GRAVETTE — Gravette Day 2017 will be held Saturday, Aug. 12. “Planes, Trains and Main Street … A Salute to Our Iconic History and Great Future!” has been chosen as the theme for this year’s event.
Gravette Day begins with the annual Kiwanis pancake breakfast from 6:30 to 10 a.m. at the Gravette Middle School cafeteria. The all-you-can-eat menu includes pancakes, sausage, coffee and orange juice. Cost is $5 per person. A quilt donated by Betty Howard will be raffled off. Tickets will be available at the door or may be purchased in advance at the Bank of Gravett.
A car, truck and bike show benefiting Imagine Before and After School Care will be held in the 400 block of Charlotte Street. Registration begins at 11 a.m., with a $10 entry fee for each vehicle entered. Vehicles will be judged at 2 p.m. and awards presented at 3 p.m. Contact Chris and Tina Crose, 479-787-0510, for more information.
The annual Gravette Day parade will begin at noon and will travel from Charlotte Street S.E. north on Arkansas Highway 59 and turn east on Main Street. The 2017 grand marshals are Ken and Paulette Austin, owners and operators of Austin Drug. As parade entries arrive at Second Avenue, Mayor Kurt Maddox and other city officials and members of the Chamber of Commerce will cut the ribbon for the recently completed Main Street improvements.
The Gravette Historical Museum will host the fifth annual Dutch oven cook-off on the grounds at 503 Charlotte Street S.E. Those interested in entering, should contact Randi VanNoy, museum curator, 479-866-7297. Judging of entries will begin at 1 p.m. with the first-place winner awarded $150, second-place $100 and third-place $75. The People’s Choice winner will receive $50. Tasting bowls may be purchased for $5 each and can be used to sample all entries during the public tasting which begins at 2 p.m. Winners will be announced at 3 p.m.
Area artists and craftsmen will be exhibiting their works in the annual Gravette Day arts and crafts show at the Bank of Gravett community room. Coordinated by Michael Kelley, the event will be open for viewing from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Kelley, 479-936-1424, for more information.
The Gravette Public Library will be holding a silent auction for 17 themed baskets filled with items donated by more than 40 area businesses. Tickets may be purchased for $1 each, five for $3 or 15 for $5 and may be used to bid on the baskets displayed at the library beginning at 9 a.m. Tickets may be purchased on Gravette Day at the library and at the library booth in Kindley Park or may be purchased in advance at Arvest Bank, Bank of Gravett, City Hall and the Library. Winning tickets will be drawn at 5 p.m. and winners need not be present to win.
Most activities will take place in the large, shady Kindley Park. Several vendors will have booths offering a variety of food and drink, and organizations will have informational booths. Vendor information and applications may be found at www.gravettear.com.
Afternoon festivities will begin with the opening ceremony at 1 p.m. in Kindley Park. Awards will be given for the youngest and oldest attendees and the person traveling the farthest to the event. Afternoon activities in the park will include a Kids’ Zone with activities coordinated by All In Youth Ministry of Beacon Baptist Church. A fireman’s muster, hosted by the Gravette Fire Department, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. by the Bank of Gravett on Main Street. Firemen will also conduct tours through the department’s smoke house.
412 West, a band composed of Springdale musicians Anthony Ball, Mike Franco, Monroe Hill and Grady Mathews, will entertain the crowd with a mixture of rock, classic rock and R&B tunes. 412 West was voted one of the top 10 bands in northwest Arkansas in 2014.
Pageants will begin at 4 p.m. in Kindley Park, with judging in nine divisions, Pretty Baby, Tiny Tot, Little Miss Toddler, Little Miss Petite, Little Miss, Miss Tween, Miss Preteen, Miss Teen Gravette and Miss Gravette. Pageant information and applications may be obtained at www.gravettear.com.