Village is selected to host inaugural Arkansas Heritage Festival in August
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The Lifelong Learning Institute of Hot Springs Village has earned “a major accolade” for the Village by being awarded a grant from the Arkansas Department of Heritage to host the inaugural Arkansas Heritage Festival at Ponce Center Aug. 27-28.
The event is co-sponsored by the Hot Springs Village POA. It will include arts and crafts as well as Arkansas history, culture, and entertainment. Sites around Ponce Center will include Woodlands auditorium, Grove Park, the porte-cochere, and tents in the parking lots, a news release said.
“The event is all the things that are Arkansas, including things like hunting and fishing. We might even have a duck-calling contest,” LLI Director Larry Wilson said in the release.
Wilson, a retired Arkansas history teacher, said he understands the importance of recognizing the state’s heritage in all its forms, “especially in challenging times. The event will be held in whatever format is safe in August, with a combination of indoor, outdoor, and virtual being planned,” the release said.
Wilson also said he feels holding the festival in the Village is a “good fit for the general public from around Arkansas as well as students and teachers.”
“We are really excited to add this event to our yearly calendar. It will be great for Villagers and people from around the state to learn more about Arkansas heritage right here in Hot Springs Village,” said Terry Wiley, HSV Parks and Recreation manager.
Along with Wilson and Wiley, members of the festival committee include Amy Thomason, Susan McCarty, Melanie Pederson and Nancy Hendricks.
Portions of the event will be captured on video, which can then be “disseminated all across the state to show we are proud of Arkansas heritage and have a lot to be proud of,” Wilson said, adding that more information on presenters, special events, and vendor booths will be available as the event approaches.
The Lifelong Learning Institute of Hot Springs Village provides “informative, entertaining programs for Villagers.” Visit https://www.hsvlli.org/ for more information.