Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Autumn Attitude
Brews and tunes, arts and crafts are all sure signs of fall
Longtime residents of the Ozarks might think October means football homecomings, haunted houses and “War Eagle weekend,” when the crafters come back to the hills to show and sell their wares. And all that is true.
But in Springdale, “a celebration of Ozark culture and tradition” also includes the Hispanic and Marshallese immigrants who have helped shape the city in recent decades.
Ozarktober
This year’s Ozarktober, set for Oct. 17-19, marks the third fall festival hosted by the Downtown Springdale Alliance, says Jill Dabbs, its executive director, and the event has always been intended to represent the the multicultural makeup of the community.
“We continue to grow our multicultural reach in two realms: our outreach and our programming,” Dabbs explains. “We extended our outreach to diverse communities by providing translated marketing material for Ozarktober in Spanish and Marshallese, by disseminating information through public schools, and also taking out ads in Marshallese and Spanish media.
“For our programming, we seek out artists from all backgrounds,” she continues, “and were able to book Marshallese artists for Ozarktober and also the upcoming Christmas on the Creek celebration on Nov. 30. Alex Real, a popular and talented Hispanic music artist, will provide the entertainment for the Fall Bonfire [on Oct. 18].
“One way we can address the multiculturalism of both our outreach and our programming is to look for ways to partner with local LatinX and Marshallese organizations, and we are doing that,” Dabbs adds. “These are connections we are growing through relationship development. The Hispanic and Marshallese cultures are woven into the fabric of Ozark culture, [and] DSA will continue to celebrate and grow the diversity of Ozarktober in the coming years. We want everyone to feel welcome and included, not simply a seat at the table but also a voice. This level of inclusion takes work and a commitment from everyone.”
Dabbs says the festival has evolved since its inception, “but there are a couple of key events we have repeated each season and intend to hold as cornerstones that really represent the intention of Ozarktober — to celebrate local food, music, breweries and cultural assets of downtown Springdale,” she says. “Ozarktober each year has kicked off with a Farm to Train Dinner on the Arkansas Missouri Railroad and concluded with Brews & Tunes, a beer and music event at Magnolia Gardens.
“These are hallmark events for Ozarktober, and at the same time it is our intention that Ozarktober will continue to grow and evolve each year,” she says. “The themes of Ozarktober provide a wide umbrella for us to pull in different events that celebrate Ozark culture, so we’ve played with a couple of ideas.
“Our mission is to build a more vibrant downtown Springdale, and one way we do this is through activation, creating events that add value to our community.”