Renaissance Days

BATESVILLE — The ninth annual Renaissance Days at the University of Arkansas Communi t y Col lege at Batesville will be held Friday and Saturday. Activities and demonstrations will include sword fighting, mini-jousting, tug o’ war, archery, a maypole, storytelling, costumes, banners, and Renaissance music and dance. The free festival is open to the public. Friday’s activities will be from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., with the Friday Night Showcase at 6:30 p.m., featuring UACCB’S Commedia dell ‘Arte Players and the UACCB Renaissance

Chamber Singers and others. Saturday’s festivities will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The campus is at 2005 White Drive in northeast Batesville. For more information, call Marla Bennett at (870) 612-2038.

Heber Springs Springfest

HEBER SPRINGS — The 25th annual Springfest will be Friday, Saturday and April 29 in downtown Heber Springs. Friday will include an Artwalk at the Cleburne County judge’s office, a street fair on Third Street, a beef dinner, children’s activities, live music, a cupcake-baking contest, a chair-art and planter-art auction and a classic car cruise down Main Street. On Saturday, events will start at 10 a.m. in Spring Park and feature artisans, festival food, inflatable bounce obstacles, a petting zoo, the Miss Springfest Pageant, live music, a car and bike show, a 5K race and the Arkansas Children’s Theatre’s production of Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood in the amphitheater. “Heber Springs’ Got Talent” will be at 1: 30 p.m. April 29 at the Spring Park Bandshell. For more information, contact the Heber Springs Area Chamber of Commerce at (501) 362-2444 or visit www.heber-springs. com.

Roadside Cleanup

CHEROKEE VILLAGE — Cherokee Village Pride needs volunteers for the Cherokee Village Spring Roadside Cleanup, to begin at 8 a.m. Participants should meet at the Senior Center, at 2 Saunee Drive. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided in the morning, and lunch will be provided at the Senior Center following the cleanup. Bags, gloves and Tshirts will be provided. For more information, call Jerry Adams at (870) 847-6422.

Take the Lake 5K

HEBER SPRINGS — The annual Take the Lake 5K Run/walk and Kids Fun Run will take place Saturday. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society as part of the Relay For Life of Cleburne County fundraising activities. The 5K will be at Heber Springs’ Dam Site Park, with the Kids Fun Run at 4 p.m. and the 5K Run/walk at 5:30 p.m. The registration fee is $25 for early registration and $30 the day of the race. The Kids Fun Race is $10 for early registration and $15 the day of the race. Registration forms can be found online at www.heber-springs.com under the Springfest event tab. Mail completed forms to Marilyn Wright, 55 James Place, Heber Springs, AR 72543. Make checks payable to Take the Lake. For more information, call Marilyn Wright at (501) 206-5381 or email takethelake5k2012@gmail.com.

GPS Workshop

NEWPORT — Jacksonport State Park will hold a GPS workshop for ages 10 to adults from 9 a.m. to noon at the Jacksonport Courthouse. The workshop will cover the basics of using a GPS unit, locating hidden caches and creating caches. There will be contests for locating caches in the park and prizes awarded to the winners. Participants will receive a gift to take home. The workshop fee is $20 per person. Participants may bring their own GPS units, or the park will provide a unit for them to use. Reservations are needed by Thursday. For reservations or more information, contact the park inte rprete r at Jacksonport State Park, call ( 870) 523-2143, or email donna.bentley@arkansas.gov. This event has limited accessibility for visitors with disabilities.

Cabot MOPS Fundraiser

CABOT — Cabot MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) will hold a Krispy Kreme fundraiser from 7:30 a.m. to noon in the Cabot First Baptist Church parking lot. Doughnuts will be sold for $ 8 per dozen. Proceeds will support MOPS group activities and community projects. Cabot MOPS is open to all mothers of preschool children and meets the first Monday of the month, September through May. For more information, call (501) 258-5531 or email cabot_mops@hotmail.com.

Pie Auction and Political Stumping

HEBER SPRINGS — Downtown Heber Springs will host a Pie Auction and Political Stumping at 6 p.m. on the courthouse lawn. Proceeds from the auction will go to revitalize Historic Downtown Heber Springs. Political stumping by federal, state and local candidates will follow the auction, with candidates speaking for a few minutes about their political positioning.

Plant and Bake Sale

HEBER SPRINGS — Trinity Lutheran Church will hold a Plant and Bake Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 300 Trailwood Drive. There will also be hot dogs and brats for sale. This is the church’s annual fundraiser for Heber Springs Missions. For more information, call (501) 3620685.

Singing Fundraiser

HEBER SPRINGS — The Mountain Top Cowboy Church will present a benefit singing fundraiser for Teresa Chasteen, with gates opening at 5: 30 p.m. and music beginning at 6 p.m. at the Cleburne County Fairgrounds. Bluegrass and gospel music will be featured, and donations will be accepted. Free hot dogs, drinks and chips will be served.

Hooked-rug Workshop

POWHATAN — Powhatan Historic State Park will offer a hooked- rug workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The registration fee is $15 per person. Participants will learn the art of locker hooking — an old craft using scrap fabric to make rugs, place mats, chairseat covers, handbags and more. Attendees will learn how to design patterns on canvas, cut the fabric and use the locker hook and yarn to create mats of all styles. The fee includes all materials. Bring a sack lunch. Class size is limited, so call to reserve a space. For more information, call (870) 878-6765 or email powhatan@arkansas.com.

Bald Knob Strawberry Pageant

BALD KNOB — The Bald Knob Strawberry Pageant will be at 2 p.m. in the Bald Knob High School Gym. Entry forms can be picked up at Von’s in Judsonia, the Bald Knob Chamber of Commerce, Smile 4 Me in Bald Knob, Reba’s Bridal in Searcy and Ann’s Bridal in Searcy. For more information, call Terry Pate at (501) 724-5694 or the Bald Knob Chamber at (501) 7243140.

Stride to Prevent Suicide

SEARCY — The 2012 Elliott Foundation Stride to Prevent Suicide 5K and 1-mile run/ fun walk will begin at 9 a.m. at Spring Park. To help shine a light on the disease of depression, register for the run/ walk at www.robertelliottfdn.com.

Boot Scootin’ Bash and 5K Dash

WARD — A race benefiting Beyond Boundaries, an equine- assisted therapy center, will be held at 8 a.m. at Beyond Boundaries Arena, 2195 Peyton St. /Arkansas 319. The cost is $25 the day of the event. Fees include an event T-shirt, a gift bag and eligibility for division awards. For more information, contact Nikki Chumley at nchumley@ allied-therapy.com or visit beyondboundariesar.com.

Spaghetti Supper

QUITMAN — The Cove Creek/pearson Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will hold an all-you-can-eat Spaghetti Supper from 4 to 6 p.m. The station is on Arkansas 16 West between the Gateway Country Junction and Cove Creek Grocery. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 6 to 12. Children younger than 6 may eat free when accompanied by an adult. Vegetarian sauce is available upon request. Funds raised from the event will provide firefighting and safety equipment.

Iris Showcase

SEARCY — The White County Iris Society’s annual iris show, Iris Showcase, will take place Saturday in the lobby of White County Medical Center. Entries will be received from 7:30-9 a.m., judging will begin at 10 a.m., and the show will be open for public viewing from noon to 4 p.m. Local iris growers are urged to enter their blooms. For more information, call Marilee Coker at (501) 268-6851. CABOT — Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, at 4100 Arkansas 89 S. in Cabot, will celebrate 150 years as a congregation on Saturday and April 29. The celebration will begin Saturday with an afternoon of fun and fellowship, including activities for children and youth. A fish fry will begin at 4 p.m., with tickets $10 for ages 10 and older. Children younger than 10 may eat free. April 29 will begin with Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and a worship service at 10:45 a.m., followed by a potluck lunch at noon. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., there will be special singing, congregational singing, former ministers recalling memories of their years at Mount Tabor and a few surprises. Period dress (1862-1930) is encouraged for April 29’s events. For more information, call (501) 8431084.