Key Points:
- Kool and the Gang and a 90s Hip-Hop Night Make for great opening and closing festival music events.
- Most of the usuals are back, but there’s lots of new events this year.
- Gospel Fest is back with local and regional acts.
It’s River Festival time, May 31 – June 8, with all the usual fun and offerings,, some new events and plenty of great music including R&B standouts Kool and the Gang and a night of 90s Hip-Hop stars Digital Underground, C+C Music Factory and Tag Team
This year adult buttons are $20, up from $15 last year. However, for nine days of fun and all the great musical performances, comparatively, a festival button is still an entertainment bargain. Buttons for childrens from 6-12 are $10 and buttons are free for childrens under 6.
Music You’ll Love
Again this year, Riverfest is delivering with great musical performances with lots of crossover appeal.
A Kool and the Gang Concert for $20 button is great, but if you want a more personal up front show, consider going online to purchase a VIP ticket for $50 per person. The band closes out Riverfest on Saturday night.
Just a reminder, some of the many hits of this 70s/80s R&B Band here are a few: Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Ladies Night,” “Emergency,” “Get Down on it,” and “Cherish” just to name a few.
Robert “Kool” Bell, who started the band in 1964 with his brother Ronald Bell, Dennis, “Dee Tee” Thomas, and others, is the only original member still touring with the band.
Opening for the group will be DJ Carbon and Rudy Love. The concert begins at 5:45 p.m. and runs to 10:30 p.m.
While Kool and the Gang closes the festival, a night of 90s Hip-Hop greats opens the festival on Fri., May 31. This concert includes artists performing some of the most memorable early hits of the genre with music that makes you dance.
Digital Underground, the Bay Area hip-hop band best known for its No. 1 hit, “The Humpty Dance,” which topped the charts in 1990. 1990s party-goers may also remember “Doowutchyalike”, which made it to No. 29 and “Same Song”, another big hit for the group.
Digital Underground’s founder, Shock G, also introduced the world to Tupac Shakir and was a foundational figure in West Coast hip-hop. He died in 2023 at the age of 57.
C and C Music Factory, an American musical group formed in 1989 by David Cole and Robert Clivillés as C+C Music Factory, is best known for their hit singles: “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)“, “Here We Go (Let’s Rock & Roll)“, “Things That Make You Go Hmmm…“, “Just a Touch of Love“, and “Keep It Comin.'” Freedom Williams, who’s ‘ rapping can be prominently heard on many of the original group’s songs, acquired trademark name to the name and now tours as C and C Music Factory. Original member Cole died in 1995.
Atlanta-based duo Cecil Glenn (DC, the Brain Supreme) and Steve Gibson (Steve Rolln) make up Tag Team who are known for their song “Whomp There it is,” While they never had another hit, this one goes down in history as one of the best dance songs of the 90s.
This is going to be a great party night.
The Usuals are Back
The Sundown Parade at 6:30 p.m. on Fri., May 31, officially kicks off the festivities, but you can spend anytime from Friday – until it’s found – searching for the Wichita Eagle Riverfest Medallion or snapping photos to enter in the annual Photo Contest. Both contests offer cash prizes.
The food court officially opens at 11 a.m. on Friday and is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. You can grab lunch at the Festival Food Court from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily on weekdays without a festival button.
This year, there’s an additional fireworks display. There’s the Friday night display on opening night at 10:45 p.m. and closing night fireworks also at 10:45 p.m. New this year is a Tuesday night fireworks display at 9:45 p.m.
Some of the returning favorites are the Ice Cream Social on Wednesday evening,.
The Cajun Food Fest on Thursday and Fiesta Del Rio all day on Fri., May 31. The first Saturday morning includes all the runs and walks including the Family Fun Run/Walk, the Tot Trot and the 10K Race.
On the river, you can enjoy Paddle boats and Kayaks in the evening during the day and beginning at noon on weekends. If you’re not into doing the work yourself, you can take a narrated trip along the river on the Wagonmaster’s River Tour also evenings during the week and beginning at noon on weekends.
In the air there are scenic helicopter rides for $50 and while you can’t jump on board, you can watch the beautiful hot-air balloons take flight the first weekend of Riverfest. Get up early for a sunrise liftoff on Friday and Saturday morning and then take an up close look at the balloons from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The first weekend is the popular ArtsFest Pop Up with great shopping of art and hand made items including lots of jewelry, clothes, and a variety of home decoratives. This event is inside the Century II Exhibition Hall, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. The final weekend includes the Classic Car Show on Saturday, along Douglas from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Family Fun
What’s there to do for families with children? Lots.
The first weekend, Wind Surge Tickets are half-price with a Riverfest Button.
The Wee Carnival with great rides like the ferris wheel, Tilt-a-Whirl, kiddie cars and more is open daily. Hours are 2-10 p.m. on Saturdays and evenings during the week. There is an extra cost for this event. Tickets are $4 each, 10 tickets for $35, or 30 tickets for $100. Another options is to buy an arm band, for $33, which is good for unlimited rides for either a daytime session (2-6 p.m.) or an evening session (6-10 p.m.)
A free option for children is the Kid’s Corner and Inflatables, near the south gate entrance behind the old library. On a similar schedule as the carnival, children can enjoys, inflatables, bubble shows, balloon twisting and great outdoor fun.
A new event this year is the Fishing Derby on Sat., June 8 from 8 to 11 a.m. In partnership with Kansas Wildlife and Parks who will be stocking the river. Riverfest attendees with a button will get to fish on the east side of the river, between Douglas and Lewis Street bridges.
You don’t need to bring anything, all the fishing equipment will be provided, however, you can bring your fishing equipment if you like. There are prizes for various catches like the biggest fish, most unique, and more.
A Few More New Events
There are a number of family friendly events in the list of new events:
Great American Kites, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2, South of Lot D and the Carnival. No you don’t get to fly your own kite but you get to watch the amazing giant kites paint the sky with an unforgettable display of aerial creatures and some of the most whimsical kites you will ever see.
Bike Parade, 11 a.m. Sat., June 8, Enter at the South Gate Entrance Bikes, trikes, scooters, wagons, wheelchairs, and strollers are invited to participate. Decorate your ride. There will be prizes for best bike styling.
Gardenfest at Botanica, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., Tues., June 4, 701 N. Amidon Festival attendees will be admitted free of charge with their Riverfest 2024 button to stroll over 17 acres of botanical gardens.
Fidelity Bank Fireworks, 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, mentioned earlier, a 3rd night of fireworks!
Riverfest Fishing Derby, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Sat. June 8, details above in Family-Friendly events.
Riverfest Photography Contest, Cash prizes are up for grabs for the Riverfest Photography Contest! Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be presented. As well as an honorable mention in each category. Join in the fun! With 7 different categories and multiple cash prizes per unique category, shutterbugs will have many chances to win! Free to enter with a button and you’ll be given a lanyard to designate you’re in the photo contest once you register. Instructions on how to submit your photos are in the Riverfest Photo Contest Registration Form. Get snapping shutterbugs! Riverfest Photo Contest Registration Form.
