Festival Fun: 6 Free Arkansas Festivals Happening This Weekend
Explore Arkansas this weekend, June 27-29, by celebrating small towns and heritage around the state. You'll find multiple festivals, including Malvern's Brickfest, Jasper's Buffalo River Elk Festival, Emerson's PurpleHull Pea Festival, the LULAC Fun and Family Fiesta in Little Rock and more. All six festivals offer free admission, and lots of family fun!
17th Annual Buffalo River Elk Festival in Downtown Jasper: Newtown County, the "Elk Capital of Arkansas," gets wild for this annual outdoor sporting event and craft fair. Both days of the festival include talents shows and street dancing until 11 p.m. Plus, enjoy a taste of the Dutch Oven Cook-Off and a pie competition and auction. Make sure to visit the kid's zone, and let children 12 and under cast a line in the fishing derby (9 a.m. at Bradley Park). Hunting enthusiasts can also enter the Arkansas State Championship Elk Calling Contest! June 27-28. For info and a full schedule of events: (870) 446-2455, TheOzarkMountains.com. FREE!
25th Annual PurpleHull Pea Festival in Emerson: Have you ever seen the World Championship Rotary Tiller Race? If the answer is no, then head to this small-town festival that celebrates the purplehull pea. Check out the tractor exhibition, a pea shelling competition, a purplehull peas and cornbread cook off, the Pea-Stompin' Street Dance and a fireworks show. 8 a.m.-11 p.m. June 28. For info and a full schedule of events: (501) 416-4657, PurpleHull.com. FREE!
34th Annual Malvern Brickfest: This year's two-day festival in Malvern, "The Brick Capital of the World," features a free concert by headliner Tracy Lawrence on Saturday (9 p.m.; June 28). Families can also watch bull riding in the rodeo arena, enter the brick toss or the brick car derby, watch the dog show, and enjoy the closing fireworks show. Inflatables, a petting zoo and rides will entertain the kiddos. June 27-28. For info and a full schedule: (501) 332-2721, MalvernBrickfest.com. Parking varies; Bull Bash advance tickets $4, at the door $6; all other events FREE!
Archey Fest 2014 in Clinton: The Archey Fork Summer Festival & Car Show is back for another classic car show downtown, fishing derby, activity booths, carnival rides, arts & crafts, concession stands, games, contests, music, and a grand finale of nighttime fireworks. June 27-28. For info: (501) 745-6500, ClintonARChamber.com. FREE!
LULAC Fun and Family Fiesta at Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock: The Clinton Foundation and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) celebrate Latino culture in central Arkansas. Activities include children's games, inflatables and bounce castles, soccer and tennis clinics, Zumba demonstrations, Mexican folklore dances, music and more. Noon-9 p.m. June 28. For info, click here. FREE!
Red, White & Blue Festival in Mountain Home: This family-friendly, community festival is set in the Ozark Mountains and offers a parade, rodeo, car show, concerts, food, fireworks and more. A Kids Zone includes bounce houses, pony rides, petting zoo, face-painting, balloon animals, dunking booth, magic shows and more. On Friday, families can watch the hit film "Frozen" in an outdoor movie screening (9:30 p.m.). June 27-28. For info and a full schedule of events: (870) 421-2807, RedWhiteBlueFestival.com. FREE!
For more events, browse our full online calendar here.