Travelin’ the Arkansas River Valley: Events Taking Place During July

Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
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 Commemoration of Execution program at the Fort Smith National Historic Site in Fort Smith will be July 1. A discussion will be on the execution of the Rufus Buck Gang, which consisted of Rufus Buck, Lewis Davis, Lucky Davis, Maoma July and Sam Sampson.

The site holds a program on each day that a hanging occurred. A noose is hung on the gallows at the historic site to represent how many were executed on those days. Other commemorations during the month will be: Gus Bogles on July 6; John Stansberry on July 9; John Davis, Thomas Thompson and Jack Womankiller on July 11; Calving James and Lincoln Sprole on July 23; Lewis Holder on July 25; and George Wilson, alias James Casherago, on July 30. The programs will take place at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on each date.

The ever-popular Night Court event will take place at the historic site on July 17-18. Using transcripts from an actual trial, the trial is recreated in the courtroom of Judge Issac Parker with audience members rendering the verdict. Admission is $5.

For more information on these programs, visit www.nps.gov/fosm or phone 479-783-3961.

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Bountiful Arkansas Day will be July 11 at Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. Attendees can celebrate Arkansas’s local foods and enjoy tasting and learning about locally grown Arkansas produce. For more information, visit www.uawri.org or phone 501-727-5435.

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The 26th annual Altus Grapefest will be July 24-25. Join the wine country region in celebrating Altus’ annual grape harvest by visiting the wineries for tastings. Festivities in the city park will include food, crafts, rides, wine and juice tasting, grape stomps, Baccus look-alike contest, music and games. For more information, phone 479-468-4684.