River Festival Staff’s Overflowing Trash Can Photo Suggests Boycott Fears Didn’t Hold

After a week of storm recovery, power outages, and public frustration across Salina, there was noticeable community buzz about whether some residents would boycott this year’s Smoky Hill River Festival.

The discussion followed concerns from some citizens who questioned whether power restoration after Monday’s storm had been prioritized for Oakdale Park because of the festival, while other homes, apartments, and businesses were still waiting for service to return.

Those concerns circulated widely online during the days leading up to the festival. For some residents, the question was not about the festival itself, but about whether storm recovery resources were being directed fairly during a difficult week for the community.

By Thursday and Friday, however, festival attendance appeared strong.

The first two days of the festival were helped by unseasonably pleasant weather, giving residents and visitors a comfortable start to one of Salina’s largest annual events. After days of heat, storm damage, cleanup, and power uncertainty, the milder conditions likely helped bring people back out to Oakdale Park.

Festival activity on Friday was strong enough that organizers leaned into the moment with humor, sharing a photo of an overflowing trash can filled with refuse from the day’s festivities. The image was presented as lighthearted evidence that the festival had drawn a healthy crowd so far.

While the early-week debate showed real frustration among residents still dealing with storm impacts, the early turnout suggested many people were still willing to support the long-running community event.

The Smoky Hill River Festival continues this weekend at Oakdale Park.