Some will grumble about the Wichita River Festival’s increasing reliance on gates at its top events — its latest effort to get festivalgoers to buy the $5 buttons that help fund the $2.7 million festival. Then there is the extra $10 admission charge to hear hot pop singer Colbie Caillat give the 2008 festival’s first concert Friday at the West Bank Stage. Would it be better if the festival could forgo the gates and even forget about buttons? Sure. But throwing this megaparty isn’t getting any less expensive, as corporate sponsorships become harder to find in uncertain economic times. The $5 price has been in place for three festivals (and the button price has risen only three times in 37 years). The two-thirds of festivalgoers who failed to buy buttons last year left planners with little choice. And especially if someone takes in several events, a $5 button remains an excellent value.
-
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in. -
Contact us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- Regular on Open thread 9/7
- KSGolfnut on Open thread 9/7
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 9/7
- KSGolfnut on Open thread 9/7
- Chas on Open thread 9/7
- Political_mama on Open thread 9/7
- BlueJay on Open thread 9/7
- Chas on Open thread 9/7
- Chas on Open thread 9/7
- BlueJay on Open thread 9/7
13 Comments
And then you can’t bring any food or drink from the outside and they’re charging $4.00 for a bottle of water. Absolutely ridiculous. Our family will not attend this year.
If you can afford the 5 dollar button, you are probably a Republican, and if not, should be one.
Yes… the $5.00 button is not bad for all the venue you get. But does they HAVE to charge so mmuch for the food. Seems like they are try to make a killing on it.
Of course they must take the cue from Larry Dumont stadium. The prices the city charges there are outragous.
Well nathan - according to you I am a Republican. I am not. Just like last night according to you I am a conservative - which I might be depending a bit on definitions (traditional vs neo-con)
My gripe with River Festival is the same as the other two above - FOOD. Not only the price but the quality. Many people cannot eat that much ‘junk food’ and, if you are taking a large family the food really gets expensive. Festival policy against ‘outside food’ discriminates against both families who might want to make their own as well as local sandwich shops that are not a part of the ’system’.
I can understand the concerns with glass bottles and alcohol. But bottled water? Milk? Home-made sandwiches?
Ben,
My posts are not meant to be serious. They are meant to be on the opposite end of the absurdity spectrum to point out how absurd CapnAmerica is when he makes the same type of comments.
Perhaps I am placing too much hope in CapnAmerica grasping this with my being so subtle…
Anyhow … for those with little kids bring them down to the west bank at 2nd St bridge this weekend Sat and Sun noon-6 for canoe rides on the Arkansas. The alligators are hungry …
Riverfest used to be fun. Our local cultural spring gathering, a celebration of individuals and families.
Now it’s just a large commercial endeavor that’s lost it’s unique pleasant personality.
Angelgreb
Posted May 6, 2008 at 8:12 am | Permalink
And then you can’t bring any food or drink from the outside and they’re charging $4.00 for a bottle of water. Absolutely ridiculous. Our family will not attend this year.
——————
Agreed Angelgreb.
It’s most likely illegal to keep people from bringing in their own water to a public event.
Often I will bring a canteen style container of water with me on excursions, because it is necessary to prevent heat illness and is utilitarian in many respects (cooling down, washing out cuts, etc.)
4 bucks a bottle of water is price gouging.
And don’t forget…. it is illegal to ride a bike on the downtown city sidewalks and also in any congested area..
Sec. 11.48.160. Bicycles and human-powered vehicles on sidewalks.
(a) A person operating a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
(b) A person operating a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
(c) No bicycle shall be ridden upon sidewalks in the central business district except in designated areas.
(d) Subsections (a) and (c) of this section shall not apply to members of the Wichita police department in and during the performance of their lawful duties.
(Ord. No. 42-489 § 1)
The Riverfest staff needs to be “zero-based” so it can be reorganized. My pet peeves:
#1: Riverfest should be rescheduled to take place during the month of June. This would not conflict with the school year particularly final exams and graduation ceremonies in May as it incredibly does now.
#2: The food is not only expensive but probably not sanitary in those outside tents. Also doesn’t do much to help existing downtown restaurants.
#3: No reason that I know of to assemble large unmanageable crowds. These crowds can’t be served and serve no purpose other than to show interest by the public.
#4: Wichita has always been a fireworks town along the Arkansas River. Riverfest has always competed with Lawrence-Dumont stadium with separate fireworks shows for no known reason.
#5: The Riverfest in my opinion is an excuse to pay a few bureacratic employees at the expense of squads of volunteer employees … a ripoff situation that highly irritates me.
So, in my opinion, the Riverfest should be canceled until it can be completely reorganized to better serve the taxpayers who are paying for it.
June - getting too hot IMO
Been to one River Festival, been to em all, unfortunately. Same food stands, put on by the same fast-food places from Anywhere, USA. There should be a chili cook off at the same time, with the $5 button also including tasting kits. Food tents should amplify the ethnic and regional foods, not McCardboard or Burger Mutt. Jwink is correct: There is no direction to the current festival, only business interests.
Jwink if YOU were in charge the only social gatherings would be sales seminars and funerals.
The Riverfest is the ONLY thing interesting about Wichita. I KNOW. I’ve lived here all my life.
We forced a sales tax on all citizens to finance a playground arena for the rich.
How about a one cent commerce tax to finance the Riverfest? ALL business makes money on it anyway. Make them foot the bill.