Clothesline Fair Ready For 65th Year

NEW THIS YEAR: FOOD TRUCKS, REPURPOSED & VINTAGE ITEMS

Regular visitors to the 65th Clothesline Fair will see a few changes in the park this year.

“We want to get better and expand it every year and that’s our goal,” said Logan Beard, vice president with Prairie Grove Lions Club.

Prairie Grove Lions Club has the contract with the state of Arkansas to hold the Clothesline Fair each year at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. The Lions Club will celebrate its 70th year in Prairie Grove in November.

The fair opens at 8: 30 a. m. Saturday, with activities scheduled throughout Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The fair concludes Monday night with the finals of the square dance competition.

Changes this year will be several new food trucks to increase the variety of concessions in the park and vendor booths with repurposed and vintage items available for sale.

Craig Battles, Lions Club secretary/treasurer, said the club was excited that the Arts Center of the Ozarks was willing to open up the arts and crafts fair to new vendors. In many instances, Battles said, craftsmen are not passing their talents down to new generations.

“Now a lot of younger people are into repurposing,” Battles said. “They want old items made new again.”

An example of similar vendors can be found at the Junk Ranch in Prairie Grove. This fair is held twice a year and draws thousands of people.

There may only be a few vendors with vintage and repurposed items this year but the goal is to increase it next year, Beard said.

“We’re trying to grow the fair every year and revitalize the Lions Club,” Beard said.

Battles added, “We want to make the fair more vibrant every year.”

The Clothesline Fair will have its regular food concessions, such as nachos, kettle corn, barbecue, funnel cakes. These concessions are provided by local non-profit

organizations and proceeds benefit those groups.

The Lions Club usually serves hamburgers out of the Latta Barn but this year, the club will serve turkey legs, chicken dinners and smoked bologna sandwiches out of the Latta Barn. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be available near the square dance venue.

Food trucks on site will include Mandalay Cuisine from Farmington, burgers and potato twists and county fair food, such as fried Twinkies.

This year’s Clothesline Fair will have more musical entertainment at the grandstand on Saturday and Monday. Gospel singing will take the stage Sunday afternoon, the same as in years past.

Locally, the highlight of the Clothesline Fair is square dancing. About 60 groups are signed up to participate in the exhibition dances and 12 groups will compete for first place in the evening performances. The first-place winner, as well as other awards, will be announced at the end of the competition Monday night.

Battles said the Lions Club could not sponsor the fair without the support of the community. High school groups work over the weekend and the Lions Club pays them for their labor. Other people volunteer their time to make the fair a success.

Staff with the state park put in hours to make sure the park is ready for the Clothesline Fair and all runs smoothly.

“We appreciate all the help we get from the community, especially the school,” Battles said. “It takes a community to pull this off.”

“It takes a community to pull this off.” Craig Battles Lions Club Secretary/ Treasurer