GENTRY -- Preparations are underway for the 103rd annual Freedom Festival to be held on Independence Day in Gentry City Park. In addition to the spectacular fireworks display planned for the evening, the celebration will include some top-notch entertainment.
Headlining the evening's entertainment will be Barrett Baber, an Arkansas musician known for his performances on NBC's "The Voice" and for winning the CBS Grammy Gig of a Lifetime in 2014. He is becoming well-known across the music scene for his unique and soulful country sound.
Opening for Baber will be Kaylin Cripps, of Gentry. Cripps and her band are known locally for their style of country performances and often provide entertainment at major local events.
Other events on the schedule but not yet entirely set in stone include: a car show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Tammie Runyan in charge; inflatable rides from noon until dark; food vendors from 11 a.m. until dark; a Tiny Tot Pageant for children, ages 3-5, (applications are available by emailing the Gentry Chamber office at [email protected] or Brandy Cordeiro at [email protected]); Kaitlin Carlson, a local singer, to perform from 5 to 6 p.m.; Kaylin Cripps and her band to be on stage from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; and Barrett Baber to perform from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Fireworks will follow at dark.
Other items being planned include a raffle for a bicycle, sponsored by Arvest Bank; a raffle for an NWA Naturals jersey to support the Gentry Pride 11U girls' softball team, donated by NWA Naturals and Arvest Ballpark; and a giveaway every hour from 3 to 9 p.m. for two free tickets to Gentry Night at the Arvest Ballpark on July 13, sponsored by the Gentry Chamber of Commerce.
Fireworks this year are sponsored by McKee Foods. The concert is sponsored by Gentry United Way, with the special stage sponsored by Smith Drug. Other sponsors include: Cherokee Casino, Grand Savings Bank, Arvest Bank, Innuendos Design and possibly more.
More entertainment is being planned from noon until 3 p.m., and the Chamber is looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tasks (to sell raffle tickets and such).
Looking Back
An ad in the Gentry Journal-Advance from June of 1916 mentioned the following features of the event 100 years ago: a riding contest with $10 going to the winner ($5 was offered to the person furnishing the "buckinest" horse); a young men's foot race of 100 yards with $2.50 going to the winner; a ladies 50-yard foot race with a pair of white slippers going to the winner; a sack race and a wheelbarrow race, with $1 going to the winners.
The July 4th celebration featured a baseball game with Pittsburg playing Gentry. Entertainment was by the S.I.A. (possibly a local stringed instrument association) in connection with Dodgen's Electric Show in the afternoon and the evening.
Boone's Mexico Ranch and Carnival Congress was to exhibit on the grounds.
The welcome address was to be given by Mayor G.D. Lowell. Miss Edna Eldridge was on the schedule to sing a solo. Other soloists included C.A. Downs and Mrs. C.A. Downs. Miss Alice Richardson and Sylvia Bryson were scheduled to sing a duet.
"Soul-inspiring music" was promised all day long by the "celebrated Gentry Band."
In June of 1915, there was disagreement on when the July 4th celebration would be observed since the 4th fell on a Sunday. Some wanted the celebration to be held on Saturday and some on Monday. No agreement could be reached but, after a review of city ordinances, it was discovered that a 1913 Gentry city ordinance stated the following: "That hereafter July 4th, except when the same shall come on Sunday, and then July 3rd shall be a day of general celebrating in the city of Gentry, and hereafter the people of the city and surrounding country are invited to meet and celebrate in an appropriate manner with full privileges from the city to do or act in any manner not conflicting with morals or rights of self or others."
Another ad in the Journal-Advance offered the following reminder: "Don't forget that Gentry will celebrate the 4th of July in fitting style. Everybody in Benton County is expected to attend. Our latch-string is long enough to include the adjoining states whose people are invited to be present and test our hospitality. Gentry never disappoints."
Though the celebration has evolved much over the years, Gentry's Freedom Festival promises fun for the entire family during the day and a spectacular fireworks display after dark. Everyone is invited to come out and join in the celebration.
For more information, call Janie Parks, Chamber director, at 479-736-2358 or by email at [email protected].
General News on 06/08/2016