It's the end of school. The start of summer. And Arkansas state parks are diving right into the spirit of a monthslong recess with special activities and programming for all ages.
Pinnacle Mountain State Park, 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road, Little Rock, is pulling out all the stops for its West Summit Field Day, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. There will be outdoor adventures such as archery, fishing, kayaking, hiking, football and picnic lunch. Admission is free. Call (501) 868-5806.
Pinnacle isn't the only state park getting in on the holiday weekend fun. Here's just a sampling:
At Crowley's Ridge State Park, 2092 Arkansas 168 N., Paragould, children 15 and under can cast their lines in the Fishing on the Ridge Fishing Derby, 8 a.m. Saturday. But there's also a big Memorial Day Scavenger Hunt at 8 a.m. Saturday-Monday, a Sandcastle Contest at 1:50 p.m. Sunday, reptile-related programs and a look at the night stars. Admission is free. Call (870) 573-6751.
DeGray Lake Resort State Park, 2027 State Park Entrance Road, Bismarck, gets creative with its fishing with Cast-A-Can, 9 a.m. Saturday, in which a park interpreter shows how bottles and cans can be recycled into a fishing pole. There will also be a nighttime Golf Course Safari at 9 p.m. Saturday, hikes, kayak football, nature programs and the popular sunset cruise on the lake. Most activities are free but cruises are $12, $6 for ages 6-12. Call (501) 865-5850.
Interpreters at Mississippi River State Park, 2955 Arkansas 44, Marianna, will teach visitors how to make their own fishing lures at 2 p.m. Sunday. On Saturday, guests can take a sensory-stimulating hike at 2 p.m. and learn to make citronella candles out of tin cans and jars at 4 p.m. Activities are free. Call (870) 295-4040.
History, snakes, bugs and birds are the stars of the weekend at Lake Chicot State Park. Their lineup includes interpreter programs on some of the park's creatures, lake tours and fireside tales. At 3 p.m. Saturday, people of all ages can learn what it was like to attend classes in a one-room schoolhouse. Most activities at the park, 2452 Arkansas 257, Lake Village, are free but lake tours are $10, $5 for children 6-12. Call (870) 265-5480.
At Lake Fort Smith State Park, 15458 Shepard Springs Road, Mountainburg, kids eager to explore and learn a bit more about the outdoors can participate in Become an Arkansas Park Explorer, 9 a.m. Friday-Saturday, completing a task and guidebook to earn a special badge. Also look for special hikes, an Owl Prowl and the Spring Fling Lake Tour on Saturday. The lake tour is $10, $6 for children 6-12. Other events are free. Call (479) 369-2469.
For a full list of activities at all the state parks, call (888) 287-2757 or visit arkansasstateparks.com.
Weekend on 05/23/2019