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News • Arkansas • United States • 2011-09-13

October Events Taking Place in the Arkansas River Valley

Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

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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: [email protected] or 501-682-7606.

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The 32nd annual Frontier Day Festival on Oct. 1 in Paris bills itself as the place \"Where Yesterday Meets Today for a Day!\" The festivities include a 5K race, a parade, an antique car show, a turtle race, a hay bale toss, log sawing and nail driving competitions, and a pioneer dress revue competition. The Miss Mount Magazine Pageant is also part of the fun. Additionally, there will be food, crafts, and history re-enactments. The event takes place on the downtown square, and admission is free. Call 479-963-2244 or visit www.ParisArOnline.com for details.

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The largest free air show of its kind in the U.S., the Fort Smith Regional Air Show takes flight Oct. 1-2 at the Fort Smith Regional Airport. The Air Force Thunderbirds will dazzle crowds, expected to be more than 200,000 people. Acts include Tora, Tora, Tora; a 350-mph Jet Bus; a vintage Thunderbird; aerial and aerobatic stunts; parachutist teams; USAF F15-E Strike Eagle demos; and more. Call 479-783-8888 or visit www.airshowfortsmith.com for more information.

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Boonville celebrates its 10th annual October Fest on Oct. 7-8. Activities take place downtown and feature live music, food, arts and crafts booths, games, a kids’ area, a Mr. and Miss Harvest Pageant, a scarecrow contest, and a pumpkin contest. Call 479-675-2666 for details.

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Autumn is welcomed in old-fashioned style as Van Buren opens its historic Main Street for the Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Fair Oct. 7-9. More than 200 exhibitors display fine artwork, handcrafted items, antiques, collectibles and flea market finds. There is also a children’s carnival, and a Friday evening concert. The event is held rain or shine. Call 479-410-3026 or visit www.vanburen.org for additional information.

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Fairfield Bay welcomes autumn with the 37th annual Fall Fest on Oct. 8. The event consists of vendors, arts and crafts booths, food and music, as well as a soup cook-off. Admission is free and activities take place at the mall. Call 501-884-3324 or visit www.ffbchamber.org for more information.

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The much-anticipated annual Wiederkehr Village Weinfest takes place Oct. 8. This is the 48th year for this annual festival held on the grounds of Wiederkehr Wine Cellars. It consists of truly Tyrolean festivities celebrating the Swiss heritage of the wine makers. It features music, a championship grape stomp, food, wine, games, rides, dancing, contests, arts and crafts, and a car show. Admission is free and the event is held rain or shine. Call 800-622-9463 or visit www.wiederkehrwines.com for details.

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A German ethnic community festival, the 4th annual Augsburg Fall Fest is Oct. 8 in London. In addition to food and entertainment, festivities include a tractor pull, a skeet shoot, antique farm equipment, demonstrations, arts and crafts, a silent auction, a cake walk, bingo, games, pony rides, and displays of alpacas and other animals. Admission is free. Call 479-747-6676 for more information.

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October 15 is the date for Ozark’s 39th annual Old Fashioned Square Gathering. This all-day family event is host to arts and crafts, music, and food. Activities take place on the historic downtown square. Call 479-667-5337 for additional information.

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The Johnson County Catfish Club Catfish Classic is Oct. 15-16 in Clarksville. Cash awards and prizes will be given to the teams that have the best two-day combined totals. The Big Cat entry is separate. The tournament begins each day at 6:30 a.m. or at safe light from the east boat ramp in Spadra Park. The Saturday weigh-in is at Spadra Marina, and the Sunday weigh-in is at Spadra Park Center Pavilion. A picnic and awards ceremony take place at 3 p.m. the final day at Spadra Park, located at Exit 58 off of Interstate 40. Admission is $50 per team. Call 479-754-5021 or visit www.jccatfishclub.com for more information.

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Tap your toes at the 3rd annual Fall Old Time Country Music Show on Oct. 21-22 in Clarksville. This will be old-time acoustic country music featuring Mike Webb from Nashville, Tenn., and others. It takes place at the Country Heritage Music Barn, located at 134 W. Main. Call 479-754-4604 or visit www.countryheritage.net for details.

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The popular Murder and Mayhem Trolley Tour in Fort Smith has added a “Toast the Ghost\" theme this year. In addition to the haunted and gruesome ghost stories of past years, there will be a toast this season with cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres at the Fort Smith Museum of History, and at various stops along the way. The tour departs the Fort Smith Museum at 7 p.m. on Oct. 22, Oct. 29 and Halloween, Oct. 31. Blythe spirits and a variety of characters from the past will keep you entertained including stories from the National Historic Site, Miss Laura’s Visitor’s Center, the Clayton House, the Bonneville House and Garrison Avenue, all located within downtown and the Belle Grove Historic District. Admission is $25 per person and only for those 21 and over. Call 479-783-7841 or visit www.fortsmithmuseum.com for more information.

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Russellville’s 20th annual Downtown Fall Festival & Chili Cook-Off is Oct. 29 in its historic downtown district. This day-long celebration hearkens back to the days when carnivals set up on the streets downtown. Events include a CASI sanctioned Chili Cook-off, a car show, arts and crafts, an omelet breakfast, an old-fashioned pie contest, a 5K and 1K run, a Tour de Pumpkin Bike Ride, pony rides, a costume contest, live entertainment, and lots of food. Call 479-967-1437 or visit www.mainstreetrussellville.com for more information on this free event.

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