GRAVETTE -- Gravette will celebrate the anniversary of its founding with Gravette Day activities on Saturday, Aug. 11. The theme for the 125th anniversary is "Looking Back and Moving Forward."
The day will begin with a Kiwanis pancake breakfast at the Gravette Middle School cafeteria from 6:30 to 10 a.m. The all-you-can-eat breakfast costs $5 per person and includes pancakes, sausage, coffee and orange juice. There is no cost for children ages 6 and younger. A quilt donated by Betty Howard will be raffled. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and will be available at the door or may be purchased in advance at Arvest Bank or Bank of Gravett. All proceeds from the event will benefit Kiwanis youth programs.
An arts and crafts show will be held at the Bank of Gravett community room and on the grounds of the former Presbyterian Church from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include displays of art, jewelry and nail fashion. Sidewalk chalk art and a LEGO display will be provided by the children of Imagine Before and After School Care. Booth space is still available. Contact Michael Kelley at 479-936-1424 for further information.
A car, truck and bike show benefiting Imagine Before and After School Care will be held on the 400 block of Charlotte Street S.E., with registration starting at 11 a.m. A $10 entry fee is required. Vehicles will be judged at 2 p.m., with awards presented at 3 p.m. Contact Chris or Tina Crose at 479-787-0510 for more information.
Lura Mae Kemp will serve as Grand Marshal of the Gravette Day parade which will begin at noon and will travel from Charlotte Street S.E. north along Highway 59, turning east onto Main Street to Kindley Park, where the opening ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. Awards will be given for the youngest and oldest attendees, as well as the person who traveled the farthest to attend Gravette Day.
Joe Giles and the Homewreckers will be in concert on the main stage in Kindley Park beginning at 1:30 p.m. The band has won awards, including the Northwest Arkansas Music Awards "Best Rock Band" and the Ozark Music Awards "Dance Party Band of the Year" and "Rock Band of the Year."
A variety of afternoon activities for children will be provided at Kindley Park. All In Youth Ministry of Beacon Baptist Church will staff a Kids Zone from 12:30 to 6 p.m., and other attractions include carnival games, pony rides and a free petting zoo. A "Big Equipment Experience" on the west side of Kindley Park will allow children of all ages to explore a variety of heavy equipment from Bobcat NWA, John Deere, Benton County Sheriff's Office, Gittlein Harvesting and other participating businesses. The Gravette Fire Department will host the kid's firemen's muster from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Main Street by the Bank of Gravett and will provide smokehouse tours.
Vendor booths at Kindley Park will offer handmade signs, jewelry, books for children and adults, boutique clothing, candles, beauty products and more. Gravette Day T-shirts may be purchased for $5 each at the informational booth located in the Kindley Park gazebo. Food trucks, carnival-style games, pony rides and a free petting zoo will also be located at Kindley Park. Vendor application forms are available on the city of Gravette website, www.gravettear.com.
The Gravette Historical Museum, located at 503 Charlotte Street S.E., will host the sixth annual Dutch oven cook-off. Judging of the entries will begin at 1 p.m. with first-, second- and third-place winners receiving $150, $100 and $75 respectively. The people's-choice winner will receive $5o. The public is invited to purchase bowls for $3 for use in the public tasting portion of the event which begins at 2 p.m. Winners will be announced at 3 p.m. Items displayed in the museum annex will be raffled, with tickets priced at $1 each, six for $5 and 13 for $10. Contact Randi VanNoy at 479-866-7297 if interested in entering the cook-off event.
Pageants will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Kindley Park and include Pretty Baby, Tiny Tot, Little Miss Toddler, Mr. Tiny Gravette, Little Miss Petite, Little Miss, Miss Tween, Miss Preteen, Miss Teen Gravette and Miss Gravette. Miss Teen Gravette evening wear competition and crowning will take place at 6:50 p.m., with Miss Gravette evening wear and crowning following at 7:30 p.m. Pageant information and applications are available at www.gravettear.com.
Community on 08/01/2018