Special Event

Hillcrest, Heights neighbors welcome fall at street party

Amasa Hines is the HarvestFest Saturday night headliner.
Amasa Hines is the HarvestFest Saturday night headliner.

Mornings are getting that snap in the air and pretty soon the leaves will start to change colors. For the Hillcrest neighborhood, that can mean only one thing: It's time for a party. More specifically, HarvestFest, the Hillcrest Merchants Association's annual street festival.

"It's just a neighborhood festival where we get together and celebrate fall," explains association public relations chairman Connie Carbary.

7 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Kavanaugh Boulevard between Walnut and Monroe streets

Admission is free

(501) 766-4148 or harvestfest.us

They do that by presenting a full day of activities designed to attract all ages and interests. And this year, they'll have even more as they spread the festival even farther down Kavanaugh Boulevard.

It all starts at 7 a.m. Saturday with the weekly Hillcrest Farmers Market at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Kavanaugh and Cedar streets, quickly followed by the Arkansas Audubon Society's bird walk in Allsopp Park at 7:15. The meeting place is the ball field at the base of Cedar Hill Road.

After that, it's the 9-11 a.m. pancake breakfast at Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church on Woodlawn Street. Tickets are $5, $15 for families.

From 11 a.m. on, it's one big neighborhood bash. Kavanaugh Boulevard completely shuts down to wheeled traffic between Monroe and Walnut streets -- pedestrians, vendor booths, musical acts and children's activities only.

"Hillcrest really is about family interaction," Carbary says. "HarvestFest really is a family event that you can bring your young kids and do fun things and enjoy your family."

To that end, there's a whole area devoted to children's activities, most of which are free, including crafts such as spin art, fan and pumpkin decorating and bouncy houses (one for ages 1-5, one for ages 6 and older).

For grown-ups and shoppers, dozens of vendors will set up to sell jewelry, artwork, crafts and clothing. This year, for the first time, the festival will also host a Corvette car show.

There's also a cheese dip competition, noon-2 p.m.; visitors are welcome to join in -- tasting tickets are $2. E. Leigh's presents a fashion show at 7 p.m.

Music throughout the day will culminate with headliner band Amasa Hines at 8:30 p.m. Carbary says they've been generating a lot of buzz on social media: "People have been excited we got that band."

Parking in the neighborhood can be a bit tricky, but local churches are opening their parking lots to festivalgoers. Hillcrest is also partnering with the Heights neighborhood, which is also hosting its Chili Fights in the Heights chili cook-off event Saturday. A free shuttle will run between Chili Fights in the Heights (on Kavanaugh in the Heights) and HarvestFest's location (Kavanaugh in Hillcrest). Chunks of Kavanaugh will be blocked off for both events and the trolley will drop people off on the edges from 2 to 7 p.m.

Regardless, there will be a good bit of walking involved for guests, so comfortable shoes are a must. And, Carbary warns, "Know that it's a crowded event." Visitors should plan accordingly.

Admission to the festival is free; 20 percent of wine and beer sales will go to Arkansas Children's Hospital and The Allen School, while additional festival profits will support neighborhood improvements.

For Carbary, it's a perfect way to usher in fall and to enjoy the outdoors in happy Hillcrest style.

"The weather's cool and the street's closed off. You know Hillcrest. We're all about having a good time!"

Weekend on 10/02/2014

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