The annual First City Festival: Rockin’ on the River II is shaping up to be better than ever, according to Wendy Scheidt, executive director of the Leavenworth Main Street Program.
The festival is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, rain or shine. It will feature food vendors and merchants from the Kansas City metropolitan area and beyond, Scheidt said.
Though turnout is often “hard to gauge,” Scheidt said she is hoping to attract about 15,000 visitors to this year’s festival. She said last year’s festival drew somewhere between 10,000 and 12,000 people.
“There was hardly any standing room,” she said.
To match the growing attendance, Scheidt said the festival’s planners are expanding the options.
This year, the festival will feature representatives from the Leavenworth County Artists Association, who will have displays set up in Leavenworth Landing Park.
“We talked to our artisans from last year,” she said. “And we’ve looked at expanding the artisans from last year.”
Scheidt said the festival is a chance for the city of Leavenworth and the groups and businesses that make it unique to shine.
“This is the only Leavenworth city proper festival that we have,” Scheidt said.
Scheidt said various groups from around the city will have booths and tables set up at the festival, offering entertainment and food. This include several of the city’s civic groups, such as the Leavenworth Rotary Club, the Leavenworth Lions, the Leavenworth Kiwanis and the Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Division.
In addition to the service groups, Scheidt said a number of local vendors will be set up during the festival.
What appeals to many visitors is that the entertainment is continuous, Scheidt said — those at the festival can always find something to do, whether it is watching a group of musicians play or shopping among the vendors.
“There’s something for everyone,” Scheidt said.
She said vendors at the festival will be selling many items, including handmade jewelry, personalized street signs, art made from gourds, hand-crafted flutes, soy candles and lotion, tin-type photography and more.
The festival will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday and last until 10 p.m.
The festival will open again at 8 a.m. the next morning on Saturday and conclude with a fireworks display over the Missouri River at 10 p.m.
Throughout the entire festival, Scheidt said entertainers and activities will be available for visitors. Activities include the return of the A-Z Exotic Petting Zoo, a demonstration by the Leavenworth Master Gardeners and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, sponsored by Leavenworth Parks and Recreation.
