By SALINA POST
Through the years, Salina's Smoky Hill River Festival has continued to grow and the upcoming festival is no exception.
This morning, staff from Salina Arts & Humanities (SA&H), which coordinates the festival, reviewed the highlights for the 46th Smoky Hill River Festival, scheduled for June 9-12 in Oakdale Park. Billed as the year’s most energetic and epic arts party, the 2022 festival will be bigger and better than ever!
Admission is by weekend wristband ($15 in advance, $20 at the gate) or daily wristband ($10, sold only at the gate). Children ages 11 and under are admitted at no charge.
Weekend wristbands are scheduled to go on sale May first and will be locally and in cities throughout the region, according to SA&H. See a list of local and regional wristband retailers at: https://www.riverfestival.com/participating-retailers/.
Pre-festival events
This year's festival has been made even bigger by the addition of the following two pre-festival events.
●On May 6, the Kings of Anything, a four-piece rock band, are scheduled to perform at the new stage on the corner of N. Santa Fe Avenue and W. Ash Street at 6:30 p.m.
●May 21 is the Artwork Alley Mural Expo in the alley at 140 S. Fifth. The event is scheduled to include music, food, games, painting, and more.
Additionally, the Festival Medallion Quest is set to kick off in late May. Details will be available closer to the kickoff at riverfestival.com.
Music and entertainment
As is tradition, the Smoky Hill River Festival is scheduled to kick off with the SM Hanson Music Festival Jam at 6 p.m. June 9 on the Eric Stein Stage. Each band has only 15 minutes on stage, which includes setup, playing, and exiting the stage, Rick Hanson, CEO and president of SM Hanson Music, Inc., explained in a Salina Post story from July 22, 2022.
Hanson told Salina Post this afternoon that the deadline for bands to submit their information for consideration to be in this year's Festival Jam is April 23. Entry packets can be requested by emailing [email protected].
The final lineup for the 36th Festival Jam will be released early to mid-May.
Also in the music category, country music and sunny Latino sounds are the themes on festival stages, according to Arts & Humanities. Headliners include Jason Boland & The Stragglers (June 10), Gangstagrass (June 11), and SunDub (June 12). Other acts include The RT’s from New York City, Las Cafeteras from Los Angeles, and Armchair Boogie from Minneapolis, Minn.
READ: Smoky Hill River Festival main stage acts announced
A number of roving acts and Arty’s Stage performers also are scheduled. Salina Post will take a look at that entertainment component on Thursday.
Additionally, performances by aerial artists Voler-Thieves of Flight are scheduled in the pond each evening at 8 p.m. Known as Kansas City's premier aerial performance collective, Voler-Thieves of Flight "is an edgy and experimental collaboration of aerial dance and acrobatics. Their performance features performances aerial silks, straps, hammock, lyra (hoop), aerial yoga, and contemporary dance. They will delight you with gravity-defying acts that steal your breath (and perhaps your heart)," according to information from SA&H.
Art
The art component of the festival is set to bring in visual artists from 19 state, include 47 artist who are new to the festival. According to SA&H, those artists will be located throughout the show and art demonstration areas. Additionally, more than 20 site-specific, outdoor art installations are scheduled to be throughout the festival grounds.
Salina native Hannah Gebhart created this year’s festival print and festival t-shirt.
READ: Salina native designs 2022 Smoky Hill River Festival print
The t-shirt’s colorful elements began as an on-edge quilling piece before being transformed into an image.
The art area for children, Artyopolis, is scheduled to include the following, according to SA&H.
• Arty’s Stage – An exciting opportunity to watch, laugh, and participate with performing artists.
• Baby Station – a shady spot to change a diaper, feed your baby, or give your little ones a break from the sun.
• Button Boulevard – Cruise by and make a one-of-a-kind button to wear all weekend long.
• Creation Crossing – Make-and-take art projects for budding artists. Think markers, stickers, paint, and paper. Just bring your imagination!
• First Treasures – SATURDAY ONLY – Young art patrons ages four to 13, can select original artwork from River Festival artists, at affordable prices of $5 or less. Children can then meet their festival artist on-grounds.
• Game Street – Vibrant storefronts resembling a downtown Main Street. Challenge friends and family to take home the highest score. For the fi rst time, Game Street will feature eight activities that are physically engaging and appealing to all ages.
• Ident-a-Kid – stop by to get a free child’s ID bracelet.
• Lego Lane – Unlock your imagination to build characters, animals, machines, and more!
• Mistical Oasis – A stop at the Oasis can be the perfect way to cool down, get a second wind, and extend your Festival stay.
• Paintchoo Plaza – Color Me Crazy! Face Painting will create temporary body art with their new airbrush tattoos on Friday. Little tikes aren’t the only ones who will want in on the fun – older kids and adults will also line up for one of these realistic airbrush tattoos. On Saturday, the artists will be doing all face painting and Sunday will be a mix.
• Sound Garden – Musical sculptures help children experiment with music and rhythm.
Artyopolis hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 10-11 and noon to 4 p.m. June 12.
The festival's Art Patron Program offers art lovers and collectors a chance to sign up for special perks that include admission to the June 9 evening premiere cocktail party where artists and patrons mingle and connect and a June 10 morning preview hour of art show shopping. According to SA&H, people can become art patrons by purchasing $100 tickets that are exchangeable for $100 in art-show gift certificates. Tickets are available from May 31 until they are sold out. Sign up by calling 785-309-5770.
Festival food
More than 30 food providers, including a number of new vendors, are scheduled for this year's festival. Food items new to the festival this year include the following.
• Crawfish Boil
• Dole Pineapple Whip
• Tiki Tenders
• Texas Twister
• Sweet Thai Pork Tacos
• Grilled Veggie Sandwich
• Hot and Spicy Chicken Gyro
• Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich
Other taste-tempting treats that are to be at this year's festival include the following.
• Fried Peaches
• Chocolate-Covered Frozen Cheesecake
• Buffalo Burger
• Jumbo Chicken-Fried Steak Sandwich
• Indian Taco
• Funnel Cake
• Chipotle Beef Burrito
• Turkey Leg
• Flowering Onion
• Frog Legs
• Veggie Noodle Bowl
• Pineapple Bowl
• Mini Donuts
• Cinnamon Roasted Nuts
• Alligator on a Stick
• Homemade Soda
• Homemade Ice Cream
• Kettle Corn
• Chicken & Waffles
• Crab Cakes
• Ice Cream Bars
• Dippin’ Dots
• Shaved Ice
• Coconut Shrimp
• Fish Tacos
• Po’Boy Sandwich
• Fried Ravioli
• Bourbon Chicken
• Street Taco
• Pizza
For a complete list of food vendors and their menus visit riverfestival.com.