Travelin’ the Ozarks: Events Taking Place During September

Kimberly J. Williams and Jill M. Rohrbach, 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 85th annual Randolph County Fair and Livestock Show will be held at the Fairgrounds in Pocahontas on Sept. 1-5. The fair kicks off Tuesday evening with a parade and offers exhibits, concessions, cattle judging, livestock, a rodeo, and carnival rides. For more information phone 870-892-3202.

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Searcy’s Performing Arts Center on the Square will present a production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play You Can’t Take it With You from Sept. 3-20. Written by George F. Kaufman and Moss Hart, the comedy focuses on the Sycamore and Kirby families. Ticket prices range from $16-27 and include dinner and the show. Log on to www.CenterontheSquare.org or call 501-368-0111 for more details.

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The 33rd annual Banjo Rally International will take place Sept. 4-5 in Eureka Springs. There will be jam sessions and workshops each day as well as nightly concerts by some of the finest jazz/banjo bands and soloists in the industry. Admission is $5 per day and the event will be held at the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks. For more information phone 937-207-9062. Also in Eureka Springs, the annual Ozark Mountain Gospel Fest will be Sept. 11-13. Admission is free to most of the concerts. For more information visit www.eurekaspringschamber.com or phone 800-638-7352.

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A popular and unique event in The Natural State, the 24th annual National Championship Chuckwagon Races will be Sept. 4-6 in Clinton. In addition to chuckwagon races, there will be a Snowy River race, bronc fanning, camping, trail rides, horseback activities, concerts, Western trade show, clinics, and non-denominational church services. For more information visit www.chuckwagonraces.com or phone 501-745-8407.

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Explore the river during White River Days at Bull Shoals-White River State Park in Bull Shoals on Sept. 4-7. The weekend’s events will focus on the ecology, history, and prehistory of the area. Attendees will also be able to take part in guided canoe, kayak, and johnboat floats. For more information phone 870-445-3629.

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The Cox Communication community concert, Collin Raye and Restless Heart, will be held at The Arkansas Music Pavilion on Sept. 5 in Fayetteville. The event will be free for general admission with special tickets available for purchase to benefit the Jones Center for Families and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Arkansas. For more information visit www.arkansasmusicpavilion.com or phone 479-521-5787.

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One of the most popular regional events held at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Prairie Grove, the 58th annual Prairie Grove Clothesline Fair, will take place Sept. 5-7. It will feature all hand-crafted items, an antique farm equipment parade, square dancing competition, and Little Miss Clothespin Pageant. More than 200 craft vendors from Arkansas and surrounding states will show their wares. For more information phone 479-846-2990.

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The 39th annual Antique Automobile Festival will be Sept. 11-13 in Eureka Springs. Hundreds of vintage classics will compete for prizes and trophies. The festival includes a car show and the 1922 Bank Robbery Re-enactment after the parade. Visit www.eurekaspringschamber.com or phone 800-638-7352 for more information.

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The Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour's official stop in Arkansas returns to Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers on Sept. 7-13 for the P&G Beauty Northwest Arkansas Championship. The world's best female golfers will compete over three days for the title. In addition expos, giveaways, and family-friendly activities will be offered. Proceeds benefit area charities. For more information, visit www.pgbeautychampionship.com or phone 479-715-6100.

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The Pinnacle Hills Art Festival will be Sept. 11-13 at Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall in Rogers. A juried show and sale, it presents fine artists from across the country in a street festival atmosphere. Musicians and performers will also entertain during the event. Admission and parking is free. For more information visit www.pinnaclehills.info or phone 479-899-6294.

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The 18th annual Tired Iron of the Ozarks Fall Show is set for Sept. 11-13 in Gentry. This is an antique tractor and engine show with exhibitions of old-time sawmilling and blacksmithing equipment, tractor pulls, farm implements, home-related antiques and more. RV parking is available. The show is located at 13302 Taylor Orchard Road. Admission is free. For more information visit www.tiredironoftheozarks.org or phone 479-524-0450.

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The annual Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship Race will be Sept. 11-13 at the Harrison Junior High School football field. The event will kick-off the first night at 7 p.m. with a balloon glow. Tethered rides will be offered throughout the weekend. For details visit www.harrison-chamber.com or phone 870-741-2659.

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Fayetteville will host Oktoberfest on Sept. 11-12 along Dickson Street in the city’s arts and entertainment district. The festival will include a brats cooking contest, home brew competition, barrel races, live music, and family activities. For more information, visit www.dicksonstoktoberfest.com or phone 800-766-4626.

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The 32nd Ozark Quilt Fair will be Sept. 12 at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale. Antique and contemporary quilts will be for show and for sale. Admission is free. Visit www.springdalear.gov or phone 479-750-8165 for more information.

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The 14th annual Arkansas State Championship Hillbilly Chili Cook-off will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 12 on the upper, lakeside area of the Bull Shoals-White River State Park in Bull Shoals. Chili cooks will compete for the Arkansas State Championship to advance to the International Chili Society World Championship. The event will include food vendors, exhibitors, crafters, and chili tasting as well as live entertainment throughout the day. For more information phone 870-445-4538.

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In its 4th year, the annual Grape Crush Festival will be Sept. 12 at Keels Creek Winery and Art Gallery in Eureka Springs. The event will include music, food, wine, and grape-related activities. Tours of the winery building, barrel room, and wine processing area will be provided. For more information visit www.keelscreek.com or phone 479-253-9463.

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Woodcarvers from all over Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas will converge on Eureka Springs for the 28th annual Woodcarvers Jamboree to be held at the Pine Mountain Village on Sept. 12-13. There will be carvings, wood burnings, and wood turnings of all types. The event is free to spectators. This year's show will feature a "People's Choice Competition," allowing visitors to vote for their favorite carving. Awards will be given for first, second and third place winners. For more information, contact Bill and Doris Payne by email at wudcrver@cox.net or by phone at 918-251-8734.

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The White County Fair Grounds in Searcy is the site for the 74th annual White County Fair on Sept. 14-19. This year’s fair features a horse and cattle show, demolition derby, live entertainment, exhibits, a variety of vendors, a bull ride, a rodeo, carnival rides, and goat and swine shows. Call 501-268-1568 for more information.

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The 29th annual Maynard Pioneer Days will be held in Maynard at Maynard Pioneer Park on Sept. 16-19. The event features entertainment, live music, great food, and a pioneer dress contest. Make sure and stop by the Pioneer Museum for a glimpse of life during the late 1800s. The 86th annual Old Folks Singing, featuring live gospel music, will be held on Sept. 20 at the Maynard Methodist Church. For more information call 870-647-8013.

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Visit individual artists’ studios within a 30-mile radius of the Mountain View courthouse square on Sept. 18-20 during the annual Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour. Twenty-five artists will open their private working studios to the public for this free self-guided tour. The tour will include potters, jewelers, painters, photographers, metal workers, wood turners, weavers, bead makers, and more. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the artists and craftspeople of the region, get a glimpse into their lifestyles and see first-hand the distinctive work they design and create. Artists will also be selling their work. Visit www.offthebeatenpathstudiotour.com or phone 888-679-2859 for more information.

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The Chuckwagon Cook-off is a new event this year in Mountain View. Taking place Sept. 18-20 at the Stone County Fairgrounds, it will feature cooks competing for prize money through not only their menus but also outfits from the 1800s. The public can dine at the chuckwagons, eating meats, beans, potatoes, breads and desserts cooked for the competition. There will also be a ranch rodeo, cowboy songs and stories around a campfire, vendors, and more. For additional information visit www.yourplaceinthemountains.com or phone 870-269-8068.

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The annual Bikes, Blues & BBQ will be Sept. 23-26 in Fayetteville. Activities take place downtown on Dickson Street and at the Tyson Track Center, located one-half mile south of the University of Arkansas campus. Bikes, Blues & BBQ is the world's largest family-friendly, non-profit motorcycle rally, with an average of 95 percent of its annual profit going to local charities. Attendees can enjoy live music at the Main Stage, submit their top picks for the state barbecue contest, attend the Ms. Bikes Blues & BBQ Contest, and watch the motorcycle parade. There are also many giveaways to enter, and more than 200 vendors selling biker related items. Molly Hatchet and Blackfoot will be in concert on Sept. 24 at The Arkansas Music Pavilion. Other event activities based at The AMP will be more music, classic cars, helicopter rides, Gibson Guitar Museum RV, classic hot rod builders, custom bike builders, the Vixen Models, food, and vendors. For details phone 479-527-9993 or visit www.bikesbluesandbbq.org. For concert information or tickets visit www.majesticoncerts.com or phone 479-521-5787.

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Main Street Searcy will hostyGet Down…Downtown in Searcy on Sept. 25-26. The festival will feature live music, arts and crafts, activities for children, and a variety of vendors, performers and artists from throughout the state. Nashville recording artists Shenandoah will perform a free concert on Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. For more information visit www.searcy.com/mainstreet or call 501-279-9007.

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The 16th annual Beebe Fall Fest will be held in Beebe on Sept. 26. The festival is held downtown and features food vendors, arts and crafts booths, informational booths, and live entertainment throughout the day. The event begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. To learn more contact the Beebe Chamber of Commerce at 501-882-8135.