NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Join park staff as they celebrate everything they love about Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area in Rogers during the annual Fall Festival on Oct. 1.
From 10 a.m. to noon, the Historic Van Winkle Trail will be like stepping through time with Civil War soldiers, spinners, a blacksmith and more. Then head to the visitor center to learn about the animals and plants found at the park.
At 1:30 p.m., listen to the folk music of Harmony.
Admission is free. Call 479-789-5000 for details.
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The 20th annual Eagle Watch on Beaver Lake takes place Oct. 1-31 aboard the Belle of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs.
Cruise crystal clear Beaver Lake with expert guides who help passengers sight mature and immature eagles, providing detailed information regarding America’s national bird. See exciting aerial displays, favorite perching sites and occasionally see an eagle catching fish.
Restrooms and concessions are on board.
Daily departures from Starkey Park are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. except Thursdays. Call 479-253-6200 for reservations.
The tour is not recommended for ages 1 year old and younger.
Admission is $20 for adults and $8 for children under 12. Group prices are $15 per adult and $7 per child for 20 to 50 people.
Visit www.estc.net/ belle for more information.
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October 6 is the date for the next Fayetteville First Thursday.
This free monthly event, celebrating original works of art, is held on the downtown Fayetteville square on the first Thursday of each month. It consists of an outdoor art walk, live music and a charity beer garden, while participating galleries and art-related venues offer free access to visual and performing arts starting at 5 p.m.
Call 479-521-5776 or visit www.firstthursdayfayetteville.com for details.
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Eureka Springs hosts the 21st annual Corvette Weekend on Oct. 6-9. Corvette owners get to show off, share information, ride the roads and thrill ’Vette lovers with a show and parade through town.
Find out more about the event by visiting the website at www.eurekaspringscorvette.org or by calling 417-862-7232.
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Check out a display of more than 100 carved pumpkins on Oct. 8 during Eureka Springs Art Adventures - Artists’ Pumpkins.
Get inspiration to create your own with local artist Valerie Damon. You can also have your face painted and enjoy monkey organ music, treats and a drum performance.
The free fun takes place at Basin Spring Park in the historic downtown. Call 479-253-9318 or visit www.EurekaSpringsArtAdventures.com for details.
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The much-anticipated 24th annual Pea Ridge Mule Jump is Oct. 8.
Mule events range from barrel races to boot races to a pro mule jump. Inflatables for the kids, a car show and more than 40 vendors will also be on site.
Admission is $5 for ages 12 and up, $2 for ages 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under. The event takes place at the Pea Ridge High School, located at 781 W. Pickens.
Call 479-903-1520 or visit www.pea-ridgear.com for more information.
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The fifth annual Spanker Creek Farm Arts & Craft Fair is Oct. 12-16 in Bentonville. This is a unique outdoor shopping experience with great fair food. It takes place at Spanker Creek Farm at 8464 W. McNelly Road. Admission is free. Call 479-685-5655 or visit http://spankercreekfarm.com/spankercreekfarm.com for more information.
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Celebrating its 43rd year, the annual Bella Vista Arts & Crafts Festival runs Oct. 13-15. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with vendors selling high-quality, unique, artisan-created items. No buy and re-sell vendors are allowed.
There are more than 300 booths, and parking and admission are free.
Call 479-655-2064 or visit www.bellavistafestival.org for details.
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The 57th annual War Eagle Mill Arts & Crafts Fair is Oct. 13-16 at the War Eagle Mill near Rogers.
Professional crafts men and women offer original, handmade work such as country decorative items, folk art, watercolor and oil paintings, pottery, stoneware, wreaths, potpourris, dried arrangements, quilts, miniatures, country clothing, wearable art, candles, homemade soaps, country furnishings, antique broken china jewelry, white oak baskets, bird houses and feeders, collectibles and much more.
Admission is free.
Call 866-492-7324 or visit www.wareaglemill.com for details and directions.
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Costumed guides lead historical tours at the Eureka Springs municipal cemetery during Voices from the Silent City, set for Oct. 14-15 and 28-29.
Local actors portray former residents - the good, the quirky, the scandalous. The event is informative and entertaining, not scary.
Call 479-253-9417 or visit www.eurekaspringshistoricalmuseum.org for additional information.
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The Fayetteville Farmer’s Market offers its third annual Fayetteville Fall Craft Extravaganza on Oct. 15-16. It runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday on the beautiful downtownsquare gardens.
There will be professional, juried artists and crafts people from the four-county area selling their wares and giving demonstrations. This is an open air market with plenty of restaurants nearby.
Admission is free.
Call 479-236-2910 or visit www.fayettevillefarmersmarket.org for more information.
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Take the Haunted Battlefield Tour on Oct. 22 at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park.
Tour groups will be guided from the amphitheater to the front of the historic Borden House along part of the park’s walking trail. It also goesdown into the valley where the heaviest fighting occurred during the actual Battle of Prairie Grove. Chances are good that there will be a few scary surprises along the way.
Tours depart every 20 to 30 minutes. The last tour will leave at 10 p.m.
Parking is available at the east Borden House entrance. The cost is $2 for adults and $1 for kids.
Call 479-846-2990 for more information.
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Don’t forget to wear your hat to the ninth annual Mad Hatter’s Ball on Oct. 28 at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs.
The event includes a dinner buffet, dance and auction. It raises money for the Eureka Springs School of the Arts.
Call 479-253-5384 tickets cost and reservations. Additional information can be found at www.esartschool.com.
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Eureka Springs’ Fall Diversity Weekend is Oct. 28-30. Special programs are offered at bars, clubs, restaurants and other venues throughout town. Call 479-253-2555 or visit www.diversitypride.com for all of the details.
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Support Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge while enjoying the 16th annual Howl-O-Ween Spooktacular on Oct. 29 in Eureka Springs.
The event is a costume party and haunted hayride, as well as the only nighttime viewing of more than 100 tigers, lions, leopards and cougars. Hear them roar and see their eyes glow in the dark.
Soft drinks and food concessions are available.
Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children.
The refuge is located seven miles south of Eureka Springs on Arkansas 23. Call 479-253-5958 or visit www.turpentinecreek.org for more information.
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The Lewis & Clark Ozark Adventure Race takes place Oct. 29-30 in Springdale.
Held in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas, this race is a challenging course that consists of orienteering, mountain biking, trekking, canoeing, rope events and mystery events. Individual and two-person teams will navigate a course that covers wooded and urban terrain in the Fayetteville and Springdale city limits.
This is approximately 50 miles over an 8- to 18-hour time frame.
Competitors should be prepared for single-track mountain biking trails, flowing water, hilly terrain, rope elements and team-building events.
Call 479-521-7766 or visit www.ozarkadventurerace.com for details.
Area, Pages 32 on 09/28/2011