25th Mayhaw Festival set for Saturday
EL DORADO — The South Arkansas Mayhaw Festival begins Saturday, kicking off with a 5K/10K race. The weather is predicted to be beautiful all day for the many activities and vendors scheduled for the event.
The 5K/10K races will begin at 8 a.m., and it’s not too late to sign up. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday morning. “If you’re a runner, walker or want to dance your way down the 5K/10K, lace up your tennis shoes and come join us,” Courtney Crotty, chairman of the Mayhaw Festival said.
There will be a breakfast following the race including sausage biscuits, plain biscuits, coffee, mayhaw jelly and other breakfast foods.
As of Monday, there were 1,500 jars of jelly ready to sale at the event. “That’s the most jelly we’ve ever had, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t go quickly,” Crotty said. “Please come and buy some jelly, I don’t think you’ll regret it.”
There will be over 40 vendors at the event including crafts, food and many others.
There will be a new antique portion added to this year’s festival. With this, there will be several vendors set up selling antique items.
The festival is bringing back the kids’ zone and has added a petting zoo. The kids’ zone will be across the street at the SHARE Foundation house and will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
One thing the festival will focus on this year is incorporating its historical aspect and the reason the festival is held. There will be tours of the John Newton House with reenactors giving tours about the house and informing visitors of the history of the house. There will also be several Civil War reenactors present.
There will also be a car show, featuring antique cars from various eras.
Four different musical acts will be playing throughout the day during the festival. The music will play until 3 or 4 p.m., Crotty said.
The vendors will be at the festival as long as people are there, Crotty said.
“Come and enjoy music, enjoy the kids’ area, browse the vendors, look at antique cars, there are so many
things, including looking at the Newton House” Crotty said. “You can do all these things and it absolutely costs nothing.
“Invite your friends, bring your families, invite people from out of town,” she said. “I’m sure the local merchants would really appreciate the extra business this weekend and let’s promote El Dorado for the city of festivals.”