Celebrating Arkansas - Segment 4

Bargains Galore on 64

Bargains Galore on 64 is 130 miles of yard sales, flea markets, antiques and collectibles, all located along U.S. Highway 64 from Fort Smith to Conway, Arkansas. It's an annual event held on the second weekend in August, from Thursday through Saturday.

Most of the communities along the highway – which parallels the more heavily trafficked Interstate 40 – participate in the festival, with individual yard sales, flea markets, community-wide sales and antique shops getting in on the action. Organization of the event varies from town to town, with some Chambers of Commerce, Main Street Offices, and advertising and promotion commissions helping as sponsors. The three day event also attracts hundreds of merchants, from professional antique dealers to people cleaning out their attics. Enterprising individuals, civic organizations, churches and other groups offer just about everything for sale, including refreshments and baked goods.

Linda Hiles is the organizer, and can be reached at 1-888-588-3552 or by e-mail at bargainson64@ar-digit.net.

Parker Pioneer Homestead

Parker Pioneer Homestead is a collection of 12 old buildings and homes built more than 100 years ago from rough-sawn logs.

Operated by Phil and Teressa Parker, the Homestead evolved from an interest in local Whitehall history and a desire to preserve some of the artifacts (mostly from the Whitehall area) for the enjoyment of others.

The Homestead Festival is always the third weekend in October, Saturday and Sunday and the last week in September is reserved for schools to bring their students to the homestead.

Website: http://www.parkerhomestead.com

Parker Pioneer Homestead
16944 Homestead Rd.
Harrisburg, AR 72432
Map: http://www.parkerhomestead.com/map.htm
Phone: (870) 578-2699 or (870) 578-9251
Email: info@parkerhomestead.com

Mt. Nebo Annual End of Summer Fly In

This festival is held in late August at Mt. Nebo State Park

Hang gliding enthusiasts from across the country demonstrate this exciting sport during the late August. Rising 1,350 feet above the Arkansas River Valley, Mt. Nebo State Park is the usual site for this exhibit as Mt. Nebo is one of the only three flat-topped mountains in the Arkansas River Valley that can allow for this sport. Curious spectators can relax and enjoy the beauty and wonder of these intrepid enthusiasts. Free flying as well as contests for soaring and spot landing take place during the weekend. Weather permitting, pilots launch from Sunrise Point. Because the nature of the sport depends so highly on weather and wind conditions, no set times are scheduled for events of the day. Wind and weather permitting, pilots usually set up their equipment around mid-morning and begin flying around noon until dusk on Saturday, and until early afternoon on Sunday. The event is free to the public. Just bring a picnic lunch, lots of cold beverages, sunshade, sunglasses, binoculars, a folding chair and a curious mind for greatest enjoyment.

For more information check the Calendar of Events link for August at the Arkansas state website: http://www.arkansas.com/calendar/calendar_by_month/month/8

For more information about Mt. Nebo State Park, click on the Mt. Nebo icon on the Arkansas state map at the Arkansas State Parks website: http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks

Contact Information for Mt. Nebo State Park:
#1 State Park Drive
Dardanelle, AR 72834
Email: mountnebo@arkansas.com
Phone: (479) 229-3655

Brickfest

Producing 30,000 bricks per hour, the Acme Brick plant has made Malvern, Arkansas the undisputed "brick capitol of the world."

Malvern's annual Brickfest, held the last weekend in June, celebrates one of the city's oldest industries - brick making - and fills the town with music, food, and a wide variety of activities aimed to please people of all ages. Brickfest's events include a brick toss, a highly competitive brick car derby, an old-fashioned home town parade and a first-rate car and motorcycle show.

For more information about Brickfest, contact the Malvern Chamber of Commerce at:
213 W 3rd St
Malvern, AR 72104-3715
Phone: (501) 332-2721

Wild Hog Music Festival and Motorcycle Rally

Hear the sounds of "the rolling thunder" coming from thousands of motorcycles converging on this normally quiet sleepy delta river town. They are returning to for the Wild Hog Music Festival and Motorcycle Rally in downtown Helena's main business district. The festival includes blues and rock acts playing Friday and Saturday on a stage near the river levee. Bikers will enjoy the poker run held Saturday, open to registered festival participants. Both bikers and spectators will enjoy the bike games held Saturday, which include the slow race, the balloon toss and the weenie bite. A great opportunity to see bikes of all kinds and learn more about this growing sport.

For more information contact:
Jerry Wenzel
1190 Springdale Road
Helena, AR 72342-1406
(870) 338-8831
Email: wildhognews@cox-internet.com
Website: http://www.wildhogmusic.org

Pink Tomato Festival

One of the state's most popular and longest running festivals, the Pink Tomato Festival celebrates the Arkansas Tomato Market and the Bradley Pink Tomato, named for the county in which it is grown. Held on the square in downtown Warren, the fun includes a golf tournament, 5K Run/Walk, arts & crafts, street dance, downtown shopping, the tomato packing contest and the always messy tomato eating contest. The All Tomato Luncheon is a social event that can't be missed.

Bradley County Chamber of Commerce
104 N. Myrtle
Warren, AR 71671
(870) 226-5225
Email: bccc@cei.net
Website: http://bradleycountychamberofcommerce.com