Wichita Riverfest 2023: June 2 -10

Wichita River Fest is the biggest festival in the Wichita community. This massive event is the region’s largest, longest-running, and most anticipated festival. 

There’s no shortage of fun activities this year at the Wichita River Festival. This is the best deal of the year. For the price of a button, you get admission into concerts, an ice cream social (Free ice Cream), the Sundown parade, the food court, and so much more. 

Wichita Riverfest is celebrating its 51st year on June 2–10.

Riverfest buttons are your admission into the festival, good for all 9 days AND for all concerts! Buttons are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 12–6. Admission is FREE for children ages 5 and under. Purchase your buttons now at any local QuikTrip.

Riverfest 2023 Highlights:

• June 2, 2023
  • Kids Corner – 5-10 pm
  • Safelite AutoGlass Sundown Parade – 6:30 pm 
  • Shaggy with Cash Hollistah with DJ Carbon – 8 – 9:30 pm
  • Textron Opening Night Fireworks – 9:45 pm
• June 3, 2023
  • River Run – 7 am – 11 am
  • Admirals’ Pancake Feed – 7:30 am
  • Food Court Opens – 11 am
  • Kids Corner – 11 am – 10 pm
  • Wichita Children Theater production of Chicken Little – 11 am, 12:30 pm & 2 pm
  • Artfest Pop Up Market – 11 am -6 pm
  • Cowboy Bathtub Races – 2 -3 pm
  • Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors with Willerado and Reid Haughton – 9 pm
• June 4, 2023
  • Food Court Opens – 11 am
  • Kids Corner – 11 and -10 pm
  • STEAM City – Noon – 4 pm
  • Cardboard Regatta – 1:30 pm
  • Downtown Get Down – 3 pm – 9 pm
  • Parker Millsap Concert – 9 pm
• June 5, 2023
  • Food Court Opens – 11 am
  • Bob Struble Golf Classic – 8:30 am
  • Brickmob Mural Painting at Mabitat Build -5 pm – 9 pm
  • Kids Corner – 5 pm -10 pm
  • Gospelfest – 6 pm – 10pm
• June 6, 2023
  • Food Court Opens – 11 am
  • Brickmob Mural Painting at Habitat Building – 5 – 9 pm 
  • Kids Corner – 5 pm – 10 pm
  • A Salute to Military: Eli Young Band with Texas Hill – 5:30 – 10 pm
• June 7, 2023
  • Food Court Opens – 11 am
  • Brickmob Mural Painting at Habitat Building – 5 – 9 pm
  • Kids Corner – 5 pm – 10 pm 
  • Linwood Sexton Charity Ice Cream Sandwich Challange – 6 pm 
  •  Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Social – 6: 30 pm 
  • Portrait with the Admiral – 7 pm – 8 pm
  • Gin Blossoms with the Haymakers and Desure Concerts – 8:30 pm
• June 8, 2023
  • Food Court Opens – 11 am
  • Brickmob Mural Painting at Habitat Building – 5 – 9 pm
  • Kids Corner – 5 pm – 10 pm 
  • Cajun Food Fest – 5 pm -8:30 pm
  • Touch a Truck – 5 pm – 8:30 pm
  • The Soul Rebels with XV and Ernest James Zydeco – 9:15 pm 
• June 9th, 2023
  • Food Court Opens – 11 am
  • Brickmob Mural Painting at Habitat Building – 5 – 9 pm
  • Kids Corner – 5 pm – 10 pm 
  • Fiesta Del Rio – 11 am – 11 pm
  • Eden Munoz – 4 pm – 11 pm 
• June 10, 2023
  • Riverfest Gravel Grinder – 9 am-Noon
  • Food Court Opens – 11 am
  • Brickmob Mural Painting at Habitat Building – 5 – 9 pm
  • Kids Corner – 5 pm – 10 pm 
  • Classic Car Show – 11 am – 5 pm
  • Rivalry on the River Revival – 11 am – 3 pm
  • Plein Air Final Show and Sale – 11 am – 4 pm
  • Parmalee with Jenna & Martin Duo and Pete Gile – 5:30 – 10:30 pm
  • Fireworks!! – 10:30 pm 

Does it Cost Extra to attend Concerts:

• No. Admission to all concerts is included with your festival button.

Click HERE to visit the Riverstival website. 

According to the Riverfest website, in 1970 at the City’s Centennial celebration, the goal was to bring the entire community together, to build community pride, and focus on Wichita’s beautiful natural resource, the Arkansas River. In 1971, board members selected May 27, 1972, to hold the Wichitennial River Festival. Activities included a bathtub race, maypole winding, and an antique auto parade. Around 2,000 buttons were sold at the festival for $1 each. The Coleman Company and KG&E were a couple of the early corporate supporters in 1973. 1974 was an important year for the festival because a group of leaders had the idea of establishing an organization for the festival made up of young business leaders. This same year, the Festival was extended to 10 days and featured the Sundown Parade, the Twilight Pops Concert, and fireworks. The festival officially became the Wichita River Festival in 1979. 

More Articles: 

Wichita Summer Checklist 

Citywide Garage Sales 

Happy Hours and Special in Wichita