Historic park’s Jonquil weekend welcomes arrival of spring
WASHINGTON, Ark.— Yellow flowers dancing in the breeze mark an annual rite of passage as we ease into spring.
The blooming of jonquils is celebrated here with the 49th annual Jonquil Festival at Historic Washington State Park today through Sunday. Arts and craft vendors, live music, the peaceful rural setting, food and more all add a distinctive feel to the celebration.
More than 100 booths and many historic buildings await state park visitors at the Jonquil Festival. Shelia Little, who works in sales and promotions at Historic Washington, says several new vendors are participating. The arts and crafts the festival is known for will be there, too, with lotions, soaps, candles, clothing, outdoor items, woodwork, jewelry and the like.
“As far as our music goes, we’re doing something different this year,” Little said.
New highlights include the young country musician John King performing at 11 a.m. Saturday, as well as a karaoke singing competition from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. that day. The Hope Evening Lions Club hosts a 5K run at 7 a.m. Saturday morning The Jonquil Festival always has music, but this time they’re including a musician who may appeal to a younger crowd, Little said.
Festivalgoers can tour the vendors and the various other historic sites in this 19th century restoration village. Tours take you to such places as the 1836 Courthouse, Royston Log Cabin, Sanders House, Block House, weapons museum, print museum, candle shop and blacksmith shop, all giving insight into life as it was lived more than 100 years ago. Tour sites are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visitors can even be driven around the town in an old-fashioned manner.
“We have surrey rides like we usually do,” Little said. They’re $3 per person.
An early version of baseball
called townball will be played at 2 p.m. Sunday across from the 1836 Courthouse. Other musicians scheduled to perform include Jerome Underwood, Mark Keith, Wendell Randall and, on Sunday, both Harmony Band and Common Grounds.
The Four States Iron Munchers will attend through the weekend, as will the Rusty Wheels Antique Engine and Tractor Club and TexArk Antique Automobile Club on Saturday.
As for the jonquils, some have come and gone but others are still arriving in all their floral glory.
“They’re still blooming. There’s still some jonquils out there. I guess the cool weather has kept some of them around,” said Little, who’s seen them bloom as early as New Year’s Day before. They’re OK with the cooler weather more than the warmth, she said. “It could snow on them and they’ll bounce right back.”
Both the Hope Evening Lions Club 5K run and the Jonquil festival singing competition have Facebook event pages to sign up. Check out the Jonquil Festival Facebook page for more information.
(Admission: free. Guided museum tours are $9 for adults, $6 for children 6 to 12, free for ages 5 and under. The parking fee is $5. More info: 870-983-2684.)