KC RiverFest fireworks display will boom even longer this year

KC RiverFest is growing, minute by minute.

The festival was created 12 years ago by Friends of the River KC, a volunteer organization geared towards river cleanup and conservation. President Stefan White said funding allowed another minute to be added onto this year’s fireworks show.

“The show will be just a little under 13 minutes, which is a minute longer than we’ve ever done before, and next year we’re going to add a minute and the year after we’ll add a minute,” he said. “I know adding a minute doesn’t sound like a big deal, but in terms of fireworks it’s a huge expense.”

Zambelli Fireworks will launch $100,000 worth of fireworks into the stars at 9:40 p.m. Tuesday in Berkley Riverfront Park. Organizers expect a crowd of about 60,000 people.

Kelly and Paul Clem plan to be among them. The couple just moved downtown and decided to walk on the river trail Monday to stake out the best spot to watch the fireworks.

“We’ll just walk down here and it’s so vibrant and alive in our neighborhood,” Paul Clem said.

A total of 110 volunteers from multiple Kansas City organizations will run the festival from 4 to 10 p.m.

The launch point for the fireworks isn’t disclosed, White said.

“We keep it very secret and well protected,” he said. “The fireworks happen across the river, so they don’t come anywhere near or close to the park.”

Besides two music stages, 14 Kansas City food trucks and vendors will satisfy festival cravings. Other activities include the KC Kite Club and Healthy River Partners interactive booths to showcase river conservation efforts.

White said revenue from the event is used to bring locals down to the green space and for river cleanups.

“We use those funds to make sure that no matter where you are on this river, it is clean and nature is abundant,” he said.

Tickets are $5 cash only at the gate and children 12 and under are free. All food and beverages will be cash-only with multiple ATMs nearby. For a full RiverFest schedule visit http://www.kcriverfest.com/entertainment.html.

This story was originally published July 3, 2017 at 5:42 PM with the headline "KC RiverFest fireworks display will boom even longer this year."