‘Liquid fireworks’ to make public debut on Saturday

The public will get its first official look at the Waltzing Waters fountains on Saturday, Oct. 20, during the Fall Festival & Military Salute co-sponsored by the City of Wichita, WaterWalk, Rusty Eck Ford and 103.7 KEYN-FM. The Waltzing Waters ceremony will begin at 7:45 p.m. with shows following at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Wichita City Council member Lavonta Williams is scheduled to speak.

“The Waltzing Waters are best described as liquid fireworks,” said John D’Angelo, manager of the City’s Arts & Cultural Services Division. “It’s a significant public improvement intended to encourage further WaterWalk development and give people another reason to come downtown.”

The Waltzing Waters displays are part of a full evening of activities from 5-9 p.m. at Waterwalk, 515 S. Main. They include a ceremony to honor active and retired military, live music by King Midas in the Waterwalk Commons on the west side of the building, food/drinks and “Trunk-or-Treating” for the kids.

The Waltzing Waters fountains are 150 feet long and located east of Gander Mountain. Three daily shows will be offered at 12:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. from April through December.. Each show will incorporate beautiful music, colorful lights and moving water in a synchronized display. The music will alternate between different genres, including country, classic rock, classical, ’80s rock and holiday songs.

The City of Wichita has invested $3.5 million on the entire fountains project, including $1.6 million for the Waltzing Waters fountains themselves. The investment is part of a $41 million development agreement with WaterWalk. The fountains are one of the final projects included in that agreement.