Smoky Hill River Festival Review

The final statistics from the 2014 Smoky Hill River Festival Have been complied.

According to Salina Arts and Humanities, with its “vibrant mix of outdoor art, live entertainment, exhibiting artists, children’s activities, and tempting food” the festival is a v”isible and influential community masterpiece”.

Here are some highlights:

WHO CAME: Festival attendance was 62,860 for 2014, an increase of 552 over the 62,308 in Oakdale Park in 2013.

WHO SHOPPED: Local and regional art lovers took home $483,576.24 in work from the Fine Art and Four Rivers Craft Shows and the Artist Demonstration area. A new ‘The Art of Taste’ party held
a week before Festival, targeted young professionals and others who might be newer to selecting and owning original art.

WHO PLAYED: About 3,000 children played, created and learned within Artyopolis—the Festival’s kid-sized metropolis with lots to see and do. Game Street activities generated $7,870.99 in revenues for the seven host community groups to share.

WHO BUTTONED UP: Overall button sales accounted for $218,072 of Festival revenue, compared to $217,038 in 2013. Thirteen thousand and ninety two buttons were sold pre-Festival in Salina alone, with 2,393 of those purchased by local employers for their staff and families. In the 18 regional cities around Salina, 505 buttons were sold–an increase of 46 percent over 2013. More than 700 Festival Families First buttons were underwritten by nine community businesses and organizations, to provide to children and families in need.

WHO ATE: Festival-goers near and far enjoyed longtime favorites and brand-new treats, resulting in $305,692.92 in net food sales by 33 vendors.

WHO GAVE: Three hundred and fifty-nine local and regional Festival Sponsors contributed more than $300,000 in cash or in-kind services, to support River Festival 2014. It takes about $525,000 to stage the Festival and its many components each year. Sixty-eight percent of the Festival’s income comes from Sponsor contributions and button sales.