GRAVETTE — The weather cooperated beautifully to make Gravette Day 2017 a resounding success. Some light raindrops fell during the afternoon, but the heavier showers held off until evening when the day's events had concluded. "Planes, Trains and Main Street" was chosen as the theme of this year's celebration, and Mayor Kurt Maddox and area officials held a ribbon cutting for the recently completed Main Street improvements at midday.
Serving at the annual Kiwanis Club breakfast began at 6:30 a.m. with many coming out to eat their fill of pancakes and sausage and to visit with other diners. Betty Belk, of Rogers, won the drawing for the quilt raffle after the breakfast. Four teams entered in the Dutch oven cook-off also began preparations early, and smoke from their cooking fires soon filled the air on the museum grounds.
Area artists and craftsmen displayed their works from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bank of Gravett community room. Artists included Michael Kelley, organizer of the event; an 83-year old painter, Chris King of Rogers; and members of the Northwest Arkansas Beading Society. Kelley and other artists decorated the sidewalks around the bank with chalk paintings, and other artists set up tents on the museum grounds. These included Kat Bennett of Bennett Art Design in Lowell, who did face painting and sold birdhouses for patrons to paint.
The Gravette Day parade kicked off at noon with Ken and Paulette Austin, owners and operators of Austin Drug, as grand marshals. Gravette and Maysville fire trucks, police and emergency vehicles led the lineup, followed by Miss Gravette and Miss Teen Gravette contestants and the Gravette High School marching band. Several colorful entries reflected the day's theme, with Ozarks Community Hospital's "OCH Express" float chosen as the parade winner.
Heather Finley, Gravette Day chairperson, welcomed visitors at the 1 p.m. opening ceremonies in Kindley Park. Jillian Brown, a senior at Gravette High, sang the "Star Spangled Banner," and Finley presented award certificates to parade winner Ozarks Community Hospital and to Knox Lundholm, one-week-old son of Candace Lundholm, the youngest person present. Juanita Whiteside, only a few days before her 89th birthday, received the certificate for the oldest person attending. Members of the 412 West band from Springdale entertained on the stage in the park from 1:30 to 3 p.m. A firemen's muster for the youngsters drew several participants at 2 p.m. on Main Street.
The annual car, truck, and bike show, held on the old bus barn grounds, drew 50 entries and trophies were awarded in several divisions.
The fifth annual Dutch oven cook-off, sponsored by the Gravette Historical Museum, was well attended. Pot Rasslers, a brother and sister team from Farmington, won first place overall, with Barnyard Cooks of Fayetteville and Lincoln taking second place and Backwoods Bakers earning third. Sizzlin' Skillets of Gravette won first place in the novice division. The team also received the people's choice award with its calico potatoes.
Pageants for nine age groups began at 4 p.m. Divisions ranged from Pretty Baby, for contestants 11 months and younger, up to the Miss Gravette competition, for young ladies 17-23. Contests were held on the main stage in Kindley Park throughout the evening, with Isabella Dell being crowned Miss Gravette 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Community on 08/16/2017