Arts, crafts displays bloom at annual Jonquil Festival

On a typical day at Historic Washington State Park, visitors stroll along wooden sidewalks, exploring restored and refurbished homes, businesses and churches, trying their hands at dipping candles or learning to use an old printing press. But it's during the annual Jonquil Festival that they can really get their hands on unique goods made the old-fashioned way.

While the festival is named after a flower, Sheila Little with park sales and promotions says, "Mainly, it's an arts and crafts festival."

There are approximately 150 vendors and they come in from all over the country to sell predominantly handmade jewelry, clothing, soap, lotion, leather goods, wooden items and food.

"We have some of the old favorites that people come back every year and they know exactly where to go to purchase from them."

For Little, it's "like seeing family come back. They're a lot of fun to visit with. It's like a reunion."

But with about 25 percent of the vendors new to the festival, Little says, there's always something new to discover.

"No two years are the same."

Historic Washington State Park is a collection of more than 30 19th- and early 20th-century buildings scattered around the town of Washington in Hempstead County. The town served as the temporary state capital during the Civil War and today, its restored homes, shops and public buildings are open for tours and demonstrations so visitors can experience Arkansas life in the 1800s. Its structures include a weapons museum, candle-making shop and working blacksmith.

Not all buildings are open every day but during the festival, an influx of additional volunteers helps the park open more historic buildings than usual. Tickets ($8, $4 for children) are required for tours and, weather permitting, there will be surrey rides ($3). Tickets are available at the candle shop. Otherwise, though, all the outdoor activities are free.

In addition to the fleet of vendors, there will be musical performances and "Block 6" -- a round-up of antique cars and tractors. The area in front of the blacksmith shop is usually home to a gathering of iron mongers.

"There's a lot of banging going on," Little says.

As for food, in addition to food vendors, the park's Williams' Tavern will serve buffet meals.

"This is one of the first festivals of the year. And it's in a historic setting," Little says. "That makes us unique compared to some of these other city festivals where you go up and down paved streets and it's busy and noisy. You come here and it's just quiet and very family-oriented and friendly. And we have the beautiful jonquils blooming everywhere."

And what about those jonquils? Will the repeat rounds of rough winter weather harm the festival's namesakes?

"No," Little says. "Those little heads pop right back up."

Weekend on 03/19/2015