Water carnival adds new kids’ activities

Last year’s White River Water Carnival attracted large crowds for many of the events, including the car show pictured above. The event lasts all day and features a plethora of activities.
Last year’s White River Water Carnival attracted large crowds for many of the events, including the car show pictured above. The event lasts all day and features a plethora of activities.

For 72 years, people in and around Batesville have flooded to the banks of the White River for the annual White River Water Carnival. The intent for the carnival is to provide mostly free family entertainment for the community, and this year’s schedule shows a full day of activities for all ages.

Danell Hetrick, director of grant writing and communications for the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber works almost all year on organizing and planning the carnival.

“It’s a lot of fun, but we’re also looking forward to a short break before we start on next year’s carnival,” she said. “We even had someone come up to us at an event recently with ideas for next year. We asked them to get back with us in about a month, and we’d be able to take their suggestion because we’d be getting to work on the next carnival at that time.”

The 72nd White River Water Carnival will take place from 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday at Riverside Park in Batesville.

Hetrick said a lot of the regular events — the Hog Wild on the River Parade at Riverside Park, a car show, duck boat races and White River’s Got Talent, to name a few — will be returning, plus there will be new elements for carnivalgoers to check out.

“Our Kidzone, which is the carnival-ride section, is completely revamped this year,” she said. “It’s more interactive.”

These interactive activities include bungee runs, human hamster balls and a mechanical bull. Hetrick said that although the area is called “Kidzone,” there will be activities for people of all ages.

“We have stuff for older kids and adults as well,” she said.

The activities at the Kidzone section require tokens, which can be purchased in advance or at the event. There will be discounted tokens at the chamber offices — 409 Vine St. in Batesville — Monday through Friday. The discounted prices will only be available during the presale days, and the package is 15 tokens for $10.

Another new activity aimed at children is the Power Wheels Derby. Hetrick said the derby, which will be held at 6 p.m. at Riverside Park, will have children in toy cars with balloons attached to the back of the vehicles. The children will race around and try to pop each other’s balloons.

“It should be really cute,” Hetrick said. “Kids are excited about racing.”

The entry fee for the derby is $5, and the first 100 registrants will get a prize.

Hetrick said there will be something for everyone at the carnival. The duck boat races, the car show and the firetruck pull will all start at 10 a.m. Local acts will start performing at 11 a.m., and the parade will be at 3 p.m. At 4 p.m., the derby car races will begin. Tommy Terrific the Magician will perform at 5 p.m., and both the Power Wheels Derby and the annual Bone Collector Hot Wing Eating Contest will start at 6 p.m. White River’s Got Talent will take place at 7 p.m., The Roadshow Band will perform at 8 p.m., and the annual fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. Following the fireworks, racers will start the Afterglow 5K and close out the night at the race’s afterparty.

“It should be a good time,” Hetrick said.

For more information on the White River Water Carnival, visit www.whiteriverwatercarnival.com or call the chamber at (870) 793-2378.

Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.

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