Fireworks, parade, food part of the fun at Decatur Barbecue
DECATUR — It seems like only yesterday when Desi Meek was crowned the 65th Miss Decatur Barbecue, Mo Pitney was wowing the crowds with song, and the fireworks’ red glare marked the end of the Decatur Barbecue festival. But now it is time to celebrate yet another Barbecue festival in Decatur.
The 66th Annual Decatur Barbecue will look a little different this year. Most of the old favorites are back, along with a new and exciting game and a new exhibit.
Events begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the arts and crafts fair, and continue all day. The Barbecue will conclude after the Bellamy Brothers concert with a fireworks display put on by the Decatur Fire Department and the city of Decatur.
Parking this year was raised from $3 to $5. The Decatur High School athletic department will be on hand to park cars again this year with part of the proceeds going to fund various athletic department projects.
After last year’s event, the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, the event sponsor, evaluated some of the events and decided to discontinue two. Gone from this year’s lineup is the 5K run which has seen participation declining in the past three years, as is the case with the kids’ games.
The Decatur Barbecue has been a part of the Northwest Arkansas landscape since 1953 when Lloyd Peterson and the Decatur Development Committee founded the event as a way of thanking the citizens for supporting the town which was in a serious decline at the time.
In 1954, Decatur celebrated winning the All-America Best City Under 1,000 Award from the Municipal League and Look Magazine. It was at this point that the Decatur Barbecue, which was held each year at Old City Park, began to grow. In 1988, the Barbecue saw its biggest crowd in history. Over 12,000 crowded in and around the park to see Keith Whitley give a performance of a lifetime
In 2012, the Barbecue outgrew Old City Park and was subsequently moved to Veterans Park on the northwest side of town. There the Barbecue continued to flourish.
Some of the many things that visitors can expect can be seen on the midway as well as near the stage.
For the first time at Veterans Park, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, which oversees Crystal Lake, will have a live fish habitat aquarium on display near the north end of vendors row. Visitors can come and see the wide variety of fish that occupy Crystal Lake and other aquatic habitats in Arkansas.
The Decatur Chamber will open the “Bunker,” formerly the chicken hut, for chicken dinner sales at 10:30 a.m. Cost of the dinner, which includes a chicken half, beans, and chips, is $7. Water and soft drinks will be sold by the Chamber and Decatur High School cheerleaders for $1 each.
The Barbecue opening ceremony is at noon with Mayor Bob Tharp giving the welcoming address. The singing of the national anthem and the pledge of allegiance will follow, with a prayer led by Terry Horton from the Sale Barn Church of Decatur.
Following the opening ceremony, everybody will rush to downtown Decatur for the annual Barbecue Parade. This year’s parade will be led by grand marshal James Turner, a longtime resident of Decatur. The lineup for the event is 1 p.m. at Old City Park. The parade departs at 1:30 p.m. The route is the same as last year, with the parade making its way down Main Street to Veterans Park.
Opening for the Bellamy Brothers this year is Kevin Upshaw, a singer and songwriter from Miami, Okla. He has been on the country scene for 25 years. He has been with his present band for 13 years, over half of his musical career.
“I have to entertain people and encourage youth to follow their dreams,” said Upshaw.
Members of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, along with Kim Wilkins, president, have worked hard this year to bring the Decatur area an event with something for everybody.