Events for the 78th Annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest and Wings Over the Prairie Festival Start Saturday

The 78th annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest and Wings Over the Prairie Festival in Stuttgart officially begins on Saturday. The event is one of the biggest and best festivals in the Arkansas Delta, and thousands from across the country flock to Stuttgart. This year’s festival runs from Saturday, Nov. 23, through Saturday, Nov. 30.

The first event, the Ducks Widows Tennis Tournament at John Cain Park, takes place Saturday, Nov. 23, at 8 a.m. Later that evening, it’s the Queen Mallard and Junior Queen Mallard pageants at the Grand Prairie Center.

Sunday, Nov. 24, is the Wings Over the Prairie Festival open house at businesses throughout the downtown shopping district from 1-4 p.m.

On Wednesday, Nov. 27, it’s the opening of the festival carnival and midway. The fun kicks off at 3:30 p.m. along Main Street and it’s Armband Day! The youth duck calling contest, featuring Butch Richenback, begins at 6 p.m. on the Stuttgart Stage, located on Main Street.

On Thanksgiving Day, the carnival and midway opens at 1 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m. on Main Street.

Friday, Nov. 29, registration opens for all the festival contests at 8 a.m. The children’s duck calling classes (for youngsters ages 4-8) begin at 10 a.m., which is also the time the carnival and midway, the arts and crafts fair, the commercial exhibits, the sports collectibles show and the outdoor exhibits open to the public. The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest, open to any high school senior, starts at 11 a.m. The other duck calling contests begin at 1 p.m. and are held throughout the day. The sportsman’s party begins at 8 p.m. at the Grand Prairie Center and features the Big Stack Band.

The annual Great 10K Duck Race begins Saturday’s activities at 8 a.m. Events and exhibits, such as the carnival, arts and crafts fair, sports collectibles show, outdoor exhibits, and commercial exhibits, open at 9 a.m. The Junior World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest begins at 9 a.m., followed by the Senior World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m., it’s the start of the World Championship Duck Gumbo Cook-off on Park Avenue and the Women’s World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest on Main Street. The Main Street Stage is the site for the 78th annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest at 2 p.m.

To find out more and to see a detailed event listing, click here.