Riverfest

DAY EIGHT- Friday, June 10 The weather tonight at the Wichita Riverfest made for an enjoyable evening. My first stop of the evening was to check out the 3rd annual funnel cake eating contest at the Star Lumber Stage. There were 10 brave contestants who signed up for this challenge in hopes that they would win a prize from Sports Radio 1410 KGSO. The contestants had 10 minutes to eat as many funnel cakes as possible. Some of the contestants took their time, while other dedicated contestants dipped their funnel cakes into water to make the process easier.

For more than a quarter century, the Cajun Food Fest has been a main attraction at Riverfest and for the first time this year has competition. Volunteers like food coordinator Scott McComas make it happen. “It’s a good cause and I enjoy doing it,” says McComas. The money raised goes to Goodwill Industries, but this year there is competition. “I heard about it about a month ago,” says McComas. Just down the river Riverfest is holding its own Cajun event, complete with a Cajun band on this stage and Cajun style food.     Riverfest officials say in no way did they mean to compete with Goodwill food fest, an event that raises about $30 thousand a year.

Riverfest officials have canceled all events at this time. The festival grounds and Century II have been evacuated and any remaining people are advised to take cover. A tornado warning has been extended. KWCH will continue to update you with more details as more information becomes available.

We are mid-way through Wichita's 9-day Riverfest.  But instead of running from tornadoes, attendees are running for the shade. Organizers didn't expect record-setting temperatures to affect them when they moved the festival from May to June.  (Wednesday marked the sixth day in a row of 100+ temperatures - a new record.) However, Janet Wright of Riverfest says so far this year, 150 thousand people have attended (that's an estimated four day total).  That's almost as many as who attended for all 8 days last year.  (Riverfest didn't even open one day in 2010 because of severe weather.)