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

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. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions: communications@arkansas.com or 501-682-7606.

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Carol Dickie and Kathryn Semolic are among the artists selected to participate in the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute’s 4th annual Arts in the Air Professional Art Exhibit and Sale May 2-25.

Chosen exhibitors are professional artists who currently reside or were born in Arkansas. The show is designed to celebrate the creativity and originality of Arkansas' artists. It also serves as a fundraiser for the Institute's student art education programs. The Institute is located on Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. For more information, visit www.uawri.org or phone 501-727-6220.

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The 31st annual Springtime Gala in Altus will be May 2 in the city park. Activities include a 5K run and fun walk, arts and crafts show, live entertainment, games, antique car and truck show, food booths, Prince and Princess contest and more. Admission is free. For more information, phone 479-468-4684.

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The 20th annual Yell Fest will be May 8-9 in Riverfront Park in Dardanelle. Activities for the event will include a carnival, 5K run, craft booths, food booths, antique car show, ugly dog contest, fireworks, horseshoe tournament, rock climbing wall, local musical entertainment, yelling contest, Little Miss and Mister pageant, and kids games. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.dardanellechamber.com or phone 479-229-3328.

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The 19th annual Wal-Mart CMN Buddy Bass Tournament is set for May 9 at Lake Dardanelle State Park in Russellville. This benefit tournament is sponsored by Wal-Mart Distribution Center 6007 in Fort Smith. Proceeds go to the Children's Miracle Network benefiting the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. In 2008, 165 boats participated and helped raise $6,000. For more information, phone 479-452-4143.

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“Summer Fare” is the topic for the Second Saturday Chef’s Series on May 9 at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. Participants will learn how to prepare delicious and refreshing summer food – be it a cold soup, great salad or tangy barbecue. The cost of the class is $69. For more information on the class or lodging, visit www.uawri.org or phone 501-727-6220.

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The Old Timers’ Day Arts and Crafts Festival in Van Buren will be May 9-10 on the historic Main Street. Six blocks of Van Buren’s Main Street will be closed to traffic to provide space for more than 200 exhibitors from seven states. A children’s carnival and variety of food and entertainment will be available. The event will be held rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.vanburen.org or phone 479-410-3026.

Also in Van Buren on May 23 will be a Pioneer Days Parade. The parade will consist of local riding clubs and will begin at the Crawford County courthouse at 1 p.m. For more information, phone 479-474-0990.

Another fair, the Crawford County Arts and Crafts Festival, will take place May 23-25 at Lake Lou Emma Park in Van Buren. More than 50 vendors from a three state area will sell their wares. There will also be a carnival for kids. The fair will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday. For more information, visit the Van Buren Web site or phone 479-474-8322.

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The 18th annual Picklefest will take place May 15-16 in downtown Atkins. As always, pickle eating and pickle juice drinking contests will be highlights of the festival. Crafts and commercial vendors will be on hand to sell their wares. Entertainment will include musical performances on the main stage, antique tractor pull, rodeo parade and games for kids and adults. On May 14, the night before the festival begins, the Little Mister Dill and Little Miss Sweet Pickle pageant will take place at 6:30 at the Atkins Middle School Auditorium. For information on the pageant, phone 479-970-5801. For information on Picklefest, email chuckcolflesh@hotmail.com or phone 479-858-1320.

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Motorcyclists will ride from Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Mena to Mount Magazine State Park near Paris in the Peak to Peak Poker Run set for May 30. The winding route through the mountains will take participants from the state’s second highest peak to its highest.

Bikers will leave Queen Wilhelmina beginning at 9 a.m. picking up five beads at check points along the way. At the end of the route they will trade their beads for real cards and a chance to win prizes based on their poker hand. All poker hands must be drawn by 4 p.m. at the final check-in point at Mount Magazine. Prizes will include $500 for the best poker hand, and $200 for the second best hand. Other card hands will win a one-night stay at Queen Wilhelmina State Park or Mount Magazine State Park.

The registration fee is $20 for one rider and $10 for an additional passenger. Included in the fee will be a T-shirt and goody bag. Route maps will be provided at registration. For more information, phone 800-264-2477.