The month of June marks the beginning of summer vacation for many children and is a busy one across the state, everything from music festivals to car shows and air shows for families to enjoy.
13th annual Hot Springs Music Festival
June 1-14 marks the 13th annual Hot Springs Music Festival in Hot Springs. For two weeks every June, the Spa City overflows with music as 200 international mentor and apprentice musicians converge to create 20 live concerts and more than 250 open rehearsals of symphony orchestra, chamber music and music theater in the city's downtown historic district. For more information, call 501-623-4763 or e-mail festival@hotmusic.org.
Steamboat Days festival
The town of Des Arc will celebrate life on the White River during its annual Steamboat Days festival, June 4-7. A free gospel concert in the park featuring The Needhams from Nashville, Tenn. opens the event on Wednesday. Activities for the rest of the event include the Miss Steamboat pageant, arts, crafts, food vendors, a motorcycle poker run and a crawfish eating contest. Other events happening include a carnival, street dances, free entertainment and a huge fireworks display on Saturday evening. There will also be children's activities and cook-offs. Contact T.J. Nelson, festival director, at 870-256-5289 or visit www.steamboatdays.net for more information.
8th annual
Art of Wine Festival
The 8th annual Art of Wine Festival is set for June 5-7 at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. More than 600 wines from around the world will be available for tasting. Area restaurants provide food.
New this year, the The Winemaker's Dinner will be at 6 p.m. on June 5 at James at the Mill in Johnson. Haute cuisine will be prepared by Chef Miles James and a special guest winemaker will guide participants through carefully crafted wine pairings. The tasting events will be at 6 p.m. on June 6 and 7, and the Wine Lover's Brunch will be at 11 a.m. on June 7, all at the Walton Arts Center. For more information or tickets, phone 479-443-5600 or visit www.waltonartscenter.org.
9th annual Art
in the Park festival
The 9th annual Art in the Park festival will be June 6-7 in Bull Shoals City Park. Festivities will include artisans and crafters selling their wares. There will also be demonstrations and entertainment each day. For more information, call Dianna at 870-445-4302 or e-mail tower@southshore.com.
27th Annual Portfest "Rollin' on the River" Festival
Newport will host the 27th Annual Portfest "Rollin' on the River" Festival on June 6-7. The festival features events for the entire family, including a carnival area, a buddy bass tournament, the Arkansas State Catfish Cooking Contest, arts and crafts and a fireworks extravaganza on Saturday night. Live music is a highlight of the festival and will feature John Anderson, Darryl Worley and Vince Neil. To find out more, contact the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce at 870-523-3618 or visit www.NewportARChamber.org
19th annual Valley Fest
The 19th annual Valley Fest will be June 6-7 at Old Post Road Park in Russellville. Activities will include a barbecue contest, arts and crafts, food vendors, carnival rides, carnival midway, bingo and fishing derby. There will also be competitions for slam dunking a basketball, 3 on 3 basketball, volleyball, softball, horseshoes, tennis, 5K run, bike races, car show and River Valley Idol. For more information, phone 479-968-7819 or visit www.valley-fest.org.
annual Shirley
Homecoming
The annual Shirley Homecoming event will be June 6-7 in the city's downtown. Homecoming events include a street dance and rodeo both nights, children's games, parade, Luckey Duckey Regatta, crafts and food vendors. For more information, phone 501-723-4462.
Pinnacle of
Music Festival
West Little Rock will be alive with music on June 7 for the Pinnacle of Music Festival to be held at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. From 9 a.m. to noon there will be performances by individuals and groups from around the city and state. In the afternoon local, national and international blues artists will be on stage from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Guests include Michael Burks and Big Mike Griffin. In addition to all the music, there will be food vendors, children's activities and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Admission is free; there will be a $5 parking fee. Events will be held in the picnic area. For more information, contact the park at 501-868-5806 or pinnaclemountain@arkansas.com. Pinnacle Mountain State Park is located at 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road.
"A Stars and
Stripes Celebration"
The Little Rock Wind Symphony invites visitors to celebrate Flag Day by attending "A Stars and Stripes Celebration" on Saturday, June 7. (Rain date is Sunday, June 8.) The 7 p.m. concert will be held at MacArthur Park in downtown Little Rock and will be hosted by the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. Some of the selections to be performed in this annual salute to the red, white and blue include "March from '1941'" by Williams/Lavender; "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" by Smith; "The Bridge-Elect March" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever" by Sousa; Anderson's "Bugler's Holiday," plus "Selections from 'The Sound of Music'" by Rogers and Hammerstein and an "Armed Forces Salute" arranged by Lowden. Attendees are encouraged to bring the kids and picnic baskets and make an evening of it. There will be free ice cream. The park is located at 503 East Ninth Street. Call 501-666-0777 or e-mail info@lrwindsymphony.org for additional information.
3rd annual XTERRA Eureka Springs Off-Road Triathlon and Trail Run
The 3rd annual XTERRA Eureka Springs Off-Road Triathlon and Trail Run will be June 7 at Lake Leatherwood City Park in Eureka Springs. The race consists of a .5-mile swim, 13-mile mountain bike ride and 5-mile trail run. In addition, a 3.5 mile trail run will take place in the morning before the start of the triathlon. For more information, phone 479-244-5775 or visit www.eurekaspringsoffroadtriathlon.com.
annual Kids'
Fishing Derby
The annual Kids' Fishing Derby at Withrow Springs State Park in Huntsville will be June 7. Anglers ages 1 to 15 may fish and prizes will be awarded by age group with door prizes given throughout the tournament. Participants should bring their own bait, tackle, stringer and cooler. Parents may help, but the kids must do their own fishing. Admission is free. For more information, phone 479-559-2593 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
Hillbilly Bike Show
and Pig Roast
A Hillbilly Bike Show and Pig Roast will be June 7 on the Ozark downtown square. A roast pig will be on site with a catered meal of the pig sold for $5 a plate. Motorcycles of all kinds - domestic, sport, foreign, ugly, shiny - will compete for trophies. There will also be bike games and vendors selling their wares. For more information, phone 479-.209-1681.
50th annual Car Show, Swap Meet
and Sale
The 50th annual Car Show, Swap Meet and Sale will be June 10-14 on the tree-shaded grounds of The Museum of Automobiles on Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. More than 1,500 spaces will be filled with cars, parts, memorabilia, books, antiques, toys and arts and crafts. The antique car show judging will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday. For more information, phone 501-727-5427 or visit www.motaa.com.
66th annual
Johnson County Peach Festival
The 66th annual Johnson County Peach Festival will be June 12-15 on the Clarksville town square. Activities will include a terrapin derby, frog jump, peach jam, jelly and cobbler bake-off, street dance, parade, diaper derby, craft booths, concession stands, peach pit spitting contest, water balloon toss, fiddling contest, egg toss, bicycle obstacle course, horseshoe pitching contest, Princess Elberta pageant and Miss Arkansas preliminary pageants. For more information, phone 479-754-9152 or visit www.jocopeachfestival.8m.com.
War Birds Over
Arkansas
War Birds Over Arkansas, presented by the Dawn Patrol Squadron, is set for June 12-15 at Hammer Field in Eureka Springs. Flying will be any scale radio-controlled World War I, World War II, Golden Era and vintage aircraft to 1945. World War I aircraft will participate in dawn patrol each morning from dawn until 8 a.m. Each era plane will be called in rotation to fly with its respective types.
Hammer Field, a 10-acre flying site located on a 300-acre ranch, is located about 2.5 miles north of Ark. 62 east on Onyx Cave Road. For more information, phone 866-947-4387 or visit www.dawnpatrolsquadron.com.
Arkansas
Shakespeare Theatre Festival
in Conway
Family friendly, professional theatrical productions are slated for June 12-29 at the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre Festival in Conway. The plays will be at Reynolds Performance Hall on the University of Central Arkansas campus.
The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre is a repertory group of artists and Arkansas college student interns who interpret the works of The Bard. Shakespearian productions this year include "Romeo and Juliet," the most famous and tragic romance of all time and "The Tempest," his final play which offers sorcery, romance, comedy and poetry. Rogers and Hammerstein's classic "The Sound of Music" is the non-Shakespearian production on the schedule. A special play just for kids, especially for ages 3-10, "The Arkansaw Bear" will be performed June 21. Back-stage tours along with question-and-answer sessions with the actors are scheduled after every performance. Ticket prices are $25 for all presentations except for "The Arkansaw Bear." Tickets for it are $5 and all can be ordered online at www.arkshakes.com/. For more details, call 501-269-4815 or e-mail mchiorini@uca.edu.
52nd annual
Pink Tomato Festival
The 52nd annual Pink Tomato Festival takes place June 13-14 in downtown Warren on the square. There will be a 5K run/walk, arts and crafts, a street dance, a tomato eating contest, kids land, free entertainment on the square, and the All Tomato Luncheon Car Show. Warren is the county seat and home of the Arkansas Tomato Market. The event was the 2006 Arkansas Festival Association's Festival of the Year. For more information, call 870-226-5225.
Ribs, Rides,
Rhythm and More
Ribs, Rides, Rhythm and More is set for June 13-14 at the South Logan County Fairgrounds in Booneville. This is a Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned barbecue cook-off event. There will also be a Backyard Amateur BBQ Competition, poker run, games and more. For more information, phone 479-675-2666 or visit www.booneville.com.
28th annual
Craftsfest
The 28th annual Craftsfest is set for June 13-14 at the Baxter County Fairgrounds in Mountain Home. The event will include a juried craft show for non-commercial crafters to show and sell their unique handcrafted items. Concessions will be available. Admission is free. For more information, phone 870-424-5710.
23rd annual
Ice Cream Social
The 23rd annual Ice Cream Social on the historic downtown square in Berryville will be June 13-14. The event will include arts and crafts booths, food vendors, fishing, soap box derby and 5K run. Admission is free. For more information, phone 870-423-3704 or visit www.hbeark.com.
32nd annual
Farmfest Weekend
The 32nd annual Farmfest Weekend will be held in Wynne on June 13-14. The weekend features live entertainment, a carnival, a climbing wall, arts and crafts, a giant slide and a variety of food. The event is held on the Knights of Columbus Hall grounds, located on St. Peter's Road in Wynne. Enjoy two days of food, fun and entertainment for the entire family. For more information, contact the Cross County Chamber of Commerce at 870-238-4183 or visit their Web site at http://crosscountychamber.com.
Navajo Sand
Painting Workshop
Parkin Archeological State Park in Parkin will host a Navajo Sand Painting Workshop on June 14. Sand painting has been a part of the Navajo culture for centuries. Navajo artisan Genny Sadler will teach the workshop. On June 28, the park will offer a Turn of the Century Craft Day. Participants will learn the history and basic techniques of cross-stitch and crochet, two of the crafts pioneer women favored. Space is limited for both events. To get more information, phone Parkin Archeological State Park at 870-755-2500 or log on to www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
annual Old Town Bike Show
Van Buren's annual Old Town Bike Show is set for June 14 on its historic Main Street. Festivities will include motorcycle rally, games, door prizes and vendors. Admission is free. For more information, phone 479-474-0332 or go online to www.vanburen.org.
Eureka Shows Off Her Bloomers
Eureka Shows Off Her Bloomers, an old-fashioned garden tour, is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 14. The self-paced walking tour is presented by the Eureka Springs Preservation Society. It includes several gardens originally designed by Glen Wallis, the creative force behind the revitalization of Eureka Springs' parks in the 1980s. A Victorian home interior will also be featured as well as works by local artists, sculptors and craftsmen.
Attendees will also receive gardening tips from experts DonE Allen and Steven Foster. Allen, Eureka's artistic city gardener, will share his knowledge of Eureka's public springs and gardens. Foster, author of 15 botanical books, including National Geographic's award-winning Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine (2006), will speak on herbal topics, answer questions, and be available to autograph his books.
Adult admission is $10 in advance or $15 on the day of the tour. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available through the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-6EUREKA, and the Eureka Springs Historical Museum, 479-253-9417. Day-of tickets will be available at those outlets as well as St. Elizabeth Church and St. James Church. For more information call Dee Bright at 479-253-9582.
Solar Splash World Championships
The Solar Splash World Championships will be June 18-22 at Lake Fayetteville in Fayetteville. The event is the world championship of solar/electric boating. An international intercollegiate competition, technical inspections are done on the first day and the remainder of the time is occupied by five on-the-water competitive events. For more information, phone 479-521-5776 or go online to www.experiencefayetteville.com.
18th annual Riverfront Blues Festival
The 18th annual Riverfront Blues Festival will be June 20-21 at Fort Smith River Front Park. Playing on Friday, June 20 will be the Bel Airs, Ruthie Foster and Lil Ed & The Blues Imperials. Performing on Saturday, June 21 will be Seth Freeman, Mr. Cabbage Head and the Screaming Radishes, Greystreet, Larry McCray, Ana Popovic and Jonny Lang. For more information, phone 479-573-1345 or visit www.riverfrontbluesfest.org.
Opera in the Ozarks
The Opera in the Ozarks opera season will be June 20-July 18 at Inspiration Point in Eureka Springs. The schedule for the 2008 season will see performances of "Cosi Fan Tutte" by W. A. Mozart, "La Boheme" by Giacomo Puccini, and "The Mikado" by Gilbert and Sullivan. For more information, phone 479-253-8595 and visit www.opera.org.
Woolly Hollow
State Park
Woolly Hollow State Park at Greenbrier is going to have a day of old-fashioned games and contests on June 20. For 25 years the park has been holding an annual Fun Day featuring such activities as sack races, paddleboat races, watermelon seed spitting contests, and a water balloon toss. In addition to all the contests, there will be no charge for swimming or paddle boat rental. A detailed schedule can be obtained from the park by calling 501-679-2098 or e-mailing woollyhollow@arkansas.com. Woolly Hollow is located at 82 Woolly Hollow State Park Road off U.S. 65.
Freedom Fest
Celebrate our country's freedom during the 10th annual Freedom Fest in West Memphis on June 20-21. The festival features live music, a patriotic parade, games for children and a "Better-Than-Betty" Bake-Off. For more information, contact the West Memphis Advertising and Promotion Commission at 870-732-7598 or visit www.westmemphis.org.
Bootlegger Daze
Bootlegger Daze will be held in Calico Rock on June 20-21. The two-day event features historic trolley tours, arts and crafts, a street dance, a farmers' market, lawn mower race, a pig roast, a kids' fishing derby and live music. To learn more, phone 870-291-8899 or visit www.CalicoRocket.org.
20th annual Great Arkansas Pig Out
The 20th annual Great Arkansas Pig Out will be June 27-28 in the Morrilton city park. Festivities will include games, contests, sports, food, top country entertainment and local talent plus the famous pig chase for kids. Admission is free. For more information, phone 501-354-5400 or visit www.pigout.info.
9th annual Big Bass Bonanza
The Arkansas River will be the place to be June 27-29 for bass fisherman because the 9th annual Big Bass Bonanza will take place. Five pools -- Fort Smith, Russellville, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Dumas -- along more than 300 miles of the river will be utilized for the competition. Approximately $300,000 in prize money will be up for grabs with a top award of $100,000. Over 2,000 anglers took part in the 2007 event and sponsors are expecting even more this year. Those interested in participating must register and can do so online until June 24. A list of registration locations around the state can also be found online at www.ArkansasBigBass.com. The Big Bass Bonanza is sponsored by the Arkansas Hospitality Association. For more information call 501-376-2323 or e-mail AHA@arhospitality.org.
Lights Over the Lake
There will be Lights Over the Lake on Saturday, June 28 in Conway as the Conway Symphony Orchestra presents its annual gift to the community. The 7 p.m. event will be held on the shores of Beaverfork Lake. Starting with a rousing opening act, the evening includes remarks from local dignitaries, an Armed Forces Salute and the Presentation of the Colors for the National Anthem. The spirited music scheduled includes plenty of patriotic and popular favorites. The evening ends with hundreds of fireworks lighting up the night sky. The Conway Symphony Orchestra has more information at 501-269-1066 or symphony@conwaycorp.net.
