Eureka Springs’ quirky vibe

It’s the time of year when folks start heading for the mountains, the beach or wherever they go that’s a departure from where they are. head for Eureka Springs.

I’ve been assured that Eureka Springs is a family-friendly place, and I’d have to agree. It is certainly friendly, and as far as the “family” part, well, true, if your family is a little … quirky. One of the town’s primary tourist attractions is a 66-foot-tall statue of Jesus, while another is a haunted hotel. So, definitely all perspectives taken into consideration here.

It’s one of my favorite places in Arkansas, and that’s even more true on those not-particularly-rare occasions when residents (Eureka Springsians? Eurekans?) decide to celebrate en masse and in public.

That’s where we were last Saturday when the Lovely Mrs. Smith and I decided to take my granddaughter, the Little Princess, and her mother to Eureka Springs and the St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Now that is not without its challenges. For one thing, getting to Eureka Springs has all the general characteristics of an amusement park ride. It’s definitely more fun if you put your hands in the air. Unless you’re actually driving.

And if all the passengers can keep their wits and stomachs about them, there’s the matter of dining with a small human whose epicurean choices run toward whatever is actually in “nuggets.”

Which leads to conversations like, “I’m not judging. I’m just saying I’ve never really seen anyone put catsup on that before. And that dish over there? Those are Brussels sprouts. You’ll like them. Think of them as little tiny cabbages. OK, I guess that didn’t really help, did it?”

Once you’re there, you’re reminded that Eureka Springs is kind of like that crazy cousin you grew up with. You love being around him, but if kids are involved, you’re pretty sure at some point you’re going to have to explain some stuff you’d rather not have to. Like, that you can’t actually “tip” a cow, but with the proper “inducement,” you can sure try…

However, parades are definitely Eureka Springs putting its best foot forward. Even if that foot might be wearing two-tone wing tips, golden running shoes or stiletto heels. Which, truth be told, he had the legs for.

And those parades are generally audience participation events. For one thing, my granddaughter did evidence an amazing ability to grab beads, both airborne and on the ground.

Part of that is that cute little kids standing right on the parade route are, basically, bead magnets. Given that, she did seem to go above and beyond, which gives me hope for her future athletic ability. And assures me she’ll never, ever be allowed to go to New Orleans. At least until I’m dead.

At that point, all bets are off and tattoos and Harleys are on.

While I haven’t been an observer enough to say with ironclad certainty, I will suggest that parades in Eureka don’t get themselves all tangled up with context too much. Apparently, if you want to march, they want to have you. Which is very democratic, if a little disconcerting at times.

I seem to recall an Easter parade a few years ago that featured, I believe, a marching Klingon kazoo band. Maybe no kazoos. Definitely Klingons. I mean, if you’re going to get hung up on whether there were kazoos and overlook the fact that an Easter parade featured imaginary space aliens, well, I can’t really help you.

This year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade didn’t seem to offer too many wildly incongruous marchers. Of course, given that we here in the US of A have turned what’s a semi-solemn Irish holiday in into a slightly drunken bacchanal (see Cinco De Mayo, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year, Columbus Day or virtually any other holiday … say, is there a theme here?) incongruity is kind of a moving target. I mean, as long as you’re wearing green, apparently…

However, the parade did adhere to one of the basic principles of crowd-pleasing: when in doubt, dogs. Ideally in costume, but, dogs. French bulldogs and pugs pretty much appear like they’re wearing costumes anyway, so slapping a green hat on them isn’t much of a leap.

And crowds, including the Little Princess, were definitely pleased. Which is the point of the whole thing. Even if some explanation was required.

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