Mayhaw Festival returns Saturday

The 26th annual Mayhaw Festival returns to El Dorado this weekend, featuring live music, shopping and activities for everyone.

The annual festival will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in and around the Newton House Museum at 510 N. Jackson in downtown El Dorado.

The festival kicks off at 8 a.m. with the Mayhawlin’ 5K/10K run/walk, sponsored by Murphy USA. Late registration will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday and race results will be announced at 9:30 a.m.

The festival will feature arts and crafts booths, a kids area and musical entertainment on North Jackson, with the annual biscuit and famous South Arkansas Mayhaw jelly breakfast being held at 8 a.m. Jars of jelly and 2018 Mayhaw T-shirts will be on sale in front of the new Gallery of History at 412 E. Faulkner and in front of the Newton House. The gallery will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and feature exhibits of historical memorabilia donated by area residents. Entertainment at the festival will include:

8 a.m., Real blugrass music featuring Roses and Revolvers;

10 a.m., the Haley Creek Band; noon, Captain Ledge and the Band;

2 p.m., bluegrass music by Ashtyn Barbaree. Pete Sacks, who has attended every Mayhaw Festival, also will attend Saturday, selling Mayhaw trees.

The Union County Master Gardeners also will set up at the Dickerson Law Firm Office from 10 a.m. to noon to offer a free children’s planting activity that allows kids to plant a blooming annual to take home.

The festival also will feature an antique car show and “Porsche Club” parade, as well as a rock climbing wall, train and carriage rides, bouncy houses and a petting zoo.

Title sponsors of this year’s festival include First Financial Bank, El Dorado Chemical and El Dorado Advertising and Promotion. Band sponsors are LanXESS/Great Lakes, Noalmark Broadcasting and Mike and Sydney Murphy Foundation.