Hiwasse fall festival offers fun for all ages

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Larry Weihe, chairman of the chili cookoff at the Hiwasse fall festival, displays the chili pot trophy won by Chuck Skaggs, Gravette chief of police, at the annual festival. Skaggs beat out seven other chili cooks in the competition, received a $50 cash prize, a festival T-shirt and a coffee mug and then signed his name to the traveling trophy.
Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Larry Weihe, chairman of the chili cookoff at the Hiwasse fall festival, displays the chili pot trophy won by Chuck Skaggs, Gravette chief of police, at the annual festival. Skaggs beat out seven other chili cooks in the competition, received a $50 cash prize, a festival T-shirt and a coffee mug and then signed his name to the traveling trophy.

HIWASSE -- The weather cooperated beautifully for this year's Hiwasse fall festival; and a bright, sunny day greeted those who came out for the event. Tables were set up under the trees in the area around the community building and many stopped there to visit with friends and neighbors. Others congregated under the pavilion in the park to greet fellow classmates from Gravette High School for an alumni luncheon.

Several activities were planned for the youngsters. A bouncy house was set up near the playground, a ring toss game was set up and some enjoyed creating chalk art on the sidewalk. Young artists enjoyed the pumpkin painting booth, and members of the art club at Gravette High School assisted them as they completed their colorful creations.

Vendors set up booths and offered their products, including locally-grown produce, books by area authors, handmade woodcrafts and other craft items. Members of the Hiwasse Baptist Church and Hiwasse Church of the Nazarene manned booths. Gravette Public Library staff shared information about library programs, and the Gravette Lions Club made souvenir buttons for festival visitors.

Hamburgers and hot dogs were grilled by employees of the Bank of Gravett and served with chips, drinks and Little Debbie sweets. Members of the Back Roads Band entertained the crowd with upbeat rock and roll tunes from the '60s through the '90s. The Gravette historical museum commission set up a photo booth where folks could snap a memory of the occasion. The booth featured a 1978 Chevy pickup used by rural carrier Bob Kelley to deliver mail in Hiwasse and Gravette for several years.

Eight chili chefs entered the festival chili cookoff. Tasting cups were available for $1 each and, after tasting samples of each dish, tasters voted for their favorite. Gravette police chief Chuck Skaggs won the cookoff with his entry he called "My Adopted Wife." He won a $50 cash prize, a festival T-shirt and coffee mug and the right to sign his name to the cookoff chili pot traveling trophy. Other entrants prepared pots of John Chili, CT's Texas Chili, My First Rodeo, Wizard's Brew, Chili-licious, Rainbow Chili and Devil's Gravy.

Community on 10/03/2018