GENTRY — On Monday Gentry will hold its 103rd annual freedom festival in the city park, with a car show getting underway by 10 a.m. and other activities beginning about noon.
The fireworks display, to be held at dusk, promises once again to be bigger and better than in years past with even more fireworks to light up the night sky.
The day will begin with a car show. The cars will be on display at the north side of the park. Food venders (more than in years past), games and entertainment will be on the south side of the park.
By noon, the inflatable rides for children will be open, and food venders will be offering hamburgers, hotdogs and a wide variety of other goodies to eat and drink.
Wild Wilderness Safari will bring some of its wild animals to the park for children to see up close. Camel rides are a favorite of many visitors.
Tired Iron of the Ozarks will display some of the club's engines and tractors and offers rides on its tractor-drawn hay wagons which are complete with seats and steps, making the rides a favorite for all ages.
At 3 p.m., the tiny-tot pageants will get underway on the stage. Children from the Gentry School District between the ages of 3 and 5 will compete for the titles of Little Miss and Little Mister Gentry.
Then at 5 p.m., Kaitlin Carlson will take the stage. The local singer is a graduate of Gentry High School and has a voice to please.
Following Kaitlin will come Kaylin Cripps and her band at 6 p.m. Kaylin is a popular singer in northwest Arkansas who has won numerous vocal competitions. She and her band will entertain until 7:30 with her blend of country music.
At 8 p.m., Barrett Baber will take the stage, entertaining with his unique and soulful style of country music until dusk -- about 9:30 p.m. -- when the fireworks will light up the sky.
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 more.
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].
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."
General News on 06/29/2016