Thanks to Brett of Wichita Festivals for help in finding these discounts.
The 2012 Wichita River Festival begins this weekend and a $5 Riverfest button is your ticket to free and discounted activities and in Wichita. (And don’t forget about the BOGO Riverfest Concert Tickets!) Consider this your On the Cheap Guide to the Wichita River Festival.
Riverfest Button Discounts and Freebies:
Museums on the River – Save $2 off admission to Botanica, the Kansas African-American Museum, Old Cowtown Museum (Saturday, June 2 is Steampunk Day again), and the Mid-America All-Indian Center.
Wichita Art Museum Get FREE admission to the Wichita Art Museum with your Riverfest button Tuesday through Sunday during the Wichita River Festival. (The museum is closed on Monday.) There will be a special visual scavenger hunt and prize drawings daily.
Exploration Place Discount Days Admission is only $5 with a Riverfest button from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 1 to Saturday, June 9. The Star Wars exhibit requires an additional requires an additional $5 fee per person, and the Millennium Falcon experience is $3 with your Riverfest button. You can also see a movie in the Boeing Dome Theater for just $2.50 this week, and play a round of mini golf at EP for only $2.
Sports
Mini Golf at Exploration Place is only $2 with your Riverfest button. Play the 18-hole course any time Friday, June 1 to Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wichita Wingnuts – Get free general admission to the Sunday, June 3, Wichita Wingnuts game with your Riverfest button.
Paddle Boats Hop aboard at the Douglas Street Bridge, free with your Riverfest button. Paddle boats are available weekday evenings during the Riverfest from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and for most of the day on Saturdays and Sunday.
Free Canoe and Kayak rides from the Ark River Coalition You’ll find volunteers from the Ark River Coalition at the Douglas Street Bridge, offering free canoe and kayak rides Friday, June 1 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. I’m assuming conditions on the river have to be a “go” for this.
Competitive Ice Skating Future skating stars will compete Saturday, June 9 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the Wichita Ice Center. Admission is free with a Riverfest button.
Concerts
WSO Twilight Pops Concert This is always one of the highlights of Riverfest for me, and admission is free with your Riverfest button. Don’t miss the fireworks that begin immediately after the concert. It’s at West Bank this year.
McConnell AFB Riverfest Salute This is more than a concert by the Heartland of America Band. You’ll also see the Honor Guard, a history of the American flag, and the induction of 70 new recruits. Appropriate event so soon after Memorial Day. It’ll be on Friday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Waterwalk Pavilion. Riverfest Map
Christian Music Fest You’ll have plenty of time to catch this FREE concert on Kennedy Plaza (next to Century II). It’s on Sunday, June 3 from noon to 9:30 p.m. (Rain Location: Century II Exhibition Hall)
Clay Walker Country artist Clay Walker will perform in a FREE concert at the Douglas Street Stage, at Douglas and Main. The Clay Walker concert is Friday, June 8, from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tony! Toni! Toné! The Block Party Pop Concert featuring Tony! Toni! Toné! is Saturday, June 9 at about 8 p.m. at the Douglas Street Stage (Douglas and Main). Free with River Festival button.
Kids
Buckaroo/Buckarette Rodeo Kids ages 2-10 can try their hands at barrel riding, rope making, lasso roping, and panning for gold on Wednesday, June 6 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The “rodeo” will be set up adjacent to Kennedy Plaza at Century II.
Wichita Children’s Theater Enjoy a FREE performance of The Three Billy Goats Gruff with your River Festival button on Tuesday or Wednesday, June 5 or 6 in the Mary Jane Teall Theater inside Century II. It looks like there are shows at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on both days. Space is limited and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Boeing Dome Theater at Exploration Place Admission is only $2.50 with your Riverfest button Friday, June 1 through Saturday, June 9. This is a great price to see a movie at Kansas’ largest dome theater.
Sundown Parade If you’re somewhere near Century II on Friday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m., you’ll probably be able to see the parade that kicks off Riverfest.
Food
Ice Cream Social There may be no more attention-grabbing phrase than “free ice cream.” Get the FREE ice cream on Wednesday, June 6, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Douglas Street near Waco. Riverfest Map
Food Court Lunch Specials Although Riverfest food is never cheap, it will be cheaper Monday through Thursday around lunchtime, so if you’re absolutely craving cheese on a stick or funnel cakes, this may be the time to go. See the full list of Wichita River Festival Lunch Specials at the link.
So did I miss anything? What else is free or cheap with a Riverfest button?