As River Festival time draws near, many will dust off their riddle and puzzle-solving skills for the start of the Festival Medallion Quest. The first Medallion Quest clue will be shared live from Eric Stein Stage in Oakdale Park between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. during the Quest launch and Festival Friday in the Park concert on Friday, May 27.
The Festival Medallion Quest was launched in 2009 by Salina Arts & Humanities in partnership with Craig and Brenda King of King Industries Inc. The annual Medallion Quest demonstrates the creativity and connectivity that the River Festival embodies.
Since the Festival Medallion Quest’s inception seven years ago, thousands have taken part. The custom-designed Medallion is hand-crafted and looks different each time. In recent years, it’s been made from wood, paper, clay, resin or plastic, designed by an artist to resemble a leaf, nut-and-bolt, seed pod and other common objects. In 2015, the Medallion was an irregular-shaped, cast-resin rock placed in a retaining wall at Penn Avenue and Riverside Boulevard, north of Elm Street.
“The Quest parallels the vibrant spirit of the Festival over its 40 years,” says Salina Arts & Humanities Director Brad Anderson. “It brings together friends and family to think creatively, problem-solve and explore the world around them from a fresh perspective.”
For the second year, two different Festival Medallion Quest clues will be provided each day, at 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. On Day One, May 27, only one clue will be shared, during the noon-hour event in Oakdale Park. Each clue will be posted at these times on the 8th Street door of the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron, and on the Festival Medallion Quest page RSS feed, at riverfestival.com/festivalquest.cfm.
The Festival Medallion Quest 2016 prize package includes:
- $2,000 cash
- $2,000 in Festival Gift Certificates, to be used for purchases in the Fine Art Show, Four Rivers Craft Show or Art/Craft Demonstration Area
- Four complimentary Festival admission Buttons
- One on-grounds Festival parking pass (weather permitting)
- Invitation for four to the Art Patron Breakfast on Sat June 11
- Assorted Festival T-shirts, CDs, and other Festival memorabilia
The first Medallion Quest clue will be read live from the Eric Stein Stage sometime between 12 and 1p.m. on May 27. In case of inclement weather, the concert and launch will be held in the Watson Room of the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, 151 S. Santa Fe.
Other activities that begin at 11:30 a.m. that day include free Pepsi samples, Festival Buttons and T-shirts on sale, plus live music by Truckstop Honeymoon from 11:45 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. Prize drawings for two $100 gift certificates that can be used for purchases at the Festival’s two art shows and Art Demo area will be done between and 1 p.m., with on-site prize registration and Button and T-shirt sales from 11:30 a.m. on.
There is no cost to participate in the Festival Medallion Quest. Participants must be 18 years of age to claim the prize. See complete Medallion Quest rules at riverfestival.com/festivalquest.cfm or by clicking on the tan magnifying-glass Medallion Quest icon in the right margin of any page at riverfestival.com.
For more information on the Festival Medallion Quest or the Smoky Hill River Festival, call 785-309-5770, visit riverfestival.com or visit the Smoky Hill River Festival on Facebook.