Springtime festivals abound throughout Arkansas
Springtime is prime time for festivals in Arkansas. Following the bevy of special events focused on the solar eclipse, annual celebrations are scheduled in communities across the state on most weekends until summer arrives.
This sampler of festivals extends through spring’s official end on June 19. Admission to the sites is usually free. In some cases, there is a charge for parking or attending concerts and other entertainment. More details on these and other festivals are available at arkansas.com/events.
Lanterns 2024, Thursday-Saturday, Little Rock, wildwoodpark.org.
Wildwood Park is the setting for the sylvan site’s main fundraiser, decorated with lighted candles along Swan Lake’s shore. A musical variety stage show takes place each evening. There is a ticket discount for early purchase online. Arkansas Folk Festival, Friday-Saturday, Mountain View, mountainviewarkansas.com.
This event’s 62nd year promises “mountain folk music being played on fiddles, banjos, standup bass, guitars, dulcimers, maybe even on a washboard.” The main stage operates in front of the Stone County Courthouse. Visitors to Ozark Folk Center State Park can watch artisans at work and buy their wares.
James Black Bowie Heritage Festival,
Saturday, Washington, uaht.edu/ news/bowie-festival-2024.php.
This third annual event celebrates James Black, who forged the first Bowie knife for James Bowie. The city of Washington is co-sponsor along with Historic Washington State Park and the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Foundation.
Fordyce on the Cotton Belt, Saturday-April 27, Fordyce, fordyceonthecottonbeltfestival.com.
The era when Cotton Belt passenger trains crisscrossed Arkansas will be remembered at this 43rd yearly festival. Scheduled to wrap up 10 days of varied activi
ties is the April 27 parade. Dogwood Festival, April 26-28, Siloam Springs, siloamchamber.com/dogwood-festival.
The allure of blossoming dogwood trees sets the theme for a festival that offers 200-plus crafts booths. A vast range of tastes can be satisfied with food that includes smoked chicken dinners, alligator-on-a-stick, fried green tomatoes, gumbo, bread pudding and homemade root beer.
Arts and the Park, April 26May 5, hotspringsarts.org/ arts-the-park.
Ten days of indoor and outdoor cultural events in the Spa City carry the theme “Celebrate Imagination.” Opening the festival will be Art Moves, exhibiting 20 original works reproduced on metal sheets. Featured on the final day, May 5, will be the grand opening of the Hot Springs Music Trail.
Cabot Strawberry Festival, May 2-4, Cabot, jacabot.com/ strawberry-fest.php.
Downtown Cabot is the venue for celebrating the luscious springtime berries grown in surrounding Lonoke County fields. Shortcake is a crowd favorite among the berry-focused fare on the menu. A carnival and a play zone for youngsters add to the fun.
World Famous Armadillo Festival, May 2-4, Hamburg, hamburgchamber.com. Races by armadillos during this yearly happening in the Ashley County seat promise lots of fun, though no parimutuel betting. A separate competition tests the jumping skills of frogs.
Arkansas Pottery Festival, May 3-5, Fayetteville, experiencefayetteville.com.
Hosted by Community Creative Center, the festival’s programs take place at sites in and around Fayetteville. Demonstrations by nationally known artists are scheduled, along with an exhibition and sale by more than 50 potters from around Arkansas.
Toad Suck Daze, May 3-5, Conway, toadsuck.org.
Highlighting one of Arkansas’ best-known festivals is competition among jumping toads, some coached by boys and girls. The odd name is said to date back nearly two centuries to an era when locals ridiculed the riverboat crews quaffing their grog at local taverns as “toad sucks.” 501 Fest, May 4, Little Rock.
Named for Arkansas’ original statewide area code, 501 Fest takes place mainly along the SoMa business strip of Main Street, south of I-630. The attractions, billed as a community celebration, include musicians and food trucks.
Old Timer’s Day Steam-Punk Festival, May 11-12, Van Buren, vanburenchamber.org/events.
An online explanation of “steam-punk” reports that it “consists of elements of steam power, gears and wheels — with a backdrop of Victorian England or America’s Wild West.” Performers include “pop-up acts, stilt walkers, fire breathers, sword swallowers and acrobats.”
Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cookoff, Magnolia, May 17-18, blossomfestival.org.
The scent of magnolias will be joined on May 18 by the aroma of ribeye steaks as chefs compete for red-meat trophies. Before the grilling starts, the parade of cookers will warm up the audience. Earlier on May 18, fish are on the agenda during the Tom Dehoney Memorial Big Bass Tournament.
Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival, Warren, June 14-15, pinktomatofestival.com.
One of Arkansas’ oldest festivals will mark its 68th anniversary in mid-June. An evening street dance is a longtime tradition. The tomato-eating contest, a juicy competition, sometimes lures local and state politicians, more often during election years.