Fall festival set for this weekend in Gentry park

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

— Gentry’s Fall Festival, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Gentry United Way, is this weekend and will offer the widest range of activities ever for the Gentry festival, according to Bev Saunders, executive director of the Gentry Chamber of Commerce.

Downtown windows have been painted by the Gentry Art Club and decorations have been put up around downtown street lamps. Gentry businesses, too, have put up a variety of fall decorations. The Chamber of Commerce is awarding $100 to the best business or government building display, with judging set for Friday.

Friday is homecoming for the Gentry Pioneers. The football team will meet the Pea Ridge Blackhawks at 7 p.m., with pre-game homecoming festivities and the crowning of the queen prior to the game.

A pep rally will be held at the stadium at 11 a.m. Friday. The homecoming parade will travel down Main Street that afternoon, beginning about 1:50 p.m.

The Annual Gentry Quilt Fair will be held in the McKee Community Room at the Gentry Public Library. It will begin on Oct. 8 and run through Oct. 15. The show draws visitors from across the region and country. For more information on the quilt show, contact Janie Parks at 936-1498.

Cruise Night, hosted by Big Buckle BBQ and the Gentry Fire Department, will be held on Gentry’s Main Street on Saturday night. Anyoneinterested in participating is encouraged to meet on Main Street at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Kevin Crier at 736-2030.

The Fall Festival itself is set for Sunday afternoon in the park. It will begin at noon and continue until 6 p.m.

“This will be a great time to take the family to the park for lots of good entertainment, food and fun,” Saunders said. “It’s a great time for the community to come together and just enjoy themselves.”

The Pumpkin Patch, hosted by the Bloomfield 4-H Club, will be in the center of the park. Children can pick out a pumpkin, paint it and take it home with them.

The local talent competition, with about 20 participants, is set to begin at 1 p.m., with winners to be announced at 3 p.m., Prizes are $300 for first place and $200 for second. Contestants are asked to be at the sound booth in front of the performing stage at 12:30 p.m. to check in their music. The event is sponsored by Decatur State Bank, Gentry Bank and the Bank of Siloam Springs. For more information, contact Saunders at 736-2358.

McKee Foods, Inc., will sponsor Joseph Stringer, a magician who will be performing from 1 to 5 p.m. in the park. Stringer will perform on stage but will also be mingling in the crowd and performing at will Saturday.

McKee will also be selling its 50th Anniversary special edition cookbooks at the festival, with the net proceeds going to the Gentry United Way.

At 3:30 p.m., Trout Fishing inAmerica will present a free concert. This group has been nominated for four Grammys for their children’s and folk music. The concert will be on the big stage. They are known as “people who take their fun seriously.”

The Gentry Car Show will once again be sponsored by the Gentry Fire Department. It will be in the north end of the park. Those desiring more information may contact 736-9476.

Tired Iron of the Ozarks will show antique tractors and machinery in the south end of the park. They will also provide the free wagon rides throughout the afternoon.

Sky divers from Skydive Sky Ranch will again be dropping in under canopy chutes from above. Scheduled times, according to Saunders, are 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

There will also be lots of good food - smoked chicken, roasted corn, cotton candy, funnel cakes, burgers, hot dogs, desserts and more. Booths featuring games and arts and crafts are planned.

Free booth space is available for arts and craft vendors, Gentry Chamber of Commerce members, political or educational presentations, according to Saunders. An application form must be submitted to the Gentry Chamber of Commerce and can be picked up at Gentry City Hall. For more information, contact 736-2358.

“I hope everyone will plan to participate in some or all of the events and create some special memories for themselves and their families in our special town,” Saunders said.

News, Pages 2 on 10/06/2010