Growing celebrations

Arkansas festivals highlight agriculture in state

From four-legged critters to sweet berries, Arkansas has a vast tradition of agriculture. With hundreds of festivals across the state each year, there are many ways to see, smell and taste the great stuff that is grown by the farmers of Arkansas. The following are just a few of the state’s festivals that celebrate Arkansas’ agricultural heritage.

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To help promote local strawberry growers, the Junior Auxiliary of Cabot puts on the Cabot Strawberry Festival each year. Visitors can find food trucks, carnival rides, live entertainment and much more. For more information and 2019 dates, visit jacabot.com.

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Things get a little sour in Atkins each year during the town’s annual Picklefest. The festival started in 1945, when the Goldsmith Pickle Co. invested $75,000 to build a pickle plant in the city. The festival is filled with popular events such as the Mr. Dill Pickle and Miss Sweet Pickle pageants, the pickle-juice drinking and pickle-eating contests, food and craft vendors, and a rodeo. For more information and 2019 dates, visit www.peopleforabetteratkins.org.

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Entering its 63rd year in 2019, the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival was a finalist in the 2018 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame. Guests at the event last year enjoyed entertainment from The Bellamy Brothers and Mark Chesnutt. Other events included a quilt show, turtle races, a tomato-packing contest and a cutest-baby contest. For more information, visit www.pink tomatofestival.com.

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A tribute to “the one major delicacy grown in every local backyard garden of any worth,” the Purple Hull Pea Festival was the creation of Emerson resident Glen Eades. The festival’s claim to fame is the World Championship Rotary Tiller Race, where participants drive their trusty tillers through a dirt field. Those attending the festival will also find vendors, arts and crafts, and much more. For more information, visit purple hull.com.

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From rind to seed, watermelon is a big treat during summer months, and the Hope Watermelon Festival draws thousands to the city each year. The event was started in 1977 and features arts and crafts, food, entertainment and more. The Event includes the Watermelon5KRun/Walk,theWatermelon Idol singing contest, a Baggo tournament and a car show. For more information, visit www.hope watermelonfest.com.

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One of Arkansas’ newest festivals, the Arkansas Goat Festival, celebrates goats of all shapes and sizes. With a goat fashion show, a goat talent contest and vendors selling a variety of goat-themed products, this festival has become a popular attraction. Dates for the 2019 event have not been announced. Formoreinformation,visitwww.arkansas goatfestival.com.

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Each October, cooking teams descend on Mountain View for the city’s annual Bean Fest. More than 2,000 pounds of beans are cooked on the Mountain View Square. In addition to the cooking contest, the weekend festival is filled with live music, handmade goods, vendors and the running of the World Championship Outhouse Races. For more information, visit www.your placeinthemountains.com.

ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTOS LEFT: Cody Fuller of Emerson races down the track during the men’s modified finals of the World Championship Tiller Races during the 2018 Purple Hull Pea Festival in Emerson. Fuller won the race and the championship. RIGHT: Outhouse racers head toward the finish line at the 36th annual Arkansas Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races in Mountain View.

ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTOS LEFT: Miller Crosby of Ferndale feeds his goat, Pebbles, a chip from his nachos during the Arkansas Goat Festival in Perryville. RIGHT: Riders look out over the midway while riding the Ferris wheel during the Cabot Strawberry Festival in downtown Cabot.