Lit Fest scheduled
Fayetteville’s Literary Festival will be held from Oct. 22 to 29. The festival, now in its fifth year, features author talks, writing workshops, pitch sessions and more. This year’s festival welcomes two keynote speakers: young adult author James Dashner and children’s author Jennifer Holm.
Both Dashner and Holm will participate in a public talk at Fayetteville Public Library at 7 p.m. Oct. 25. The talk will be moderated by KUAF Ozarks at Large host Kyle Kellams. In addition to the public talk, Holm will address both fourth- and sixth-graders in Fayetteville Public Schools as part of the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation’s Young Author Series. Dashner will address ninth graders at Fayetteville High School as part of the foundation’s Blair Author and Lecture Series.
Additionally, the Arkansas International 2017 Featured Reader Kaveh Akbar will speak at the library at 2 p.m. Oct. 22. Akbar, an Iranian-American poet, has work published in The New Yorker, Ploughshares, PBS Newshour and Poetry, among others.
The Walton Arts Center will host Grammy-winning kids’ hip hop artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo during the festival. Skidoo will perform in a public concert at the Walton Arts Center’s Starr Theatre at 7 p.m. Oct. 27. Tickets are available at the Walton Arts Center’s website. In addition to his performance at the Starr Theatre, Skidoo will host a variety of free rhyme writing workshops for kids and educators at Fayetteville Public Library Oct. 27 and 28.
Fayetteville Public Library will host a day for local writers to hone their craft and meet with industry professionals Oct. 28. Throughout the day, writers will have the chance to interact directly with book and magazine publishers. There will also be a panel discussion featuring writers and publishers discussing the publishing experience. Participants can sign up for pitch sessions the morning of the event. A complete list of guidelines is available at truelitfest.com/publishers.
In conjunction with the festival, Altrusa International of Fayetteville is hosting a writing contest for sixth graders in Fayetteville. Complete details about the contest can be found at the festival’s website.
There are a number of other events at the festival. Tony Wappel and J.B. Hogan will discuss their illustrated history of the Fayetteville square, while author Matthew Pitt will discuss his short story collection “These Are Our Demands.” A variety of workshops are being held, including a number of adult writing workshops and theatre workshops for kids and teens. The library will host a special showcase of authors and illustrators for kids and teens at 10 a.m. Oct. 28.
Information: truelitfest.com.
Services offered
There will be a one-day medical outreach event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at Central United Methodist church, 6 Dickson St. in Fayetteville. This event is designed to serve people and veterans throughout Northwest Arkansas that are without health insurance or struggle to afford visiting providers for routine or specialty health care.
These services coincide with a lunch provided by Community Meals. Participants will have access to health screening, general medical care, dental hygenists, optometrists, podiatrists, flu shots, legal aid, hair cuts and veteran services.
This event is free and open to the public.
Information: (479) 856-8820, (479) 502-0846 or bit.ly/HopeResourceEvent.
Marines mark
corps birthday
The Marine Corps Birthday Ball, sponsored by the Northwest Arkansas Marine Corps League, begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Holiday Inn in Springdale. The ball is open to all, whether civilian, active duty or prior military. The event will offer dinner, dancing, a silent auction, along with a formal ceremony to recognize the 242nd anniversary of the United States Marine Corps.
Funds raised from the ball and its silent auction will support veterans’ programs in Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding area.
Tickets for the ball are $45 per person or $360 for a table for eight.
Information: (479) 903-1825 or (479) 531-5262 or NWAMarineCorpsLeague.com.
Club sponsors scholarships
The Garden Club of Rogers sponsors the Keeta Arnold Memorial Horticulture Scholarship. The purpose of the scholarship is to offer financial aid to students majoring in horticulture related subjects. This scholarship honors the memory of longtime garden club member, mentor, high school counselor, teacher and gardener, Keeta Arnold.
The scholarship is awarded yearly in the amount of $500 and is available to college junior, seniors and graduate students. A student must be attending an accredited college or university, be a legal resident of Arkansas, be attending school full-time and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25.
Deadline for application is Jan. 1, 2018.
Information: (479) 903-5389 or email skeoff@hotmail.com.