Smoky Hill River Festival: Four Days That Bring Us Together

Tanner Colvin
6 days ago
2 min read

For four days in June Oakdale Park in Salina, Kansas is filled with creative energy and an urge to celebrate the arts thanks in large part to the work of Salina Arts and Humanties and a dedicated team of volunteers.

I'll be honest—I may be a bit biased when I say the Smoky Hill River Festival is one of the best festivals in Kansas. As a child, my family would load up a wagon and head into the park each day. Towing a cooler stocked with food and drinks, my parents would pick out the same spot year after year. We would sit next to friends we seemingly only saw once a year under an old tree near the main stage. For many, the Smoky Hill River Festival holds similar memories and traditions.

Last weekend, June 11-14, the Smoky Hill River Festival celebrated its 50th festival. What started as a small street fair to celebrate the nation's bicentennial has grown into a full-scale arts celebration—four days of live music, food, art, and community. It's that last part, community, that really shined through this year.

On Monday, June 8, the Salina area was hit by a massive windstorm with winds reaching 113 mph. The city and Oakdale Park took a significant hit, and by Tuesday morning, opening the festival on Thursday afternoon seemed like a tall task. By Wednesday morning, the park was filled with volunteers. Many had likely just finished cleaning up at home but chose to come to the park and help the festival get back on its feet.

Tents were being set back up, and Kubota of Salina stepped in with tractors to move piles of limbs. The City of Salina Parks and Recreation Department arrived with chainsaws and dump trucks to begin hauling away storm debris. By Wednesday afternoon, just 48 hours after the storm and with 90% of the areas power restored, Evergy dispatched a crew to restore electricity to the park. For the most part, the festival was back on schedule.

Throughout the weekend, it was evident that the 50th annual Smoky Hill River Festival was a little more special. For me personally, it became an escape—a chance to disconnect, if only briefly, from the week's events. Like in years past, it provided an opportunity to set aside our differences and come together as a community to celebrate the arts. A theme that the Fili Creative team has created a documentary around.

For the previous five years, Fili Creative has spent the festival capturing its spirit for a documentary titled 4 Days in June. The documentary centers on the magic and community that make the festival special. In a time of constant negative news and division, the festival serves as a welcome relief from daily life—a chance for the community to gather around a common purpose and kick off summer on a positive note.

4 Days in June will premiere in Salina on July 9, followed by public screenings July 10-15 at the Salina Art Center Cinema. Click to view photos