better concerts, better shuttle service and parking. And, I agree with the others — the food court should refund unused tickets, or accept credit and debit cards!
I wonder, How many people actually buy a button? I’ve heard of people getting in for free, for years.
It may be a good value, if you’re really into that sorta thing. But why, should I pay 5.00 for a ticket, when the unwashed, get in for free?
It’s not so much the price. The whole thing seems kind of lame. And what in the world is the ticket thing at the food court? Why tickets?I haven’t gone to the river festival in a few years. Just didn’t seem worth the time.
You know what else is funny, XXX. You can’t get a drink anywhere within a quarter-mile of the place EXCEPT for the Festival-approved gougers.
Free enterprise. You gotta love it.
I’ve been to the River Fest in Salina. Of course it’s not as big, but it beats ours hands down. They have a Jam concert in the park that ROCKS! The concessions take real money and the food is varied and great.
I’ve been to the Smoky Valley Festival, too, XXX. It’s in a park that’s very similar to our Riverside Park. I agree: it’s a great festival.
Great art show, there, too.
I especially like the art. And I enjoy the street performances. Lots of stuff for kids, too. Maybe the people who put on the Wichita event should take some pointers.
Sure, James, the “unwashed” have been getting in for free for years. That’s why the festival has had to continue raising the price of the buttons. The rest of us have to pay to make up the difference. If we are demanding better entertainment and more fun, it costs money!The tickets at the food court are supposed to make things move along faster. I would personally like to see the venders accept credit and debit cards, and I would like to see them charge their regular prices for food and beverages. We shouldn’t have to pay $2 for a small drink or bottled water.
Smokey Valley Festival, in Salina, is Great!!
Gertie–AMEN! Whether you pay with money or script, a rip-off is a rip-off.
At least at the State Fair, they don’t unplug the Pepsi machines anywhere within walking distance of the Fairgrounds . . .