The 19th SouthArk Outdoor Expo is set for Sept. 9
For the 19th time, the SouthArk Outdoor Expo will bring area festival-goers a day of exhibits, arts and crafts, live music, contests and, of course, outdoors-themed entertainment.
The event, which will be held Sept. 9 at the El Dorado Conference Center, also will feature some new activities this year.
A project of the SouthArk Foundation, which supports South Arkansas Community College endeavors and provides a wide range of privately-funded scholarships, the Outdoor Expo is the nonprofit’s largest fundraiser, having brought in more than $500,000 in its history. It is presented this year by Apex Redi-Mixed Concrete.
“The SouthArk Outdoor Expo is a great community and college event,” said Greg Withrow, event chair. “We are proud and honored that Apex is sponsoring the Outdoor Expo. They are dedicated to education and providing support to our community.”
Admission to the event is one canned or packaged food item, which will be donated to InterFaith Help Services in El Dorado.
The day will begin with the Nexans AmerCable Maj. Ronald Wayne Culver Hero 5K Run-Walk at 7:30 a.m. Winners will be announced at 8:30 a.m. at the outdoor stage, and the Outdoor Expo’s opening ceremony will follow.
Live music will carry on at the stage throughout the day, with appearances by Missouri country act Back Road Story at 9 a.m. and Arkansas cover band Aces Wild at 12:30 p.m.
Additionally, the children’s musical duo of Brian and Terri Kinder will perform at 10 a.m., as part of a wider attraction for youngsters that also will have a BB-gun shooting range, face painting, inflatables, appearances by Smokey the Bear, hula hooping and more.
The El Dorado Chemical Rib Cook-Off will start in the morning and run as a
backdrop to all of the day’s activities. The winning team will receive $2,000, with cash prizes in several other categories. The ribs submitted as contest entries are available for purchase in advance for $20; details are available on the Outdoor Expo website.
An outdoor photograph contest again will be held in conjunction with the event, with cash prizes in four different categories and a $200 top prize. All entries will be displayed in the concourse of the conference center on the day of the event.
For the first time, the Outdoor Expo also will include a dog show, the Union County Animal Protection Society Dog Bowl, which will start at 11 a.m.
Other attractions will include a number of food trucks, a chainsaw woodcarver, tips on fall gardening, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce’s mobile Be Pro Be Proud unit and information about safe hunting and boating. In total there will be more than 70 exhibitors and vendors on hand.
“The Outdoor Expo has something for everyone of all ages,” SouthArk President Barbara Jones said. “Our foundation’s board of directors works hard to make a great family-centered festival that provides fun activities, outstanding live music, great food and lots of opportunities to win cash prizes in all our contests.”
More information about all of the day’s features, including contest registration information, is at southarkexpo.com.