A quick glance at the extended forecast and the plethora of pumpkin-spice-flavored items in grocery stores serves as an indicator that summer is over, and fall has begun. Along with cooler weather and seasonal favorites, many communities embrace the fall as a time to come together for festivals, often complete with live music, local vendors and enough pumpkins to ensure that no one is confused about the season.
In downtown Heber Springs, the Cleburne County Ozark Trail Festival will take place Oct. 9 and 10. Dara Samuel, director of the Cleburne County Office of Economic Development, said the festival has been a staple in the community for a long time.
“All the ladies and girls wore their finest bonnets, and the men did what they could to grow their beards,” Samuel said. “Back in the day, people didn’t see their friends and family as often as we do today due to transportation issues — horse and wagon or just the family mule — not to mention the crops had to be tended at the proper time.”
Farmers had a chance to take a break around the first or second week of October, so the tradition to meet in Heber Springs started.
Over the years, the festival fizzled out and wasn’t held again until Cleburne County Judge Jerry Holmes started his term in 2013. Bringing back the festival was at the forefront of his mind, Samuel said.
“As a lifelong resident of Cleburne County, Judge Holmes had such fond memories of the festival from childhood until it was discontinued several years back,” Samuel said. “Of course we enjoy the tourists the festival brings to our community, but we also enjoy the camaraderie seen throughout the festival. The smiles might be bigger because we don’t do this festival for profit; we ask our vendors to pay their dues directly to a nonprofit chosen by our committee each year.”
This year’s charity is The Community School of Cleburne County, an organization that provides educational programs to developmentally delayed and disabled infants, preschoolers and adults.
Samuel said the Office of Economic Development is “very happy with the turnout each year,” and there will be several elements of the festival to attract locals and tourists throughout the
weekend.
Friday night in Spring Park, several musical acts — including David Lynn Jones, Milton Patton and local band Imagine That — will perform for free. Artists and craft vendors will set up Friday and Saturday, and on Saturday starting at 11 a.m., the festival will feature a
parade through town.
For more information on the Ozark Trail Festival, visit www.facebook.com/CleburneCounty.
Other upcoming festivals in the Three Rivers Edition coverage area are listed below:
Jacksonville
The Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department will host the third annual FestiVille on Oct. 2 and 3 at Dupree Park. The event will feature entertainment, a fishing derby, community
groups, church groups and more. For more information, visit www.cityofjacksonville.net/270/FestiVille.
Cabot
Cabotfest, a community tradition since 1978, will be held Oct. 9 and 10, featuring musical performances by Jon Atchison, Triple Threat, the Larry Weathers Band, Blend, Backroad Anthem and the Just Sayin Band. Carnival rides, a car show and food vendors will be a part of the festival. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/cabotfest or www.cabotcc.org.
Beebe
The 19th annual Beebe Fall Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Beebe Ballpark. The event will feature live entertainment all day, including Sonny Burgess and the Legendary Pacers at 1 p.m., Luke Williams at 5:30 p.m. and Confederate Railroad as the headliner. There will also be vendor booths, the Miss Beebe Fall Festival Pageant, an antique car show, food vendors, a duck-calling contest, a chili cook-off, a kids zone and more. For more information, visit www.beebeark.org/19th-annual-beebe-fall-festival.
Mountain View
The 33rd annual Arkansas BeanFest and Championship Outhouse Races will occur on Oct. 30 and 31 in downtown Mountain View with live music, pinto beans and cornbread, and outhouse racing teams dedicated to decorating and racing their outhouses. For more information, visit www.yourplaceinthemountains.com/calendar/beanfest-championship-outhouse-races.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.