GRAVETTE -- Events for Gravette Day 2016 are shaping up beautifully, and the day promises lots of fun and excitement for young and old. The theme for this year's Gravette Day is "Just a Kid from Gravette," a phrase borrowed from the celebration honoring Governor Asa Hutchinson on his visit to Gravette earlier this year.
Many prominent people have had their start in Gravette and gone on to major accomplishments. The day is designed to focus on folks who were born here, went to school here or have lived here and made their mark in the world. Several of those citizens will be on hand for the celebration.
The day's activities will kick off bright and early with the annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast, beginning at 6:30 a.m. in the middle school cafeteria. Tickets are $5 for all you can eat of pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee. Kids 6 and under may eat free.
Cooking also begins early for the annual Dutch-oven cook off. Cooks in this year's fourth annual event are expected to light their fires around 7 a.m. The competition will feature both three-pot (main dish, side dish and dessert) and novice divisions (one dish only). Judging will be held at 12:30 p.m., and a public tasting will begin at 1:30. Guests may sample all entries for a $5 fee. Cook-off information can be obtained from Patti Bertschy, 479-721-2143, or Stephanie McLeod, 501-454-3039.
A "Generations" art show, coordinated by Mike Kelley, will be on display in the Bank of Gravett community room, with works by artists of all ages. The art show will run from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
A radio-controlled airplane exhibit and demonstration will be held at Hendren Aviation from 8 to 11 a.m. Flight enthusiasts and remote-control pilots, young and old, will enjoy the display and show.
Registration for the Gravette Day car, truck and bike show will begin at 11 a.m. The show will be held this year on Birmingham Street, just a block south of Kindley Park on the old bus-barn property. Entry fee is $10 per vehicle, and awards will be given at 3 p.m. To enter or for more information, contact Chris and Tina Crose, 479-787-0510.
The Gravette Day parade will be held at 12 noon, with Representative Kim Hendren as grand marshal. The parade route will extend from Charlotte Street, north on Arkansas Highway 59 to Main Street and east on Main to Sixth Avenue, N.E.
Opening ceremonies for the day will be held following the parade, at 1 p.m., in Kindley Park. Awards will be given to the oldest and the youngest person attending and to the person traveling the farthest to attend the celebration. The Gravette High School band and cheer squad will perform at 1:15, and dance students from Dynamic Rhythm dance studio will give a show from 2:30 to 3 p.m.
The Gravette Fire Department will hold a kids' firemen's muster from 2 to 4 p.m. on Main Street, just north of Kindley Park. Many activities are planned for the youngsters, and there will be a special Kids' Zone in the park with three bounce houses, games and fun, from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.
A wide variety of food and drink options will be offered during the day. Food booths will be set up between 7 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. The local Subway shop will have a booth selling sandwiches, chips and soda; and a kettle-corn vendor will be featured in another booth. The pee-wee football team will be selling its always-popular fresh-squeezed lemonade. Several food trucks are expected to be on hand and will provide a number of foods, including corn dogs and hot dogs, funnel cakes and nachos. The Arvest Bank booth will provide free slices of watermelon.
Gravette Day pageants will begin at 3 p.m. on the stage in Kindley Park, with a total of nine pageants, from the "Pretty Baby" contest for children under a year old to the Miss Gravette contest. Youngsters in various age groups will compete, and the contests will conclude with the evening-wear competitions and crowning of Miss Teen Gravette at 5:50 p.m. and Miss Gravette at 6:20 p.m.
The day will conclude with a free concert at 7:30 p.m. by the Reeves Brothers, whose album, "Home Sweet Honky-Tonk," will be available Sept. 3. These popular young performers are former Gravette residents, and their musical talents will be showcased in a family-friendly program of pop and country tunes. They invite all to conclude the day by coming out to listen, dance a little if you like, and enjoy the fun and refreshments until about 9:30 p.m.
General News on 08/02/2016