Festivals of various shapes and sizes abound in Arkansas this month, as organizers aim to get ahead of the beastly hot weather that can crimp attendance at get-togethers in July and August.
Here's a sampler of organized fun and games across the Natural State for the rest of June, with admission to most events free of charge:
Petit Jean Auto Show & Swap Meet, Petit Jean State Park, today-Saturday. Some 1,500 exhibit spaces filled with cars, parts, memorabilia, arts, crafts and antiques are occupying the parking areas of the Museum of Automobiles on Petit Jean Mountain. Saturday brings show judging at 11 a.m. for classic cars and noon for the open category.
Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival, Warren, Thursday-Saturday. This is the 58th year of celebrating the juicy tomatoes widely grown in Bradley County. One highlight will be a competition to make the best BLT sandwich using Petit Jean bacon and whatever local tomato variety contestants think is best. An all-tomato luncheon and a tomato-eating contest are also scheduled.
Smackover Oil Town Festival, June 19-21. A potpourri of activities is scheduled for the 43rd fest in this 1920s boomtown, including free concerts each evening. The yellow duck race down No Name Creek is the most unusual event, with a turtle race, horseshoe pitching, arm wrestling, a dog show and a rib cook-off also featured. Contests more directly related to the oil boom era include a pipe tote and a drill-bit toss.
Mount Magazine Butterfly Festival, Mount Magazine State Park, June 20-21. Butterflies are among nature's most beautiful creatures, and Arkansas hosts 127 species of these winged gems. The star of the show is the Diana fritillary, named by the Arkansas General Assembly in 2007 as the state's official butterfly. The 18th butterfly weekend at the state's highest point focuses on nature walks and garden tours.
Spring River Rally, Hardy, June 20-22. This revved-up event aims its main appeal at motorcyclists. But, as organizers assert, "You don't need a motorcycle to attend." The rally also offers concert entertainment, a speedy zip line through the trees, horseback riding, canoeing and tubing. The antiques stores and gift shops of Hardy are an added enticement.
Plantation Agriculture Museum's 24th Anniversary, Scott, June 21. A short drive east from Little Rock, the Plantation Agriculture Museum provides a time trip back to when farming was powered by the sweat of humans, horses and mules. Visitors can enjoy free-of-charge Dutch oven desserts and homemade ice cream. Museum displays make clear the hard toil involved in agriculture before World War II.
Buffalo River Elk Festival, Jasper, June 27-28. Newton County styles itself as "Elk Capital of Arkansas." Those majestic creatures are the theme of this 17th annual festival in one of the state's least populous and most scenic counties. There will be no leashed elks in Jasper's Courthouse Square, but artists and crafters will purvey their wares. For youngsters, a fishing derby is a prime lure.
Malvern Brick Festival, June 27-28. It would seem like a challenge to celebrate bricks. But Malvern manages nonetheless, playing off its legacy as a onetime prime producer of these building blocks. A brick-tossing derby is very much on topic. Less so but still likely to please visitors are a barbecue cook-off and a show of motorized vehicles. The festival ends with a sky-piercing fireworks display.
Purple Hull Pea Festival and World Championship Rotary Tiller Race, Emerson, June 28. The racing of garden tillers has yet to become a professional sport, despite the insatiable programming demands of cable TV. But this is the 25th year for Emerson to host the World Championship Rotary Tiller Race, as well as a pea-shelling contest and a cornbread cook-off. A display of antique tractors adds to the fun.
More information on these and other Natural State festivals can be found on the website of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism: arkansas.com
Style on 06/10/2014