Monday's Riverfest Closure Hurts Food Vendors

May 11, 2010

By Rebecca Gannon (WICHITA, Kan.)

Vendors in downtown Wichita spent Tuesday evening trying to make up for lost time - and money.

Monday's severe weather closed Riverfest and cash registers.

Tad and his crew fry it all, namely chicken and shrimp. And he sells it, at Riverfest, and 50 other festivals, every year.

"We love the good days," said Tad Blood, "we don't like the bad days."

Monday was one of the bad days. Organizers canceled the entire Monday line up for Riverfest in anticipation of severe weather. And that fried any chance of a profit.

There are about 20 vendor booths at the Wichita River Festival for food - and each one of them lost about $5,000 in profits because of Monday's severe weather. Do the math -- and that's about $100,000 in lost profits. And Wichita River Festival organizers do get a cut of some of that money.

"That's where we generate a lot of revenue to support us through the year," said Janet Wright, President and CEO of Riverfest, "so we can continue to plan for the next year."

The money organizers drum up this year - from concerts and merchandise and food -- pays for Riverfest next year.

Wright estimates the event lost about $10,000 Monday. "Monday's usually a slower day anyway," she said. "So if this had to happen, Monday was a good day for it to happen."

The forecast calls for more rain throughout the week, and possibly, more losses.

"It's probably harder on the festival than it is on me," said Tad Blood with a shrug as his crew fried up more food behind him. "I'm kind of used to it, but the festival counts all year that they're going to get nine days of revenue. Well, the lose a couple days of revenue, I'm sure it hurts the festival more than it does me."

Tad Blood has months to earn more money. Riverfest has six days.

"But if we get Thursday, Friday, and Saturday," he said, "I'll be a happy camper."

By Rebecca Gannon (WICHITA, Kan.)

Food vendors say they lost about $10,000 when Riverfest organizers didn't open Monday due to severe weather.

The festival gets a cut from food sales.

Eyewitness News Reporter Rebecca Gannon shows us what festival organizers say fewer funds mean for future Riverfests Tonight on Eyewitness News at 10:00.

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