[Home-on-the-range] River Festival and the blind

[Dianne Hemphill]

The annual Wichita River festival is now over  for 2012 but has been on-going for nearly 40 years. This is a huge celebration along the Arkansas River and surrounding area for 9 days. Last year and this year the South-Central Chapter has marched in the Sun-down parade which opens the whole event. The chapter, has in addition, provided both braille and large print agendas  around the celebration at numerous festival  information locations. This year the agenda was placed on the State's Information Channel -News line.  This is an excellent venue to participate in  for community visibility besides having fun. Following yesterdays' chapter meeting, Jack and I walked from the downtown library to join  in the sounds, tastes and fun filled festival experience. strolling  around we heard  numerous live bands, ate from the ever present food vending options- delicious!  This is a multi-cultural event with our native Americans dressed in  their most beautiful feathered costumes, performing to the beat of drums and ankle wrapped bells - this type of display of dancing is an almost spiritual experience- humbling and inspiring. Then just down the block is the belly dancing school performers smoothly moving to the exotic sounds of middle eastern music and the small finger symbols that the beautiful dancers use as they perform. Did I mention food! Jack spotted 2 other people using white canes though he didn't recognize them. I went to acorn information booth and those helping at the time easily located and provided the braille schedule book for my review. An area of interest that some of you may want to further investigate, was a live display of white tigers, camels, and exotic birds. I asked one of the individuals involved where their wild animal reserve was located. They said they came from a walk around reserve just outside of Dallas. Those of you wanting to experience feeding the birds, riding a camel and perhaps even being able to feed the tigers, may want to seek them out while in Dallas at the convention. 

The annual Wichita River festival is a huge community event. This would be a great opportunity for affiliate chapter members to have  visibility with the public as well as having a great time. Maybe you will join us next June for the Sun Down parade  To take a closer look at the hundreds of fun filled events throughout the 9 days please access this years schedule on News line. Dianne