WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The 52nd annual Walnut Valley Festival begins in Winfield today and runs through Sunday, Sept. 22. The festival is held at the fairgrounds, and the land rush began on Thursday when people started lining up for their camping spots.
Music and entertainment, including folk, bluegrass and Americana, kicks off today. For a full schedule of entertainment, click here.
Winfield City Manager Taggart Wall says the festival doubles the city’s population and brings in about 12,000 from around the world.
“It really is that culture, that education, you know, everything from churches on a Sunday that will celebrate what the music means to our elementary schools that come together and learn about different music traditions,” Wall said.
Wall says the festival is woven into the community, and the impact is far-reaching.
“I mean, you can walk through an airport, and you tell somebody you’re from Winfield and more often than not, they’re going to maybe recognize Winfield as the national flag baking championship for the bluegrass festival here,” Wall added.