Project #19: Wichita Festivals/Wichita Riverfest
Wichita Riverfest, like KMAZ, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2011. In 1971, Wichita Festivals Inc. organized the Wichitennial River Festival and Traders Day Celebration, which by 1974 grew into the 10day annual event now known as the Wichita Riverfest. The Riverfest continues to achieve its original goal of bringing our community together, building community pride and focusing onWichita’s great natural resource, theArkansas River.
The Riverfest depends upon a score of community volunteers, and KMAZ has long lent its support. Gary Austerman served as a member of the Wichita Festival Inc. Boardof Directors from 1999 to 2005. Chris McElgunn just finished his six year term as a Board member in September 2011. Since 2003, KMAZ legal assistant Annette Meece has averaged 25 hours of volunteer service during the Riverfest, selling food court tickets, admission buttons and concert merchandise. The year 2011 was no different as Annette completed her 8th consecutive year of service for the group.