By SALINA POST
With just 63 days left before the 48th Smoky Hill River Festival kicks off, Salina Arts & Humanities announced Thursday, April 11, details for the epic arts festival, scheduled for June 13-16 in Oakdale Park.
The festival includes many new food offerings, activities for kids, new roving and mainstage entertainers, new art installations, and new artists selling their work in the art show.
"For the last 14 months, our staff and committees have been working tirelessly to prepare for the 48th annual epic arts party," said Salina Arts and Humanities Operations and Developement Manager Anna Pauscher-Morawitz . "As of 8 a.m. this morning, our website riverfestival.com is updated with entertainers, visual artists, food, and other details of the event. Keep your eyes out for a few additions as we get a little bit closer to June."
Medallion Quest
The Festival Medallion Quest will kick off at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, on the front steps of the Smoky Hill Museum. Arts and Humanities Commissioners will reveal the first clue for the $3,000 prize package. Twice daily, clues will be released at 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. until the Medallion is found.
The Festival Medallion Quest began as a way to bring families together and out into the landscape to celebrate the arts differently and encourage patronage of the exhibiting artists. Over the years, families have searched side by side, solved riddles, and endeavored to find the ever-elusive Medallion.
The Quest has grown larger each year, and now you can feel the collective buzz in the air as the first day of the Quest draws close. It marks the official countdown to the River Festival
Friday through Sunday, the Smoky Hill River Festival is fully engaged with three stages of live entertainment, the Fine Arts and Craft Show, Artyopolis for kids, and food vendors.
Gates will open at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, with 35 food booths, an art patron party, and the Festival Jam produced by S.M. Hanson Music. Festival Jam music starts at 5:45 p.m. and includes 21 bands playing for four hours.
Wristband Information
Wristbands for the festival will go on sale starting Wednesday, May 1 through Tuesday, June 11. The cost to purchase a weekend wristband before the event is $15 and $20 at the gate. Children 11 and younger enter the festival free of charge. Daily wristbands will also be sold for $10.
Wristbands will be available at around 40 local and 20 regional retailers and the Salina Arts & Humanities office, 211 W. Iron Ave.
Festival food – enjoy new and nostalgic food choices
With six new food vendors, there are plenty of new tastes to experience, including fruit pizza, churros, Brazillian cheese bread and coxinha, wiener schnitzel, hand pies, and more. See the complete list of food vendors on www.riverfestival.com
2024 Featured Print
As the featured print artist, Lori Stanziola created Festival Flow; her image shows the intersection of the river, the music, and the arts that make the Festival a special destination.
Anyone who donates $100 or more is eligible to pick up a copy at the Arts & Humanities office any time before June 10 during office hours, 8 am - 5 pm.
Drawing on her experience as a designer, Lori revels in using graphic shapes and patterns to create richly layered works from hand-carved blocks.
Lori’s work is hand-printed in single or small-numbered editions, primarily using the techniques of relief printing and monotype.
You can learn more about Lori’s work process and see examples of her work at lskccreative.com. Visit Lori at her booth this year, #53, in the East Arts area.
Festival T-Shirt 2024
This year’s t-shirt features the design work of Nick Perry of Redlegger Studio in Topeka, KS.
Nick is a printmaker who is also joining for the second year as an exhibiting artist. His design incorporates all the elements of the event: music, food, art, and, of course, festival tents. Stop by and check out Nick’s work in the East Arts area at booth #23.
T-shirts are available in various sizes, t-shirts and tanks can be purchased at the SAH office, online, or on-site at the Festival Information Booths north of Eric Stein Stage and near Kenwood Bridge during the festival.
Volunteer Opportunities
Salina Arts and Humanities is looking for groups and individuals to be part of this summer’s Epic Arts Party at the Smoky Hill River Festival inOakdale Park. The search for volunteers is a high priority.
It takes about 2,000 dedicated, engaged, community-minded, and fun volunteers to make the Festival happen. Volunteers work all over the Festival on crews to support Festival staff, fans, sponsors, and artists to ensure everyone at the Festival has an unforgettable, exciting, fun, and safe time! Volunteers do anything from helping set up, assisting little ones, or even simply putting on a smile and greeting everyone as they come and go.
To volunteer, go to riverfestival.com/volunteer.
First Treasures
Tomorrow’s art patrons are today’s children; with this in mind, The Smoky Hill River Festival created the First Treasures tent. Young art enthusiasts, ages 4 to 13, can choose original artwork from River Festival artists at affordable prices of $5 or less.
"On Saturday morning of the festival at about 8:30 or 9 a.m. people will begin to line up at the Mulberry Bridge because it is the shortest distance from that entryway to the First Treasurers tent where kids get to, in some cases, purchase their first work of art," said Brad Anderson, director of Salina Arts and Humanities.
How does a child participate in First Treasures?
Entry-window tickets become available at the First Treasures tent at 10:00 am on Saturday of the festival. Supply depends on the number of artworks provided and, therefore, is limited in quantity.
Children can then meet their Festival artists on the grounds. If a child needs additional assistance in the tent or with check-out, please inform staff when you pick up their entrance time card.
Festival Families First
Festival Families First is a program fully underwritten by local businesses and organizations to provide Festival admission to families or individuals who might otherwise be unable to attend.
Individuals who qualify and are affiliated with any of the following participating organizations can take part in Festival Families First simply by asking that organization to participate:
Salina Family Healthcare Center
Thrive of the Heartland
Ashby House
Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas
Heartland Early Education
Big Brother Big Sisters
DVACK
CAPS
Pinnacle Park
Salvation Army
Independent Connection
KVC Kansas
The Festival Families First program is made possible in part by:
Blue Beacon International Inc.
Verla Nesbitt Joscelyn Foundation
Salina Regional Health Foundation
Ways to save at the Smoky Hill River Festival:
⦁ Enjoy the Artyopolis kids’ area for children, families, and the young at heart!
⦁ FREE airbrush tattoos and/or face painting at Paintchoo Plaza
⦁ FREE make-and-take projects at Creation Crossing
⦁ Hours of FREE family entertainment at Arty’s Stage
⦁ Hours of FREE fun at Lego Lane
⦁ Game Street has FREE family-friendly games
⦁ Find shade and a place to feed/change your child at Baby Station
⦁ First Treasures purchases are $5 or less for children ages 4-13
⦁ Coolers are welcome – Bring your own food and drink
- NO GLASS CONTAINERS
⦁ Lots of art to see – Window shopping in the art show is encouraged
⦁ Many food vendors have a $4 food item on their menu, and menus with prices are available at riverfestival.com/food
⦁ Visit other stages for FREE performances to listen to rock, jazz, reggae, funk, and more!
⦁ Roving artists and art installations are EVERYWHERE! See if you can find them all.
Smoky Hill River Run
On the morning of Saturday, June 15, the Salina Regional Health Center will host the 43rd Smoky Hill River Run. The event includes a two-mile walk, children’s races, and a two-mile and five-mile electronically timed race. Register online at https://srhc.com/riverrun/.
History of the Smoky Hill River Festival
Salina Arts & Humanities has served a unique role in arts advocacy and support since 1966. The Smoky Hill River Festival, the Horizons Grants Program, the Smoky Hill Museum, and the Arts Infusion program are among the programs of this City of Salina division.
Smoky Hill River Festival: Connecting people through an arts experience celebrating the creative spirit.
The mission of Salina Arts & Humanities is the cultivation of this place through the power of the arts and humanities to change lives and build community.
In 1976, a downtown Street Fair was held during Salina’s Bicentennial celebration. The event was such a hit that plans were soon underway to move the specially built gazebo to be part of the first-ever Smoky Hill River Festival, held in Oakdale in Park June 1977.
The River Festival added elements during its first 10 years, including a Fun Run, a children’s Art Participation area, a park-and-ride shuttle service, and the popular Festival Jam concert. The Mamas and the Papas headlined on Saturday night in June 1987, and the Big Band Dance began that year.
The festival’s second decade included expansion of the Fine Arts Show and Four Rivers Craft Market, Curt Krob’s popular, large-scale sand sculptures, and site-specific Artists In Action installations across the park. Festival Buttons were $4.The Oakdale Stage was built. In 1985, the Kenwood Bridge and the Bi-Center entrance bridges were opened.
During the ‘90s and into the new millennium, the Storytelling Stage was born, as was First Treasures, to develop young art collectors. The tented Stage II was first created in the mid-90s. An Arts Patron program began, featuring a Saturday morning breakfast in the Park’s formal garden. In 2000, Salina’s Community Art & Design Program (CAD) was launched for the Festival’s 25th year. Its first public art piece was “Under a Canopy Of Hope” for the Salina Animal Shelter. The Eric Stein (Main) Stage was dedicated in 2006.
Since 2010, the River Festival has evolved by combining its two art shows and re-envisioning the PREMIERE art-patron party and program. “Dream Dragon Bridge” and other icon Art Installations were unveiled, and in 2014, the SHRF Legacy Fund endowment was born. Among popular stage acts of the decade were Steep Canyon Rangers, That1Guy, Jakubi, and Larkin Poe.
Since its inception, the Smoky Hill River Festival has welcomed thousands of loyal locals and far-way guests, as well as appreciative food vendors, artists, and performers who had never experienced the arts Festival-style until they came to Salina.
The four-day arts celebration is unmatched in its on-grounds hospitality and community support and continues to evolve, reflecting Salina Arts & Humanities’ passionate commitment to the arts.
Check Salina Post for additional information regarding Smoky Hill River Festival art exhibits, food, and entertainment as the Smoky Hill River Festival draws closer.