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

October Events Taking Place in the Arkansas Delta

Kimberly J. Williams, travel writer

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Tweet line: Check out October Events in the Arkansas Delta: http://tiny.cc/re3vz

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: communications@arkansas.com or 501-682-7606.

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Experience a flurry of fall fun as Peebles Farm in Augusta hosts the annual Fall Festival on Oct. 1-31. This year’s event features a 14-acre “Haunted Graveyard” corn maze, hayrides, a play area, cotton and pumpkin patches, a petting zoo, and hay tunnels. While you’re there, choose the perfect pumpkin to make into a jack-o-lantern. On Friday and Saturday nights throughout October, nighttime tours of the corn maze are offered. Visit www.PeeblesFarm.com or phone 870-919-6162 to learn more.

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Prepare to be petrified as Pumpkin Hollow in St. Francis opens its haunted attractions to those who dare to enter! Beginning Oct. 1, visitors will be terrified by Bubba’s Butcher Barn, the Forest of Fright, and the Mad Skull Mine. For the youngsters or the faint of heart, there’s the Friendly Fairytale Forest. The haunted attractions are open each Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 29, in addition to Halloween night, Oct. 31. Pumpkin Hollow also offers a variety of fun fall activities, including hayrides, corn mazes, pig scrambles and pony rides. For more information on the haunted attractions, visit www.HorrorintheHollow.com. Learn more about Pumpkin Hollow’s special events at www.PumpkinHollow.com or phone 870-598-3568.

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History meets mystery during the Jonesboro Ghost Tour on Oct. 1-2, 6-9, 13-16, 20-23 and 24-31. Join magician Edward L. Underwood, author of “Haunted Jonesboro,” for an unforgettable night of chilling entertainment. Admission is $15. Log on to www.specialoccasionsentertainment.net/jonesboroghosttour.htm or call 870-275-7196 for information.

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The sound of music and the scent of barbecue fill the streets when Jonesboro welcomes the Downtown BBQ Fest on Oct. 8. Fifty teams compete in the culinary contest. You’ll also find bands, vendors and activities just for kids. Make sure to visit the restaurants and specialty shops located in the downtown area. Visit www.Jonesboro.org or phone 870-932-6691 for details.

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Explore the history of shoes in the Native American culture as Hampson Archeological State Park in Wilson offers Happy Feet on Oct. 1. Workshop participants make their own pair of moccasins to take home. This class is suitable for those ages 7 and up. Contact the park at 870-655-8622 for more information.

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Spend a beautiful evening on Lake Frierson when Lake Frierson State Park in Jonesboro offers an Evening Kayak and Dinner Cruise on Oct. 1. Enjoy an informative and fun tour of the lake followed by a Dutch oven dinner on the shoreline at sunset. The evening also features an astronomy program with the park interpreter. The fee for the program is $15. For details contact Lake Frierson State Park at 870-932-2615.

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Main Street West Memphis hosts Chillin’ on Broadway on Oct. 1 in the city’s downtown area. The festival features a Chili Appreciation Society International cook-off, arts and crafts, a children’s area, and live entertainment. For more information visit www.BroadwayWestMemphis.com or contact Main Street West Memphis at 870-735-8814.

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Enjoy the fun of the season during the 6th annual Fall Celebration at Lake Poinsett State Park in Harrisburg on Oct. 1. The family-friendly event offers live music, hayrides, games, food, activities and interpretive programs throughout the day. Contact the park at 870-578-2064 for details.

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Greenlee Park in Brinkley is the site of the 28th annual Fall Festival on Oct. 1. The day includes live music, arts and crafts, children’s activities and food vendors. You can learn more by visiting www.BrinkleyChamber.com or calling 870-734-2262.

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The reptiles take over in Lepanto as the 81st annual Terrapin Derby is held on Main Street on Oct. 1. Watch as the turtles race to snap up the watermelon waiting for them at the finish line. The long-time festival also offers live music, arts and crafts, games for the youngsters, and…terrapins! Phone 870-475-2415 for more information.

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During the 1920s, the lumbering industry in Parkin was at its peak. Parkin Archeological State Park offers School Days especially for home school students on Oct. 6-7. Schoolchildren will explore sawmill life during the era. Contact the park at 870-755-2500 for details.

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It’s all about the blues…blues music, that is! Historic downtown Helena serves as the backdrop for the 26th annual King Biscuit Blues Festival on Oct. 6-8. The internationally known festival features three days of music, food, festivities…and more music! This year’s headliners are Buddy Guy, Delbert McClinton and Keb’ Mo’. Tickets for the main stage performances are $25 in advance ($30 at the gate) for all three days. There is no admission charge for the other stages or areas of the festival. For complete stage lineups and more information, log on to www.KingBiscuitFestival.com

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Head to Pine Bluff and the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas for an evening of live music, including jazz, blues and rock, provided by the Joe Pitts Band on Oct. 7. The performance is part of Live@5, a monthly music series sponsored by the center. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Log on to www.artssciencecenter.org or call 870-536-3375 for more information.

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Crossett is the location for the 33rd annual Wiggins Cabin Festival on Oct. 8. The event offers arts and crafts, games for kids, live entertainment, a variety of food and a 5K/1-mile walk. To find out more information, visit www.WigginsCabinFestival.com or call 870-364-3648.

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The 5th Hometown Crawfordsville Harvest Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8, in Crawfordsville. The daylong event features arts and crafts, live entertainment, a parade, a children’s area, a 5K and a variety of food vendors. Activities will be held along Main Street. For details phone 870-823-5822.

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Celebrate the harvest season as Weiner hosts the 35th annual Arkansas Rice Festival on Oct. 8. The event includes a variety of activities, including a car show, the rice cook-off, a parade, a truck and tractor pull, a weiner dog race, karaoke, and art and photography contests for youth and adults. Visit www.ArkansasRiceFestival.com or phone 870-919-0726 for more information.

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The Sweet Potato Pie Fall Festival marks the close of the Farmers Market in Pine Bluff on Oct. 8. The event features live entertainment, activities for kids and a sweet potato pie contest. Pull out your grandmother’s recipe and compete with some of the best bakers in the area for the coveted blue ribbon. The market opens at 6 a.m. and the festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Log on to www.SaracenLanding.com or call 870-536-0920 for more information.

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The 21st annual Homestead Festival at Parker Pioneer Homestead in Harrisburg returns on Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 15-16. Visit the restored buildings and enjoy sorghum cooking, broom making, wagon rides, blacksmithing, and live music. The Haunted Homestead comes “alive” on Oct. 22, 28 and 29. Experience 40 acres of scariness…including a spooky cemetery and a horrifying hayride…if you dare! Visit www.ParkerHomestead.com or phone 870-578-2699 for more information.

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There aren’t many things better than a steaming bowl of chili on a crisp fall day. Check out the 31st annual United Way of Greater Blytheville Chili Cook-off on Oct. 15. In addition to the chili, visitors will find live entertainment, arts and crafts,and an entire block of activities just for kids. Admission is free but there is a $3 charge per cup of chili. Phone 870-763-7522 to learn more.

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Explore the heritage of Arkansas City as the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program leads a Walks through History tour on Oct. 15. Join a staff member from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program to learn more about the properties and their past. Learn how the town’s natural steamboat landing on the Mississippi River brought a great deal of river traffic, and how, in 1878, the Little Rock, Mississippi River & Texas Railroad located its Mississippi River terminus in the city. This move caused unprecedented growth until the disastrous Mississippi River Flood of 1927, which rerouted the Mississippi River one mile east of the town’s levee, effectively ending its importance as a commercial center. The tour begins at 11 a.m. at the Desha County Courthouse, located at 608 Robert S. Moore Ave. For more information visit www.arkansaspreservation.org or phone the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program at 501-324-9880.

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Take time out of your hectic schedule to learn a new relaxing hobby as Crowley’s Ridge State Park in Paragould offers a Basket Weaving Workshop on Oct. 15. Learn to make beautiful gifts and decorations, and weave your own market basket to take home. The $30 fee includes all materials. Contact the park at 870-573-6751 to register or for more information.

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Ride your horse for a good cause! Village Creek State Park in Wynne is the site for Saddle Up for St. Jude on Oct. 15. Riders enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the park and raise money that will benefit children from all over the world. The event features a 23-mile ride, auction and dinner. Visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com or contact Village Creek State Park at 870-238-9406 for detailed information.

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October 15 is the date for the 10th annual Fright Night Halloween celebration at Arkansas Post Museum State Park in Gillett. The family-friendly event includes games, prizes, face painting, a haunted house, a fortune teller and a spell caster. Admission is $1. Phone the park at 870-548-2634 for details.

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Delta Heritage Trail State Park in Barton hosts BooFest on Oct. 22. The kid-friendly event offers a safe fall activity including a variety of games and a haunted house. Game tickets cost 25 cents each. The cost for a tour of the haunted gin is $3 per person. To learn more, contact Delta Heritage Trail State Park at 870-572-2352.

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Lake Frierson State Park in Jonesboro offers a night of fun family entertainment on Oct. 22 with Halloween Hayrides. Participants will trick-or-treat by hay wagon, hear local legends, roast marshmallows on the shoreline and visit with the resident ghouls and goblins of Lake Frierson. Phone 870-932-2615 for more information.

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Experience the history of Arkansas Post during the 17th annual Ghosts of the Past on Oct. 22 at Arkansas Post National Memorial in Gillett. The guided walk takes visitors throughout the grounds where reenactors portray events from the exploration and settlement of Arkansas Post, Colbert’s Raid and the Civil War. Tours last approximately one hour and reservations are strongly recommended. Call 870-548-2207 for details.

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Have a piece of pottery or an interesting object that puzzles you? Parkin Archeological State Park in Parkin offers an Artifact ID Day on Oct. 22. Archeologists will be on hand to provide insight (not appraisals) on identification and age of objects and artifacts. To find out more log on to www.ArkansasStateParks.com or contact Parkin Archeological State Park at 870-755-2500.

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Corning is the location for the 25th annual Harvest Festival on Oct. 22 at Wynn Park. The free daylong event features an antique car show, antique farm machinery demonstrations, arts and crafts, children’s games, food vendors, and live entertainment. For more information phone 870-926-1188.

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Join the staff of the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Historical Museum in Pine Bluff on Oct. 25 for a remembrance of the 1863 Battle of Pine Bluff. Mark Christ, community outreach director for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and author of several books relating to the Civil War, will discuss the battle. Visit www.pbjcmuseum.org or phone 870-541-5402 for details.

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The 7th annual Downtown Iron Mountain Festival is slated for Walnut Ridge on Oct. 29. The family-friendly event offers arts and crafts, train rides, games for the kids, a hotdog eating contest, a dog show, a duck calling contest, pony rides, a bicycle rodeo and entertainment all day. For more information, log on to www.LawCoChamber.org or call 870-886-3232.

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Celebrate the harvest season in Caraway during the city’s annual Harvest Festival on Oct. 29. Held along Kentucky Street, the festival features arts and crafts, live music and entertainment, a variety of food, and fun activities for all ages. For more information, call 870-482-3431.

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Prepare for a ghoulish good time as Parkin Archeological State Park in Parkin offers a Ghost Hunters Event on Oct. 29. Hear the stories of the Spanish Conquistadors, the ancient Casqui tribe, and the victims of the Northern Ohio Sawmill. Then make up your mind for yourself about the ghosts! Those with reservations can spend the night in the museum and see if you can’t become personally acquainted with Parkin’s “history.” Admission is $25. Contact the park at 870-755-2500 to make reservations or for detailed information.

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Spend the evening hearing spooky stories as Crowley’s Ridge State Park in Paragould hosts Ghosts, Legends, and the Unexplained on Oct. 29. Learn more about local legends and listen to eerie ghost stories. Participants are encouraged to wear their Halloween garb and awards will be given for the best costumes. For more details visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com or phone 870-573-6751.

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