Together with Flatwater Fitness

If you’ve never paddle boarded at Santa Fe Lake, this is your sign.

Flatwater Fitness & Fun rents paddle boards and kayaks, hosts yoga classes on the water, and gives you an excuse to spend a summer evening outside instead of sitting at home. It’s peaceful, surprisingly affordable, and feels way farther from Wichita than it actually is.

Perfect for a date night, family outing, or just trying something new this summer.

Riverfest Guide 2026

It’s that time of year! Friday kicks off the 54th Wichita Riverfest that runs May 29th through June 6th.

We want to give the quick lowdown on what to expect and how to maximize your fun this week at Riverfest.

Riverfest Buttons

Each year, Wichita has a new line up of musicians, festivities, and more. There is one thing that stays consistent: you need a Riverfest button to get in and enjoy (although there are a couple exceptions which we will get to later).

Think of this button as your golden ticket to enjoy this festival by the river all week long.

Adult buttons are $20, children (6-12) buttons are $10, and children 5 or younger are free. Sunday will be free for all kids under 12 (with an adults with button) for Family Fun Day. This is your admission ticket for all nine days of the festival (including the concerts)!

Where to get your button:

• All Wichita-area QuikTrip locations

• Wichita Festivals Office (444 E William Street) from 9am to 5pm until Friday

• Festival Gates

Yes, you need your button to get in.

Concerts

One of the best parts of Riverfest is the music!

Wichita pulls out all the stops and mixes in old school favorites, big names, and even some local flavor.

All concerts are 100% FREE with admission to Wichita Riverfest aka your Riverfest button.

You can upgrade to VIP as well for some of the concerts. Here is the low down on all of the concerts. The concerts are located at the Crossland Construction Kennedy Plaza Stage.

• Friday 5/29 - DJ3 7:30 - 8:45pm, The Jacksons 9:15 - 10:45pm - VIP

• Saturday 5/30 - DJ Tynno Morales 4 - 4:30pm, Los Del Bajio 4:45 - 5:30pm, Mariachi Mexico en la Piel 5:45 - 6:45pm, 7 - 8:45pm Los Reyes Locos, El Fantasma 9:15 - 11pm - VIP

• Monday 6/1 - Brent Jones 7:45 - 8:30pm, Jonathan McReynolds 9 - 10pm - VIP

• Tuesday 6/2 - Raptor: USAF Heartland of America 7:30 - 8:15pm, Sons of Legion 8:45 - 10pm - VIP

• Wednesday 6/3 - Cam Allen 7:30 - 8:15pm, Jake Owen 8:45 - 10pm - VIP

• Thursday 6/4 - Mudbugs 5:15 - 6:45pm, Second Line by Josue Estrada 7:15 - 8:15pm, Keith Frank 8:45 - 10pm - VIP

• Friday 6/5 - DJ Showcase 5:15 - 6:15pm, 6:30 - 7:30pm Battle of the Bands Winner: Nuclear Football 6:30 - 7:30pm, Sage the Gemini 8 - 8:45pm, Gym Class Heroes 9:15 - 10:45pm - VIP

• Saturday 6/6 -  Rudy Love and the Encore Band 7:30 - 8:30pm, Hank Azaria & the EZ Street Band - A Springsteen Celebration 9 - 10:30pm - VIP

Fireworks

Fireworks are a staple of the annual fest down by the river. Many of the best pictures of Riverfest are the fireworks and the crowds of people gathered around our river to watch. There are THREE times to catch fireworks this year (plus a fourth if you count the Wind Surge game on Friday).

You’ll want to post up along the Arkansas River Bank between Kellogg and First St (pro tip - bring a lawn chair or blankey).

You can think of the Douglas Avenue Bridge as a good center point.

• Opening Night (Friday 5/29) - 10:45pm

• Wednesday 6/3 - 9:45pm

• Finale (Saturday 6/6) - 10:45pm

Featured & Daily Events

There are a number of featured events as well as daily events. This list is not comprehensive. If you want that, head to the Wichita Riverfest website. This is just to give you a taste. The Riverfest Guide and Online Map is super cool too, so highly recommend you check that out.

Featured Events:

• Sundown Parade - Friday 5/29 - 6:30pm

• Fidelity Bank River Run - Saturday 5/30 - 7am

• Children’s Entrepreneur Market - Sunday 5/31 - 1pm

• Linwood Sexton Charity Ice Cream Sandwich Challenge - Wednesday 6/4 at 6pm (then free ice cream for everyone!)

New Events:

There are a ton of new events this year, but here are a few:

• YBG Fashion Show - 5/31

• Pickleball tournament - 6/6 - 10am - 4pm

• 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament - 5/30 - 6/2

• Riverfest Native Expo - “A Powwow Experience” - 6/6 - 4-7pm

• Michelob Ultra Soccer Shootout to win tickets to the FIFA World Cup - 5/30

• and more!

Daily events or things to do:

• Food Court - is there anything better than festival food?

• Riverfest Carnival

• Kids Corner

• Drinks & Beer Garden

Participate:

Don’t just be a spectator this year, try something new! Here are a few of your options and a full list can be found here:

• Cowboy Bathtub Races - Saturday 5/30 - 1-3pm

• Riverfest Gravel Grinder - Saturday 6/6 - 8am - noon

• Plein Air: Painting Competition - Day 1 kicks off 5/30

• Cardboard Regatta - Sunday 5/31 - 1:30 - 5pm

• FutureFest (S.T.E.A.M. CITY) - Sunday 5/31- 1-4pm

• KAKE’s Touch A Truck - Thursday 6/4 - 5 - 8:30pm

• Riverfest Photography Contest - 5/30 - 6/5

• Cornhole Tournament - Sunday 5/31 - Noon - 4pm

• Riverfest Classic Car Show - Saturday 6/6- 11am - 5pm

• Riverfest Fishing Derby - Saturday 6/6 - 9 - 11am

p.s. The river events have moved upstream near the Riverside Roundabout.

Free (without a button):

Although we highly recommend you get a button, there are actual free events that do not require a button at all:

• Riverfest Fishing Derby - Saturday 6/6 - 9 - 11am

• Grand Opening Ceremony - Friday 5/29 - 11:30am

• Sundown Parade - Friday 5/29 - 6:30pm

• KAKE Touch A Truck - Thursday 6/5 - 5 - 8:30pm

• Fireworks (see above)

• Food Court between 11am - 2pm does not require a button

• ALL DAY SUNDAY is FREE for kids under 12 with an adult that has a button

A few other notes:

• The Carnival does require a button

• There are no longer tickets at the Food Courts, it is all cashless AND ticketless. Reverse ATMs will be available if all you have is cash.

• Learn even more about the 54th Riverfest from our podcast with new CEO and President of Wichita Festivals, BreAnna Monk:

• Don’t bring your pets.

• Be aware of street closures and learn where to park.

Medallion Hunt

The Riverfest Medallion Hunt has been a family favorite of my family for a long time. It’s an excuse to get up early, read the clue, do some googlin’ and get out to explore Wichita. We’ve never quite found it, but have been very close multiple times.

Lucky for you (and us), it is back baby.

The Medallion Hunt consists of a medallion that is hidden somewhere in Wichita and if you find it before the deadline (and before other hunters), you win a prize.

Tips for Riverfest

If you've never been, here are a few tips we crowd-sourced on how to make the most out of Riverfest week:

Past Riverfest

Many things have come and gone from Riverfest. What do you miss the most?

• Raft or ceramic bathtub races

• Art and book fair

• Treasure Island

• Block Party

Check out our History of Riverfest Deep Dive here.

What is your favorite part of Riverfest? What do you miss?