Travelin’ Arkansas: Events Taking Place During August

Arkansas Tourism

We at the Arkansas Tourism Division recognize that our “Travelin’ Arkansas” media releases are frequently too lengthy to be used in their entirety. However, we feel an obligation to represent a variety of events from across the state. We encourage you to consider adapting “Travelin’ Arkansas” to fit your needs by selecting events you feel meet the interests of your readers or listeners. In addition, we would suggest that “Travelin’ Arkansas” items may be used on a stand-alone basis to fill your space and time needs.

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The 4th annual Taste of the Town will be taking place Aug. 3rd at Southland Greyhound Park in West Memphis. The wine and food tasting event will highlight Arkansas wines and local restaurants. Entertainment will be provided by a local jazz ensemble. Admission to the event has been set at $25.

Southland Greyhound Park has been a major West Memphis attraction since 1956. Open the year around, the schedule includes live greyhound racing, plus simulcast dog and horse racing. For more information contact Deborah Griggs at (870) 753-8814 or [email protected].

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Riverside Park will be the location of the 63rd Annual White River Water Carnival Aug. 4-5 in Batesville. The event is the state’s oldest annual water event, which includes numerous features such as arts and crafts, food, entertainment, sporting events, a car and bike show, as well as a grand parade.

Located along the shores of the White River, Batesville is a small community located in the north central section of the state about 90 miles from Little Rock. Holding title as the second oldest city in the state, the town is packed with history.

For more information on the carnival, dial (870) 793-2378 or e-mail [email protected].

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Young country singer Jeff Bates and Ricochet, a five-member country group best known for their five-part harmonies and #1 hit “Daddy’s Money,” will be the headline musical acts during the 34th annual Pine Tree Festival in Dierks on Aug. 4-5. They will be performing in an Aug. 5 concert to begin at 7 p.m. in the Dierks City Park, the festival site.

A 2002 audition with RCA Records when Bates was only 17 led to the release of his first album, “Rainbow Man,” which reached the Top 20 on country music popularity charts. Hit singles from the album included “The Love Song,” “Long, Slow Kisses” and “I Wanna Make You Cry.” His newest album, “Leave the Light On,” contains the popular single “One Second Chance.”

Ricochet received an Academy of Country Music award as “Best New Vocal Group” in 1996 and was nominated for a Country Music Association award as “Best Vocal Group” the following year. In addition to “Daddy’s Money,” the group’s hits have included “What Do I Know,” “Love Is Stronger Than Pride,” “Ease My Troubled Mind” and “Blink of an Eye.” The group has the distinction of having been the first country act to secure a spot on Billboard magazine’s “Top 40” chart for a recording of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

General admission to the concert will be $9 for children aged seven to 12 and $18 for persons 13 and older. Children six and younger will be admitted free. A hundred reserved seats will be available at $23 each. General admission attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

A talent show and concert featuring local bands will begin at approximately 6 p.m. on Aug. 4. Admission will be $5 for all ages except that children under six will be admitted free. Festival hours both days will be 9 a.m. until the conclusion of the concerts and general festival admission will be free. Other festival activities will include competitions of lumberjack skills; helicopter rides; a barbecue cook-off; antique car and tractor shows; log-loading and archery contests; an arts and crafts show with some 30 vendors expected; food vendors; arm-wrestling contests for men and women; and a sawdust scramble and numerous other activities for children.

Dierks is located on U.S. 70 about 68 miles southwest of Hot Springs and 20 miles west of DeQueen and on U.S. 278 about 44 miles northwest of Hope. For additional festival information, phone (870) 286-2911.

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DeGray Lake Resort State Park near Arkadelphia will host August Astronomy, an offering of interpretive programs focusing on the night sky, on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4-5. Participants are welcome to bring their own telescopes and binoculars although a limited number will be available for shared use during programs.

A complete schedule of activities is expected to be available on the park’s Web site, www.degray.com, at least two weeks prior to the event. A copy can be requested by e-mailing [email protected] or phoning (501) 865-2801. Admission to all activities, except for barge tours of the lake, will be free. The barge tours will be $6 for adults and $3 for ages six through 12, with children under six admitted free.

Located seven miles north of Arkadelphia via Ark. 7, the park’s many features include a 96-room lodge, 113 campsites, an 18-hole golf course, a marina with watercraft rentals and a full-service, shoreline restaurant. For more event and park information, and to reserve campsites, phone (501) 865-2801. For lodge reservations, phone 1-800-737-8355.

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The Great Arkansas Pig Out has had a long history filled with food, fun and a lot of bad pig jokes. Check out the 18th annual Great Arkansas Pig Out Aug. 4-5 at the Morrilton City Park.

Activities begin at 5 p.m. Aug. 4 and include a free concert by a nationally recognized country music star both nights. The Pig Out is packed with sporting events such as the Pig Dig; a co-ed volleyball tournament, The Tour-de-Oink; a roughly 40-mile long bike race, Sooiee Softball, Ham Jam, and the popular Pig Chase. Ranging from classic funnel cakes and hamburgers to chicken-on-a-stick and fried Twinkies, the Pig Out lives up to the expectations of all that hear its name.

As of last year, the Pig Out attracted more than 30,000 people on Saturday alone. For detailed information, phone (501) 354-5400 or visit www.pigout.org. Admission is free.

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The second highest peak in Arkansas will come alive with live country, bluegrass and gospel music, arts and crafts vendors, and a magic show and other activities for children during the 18th annual Mountainfest to take place Friday through Sunday, Aug. 4-6 at Queen Wilhelmina State Park near Mena. Co-hosts for the festival are the park and the Ouachita Arts and Crafts Guild, according to Brad Holleman, park interpreter. Admission will be free.

Festival hours will be noon to 6 p.m. on Aug. 4, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 5 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 6. More than 100 vendors will be displaying such arts and crafts as watercolor and oil paintings, jewelry, ceramics, quilts, crochet, wood and Native American crafts. Vendors will also be offering a variety of foods and the park’s full-service restaurant will be open.

Live country music performances by area bands are scheduled for all three afternoons. Live bluegrass is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Aug. 5 and live gospel music for 1 p.m. on Aug. 6. Free bingo games with donated arts and crafts prizes will be held during the afternoons of Aug. 4-5.

Located near Arkansas’ western border 13 miles northwest of Mena, the Queen Wilhelmina park sits atop Rich Mountain along the Talimena Scenic Drive, a national scenic byway that offers expansive views of the Ouachita Mountains from six vista turnouts between Mena and the park. For more information on the park and festival, phone (479) 394-2863 or visit www.QueenWilhelminaStatePark.com. For reservations in the park’s 38-room lodge, call toll-free at 800-264-2477.

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Join in on a fun event that celebrates a summer. The 27th annual Cave City Watermelon Festival will take place Aug. 10th in Cave City. The city is famous for its watermelons and tagline that they are the sweetest in the world. At the festival there will be crafts, a car show, entertainment, and country bluegrass and gospel music. Admission to the festival is free.

The city of Cave City is located in both Sharp and Independence Counties approximately 15 miles north of Batesville. Established under the name of Loyal in 1880, the name was changed to Cave City in 1890 because the only way to access Crystal River was through a cave located close to the center of the town. For more information, call Charles Landers at (870) 283-5959 or go to www.cavecityarkansas.info.

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Offering a 160-mile yard sale along U.S. 64 from Ft. Smith to Beebe is the 7th annual Bargains Galore on 64 set for Aug. 10-12.

Items for sale include antiques to flea market items. While there are no limitations on what vendors may sell, they are encouraged to offer antiques and collectibles. This annual event is held Thursday-Saturday, the second weekend in August and offers a great opportunity for commercial vendors, non-profit groups, clubs, schools, churches and civic organizations to promote their products or services.

Designated a “Travel Treasure” by Southern Traveler magazine, the sale draws family vacationers and dealers (both buyers and sellers).

Ark. 64 parallels Interstate 40. Participating cities include: Alma, Dyer, Mulberry, Altus, Fort Smith, Ozark, Atkins, Knoxville, Russellville, Clarksville, Lamar, Van Buren, Conway, Morrilton, Vilonia and Beebe. For maps or more information, visit www.bargainsgaloreon64.com.

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The Ozark Folk Center will host a Cowboy Gathering & Folk Humor and Storytelling Weekend Aug. 11-12 in Mountain View. Daytime activities will workshops and storytelling. There will be concerts both Friday and Saturday evenings that will include special performances by the Gillette Brothers, Glenn Ohrlin, Steve Mitchell and Carin Marie & Pony Express, who were just named Youth Entertainers of the Year at the 2006 National Festival of the West in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ozark Folk Center State Park is the nation’s only facility that preserves Ozark heritage and presents it as living history. Check www.ozarkfolkcenter.com for updates on performers and activities. Admission to the event is $9 for adults and $6 for children 6-12. For more information, phone (870) 269-3851.

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The Trappers and Traders interpretive program to be presented at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Arkansas Post National Memorial near Gillett will provide visitors with a look at an economic activity that contributed to the founding of the first permanent European settlement within the territory that would become Arkansas. Traps and pelts will be displayed during the program. Admission will be free.

Founded as a French settlement in 1686, Arkansas Post was the site of Arkansas' only armed encounter of the Revolutionary War, the first capital of Arkansas Territory and the site of a significant Civil War battle. Operated by the National Park Service, the national memorial is located on Ark. 169 two miles east of U.S. 165 about six miles south of Gillett. For more information, phone (870) 548-2207. The memorial’s Web site is located at www.nps.gov/arpo.

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The Jacksonville Community Center is the location of the 21st Annual Arkansas Book & Paper Show, Aug. 12 and 13. The slogan for this year’s event is "Offering you investments in books and ephemera to enhance your present and enrich your future.” Over 50 booksellers and dealers displaying rare and collectible books will be on hand. The dealers will also have maps, pictures and postcards for sale.

Several Arkansas authors have been invited to attend and sign their works. Among these are Barbara Longstreth Mulkey, Gary Weibye, Steve Whisnant, Paula Morell, Eva Bakalekos, Linda Howell and Anna Cox, all of Little Rock; George Peters and Brenda Lannacone of North Little Rock; Jo Wallace from Atkins, Dr. Morris Inch from Russellville; Dr. Thomas DeBlack from Conway, and Dr. Bill Downs of Arkadelphia.

The show is sponsored by the non-profit Arkansas Antiquarian Booksellers Association. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5, $3 of which will be returned in the form of a rebate voucher applicable to any book purchase at the event. The Jacksonville Community Center is located on U.S. 67/167and Main Street on Municipal Drive. Contact Ed or Jeri Myrick at (501) 336-9313 or [email protected] for additional information. The event Web site is www.ArkansasBooks.com.

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The Jacksonville Military Museum will have a busy August with a guest lecturer scheduled for the 17th and a special event on the 19th.

The War Stories lecture series will feature a talk by Colonel Franz Schmucker, (Ret.) entitled “Nazism, World War II German Gun Ships.” The discussions are designed to explore American and Arkansas history through the personal recollections of people who where there. They range in topic from actual battlefield experiences to the memories of ordnance workers and others busy on the home front. The lectures begin at 6 p.m. and run for an hour. Entry fee is $2 which includes admission to the museum.

August 19 will be Military Heritage Day at the museum. Members from all branches of services are invited to partake in a day of music and food. Everyone is invited to come celebrate and express appreciation for all those serving or who have served in the armed forces. Admission is $1. The facility is located at 100 Veterans Circle in Jacksonville. For more information call (501) 241-1943 or visit www.jaxmilitarymuseum.org.

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Experience the oldest three-day bluegrass festival in Arkansas on Aug. 17-19 during the 35th annual Northwest Arkansas Bluegrass Festival at the Northwest Arkansas Fairgrounds, located on Ark. 65, in Harrison.

Stage performances begin Thursday evening and run through Saturday evening. In addition to the stage shows, free “jamming sessions” take place all over the fairgrounds throughout the entire week. “People can come and go and roam the camp areas to listen to the jam sessions,” Fred James, festival organizer, explained. Enjoying traditional bluegrass to the modern ”newgrass,” gospel music and jam sessions, at least 1,000 people are expected to attend.

The fairgrounds have a covered bleacher area or people can bring lawn chairs to set up in the arena. The grounds also have restrooms and camping facilities with electrical hookups and showers.

Harrison also has numerous hotels and motels. Concessions will be available. Contact James at (870) 427-3342 for more information. Admission is $9 on Thursday, $10 on Friday and Saturday or $24 for a three-day pass. No alcohol is allowed.

For more information, phone the Harrison Convention and Visitors Bureau at (870) 741-1789 or visit www.harrisonarkansas.org.

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Held on the banks of the Arkansas River in downtown Fort Smith will be the Riverfront Blues Festival on Aug. 18-19 at Harry E. Kelley Riverfront Park.

Sponsored by the Riverfront Blues Society, admission is free both days. The Aug. 18 line-up will be Toni Lynn Washington, SubDudes and Ronnie Baker Brooks. Performing Aug. 19 will include Lee Boys, John Lee Hooker, Jr. and Shemekia Copeland.

The event also includes an All Star Car Show at the Fort Smith Convention Center, motorcycle events and a barbecue. Bring blankets and lawn chairs for seating. For more information, phone (479) 783-8888 or visit www.riverfrontbluesfest.org.

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A family festival honoring the city's railroad heritage, the 22nd annual Frisco Festival is set for Aug. 25-26 in historic downtown Rogers.

Signature events include The Great Frisco Cardboard Train Races, the Chilisalsapeno competition, Kids Connection (games for kids), Frisco Chicken BBQ, and non-stop main stage entertainment starting and ending with street dances on Friday and Saturday night. The festival opens at 9 a.m. with activities throughout the day. Food vendors will be serving dinners as well as snacks. Rounding out the fun are other opportunities for the whole family, including a pancake breakfast, Great Frisco Cardboard Train Race, ice cream social, mobile aquarium and more.

Amid the festival offerings, Rogers has a variety of retail stores in its historic downtown district, which encompasses about eight square blocks. Brick-paved streets lead to old-fashioned storefronts filled with unique furniture, antiques and gifts, cafes, jewelry and business offices. The Rogers Historical Museum is also located downtown.

For more information, contact Main Street Rogers at (479) 936-5487 or visit www.friscofestival.com for a detailed list and time schedule for entertainers and events.

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Two hundred fifty to 300 automobiles are expected to be on display during the 31st annual Wilhelmina Rod Run and Antique Car Show to be held Friday-Sunday, Aug. 25-27, in downtown Mena and at Queen Wilhelmina State Park, according to event spokesperson Lisa Campbell.

Show hours will be 6 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 25 at the Depot Visitors Center at 524 Sherwood in downtown Mena. On Aug. 26-27, the event will be located atop Arkansas’ second highest peak at Queen Wilhelmina State Park, 13 miles northwest of Mena via Ark. 88. On Aug. 26, hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there will be a street dance with live music in downtown Mena beginning at 7 p.m. Hours on Aug. 27 will be 9 a.m. to noon with the event awards ceremony set for 11 a.m. Admission is free.

Additional event information is available by phoning Campbell at (479) 394-5711. For information on Mena’s other attractions, lodging and restaurants, visit www.gomenaarkansas.com or phone (479) 394-8355.

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The sound of thunder will descend into Mountain View as the city sets the scene for Mountains, Music & Motorcycles Aug. 26. The event is family friendly and all bikes are welcome. There will be a bike show at The Ozark Folk Center for both vintage and modern bikes and bikers can enjoy a ride through the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

Established in the 1870s, the town is famous for the preservation of folkways and traditional music. For more information, phone (870) 269-3851.

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The 81st Annual Randolph Country Fair and Livestock Show will take place Aug. 29- Sep. 2 in Pocahontas. There will be exhibits, cattle judging, and animals such as hogs, rabbits and sheep. There will be a carnival all week and a rodeo on both Friday and Saturday night starting at 8 p.m. Admission to the fair and rodeo is free.

Randolph County is the only county in the state to claim five rivers and one lake. Water sports factor heavily in the recreational opportunities available to residents and visitors. For more information, contact Doug Hutsell at (870) 892-4325.