There are plenty of wonderful traditions with Salina's annual Smoky Hill River Festival. Families, friends and classmates hold reunions. Businesses show their civic pride by sponsoring events and activities. People return to their special meeting places under a certain tree or near stages. Folks set aside money every year to buy festival art.

But there is one tradition that could use some fine-tuning: the practice of sharing admittance buttons.

Sharing is an easy thing to do. Families buy buttons and leave them on the kitchen table so people can come and go from the festival grounds. Ditto for some businesses. Gate monitors also report departing fans handing buttons out to those on their way in.

Now, no one is complaining about the money-saving advantages of sharing buttons, especially in these tight-budget days of soaring prices for gas and food. But we should remember the importance that each button sale holds for the future of the festival.

According to festival coordinator Sharon Benson, admission buttons account for about 40 percent of festival revenue. It is a vital source of income and every shared button takes a knick out of that stream. The balance of festival dollars comes from vendor fees, donors and sponsors.

Button sales allow organizers to maintain free activities and quality shows. They shape budgets for future years and provide a solid base to grow the festival.

The price of admittance also is a tremendous bargain. This year, buttons are $7 in advance and $10 at the gate for three days of music and activities. (Area newspapers have coupons for $7 gate admittance, which helps offset fuel costs of driving to Salina.)

Compare that to other Kansas festivals.

n Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bonner Springs: $15.50 per day in advance.

n Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival, Lawrence: $129 for the weekend.

n Walnut Valley Festival, Winfield: $35 for one-day pass.

n Wichita River Festival's $5 admission button is $2 lower than the River Festival, but Wichita's event is supported by 163 businesses sponsors that kick in $1.75 million.

Here's another comparison to consider. The cost of a movie ticket in Salina is $7.75. For music fans, $7 will buy seven tunes on the Internet.

This year, consider the value received from each button and try to reduce sharing. It's good for the festival, both this year and for the future.

-- Tom Bell

Editor & Publisher