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News • Arkansas • United States • 2011-09-14

October Events Taking Place in the Ouachitas of Arkansas

Zoie Clift, travel writer

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Tweet line: Check Out October Events in the Arkansas Ouachitas: http://tiny.cc/qv62f

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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Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs showcases floral landscapes, streams, waterfalls and architectural structures in a natural woodland setting. Its annual Plant Sale is Oct. 7-8. Nursery and garden vendors from across the state turn the grounds into a garden store stocked with ornamental merchandise to design and create a beautiful fall or winter garden. Hundreds of hard-to-find plants, shrubs, and trees are available for purchase. Hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visit www.garvangardens.org or call 501-262-9300 for more details. Admission is free.

-------------------------------------------------r />The Ouachita Art Trails Studio Tour is Oct. 7-9 in Mena. The event is a free self-guided tour and opportunity to visit with local artists in their working studios and see how their art is created. Admission is free. For more information visit www.OuachitaArtTrails.com or call 479-394-3880.

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Lake Greeson Safari Photography Weekend is Oct. 7-9 in Kirby at Daisy State Park. Guest lecturers teach on Friday evening and Saturday morning with field trip opportunities on Saturday afternoon. Contact the park at 870-398-4487 for a detailed schedule and further information.

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Looking for a kayaking adventure? Kayak Campout is Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 15-16 at Lake Ouachita State Park in Mountain Pine. The trip includes meals and evening programs and information on the history, geology and wildlife of Lake Ouachita. Bring your own kayak and supplies or rent them from the park. Admission is $85 and space is limited. Contact the park at www.arkansasstateparks.com or 501-767-9366 for more details.

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October 9 is the 30th annual Central Arkansas Mustangers Regional Show in Hot Springs. Mustang and Ford powered vehicles are welcome. The event, located at Riser Ford at 4201 Central Avenue, is sponsored by the Central Arkansas Mustangers and Riser Ford. For more information visit www.centralarkansasmustangers.com or call 501-889-2737.

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A Dutch Oven Cooking Workshop is Oct. 9 in Bismarck at DeGray Lake Resort State Park. The workshop focuses on the techniques of cooking outside with iron cookware, a longstanding tradition in the State Parks of Arkansas. Instructors discuss several different methods and recipes and then cook up a full meal. Everyone signed up gets to take home a Dutch oven. Admission is $35 per person and reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations visit www.degray.com or call 501-865-5810.

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The 25th annual World Championship Quartz Crystal Dig is Oct. 13-15 in Mount Ida. Dig your own crystals, with four working mines to choose from. Each contestant keeps everything they dig. There is a judging each afternoon at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds to see who found the best crystals. A kids dig takes place on Saturday at 2 p.m. for grades K-6. An entry free is required and registration is available online. Also that weekend is the 27th annual Quartz, Quiltz and Craftz Festival Oct. 14-16. The event has a gem and mineral show, arts and crafts, food, music, a quilt show featuring around 200 quilts, and more. There is also a Treasure Hunt in conjunction with the dig and festival. For more information visit www.mtidachamber.com or call 870-867-2723.

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The 5th annual Round About Artist Studio Tour is Oct. 14-16 in Arkadelphia. The event is a self-guided driving tour to private studios of working artists. View original creations of pottery, painting, sculpture, wood carving, fiber art, jewelry and more. The tour is Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit www.roundaboutartiststudiotour.com or call 870-245-3612.

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October 14-23 are the dates of the 20th annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival in Hot Springs. Known as \'The Filmmaker\'s Festival\', the event has workshops and panel discussions and showcases new award-winning documentaries from around the world. Films are screened at the Historic Malco Theatre. Admission for a 10-day pass is $150, for a 3-day pass is $50, and a one-day pass is $25. For more details visit www.hsdfi.org or call 501-321-4747.

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A Harvest Festival is Oct. 15 in Wickes at Cossatot River State Park. Enjoy games, hay rides, haunted campsites, a chili supper, a costume contest, and more. Visit www.arkansasstateparks.com or contact the park at 870-385-2201 for a schedule of activities and further details.

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\"The Witness\" Musical Passion Play Closing Weekend Extravaganza is Oct. 21-22 in Hot Springs. Enjoy an evening under the stars at The Witness Amphitheater located at Panther Valley Ranch near Magic Springs. For more information visit www.witnessproductions.com or call 501-623-9781.

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The Half-Marathon Trail Run is Oct. 22 in Wickes on the newly renovated Cossatot River Corridor Trail at Cossatot River State Park. Registration is open until Oct. 21. All runners are shuttled to the north end of the park at 7 a.m. to start the race by 8 a.m. Runners run the race through three aid stations along the banks of the Cossatot River. The finish line is at the park visitor center. Registration fee includes a T-shirt commemorating this inaugural event to be held annually. Early registration is $15 for kids and $25 for adults. Race day registration is $20 for youth and $30 for adults. Visit www.arkansasstateparks.com or contact the park at 870-385-2201 for further details.

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Mena showcases the Wheels & Wings Festival on Oct. 22. At this car and motorcycle show there are vendors, live entertainment, airplane rides and more. The free event is held at the Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport. Visit www.menapolkchamber.com or call 479-394-2912 for more information.

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Arkadelphia hosts Arkansas\'s only long-course off-road triathlon Oct. 29 during the Xterra Epic-Iron Mountain. The event has a 1-mile swim, a 35-mile mountain bike ride and a 10-mile trail run. The race is at the Spillway Area at DeGray Lake. For more details visit www.DLTevents.com or call 870-246-6686.

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The DeGray Lake Mountain Bike Race is Oct. 30-31 in Arkadelphia. Divisions are offered for beginners through pros. Divisions are also offered for ages 10-18. Distances vary based on division. The race is at the DeGray Lake Spillway. For more information visit www.DLTevents.com or call 870-246-6686

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