For the Weekend
The 2017 Annual Mayhaw Festival will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. today on the grounds of the Newton House Museum and is being sponsored by First Financial Bank, according to Jack Wilson, business manager for the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society.
This year’s Mayhaw Festival will kick-off with the annual Murphy USA 5K/10K Mayhawlin’ Run at 7:30 a.m. Activities will occur on the grounds of the Newton House Museum and the old ECCEL buildings along Jackson and Faulkner streets. For safety, Wilson said Jackson Street (between Peach and Sheppard streets and Faulkner (between Jackson and Madison) will be closed from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Events and activities during the day will include the Mayhaw Jelly Biscuit Breakfast, tours of the museum, live music, hand-crafted and handmade goods, lawn and garden vendors, food vendors and the “Park & Shine” antique car and bike show. A Kids’ Jam play area will be set up and will include rock climbing, face painting, bounce houses, obstacle course, blacksmith demonstration, rope making, an art contest and petting zoo. Mayhaw Jelly will be on sale during the festival.
Entertainment will be provided by Mama and the Outlaws (formerly Roses & Revolvers) from 8 until 10 a.m., the Haley Creek Boys from 10 a.m. until noon, the Shapiro Brothers from noon until 2 p.m., and the Captain Ledge Band from 2 until 4 p.m.
For more information, check out the 2017 Annual Mayhaw Festival on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society’s website for regular postings, registration forms and updates.
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The South Arkansas Arts Center will present an art exhibit by well-known El Dorado artist, Maria Botti
Villegas. Her show, “Silent Interludes,” will hang in the Price and Merkle Galleries beginning Saturday through May 30, with an artist’s reception to be held from 6 until 8 p.m. on Saturday.
A professional muralist and multidisciplinary artist, Villegas was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She holds a five year degree from Pueyrredon School of Fine Arts in Argentina. Since 1993, she has been an Arkansas Arts Council Artist in Residence. As a working artist, she has participated in numerous exhibits and competitions in Arkansas, Louisiana, and other states. In 2001, Villegas received the Arkansas Committee of the National Women in the Arts (Washington, DC) scholarship. She has painted more than 30 public murals in our area. She became a US citizen in 2004, and has been a teaching artist at SAAC for 21 years.
For more information on Villegas’ show, call the SAAC at 870-862-5474 or visit the website at www.saac-arts.org. SAAC is located at 110 E. Fifth St., El Dorado.
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Union County Master Gardeners will have their annual plant sale from 8 a.m. until noon (or until plants are sold out) today in conjunction with the Mayhaw Festival. Master Gardeners will be set up in front of the Dickerson Law Firm at 407 N. Jackson. The sale will include annuals, perennials, herbs and vegetables, as well as shrubs and trees.
Master Gardener John Segraves will be sharpening hand tools during the event so local gardeners are urged to bring their clippers to have them sharpened.
Also during the festival, Master Gardeners will have a booth set up where children may pot a blooming plant to take home. The activity is free of charge. For more information, email ucmastergardener@suddenlink.net.
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Today had been proclaimed “Color the Town Blue,” and to kick off Foster Care Month, local residents will join The CALL, The Agapé House, the Department of Human Services and Court Appointed Special Advocates at 6:30 p.m. today on the Union County Courthouse steps in downtown El Dorado, according to Mike Dumas, presidents and chief executive officer of the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce. Saturday has been proclaimed Foster Care Awareness Day in Union County and the City of El Dorado.
“In an effort to show love and support for the foster care community in Union County, we are encouraging our county to ‘turn blue for foster care.’ And again, we want to see blue lights and ribbons all over town,” Dumas said. “Please show your support for past, current and future foster children, foster homes and agencies providing support to the foster care community by joining us for a kickoff event including a balloon release, informational booths, T-shirts, etc. Also, show your support by putting blue lights and ribbons out so our foster children see a community that loves and supports them,” he said.