Aug. 21
Community Music Gathering
BATESVILLE — There will be a community music gathering from 6-8 p.m. at First Community Bank, on the corner of Harrison and St. Louis streets. Singers, musicians and listeners are welcome to attend the free event. The group’s regularly scheduled meeting for Sept. 4 has been canceled.
Solar Eclipse Viewing
BATESVILLE — The Independence County Library will host a solar eclipse viewing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pocket Park on Main Street. Solar-eclipse glasses and safety-viewing instructions can be picked up at the library through Monday. The free event is open to the public. For more information, call the library at (870) 793-8814.
Democratic Party of White County Meeting
SEARCY — The Democratic Party of White County will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Arkansas State University-Searcy, 1800 E. Moore Ave. For more information, visit white@arkdems.org or call (501) 368-9390.
Aug. 22
Carved Wine Chiller Pottery Workshop
BATESVILLE — The Batesville Area Arts Council will present a Carved Wine Chiller Pottery Workshop from 6-8 p.m. at Main Street Pottery, 309 E. Main St. The cost is $50 per person. Register at batesvilleareaartscouncil.org. For more information, call (870) 793-3382.
Aug. 24
Football Season Preview 2017
SEARCY — The Searcy Kiwanis Club will host a preview of the upcoming 2017 football season at 11:30 a.m. at the Unity Health Specialty Care Campus (south campus), 1200 S. Main St. The event will feature area football coaches as guest speakers: Paul Simmons of Harding University, Mike McCain of Riverview High School, Mark Kelley of Searcy High School and Neil Evans of Harding Academy. Lunch will cost $10, payable at the door. RSVP by emailing phays@firstcommunity.net.
Newport Alumni Hall of Fame Banquet
NEWPORT — The ninth annual Newport Alumni Hall of Fame Banquet will take place at 6 p.m. at the Newport Country Club. Hosted by the Newport Special School District Charitable Foundation, the event will honor outstanding Newport graduates with induction into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Tickets, at $25 each, are on sale at the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce, 201 Hazel St. For more information, email newportfoundation@yahoo.com.
Aug. 24 – Aug. 26
Quilter’s Retreat
MOUNTAIN VIEW — Ozark Folk Center State Park will present a quilter’s retreat Thursday through Saturday. The event will feature quilting classes with René Riggan, Jennie Sharp and Jennifer Whitman. To register for the retreat, call (870) 269-3851.
Aug. 25
Ultimate Tailgate Pep Rally Fundraiser
SEARCY — Grill-Fest will expand this year to become White County’s Ultimate Tailgate Pep Rally to benefit Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission. The event will take place from 5-9 p.m. at the Searcy Event Center to kick off the 2017 football season. Tickets are $5 for a hamburger meal or $3 for a hot-dog meal and can be purchased at any of the following event partner branches in White County: Centennial Bank, Edward Jones, First Community Bank, First Security Bank, Regions Bank, Simmons Bank, Southern Bank and the White County Federal Credit Union. There will be $5 wristbands for unlimited access to all kids’ activities or $1 tickets per activity.
Aug. 26
Central Arkansas Team Care for the Homeless Meeting
CABOT — Central Arkansas Team Care for the Homeless (Catch), will meet at 10 a.m. at American Legion Post 71, 114 N. First St., in the Cabot mini mall. For more information, call (501) 203-5715.
ONGOING
Free GED Classes at Ozarka College
MELBOURNE — Ozarka College offers free classes for students to work toward obtaining a GED. Classes meet at Ozarka College in Melbourne from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and in Mountain View from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Registration is ongoing, and disability accommodations are available upon request. For more information, call Ozarka College’s Adult Education Department at (870) 368-2051.
Fine Arts and Craft Sale Booth Spaces
SEARCY — Booth spaces are available for rental for the Creative Art Society’s indoor Fine Arts and Craft Sale, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11 at the White County Fairgrounds, 802 Davis Drive. The event will also feature music and food. Send a payment of $40 to reserve a 10-by-11-foot booth space to Janelle Selvidge, 4981 Arkansas 36 W., Searcy, AR 72143. Reply by email to thecreativeartssociety@hotmail.com, or call (501) 270-2278 for more information.
2017 Kids Art Exhibition
BATESVILLE — The 2017 Kids Art Exhibition — a display of art created by students in kindergarten through the sixth grade at the Batesville Area Arts Council’s Summer Art Camp — will be on display in BAAC’s Gallery on Main, 226 E. Main St., through Saturday. For more information, call (870) 793-3382.
Music in the Caverns Cancellation
MOUNTAIN VIEW — The Music in the Caverns concert series at Blanchard Springs Caverns has been canceled. Caroling in the Caverns will begin at the end of November. For more information, call the caverns at (870) 757-2211.
Pioneer Village Summer Saturdays
SEARCY — Pioneer Village, a late-1800s village at 1200 Higginson St., will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through August. Volunteers will give tours of the buildings and grounds. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. For more information or to verify opening in the event of rain, call (501) 580-6633.
Farmers Market
HORSESHOE BEND — The Horseshoe Bend Farmers Market will be open from 8-10:30 a.m. each Wednesday at Faith Presbyterian Church, at Church and Fourth streets. Vendors will offer fresh produce, baked goods and crafts.
Free Brown-Bag Lunch
CABOT — The Mount Tabor United Methodist Church Women of Cabot serve a free brown-bag lunch at 11 a.m. each Thursday at the church, 4100 Arkansas 89 S. In 2016, this mission of the church served more than 8,600 lunches to the hungry and needy of Cabot.
Opportunity for Bridge Players
BEEBE — Bridge players are needed at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Shepherd’s Center at Beebe United Methodist Church, 302A N. Main St. Beginners are welcome. For more information, call (501) 843-2930.
Beebe Caregivers Support Group
BEEBE — The Beebe Caregivers Support Group meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Shepherd’s Center at Beebe United Methodist Church, 302A N. Main St. For more information, call Sandra Garrett at (501) 940-4021.
Alzheimer’s Support Group
CABOT — The Alzheimer’s Support Group meets at 10 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Cabot United Methodist Church, 2003 S. Pine St. For more information, call (501) 265-0027.
Friday Night Bingo
HEBER SPRINGS — Friday Night Bingo takes place each week at the American Legion Hall, 49 Park Road. Doors open at 5:30 for bonanzas, and regular play starts at 6:30 p.m. Food is available.
Cabot Lions Club Meetings
CABOT — The Cabot Lions Club has regular get-togethers at noon the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Kingpin Sports Grill. Lions serve local communities and protect the planet. Club members provide children with eyeglasses, offer food for seniors and provide assistance during natural disasters. All are invited to the meetings.
Upcoming
Marty Stuart Concert
MOUNTAIN VIEW — Marty Stuart will be in concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 in the large auditorium at Ozark Folk Center State Park. Tickets are reserved seating at $35 for premium seats and $25 for general reserved seats. To purchase tickets, call (870)-269-3851, and press No. 2.
Bark in the Park Dog Walk and 5K Fun Run
ROSE BUD — Service Dogs of Distinction will have its second annual Bark in the Park Dog Walk and 5K Fun Run at 9 a.m. Sept. 9 at City Park. Service Dogs of Distinction is a nonprofit that provides service dogs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder at no cost to the veterans.
Memorial Golf Classic
CABOT — The Cabot Lions Club will host its annual Memorial Golf Classic, in memory of Lion Rick Meadows, on Sept. 11 at Cabot’s Rolling Hills Country Club on Mount Carmel Road/Arkansas 321. The four-person scramble will have a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Proceeds will provide vision-screenings, eye exams and the purchase of eyeglasses for schoolchildren and in-need adults. The entry deadline is Sept. 5, and entry forms are available at cabotlions@yahoo.com or by calling (501) 920-2122. Entry fees, $100 per person or $400 per team, include the green fee, a golf cart, two free mulligans, and a steak and baked-potato dinner. For more information, contact the Cabot Lions Club at (501) 920-2122.
Cleburne County Retired Teachers Meeting
HEBER SPRINGS — The Cleburne County Retired Teachers Association will meet at noon Sept. 12 at the Rustic Inn. The guest speaker will be Donna Morey, executive director of the Arkansas Retired Teachers Association. Susan Eckhart will also present a program on scamming. All retired school personnel are invited to attend. For more information, call Lavern Penn at (501) 206-0357.
Potluck and Bible Study
SEARCY — Calvary Chapel Searcy, an extension of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, at 216 Johnston Road, will have its Thursday-night once-a-month Potluck/Fellowship/Bible Study from 6-7 p.m. Sept. 14. There will be Thursday-night Bible studies only from 6-7 p.m. Sept. 21 and 28. For more information, call (501) 268-7540.
White River Water Carnival
BATESVILLE — The 74th annual White River Water Carnival will begin at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 at Riverside Park. There will be live music, food and craft vendors, a car show, a parade and activities for kids.
Oktoberfest
JACKSONVILLE — The Ladies of the Knights and Knights of Columbus Council 11604 will host their 14th annual Oktoberfest at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at St. Jude the Apostle Parish Hall, 2403 McArthur Drive. The evening will feature German dinner, music and dancing. Tickets are $15 per adult. Proceeds from the event will fund the Knights and Ladies charitable organizations. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Theresa at (501) 843-8251 or Melanie at (501) 680-7818. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.
Paws at the Beach 5K Run/Walk
HEBER SPRINGS — The annual Humane Society’s Paws at the Beach 5K Run/Walk will take place Oct. 7 at Sandy Beach. Race time is 8 a.m., and the course is certified. Register at racesonline.com/events/paws-at-the-beach-5k-1k or at the race from 6:30-7:30 a.m. The entry fee is $25 if registered by Sept. 15 and $30 after that and on race day. For more information, contact Eileen Wilroy at hshumanesociety5k@gmail.com or (501) 250-4428.
Artoberfest
BATESVILLE — Artoberfest, a free arts and music festival, will begin at 10 a.m. Oct. 7 on Main Street. The event will feature artists’ booths, live music, art demonstrations and more. For more information, contact Carly Dahl at (870) 793-3382 or email info@batesvilleareartscouncil.org.
To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, Three Rivers Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR, 72203; send faxes to (501) 378-3500; or email trnews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.