2019 Smoky Hill River Festival: “Like None Other!”

By Todd Pittenger April 9, 2019

It is billed as being “Like None Other!” Organizers Tuesday morning unveiled plans for the 2019 Smoky Hill River Festival.

2019 will be the 43rd year of the annual celebration of the arts in Salina. This year’s festival is June 13th – 16th.

The popular Festival Jam will get things started Thursday night. The Big Band Dance will be back again as well, Friday night inside the Tony’s Pizza Events Center.

Along with the mainstays there will be plenty of new things this year, including a change in the popular medallion quest. This year there will be seven total prizes to win. A half dozen hidden “Tokens” will need to be found to unveil a visual puzzle which can then be used to find the grand prize. Here are the complete details.

There will be two main acts on the Eric Stein Stage, both Friday and Saturday night. They include:

  • Lost Wax, a Kansas City dance and party band with strong vocal and instrumental talent, known for its musical mash-ups that keep audiences moving to six decades of pop, rock, hip hop and R&B. Friday, June 14, 8:30 p.m. http://lostwaxkc.com/
  • Larkin Poe, Nashville-based singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist sisters who have created their own brand of roots rock ‘n’ roll: gritty, soulful and flavored by their Southern heritage. Rebecca and Megan Lovell are descendants of the artist and poet Edgar Allen Poe. Saturday, June 15, 8:30 p.m. http://larkinpoe.com

Local favorites  Joe’s Pet Project, will close out the festival on Sunday afternoon.  The hometown favorites are famous for their live shows featuring diverse originals and eclectic covers. Members Nathan Tysen, Ryan McCall, John Hobson, Jason Hammond and Lance Gilchrist are known and loved by many. The group will close the Festival, playing a special set on Sunday June 16 at 3:30 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/joespetproject

There will be some changes, but festival food this year won’t disappoint with 36 vendors. New food for festival goers to sample will include:

  • Buffalo Burgers
  • BBQ Pork Kabobs
  • Gougeres  French Pastries
  • Pancakes on a Stick
  • Milk Shakes

As far as the art is concerned, one of the most notable additions will be “Snake Oil”, a giant snake made from oil drums which will be floating in the river.

Smoky Hill River Festival Buttons go on sale Wednesday, May 1st. They well be avaialble at 40 location in 18 cities.

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Smoky Hill River Festival Online