November Events Taking Place in the Arkansas Ozarks

Jill M. Rohrbach and Kimberly J. Williams, travel writers
Arkansas Tourism

In order to better serve your needs and to keep you from getting extremely long documents from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, we have decided to break down our Travelin’ Arkansas release into regions organized by date. This way you will be able to look only at the areas you are interested in covering. The territories covered in Travelin' Arkansas adhere to the six geographical regions found in the Arkansas Tour Guide. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions: communications@arkansas.com or 501-682-7606.

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The 63rd annual Original Ozark Folk Festival, one of the oldest continuously running folk festivals in the country, takes place Nov. 4-7 in Eureka Springs. Nationally known headliners perform in The Auditorium and at venues around town, plus there is free music in Basin Spring Park. This year's Ozark Folk Festival has been named a Top 20 Event of the Year by the Southeast Tourism Society. The annual Folk Festival parade begins at 2 p.m. on Nov. 6 and winds through the historic downtown. A Barefoot Ball is also planned. Call 866-947-4387 or visit www.eurekasprings.org for more information.

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The 540 Film Fest takes place Nov. 4-7 in downtown Fayetteville. It features films, documentaries, shorts, and student films as well as musical performances and education workshops. Call 479-521-5776 for details.

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You’ll find music, dancing, a quilt show, a ham and bean supper, hayrides, a costume contest, a variety of vendors and a community song service at the 8th annual Foothills Celebration in Black Rock. The event takes place Nov. 5-7 along Main Street. For more information, phone 870-878-6639.

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The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale will offer The Mountain Dulcimer in the Ozarks workshop on Nov. 6. This hands-on course taught by Bob Madison covers dulcimer origins, repertoire, and its migration to Arkansas. Participants have an opportunity to learn the “noter and drone style” of playing. The class begins at 10 a.m. and admission is free. Call 479-750-8165 for details.

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Don't miss the FASHIONating History Vintage Fashion Show and Luncheon on Nov. 6 in Cherokee Village. This special show provides a unique look at the reasons and ways women have decorated and dressed themselves for centuries. The show incorporates a fun and fact-filled commentary with live models and music. The models present authentic vintage clothing with some reproductions of period costumes of the Victorian, Edwardian, and Renaissance eras and the 1920s through 1940s in America. The event takes place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center on Iroquois Drive. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. It is a charitable fundraiser for the American Veterans Memorial Site located in Ash Flat. Call 870-257-2511 for more information.

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The Old Independence Regional Museum in Batesville offers Handmade Treasures: Christmas Gift Workshop on Nov. 6. The event features traditional Christmas crafts and gifts, all made by hand, and the history behind the items. Participants will make several projects to take home. Reservations are required. Log on to www.OIRM.org or call 870-793-2121 for details.

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Just in time for cooler weather, Davidsonville Historic State Park in Pocahontas offers Chili and Cornbread: A Dutch Oven Workshop on Nov. 6. Learn how to make two wonderful winter dishes, chili and cornbread, in a whole new way – in a Dutch oven. Participants will also learn how to care for the cookware to make it last through the generations. Admission is $40 and includes a Dutch oven to take home. Visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com or contact Davidsonville Historic State Park at 870-892-4708 for details.

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Enjoy the Eagle Watch Cruise on Beaver Lake departing Nov. 6, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21, 26, 27, and 28 from the Rocky Branch Recreation Area in Rogers. An interpretive guide from Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area will point out signs of eagles during the tour of the Van Winkle arm of the lake. Pre-registration and payment is required. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 12. Buy your tickets at the park visitor center front desk or call 479-789-5000. Dress for the weather.

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Hardy’s historic gym will be filled to capacity with dealers from across the Ozarks on Nov. 6-7 for the annual Fall Gun & Knife Show. This has proven to be a big event for those interested in buying, selling, or trading new guns, old guns, Civil War memorabilia, handmade turkey calls, and more. Admission is $3 for adults. Call 870-856-3571 for details.

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A celebration of Tontitown's Italian heritage, the 9th annual Polenta Smear takes place Nov. 7. The event is co-sponsored by the Tontitown Historical Museum and the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. Admission is free and activities take place at the St. Joseph Parish Hall. Call 479-750-8165 or visit www.springdalear.gov/shiloh for more information.

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Bull Shoals-White River State Park in Bull Shoals offers a "How to Raise a Wild Child" workshop on Nov. 7-8. If you have ever wanted to have your family more involved in the outdoors, but weren't sure where to start, this workshop is for you. Families can explore and learn together what it means to live a life close to nature. Park staff will provide sessions on dealing with the "ick" factor, packing and planning for a family campout, cooking outdoors, tips on hiking with kids, and more. Contact the park at 870-445-3629 for registration forms and details. Find out more about the park at www.arkansasstateparks.com/bullshoalswhiteriver.

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The Eureka Springs School of the Arts offers a one-day seminar, Building a Successful Career as an Artist, on Nov. 10 as part of its fall workshop series. It is taught by Susan Morrison, Larry Mansker, and Al Hooks. Register online at www.esartschool.org or by calling 479-253-5384. The school is located on U.S. 62 west of Eureka Springs.

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Mountain View’s annual Fall Bluegrass Festival is Nov. 11-13. This twice-annual event is held at the Ozark Folk Center and is sponsored by the Mountain View Blue Grass Association. Contact the Mountain View Bluegrass Association for tickets and a complete list of performers. Visit www.MountainView-Bluegrass.com or call 870-269-2542 for additional information.

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Held at the Baxter County Fairgrounds, the 30th annual Craftsfest takes place Nov. 12-13 in Mountain Home. Covering all mediums, only handcrafted items are sold. There will be refreshments, a juried art show, and drawings for gift certificates. Admission is free. Call 870-425-0777 for details.

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The Eureka Springs Food and Wine Weekend takes place Nov. 12-14 throughout the town. Participating restaurants and businesses celebrate with food and wine pairings. Visit www.eurekaspringsfoodandwineweekend.com or call 866-947-4387 for more information.

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A Walks through History Tour of "Stoneflower" is set for 11 a.m. on Nov. 13 in Heber Springs. The Walks through History Tour series features historic sites or districts around Arkansas each month. Tours last about one to two hours. A historian delivers a lecture about the properties while leading guests through the area. Admission is free. Visit www.arkansaspreservation.org or phone 501-324-9880 for details.

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Without handheld GPS devices, cell phones and two-way radios, could you last in the great outdoors? Find out as Davidsonville Historic State Park in Pocahontas hosts a Surviving in the Wilderness workshop on Nov. 13. Participants will learn to build a shelter out of debris, locate north using only the shadow of a twig and other techniques to survive Mother Nature. Reservations are required and admission is $15. Contact the park at 870-892-4708 for more information.

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Powhatan Historic State Park in Powhatan offers Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble: A Soapmaking Workshop on Nov. 13. Participants learn the art of making soap using the cold-process method – it’s not as hard as you would think! Once you master this skill of bygone times, you’ll never have to buy soap again. Registrants will receive soap recipes and bars of homemade soap. Class size is limited and reservations are suggested. Admission is $20 and participants will need to bring protective clothing. To make reservations or for more information, visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com or contact Powhatan Historic State Park at 870-878-6765.

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Learn the history of an item we all take for granted as the Old Independence Regional Museum in Batesville offers “Hello Central: Stories of the Telephone” on Nov. 14. Guest speaker Eloise Bell of Newark will discuss the history of the telephone system, from switchboards to party lines. Contact the museum at 870-793-2121 for details.

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The 10th annual 2010 Super Car Cruise, set for Nov. 19-21, takes place at Cash’s White River Hoedown in Mountain View. A fun weekend for car enthusiasts, the event includes a two-hour cruise that starts at 10 a.m. from the Hoedown. At 7 p.m. is the music show of 50s and 60s favorites. The cost is $10 per car entry. Visit www.whiteriverhoedown.com or call 870-664-0196 for details.

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Eureka Springs Pantaloons and Painted Ladies Victorian Festival takes place throughout the town of Eureka Springs on Nov. 19-21. Activities will include teas, tours, and elegant dinners featured in Victorian homes and businesses. Admission is free. Visit www.eurekasprings.org for more information or call 870-423-1961.

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Music in the Mountains is a music and variety show held the third Saturday of each month at the Horseshoe Bend Theatre. The Nov. 20 performance will be the annual Veteran’s Show. Donations are accepted and concessions are available. Visit www.myspace.com/musicinthemountainshsb or call 870-373-3303 for details.

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The 22nd annual Eureka Springs Fall Antique Show and Sale on Nov. 20 is host to 57 dealers from 14 states. The variety of items sold include the smallest thimble to the largest armoire. There is also glassware, silver, books, linens, primitives, vintage clothing, kitchen ware, art, jewelry, pottery, toys, china, and more. The event takes place at the Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center. Admission is $2.50. Visit www.eurekaspringsantiqueshows.com or call 479-253-7551 for more information.

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Take a step back in time as you learn to make your own lead sinkers and non-toxic tin soldiers when Lake Charles State Park in Powhatan hosts a Tin Soldiers and Lead Sinkers workshop on Nov. 20. Participants will learn about low melting point alloys, warming molds and how to locate molds and materials. At the conclusion of the workshop, each participant will take home a pound of sinkers and three tin soldiers. Registration is required. Visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com or phone 870-878-6595 for details.

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Celebrate the holiday season as Jacksonport State Park in Newport holds the annual Holiday Gala Ball on Nov. 20. Experience the 1860s and 1870s as partygoers don period costumes. Enjoy live music and ballroom dancing instructions all in a beautifully decorated courtroom. For more information visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com or contact Jacksonport State Park at 870-523-2143.