Festivals & Events
The Ozark Gateway Region plays host to a variety of festivals and events throughout the year. Festivals celebrating the culture that is unique to the Ozark happen year-round. Harvest time celebrations occur throughout the area in the fall, allowing visitors to see both the history and present of agriculture. Film festivals for adults in the spring and children in the summer provide a unique opportunity to experience local art. Golf tournaments for the ardent golfer are always interesting as are the unique races and contest that occur throughout the year. Carnivals and homecoming festivals occur year-round throughout the region and the Fourth of July celebrations (and the fireworks displays that follow) are always worth a visit. Seasonal events like heritage festivals draw crowds from around the world and special events even occur underground amid the beautiful caverns of the region. With something interesting happening in the region virtually every day, there is always something to see or do. The Ozark Gateway Region truly has something for everyone, so plan your visit today!
Arkansas Folk Festival
Each April, Mountain View presents the Arkansas Folk Festival, highlighted by an old-fashioned hometown parade complete with school bands, patriotic veterans groups, show horses and decorated floats. Live folk music seems to never stop in the friendly, inviting atmosphere of the town’s courtsquare. Come out and share the fun, bring your own instrument and sit in during Pickin’ on the Square. Take a trip back to the good old days, and see firsthand why Mountain View is known as the Folk Music Capital of the World. [Visit their website...]
The Legends Tour takes place each September, it is the Horseshoe Bend Invitational
The Legends Tour, Official Senior Tour of the LPGA, takes place each September with the Horseshoe Bend Invitational. Twenty Legends of the LPGA will tee it up at The Golf Course on Turkey Mountain late September for a one-day charity pro-am, bringing LPGA Legends to the state with proceeds going to local charity.
Calico Rock Trout Tournament
Each May Calico Rock, Arkansas, located on the beautiful White River, hosts its annual one day trout fishing tournament. Come enjoy our world-class trout fishery and land a beautiful rainbow or brown trout; you may also hook a cutthroat or brook trout. The event begins at daylight with weigh-in through early evening. From mid-afternoon through weigh-in there is a hosted BBQ for event participants and the awarding of cash and merchandise prizes for the single heaviest fish presented and two runners-up. A special grand prize is awarded if a trout weighs-in and breaks the current Arkansas state record for that species. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission trout fishing regulations apply. Each May Calico Rock, Arkansas, located on the beautiful White River, hosts its annual one day trout fishing tournament. Come enjoy our world-class trout fishery and land a beautiful rainbow or brown trout; you may also hook a cutthroat or brook trout. The event begins at daylight with weigh-in through early evening. From mid-afternoon through weigh-in there is a hosted BBQ for event participants and the awarding of cash and merchandise prizes for the single heaviest fish presented and two runners-up. A special grand prize is awarded if a trout weighs-in and breaks the current Arkansas state record for that species. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission trout fishing regulations apply. www.calicorocktrouttournament.com
Ozark Foothills FilmFest
The annual Ozark Foothills FilmFest, an eclectic celebration of the cinema arts with a strong statewide and regional focus. The festival celebrates its 11th anniversary in 2012. It is held every spring for five days in Batesville at a number of venues, including the historic Landers Theater building Lyon College, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, and Old Independence Regional Museum. The festival features independent films, restored classics, international films, animation, and experimental films. It also features workshops and panels on topics that address the needs of the Arkansas film community. The festival has been called the “best small town film festival in America” by the Arkansas Times. Check it out at www.OzarkFoothillsFilmfest.org.
BeanFest & Great Championship Outhouse Race
Autumn is a time for celebration, and there’s none bigger in Mountain View than the Arkansas Bean Fest and Great Championship Outhouse Race. For more than 23 years, thousands have flocked to the town to enjoy 2,000 pounds of free pinto beans and cornbread along with lots of great folk, bluegrass, Cajun and gospel music. Then comes the Parade of Outhouses, where crowds cheer for their favorite “people-powered potty” team as they maneuver their wheeled outhouses into place for a race the likes of which you’ve never seen before.
For complete information including an entry form for this year's talent show please visit the Mountain View website: www.OzarkGetaways.com.
Mountain View Bluegrass Festival
Rain or shine, the Mountain View Bluegrass Festival kicks off in high gear every March and November with some of the hottest bluegrass music you’ll find anywhere in the country. Indoor and outdoor jamming areas at the beautiful Ozark Folk Center Auditorium and Grounds showcase top-notch national music groups across three full days of fun for the whole family. Plenty of food and lodging and possibly more friendly people than you’ll ever meet in one place what a great way to spend March and November weekend! The Mountain View Bluegrass festival is held the second weekend in March and second weekend in November. www.MountainView-Bluegrass.com.
28th Annual Portfest
Molly Hatchet will be the headline act on June 6 at the 28th annual Portfest “Rollin’ on the River” Festival. Hosted by the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce, Portfest is held on the banks of the White River at beautiful Jacksonport State Park, three miles north of Newport off Hwy. 69. [More].
Caroling in the Caverns
Without a doubt one of the most popular special events of any Ozark holiday season is Caroling in the Caverns, where an evening of traditional Christmas carols are performed deep within the earth at Blanchard Springs’ Cathedral Room. The blend of area folk musicians’ voices and instruments rises from the darkened room with perfect acoustics to magically create the true spirit of Christmas, Ozark-style.[More...]
T Tauri Film Festival
The T Tauri Youth Film Festival and Movie Camp, held the last two weeks of July, takes its name from the astronomer’s term for a new star. T Tauri, begun in 2005, screens a large number of the films by young filmmakers. T Tauri also includes two weeks of filmmaking workshops for aspiring filmmakers up to age 18. The current workshops include Script to Screen, Acting on Camera, Claymation (stop-motion animation), and Final Cut Pro (editing). Workshop films and projects are also screened at the festival finale. Check it out at www.ttauri.org.
Arkansas Scottish Festival
The Arkansas Scottish Festival, held in late April every year at Lyon College in Batesville, celebrates Lyon’s Presbyterian and Scottish roots. Festival highlights include competitions for pipe bands, individual bagpipers, drummers, Highland dancers and Scottish athletics; sheepdog demonstrations; Scottish food; music; Ozark crafts; a traditional Feast and Ceilidh on Saturday night; and the Iona Scottish Worship Service on Sunday morning. A “Kilted” Golf Tournament is held on Friday. Festival gates open at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. For ticket or vendor information, call (870) 698-4382 or (870) 698-4298 or visit www.lyon.edu/scotfest.
Watermelon Festival
The Cave City Watermelon Festival is held the 2nd week of August every year on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is 3 days of FREE entertainment. Most musical tastes should be satisfied with acts ranging from Bluegrass to Country to Gospel. The watermelon growers donate watermelons for a free watermelon feast enjoyed by all on Saturday. There are arts and crafts vendors set up around the park as well as a variety of food vendors to please any taste bud. Children may enjoy activities such as the watermelon eating and seed spitting contests as well as many games at the various booths. Bring your lawn chairs and comfortable shoes and join us for 3 days of fun. For more information visit www.cavecityarkansas.info or call the Chamber line at 870-283-7333 or 1-866-351-7333.
Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour
Make plans for the 2011 Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour and also the Holiday Tour that will take place this December 11, 2010. For more information visit http://www.offthebeatenpathstudiotour.com/
Fulton County Homecoming Festival
The Fulton County Homecoming Festival is held on Memorial Day weekend each year in Salem and is one of the longest running festivals in the area. The festival provides a time for former residents to return to Fulton County and enjoy a wide variety of activities including street dances, the Mark Thomas Memorial Apple Pie 5K Run, a squirt race for youth, horseshoe pitching, terrapin race, street market and food booths, music, and a parade. The festival provides a convenient time for class reunions and families to get together. Visit Fulton County on Memorial Day Weekend and enjoy the celebration of the 58th Annual Fulton County Homecoming Festival. www.salemAR.com.
White River Carnival
As the White River Water Carnival has been held every summer since 1943, it is widely considered to be Arkansas’ longest-running annual water event. The Water Carnival includes numerous features such as crafts, foods, entertainment, sporting events, a car show and a parade. One of the water sports events is the National Boy Scout Invitational White River Canoe Race, a 3-day, 118 mile event, which reaches its conclusion at Riverside Park. Another highlight of the festival is the White River Beauty Pageant, which has produced numerous wearers of the Miss Arkansas crown and two Miss Americas. Even on the other 51 weeks of the year, Riverside Park is a popular local attraction, situated at the point where the White River plunges over Corps of Engineers’ Lock and Dam Number 1.
