Smoky Hill River Festival opens despite storm damage challenges

SALINA, Kan. (KWCH) — Just days after powerful winds tore through Salina, leaving behind damaged trees, power outages and debris across the city, thousands are once again filling Oakdale Park for a tradition five decades in the making.

Despite the challenges of the past week, organizers were determined to make it happen.

“I was excited. It’s the one time a year that everybody from all over the place comes together and listens to music,” said Haley, who lives in Salina. “If I’m just sitting in my house miserable with no AC, I’d much rather go to the park and hang out and listen to music or something.”

Salina Arts and Humanities, parks crews and volunteers spent days clearing debris and preparing the park after the storm.

“I’m appreciative of my community coming together to do that, just the volunteer efforts to do that because the Parks and Rec guys couldn’t have done that in record time,” Haley said.

While questions surfaced online about whether city resources were being prioritized for the festival, city leaders said recovery efforts across Salina remained the top priority, with parks and recreation staff, festival organizers, volunteers and local businesses leading cleanup efforts inside Oakdale Park.

For Jaron Bell, who lives in Salina and is performing at Riverfest, the festival represents much more than a weekend event.

“To get to come back and play on the mainstage right before one of my favorite country acts of all time in Diamond Rio — I mean, this weekend is super special for us because we’ve done big shows, it seems like every weekend these days, but this one means a lot more to me personally,” Bell said.

“It’s not going to change what we all went through, it’s not going to change cleanup and people are still going to have to cut tree limbs out of their yards,” Bell said. “But you know for this weekend, we can come together and smile and laugh.”

Organizers still expect thousands of people to attend throughout the weekend.