Travelin’ the Arkansas Ouachitas: Events Taking Place During March

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Zoie Clift, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Note to the Print and Broadcast Media:

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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Gallery Walk is set for March 5 in Hot Springs. Stroll downtown and enjoy contemporary art in America. The art galleries stay open until 9 p.m. often with music and refreshments. For more details visit www.hotsprings.org or call 501-624-0550.

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The 19th annual Miller-Bowie Quilt Show is scheduled for March 5 in Texarkana at the Four States Fairground. More than 200 quilts of various shapes and sizes will be on hand. Also at the event will be a silent auction of miniature quilts, a boutique featuring quilted items for sale, door prizes and vendors from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Missouri. More details can be found by calling 903-276-0030.

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Trail Care Day at Lake Ouachita State Park in Mountain Pine happens March 6. On this day, the park welcomes individuals or organizations wishing to assist in maintaining the trails. Contact the park for further details at 501-767-9366.

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Conservation Day is March 6 in Wickes at the Visitor Center of Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area. Several organizations have booths set up and supplied with information on how to conserve our natural resources. A small trail with wildlife stations equipped with exhibits and programs is also available to explore. Some of the organizations signed on include the Arkansas Rural Water Association, Arkansas Forestry Commission, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Arkansas Geological Survey, and Keep Arkansas Beautiful. Call 870-385-2201 for more information.

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The Sun Belt Conference Basketball Tournament is set for March 6-9 at the Summit Arena in Hot Springs. More details can be found at www.hotsprings.org or 501-321-2277.

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March 9 is the date for Tuesday Tea Series at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. Enjoy traditional English tea, scones, crumpets, sandwiches, and desserts at 3 p.m. in the Pratt Welcome Center or on the veranda, weather permitting. More information at 501-262-9300.

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Learn about the bats of Arkansas and their benefits during Bat House Workshop March 13 at Mountain Pine at Lake Ouachita State Park. Participants build their own bat house to take home. Reservations are required and space is limited. Admission is $25. For more details call the park at 501-767-9366.

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Learn that constant number Pi = 3.14 and find out why it is celebrated on March 14th every year during Pi Day in Hot Springs at Mid-America Science Museum. Discover why this number is considered to be mysterious and fascinating to some mathematicians. For more information, visit www.midamericamuseum.org or call the museum at 501-767-3461.

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Come see the First Ever 7th annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17 in Hot Springs. Bo Derek is this year's Grand Marshall. The event takes place on Bridge Street. For more details, visit www.hotsprings.org or call 501-321-2277.

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Geocaching 101 is set for March 20 in Mountain Pine at Lake Ouachita State Park. Geocaching is a family-friendly activity using GPS units. Learn the basics of geocaching with a park interpreter using the park's GPS units or bring your own. Then embark on a journey in search of a hidden cache with only the coordinates of its location to guide you. For more information call 501-767-9366.

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Join a park interpreter aboard a tour boat to explore the night sky over Lake Ouachita in Mountain Pine during a Starlight Lake Tour March 20 and 27 at Lake Ouachita State Park. If interested, tickets can be purchased at the visitor center. More information can be found by calling 501-767-9366.

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Lake Ouachita’s immense size, shoreline, and numerous islands provide scenery that can be found nowhere else in the state. Enjoy a lake tour aboard a covered tour boat March 22, 24 and 26 during a Scenic Lake Tour at Lake Ouachita State Park in Mountain Pine. A park interpreter is your pilot and guide as you explore the history, geology, and wildlife found along the shore. Space is limited. Make reservations at the visitor center and meet at the marina. More details can be found by calling 501-767-9366.

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Performances of The Deal and The Descent are scheduled for March 25-28 in Hot Springs at The Pocket Community Theatre. The production is a film-noir style crime drama starring Charlie Cooke, a gritty detective who strives to find veracity in a crooked city. Throughout, he struggles with dames, deals, deaths, and deuces. Periodically, he conveys these conflicts through narration. Tickets are $10 and the theatre is located at 170 Ravine Street. For more details check out www.pockettheatre.com or call 501-802-3696.

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Anglers compete for hourly payouts as well as an overall payout for the top three big bass during the Dierks Chamber of Commerce Big Bass Tournament March 27 at Dierks Lake. An optional stringer category is also offered. More details at www.dierkschamberofcommerce.com or 870-286-3163.

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The Wal-Mart BFL All American takes place on March 27-29 at DeGray Lake in Bismarck. The All-American, in conjunction with the Wal-Mart FLW Tour qualifying event, will feature a Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show at Summit Arena in Hot Springs. Call 270-252-1000 for more information.

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Garvan Woodland Gardens is a kaleidoscope of color during Tulip Extravaganza on March 22-April 11. Over 101,000 tulips will co-mingle with the wooded landscape and present an impressive floral display. Sharing center stage with the tulips will be thousands of dogwood trees and hundreds of azalea bushes. Open daily 9am - 6pm. Regular admission applies. More details at 501-262-9300.

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Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com

May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"