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News • Arkansas • United States • 2011-09-16

October Events Taking Place in Central Arkansas

Kerry Kraus, travel writer

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Tweet line: Check out October Events in Central Arkansas: http://tiny.cc/3cqs9

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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Lonoke is where The Great Pumpkin Patch and 5K Pumpkin Run takes place on Saturday, Oct. 1. Locally grown pumpkins and gourds for sale include traditional Long-Handled Jacks, pie pumpkins, Cinderellas, Fairytales and Luminas. Other fall decorating items such as mums, hay bales and corn stalks will be available. Don\'t miss the fall photo booth, face painting, pumpkin decorating and homemade goodies. Run the 5K for a cause and get all your fall decorations while supporting the Open Arms Shelter, a temporary home for abused and neglected children. Everything takes place at the historic Lonoke Depot, 102 W. Front St. Admission is free. Visit www.openarmsshelter.org or phone 501-454-066mation.

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Greenbrier’s Event Center is the location for the 4th annual Fall Community Yard Sale and Pancake Breakfast on Oct. 1. Between 20 and 40 individuals and families participate in this indoor sale. Come early for a homemade pancake breakfast complete with Petit Jean sausage. Breakfast is served from 6 a.m.-9 a.m. with the sale from 7 a.m-1 p.m. The center is located at 5 Lois Lane and admission is free. For additional information phone 501-679-6362.

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The Alliance Football League World Bowl I Championship is Oct. 1 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. In addition to the championship, the stadium is also hosting the 2011 All-Star Game. Also taking place are the AFL Men’s Pro Sports Combine and the Arkansas Women’s Football State Championship. Additional activities include an armchair quarterback competition, VIP tailgating, a beer garden tent and a chili competition. Admission is $20. Visit www.alliancefootballleague.org for more information or call 479-685-1308.

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An event-packed Dickey-Stephens Park on Oct. 1 signals the 3rd annual Family Fun Fest in North Little Rock. From 9 a.m.-4 p.m. there will be live music and entertainment, a Kids & Teen Zone with inflatables, hands-on activities, games, a rock climbing wall, creative crafts and more. Over 100 vendor booths ranging from business services to arts and crafts will be on hand. Special guest this year is the four-time Grammy-nominated musical partnership Trout Fishing in America. Other entertainment includes the Radio Disney Rockin’ Road show and community dancers. Admission is $5 for adults, free for ages 12 and under. Visit www.nlrfamilyfunfest.com or phone 501-372-5959 for more details.

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Saturday, Oct. 1, is going to be a busy day in Jacksonville with the community’s annual Wing Ding Festival and the 39th annual Central Arkansas Gem & Mineral Show both taking place. Wing Ding provides a family environment with food, entertainment and paddle boat rides. Highlights of the event are the chicken wing eating contest and the annual chicken wing cook-off. During the 2010 event contestants consumed over 100 pounds of chicken wings in less than 30 minutes combined over three rounds. Don’t forget, there is a people’s choice award voted on by cooking contest attendees.

In Cash’s Corner there are games, inflatables and surprises for kids of all ages. For the adults there are vendors with items such as homemade crafts, candles, purses and maybe even a baseball card or two. Winners of the Jacksonville Cityfest and the Miss Jacksonville Pageants will be announced. Foods available in addition to chicken include turkey legs, barbecue nachos, corn dogs and funnel cakes. All activities take place at Dupree Park on Redmond Road. Admission is free. Visit www.Jacksonville-Arkansas.com or call 501-982-1511 for more details.

The gem and mineral show begins on Saturday and runs through Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Jacksonville Civic Center. Over 20 dealers of minerals and gems showcase their items, in addition to jewelry and beads. There will be a kid’s dig, geode cracking, a rock spin, mineral identification, and lapidary demonstrations. Door prizes will be awarded with a grand prize of a large orthoceras plate from Morocco. The center is located at 5 Municipal Dr. Admission is free. Visit centralarrockhound.org or phone 970-255-3679 for more information.

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Little Rock’s first ever Main Street Food Truck Festival is Oct. 1 downtown. Street vendors, including the increasingly popular mobile trucks, will serve all varieties of food from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Portions of Main Street between 3rd and 7th streets will be blocked off for all the festivities including music, art and the Lil’ Gaggers competition. A beer garden will be at 6th and Main at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Visit www.downtownlr.com or phone 501-375-0121 for additional details.

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Country music star Toby Keith will be in Little Rock for Zoo Jam 2011 Oct. 2 at War Memorial Golf Course. In addition to Keith, special guests Sara Evans, Eric Church and Diamond Rio will all perform in this benefit concert for the zoo. Tickets are $65 plus tax and fees. They are also available online at www.frontgatetickets.com. Active military personnel and college students with current and valid IDs can purchase discounted tickets at the Zoo box office for $50 plus tax and fees, cash only. Contact the Little Rock Zoo at 501-666-2406 for more information.

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Don’t miss the opportunity to see popular country music entertainer Taylor Swift as she brings her Speak Now World Tour 2011 to North Little Rock, Oct. 4. Special guest performer is Need to Breathe. The concert begins at 7 p.m. in Verizon Arena, 1 Verizon Arena Way. Doors open at 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $71.50, $61.50, and $27 and can be ordered online through Ticketmaster. Visit www.verizonarena.com or phone 501-340-5660 for more information.

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Get ready to ROAR Into Toad Suck, Oct. 7-9 in Conway. This free motorcycle rally will have live music, vendors, food, bike shows, and a poker run. Also scheduled are two biker parades, a classic car show, biker church on Sunday and more. The family-friendly event has something for everyone, according to sponsors. Simon Park at Front & Main streets in downtown Conway is where activities take place. Visit www.ABATE17.com or call 501-944-1076 for more details. Admission is free.

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The 37th annual Old Fashioned Day on Oct. 8 in Benton is a fall festival for the whole family. The Saline County Courthouse lawn is where the activities take place, including contests, a live auction, vendors, kid’s rides and music. Admission is free. For more information phone 501-315-0645.

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CabotFest was started in 1978 to lift the spirits of Cabot citizens and demonstrate the town\'s resolve that it would be rebuilt after a tornado devastated the small community. This year, the 33rd annual event is Oct. 8 on Second Street in downtown Cabot. Headliner entertainer will be Sony recording artist Tyler Farr. Festival hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Opening ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. featuring a performance from Miss Arkansas Kristen Glover. Events scheduled include a Kid Zone, vendor booths, food, games and a car show. Bingo, a carnival, beauty pageant and other activities await visitors. Visit www.cabotcc.org or phone 501-843-2136 for more information on this free event.

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Join a park interpreter at Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park on Oct. 8 for a Native Foods program. Native Americans from centuries ago ate many of the same foods we eat today. Learn about the traditional foods eaten by many Native Americans, including, perhaps, those who lived at Toltec over 1,000 years ago. After learning about the food Native Americans ate, visitors will be able to try a variety of dishes. Park personnel encourage everyone to come early before the food runs out. Activities take place at the park visitor center in Scott. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 ages 6-12 with under age 6 admitted free. Phone 501-961-9442 for more information.

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If you’re an “antiquer,” then take note of the Antique Alley Arkansas Antique Show. It will be held Oct. 8-9 in Conway. More than 40,000-square-feet of antiques from around the country will be displayed in a climate-controlled atmosphere. Items available for sale include architectural salvage, Depression glass, antique and primitive furniture, estate jewelry, coins, antique silver and shabby chic décor. Food prepared by the Cross Creek Sandwich Shop will be available for purchase. The Conway Expo Center at 2505 East Oak St. is where the sale takes place. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission, good for both days, is $3 for adults and $1 for children ages 12 and under. Visit www.antiquealleyarkansas.com or call 501-230-5728 for additional details.

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Little Rock’s Wildwood Park is jam-packed with activities on Oct. 8-9 when it hosts the RunWILD 5K and WILDFun Family Run and the HARVEST! Festival. On Oct. 8, runners, children, and dogs will go wild in west Little Rock with the 5K which begins at 8 a.m., followed by a WILDFun Family Run. The 5K is a point-to-point run beginning at The Promenade at Chenal and ending with a victory lap inside Wildwood Park. A shuttle will transport runners from the park to The Promenade. Children and dogs are welcome to participate in a WILDFun Family Run through Wildwood’s botanical gardens. Canine entrants must be on a leash and accompanied by an adult. Each canine entry will receive one free adult entry. Children running in the WILDFun Family Run do not have to be accompanied by an adult. Entry fee for the 5K is $25 in advance, $30 day of race; Family Run is $10.

Wildwood Park for the Arts celebrates the sights, sounds and traditions of autumn in Arkansas with its fourth annual HARVEST! Festival, Oct. 8-9. Home to the Arkansas Pickin’ and Fiddlin’ championship, the event has entertainment and activities for the whole family, including seasonal demonstrations, children’s events, hayrides to Pumpkin Hill, crafts and vendors. Also on the schedule are Wildwood’s Pumpkin Shop, live music, a culinary competition, craft beer and foods for purchase. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 ages 6-12 and ages 5 and under are free. Visit www.wildwoodpark.org or phone 501-821-7275 for more information.

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One of the most popular events in October is the annual Tales of the Crypt presented by the Parkview Arts Science Magnet High School. It takes place this year Oct. 11 at historic Mount Holly Cemetery in downtown Little Rock. Students portray famous Arkansans interred in Mount Holly during candlelight tours from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Each tour lasts approximately one hour. “Ghosts” who will visit this year include Katherine Wilshire, Richard Flanigan, L.A. Wallace, Lulu Wallace, Simon P. Hughes, George Leftridge Basham, Julia Parma Deall Basham, Martha Chapline, and Marion Rose. Others are J. N. Heiskell, David O. Dodd, Lutetia Howell, Nate Warren, Anne Warren, Sallie Faulkner, John Ross, Quatie Ross, Commander Perry Wilson, Sarah (Trapnall ), and Betty (Trapnall). Mount Holly is located off I-630 at the Broadway exit. Admission is free but donations are accepted by the Mount Holly Cemetery Association. Phone 501-447-2300 for more information.

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Enjoy a Night at the Speakeasy on Oct. 12 at the Dreamland Ballroom in downtown Little Rock. A 1920s Prohibition-style party benefits the Friends of Dreamland Ballroom organization which is restoring the historic landmark. Donate a bottle of wine $25 or over and enjoy cocktails, food and dancing. RSVP by email or phone to get the password into the party. The ballroom is located in Taborian Hall, now home to Arkansas Flag and Banner, 800 West 9th St. Visit www.dreamlandballroom.org or phone 501-255-5700 for more information.

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The Arkansas Chamber Singers Fall Concerts are scheduled for Oct. 14 and 16. Both performances of Experience Masters in the Hall include compositions by Schutz, Purcell, and Lotti and new works by Lauridsen and Chilcott. St. Mark\'s Episcopal Church in Little Rock is where the Oct. 14 event takes place. The Oct. 16 performance is in the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Center. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 senior citizens and students in advance; $18 adults, $12 seniors and students at the door. Visit www.ar-chambersingers.org or phone 501-377-1121 for more details.

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Loads of entertainment and family fun await those who attend the 72nd annual Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock, Oct. 14-23. You can enjoy fair food, rides, arts and crafts, livestock and more. Scheduled entertainment includes the Great American Wild West Show, and concerts by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Confederate Railroad, and The Marshall Tucker Band. The Arkansas Times Showcase winner Tyrannosaurus Chicken, Kingsdown, The Monsters of Classic Rock, Riverbilly, Travis Tritt, Foghat, Jefferson Starship and the Texaco Country Showdown round out the events. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children and senior citizens ages 60 and over; under age six admitted free. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Everything takes place at the State Fairgrounds Complex, 2600 Howard Str. Visit www.arkansasstatefair.com or phone 501-372-8341 for more information.

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Lace up your running or walking shoes and join the Youth Home Hero Hustle Saturday, Oct. 15, in Little Rock. This fun run relay is intended for runners of all levels and ages. Participants are encouraged to run as their favorite super hero either real, imagined or from comic books, because anyone can be a hero when they help the children of Youth Home. The Big Dam Bridge is where the action takes place and there will be activities for runners and spectators on both the north and south side of the bridge. Entry fee is $150 per five person team; free to the public. Visit www.youthhome.org or phone 501-821-5500 for additional details.

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Beebe’s 15th annual Fall Festival takes place Saturday, Oct. 15. Main Street will be bustling with vendors, food, a children’s court, an antique car show and plenty of live entertainment. Admission is free. Visit www.beebeark.org or phone 501-827-0353 for more information.

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Pinnacle Mountain State Park invites you to the 19th annual Rendezvous on Oct. 15-16. The West Summit Picnic Area is where mountain men, Native Americans and pioneers have their camps and present demonstrations of life in frontier Arkansas. Lots of food, music and activities for the whole family are also part of the event. The park is located at 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road in west Little Rock. Admission is free but there is a charge for parking. For more information call 501-868-5806.

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Billed as the state’s largest Halloween Festival, the 20th annual Boo at the Zoo is Oct. 20-23 and Oct. 27-31 in Little Rock. New this year is a $15 “unlimited attraction” armband that includes all trick-or-treating stations, including the popular s’mores stop, carnival rides, inflatables, the Haunted House, the Haunted train ride and the Over the Jumps Carousel. Wear your best Halloween attire and come trick-or-treat with the animals. Favorite activities returning this year include the costume contest, magician performance, dance area and photography booth. Hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is $7 per person; $15 for the armband. You can get $1 off by buying tickets online beginning Oct. 1 at www.littlerockzoo.com. For more information phone 501-666-2406.

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The 18th annual Susan G. Komen Arkansas Race for the Cure is the third largest such race in the country. Over 46,000 men, women and children join together in downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock to fight breast cancer in the state. October 22 is the date for this year’s race, preceded by a Pasta Party on Friday, Oct. 21. Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock is where participants can load up on carbs the night before the race. The Italian cuisine is provided by Roman’s Macaroni Grill with entertainment by The Rockets. The race begins in downtown Little Rock at the intersection of Broadway & 2nd streets. The route goes across the Arkansas River to North Little Rock, then back to the finish line at Capitol and Broadway in Little Rock. Entry fee is $25 by mail, $25 for online registration or $30 the day of the race. Visit www.komenarkansas.org or call 501-202-4399 for additional details.

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You’re invited to Cruisin\' in the Rock on Friday, Oct. 21, in the River Market Pavilions and Riverfront in downtown Little Rock. Some really cool muscle cars, street rods, classics, trucks, and motorcycles will be on display. Participants and spectators will enjoy great classic rock n\' roll music, have a chance to win prizes, and reminisce over these meticulously restored vehicles. Admission is free. Visit www.cruisinlittlerock.com or call 501-370-3201 for more information.

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One of the most elaborate and scariest places to be for the Halloween season is EMOBA’s 19th annual Haunted Cathedral. From Oct. 21-31, EMOBA, The Museum of Black Arkansans, will do its best to scare the daylights out of anyone who dares visit. The historic First Baptist Church with its gothic architecture provides the perfect setting for this holiday fun which serves as a fundraiser for the facility. EMOBA is both a museum and a performing arts center. The Haunted Cathedral will have both live and animatronic ghouls and goblins on hand. The cathedral is located at 12th and Louisiana in downtown Little Rock. Visit www.emoba.org or call 501-372-0018 for more information and admission prices.

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Jacksonville is hosting its inaugural Hay Ride by the Lake Oct. 28-29. The ride loops around Dupree Lake and features hot dogs, s\'mores and a few surprises along the way. Admission is $2. Visit www.cityofjacksonville.net or phone 501-982-0818 for more details.

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“Shrek The Musical” takes to the stage Oct. 28-30 at Robinson Center Music Hall in downtown Little Rock. This national touring production “tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, he fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren\'t only found in fairy tells.” Admission prices vary according to performance and can be ordered by calling 501-244-8800 or (800) 982-ARTS (2787). Robinson Center is located at 426 W. Markham.

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Pinnacle Mountain State Park invites you and your family to experience a different kind of Halloween with an evening hayride. Dates are Oct. 29-31. After a ride through the park, participants will gather by a campfire for treats and roasting marshmallows. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Advance payment is required. Pinnacle is located at 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road in west Little Rock. Phone 501-868-5806 for more details or to make reservations.

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“Definitely NOT your average 5K” is how sponsors describe the Mud Run scheduled for Oct. 29 at Two Rivers Park in Little Rock. Participants run, walk, skip, trot and even cavort through the 5Kish – please refer to the helpful hints section of the website for the clarification of \"ish\" – course at this scenic Little Rock park. Participants must overcome an \"obstacle\" or two along the way then finish with a romp through the ”world-renowned 300-foot mud pit.” The point is not to finish fast but with style. Visit www.mudrun.org or phone 501-371-4639 to get more information.

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North Little Rock’s Laman Library is having a Halloween Festival, Saturday, Oct. 29. The party starts at 2 p.m. and includes tricks and treats, ghouls, princesses, and creatures of all kinds. Admission is free. Visit www.lamanlibrary.org or phone 501-758-1720 to find out more information.

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Celebrate Halloween with the Stars at Woolly Hollow State Park in Greenbrier. The park hosts a Halloween Trick-or-Celestial-Treats Star Party on Oct. 29. The rural location of Woolly Hollow makes it a good place to stargaze because it is far from urban light pollution. Volunteers from the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society will be on hand with their telescopes and bowls of treats for the kids. Wear your costumes for a candy treat (no face paint please, to protect the telescopes). The event takes place at the park swim beach and admission is free. Phone 501-679-2098 for more details.

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