Gravette Day will be held this Saturday

GRAVETTE -- Well, it's finally almost here. After months of waiting, it's time for another Gravette Day and, although it will be quite different from traditional Gravette Days, area residents are anxiously awaiting the big day.

Because the current covid-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation of many events, there are no morning activities planned for this Gravette Day. Visitors will just have to start their day without the benefit of those fluffy pancakes usually served up by the Kiwanis. And there won't be any tasty tidbits handed out by Dutch oven cooks at lunchtime since the popular Dutch oven cookoff has also been canceled.

Activities this year will begin with the annual Gravette Day Parade. It will kick off at 12 noon, with Berl Dean and Mary Harris leading the lineup as parade grand marshals. A longer route has been planned this year, passing through several residential areas so many can enjoy the parade from their homes. There will only be parade floats and vehicles. No walking entries will be permitted.

The parade will start at Gravette Middle School, pass Gravette High School, wind through the Walnut Creek and Westfield neighborhoods and pass the Ozarks Community Hospital before ending in the south part of town. All are invited to enjoy the parade from their homes or their vehicles.

"We have received nearly 40 parade entries so far, so we expect this one to be just as fantastic as the parades people have come to expect from Gravette Day," Mallory Weaver, Gravette communications director, announced Monday morning.

A front door/porch decorating contest has been instituted in an attempt to return to the atmosphere of early Gravette Day events when many spent the day picnicking in their yards or on their front porches. Judges will drive by each home entered and choose first-, second -and third-place winners. These winners will receive gift cards of $150, $100 and $50, provided by the Bank of Gravette. Homes to be judged must be inside Gravette city limits. The deadline to enter is today (Wednesday, Aug. 5) and last-minute entries can be submitted on the city of Gravette's website, www.gravettear.com, or by calling city hall, 479-787-5757. Parade entries can also be submitted there.

Miss Gravette and Miss Teen Gravette pageants will also have a new look, with the contests to be held at the Gravette Civic Center. No audience will be allowed other than the contestants, pageant staff, judges and members of the media. No contests will be held for younger age groups. Seven girls are entered in both the Miss Gravette 2020 and Miss Teen Gravette 2020 competition. Livestreaming of the contest, including evening gown and onstage question portions, will begin at 2 p.m. on the "City of Gravette -- Government" Facebook page.

The annual Gravette Day car show, art show, musical entertainment and museum tours will not be held this year, but Gravette Day planners are working hard to make sure that the remaining events are entertaining and enjoyable to all participants and spectators. Persons wishing to purchase souvenir Gravette Day T-shirts may pick them up at the Gravette Public Library or at Gravette City Hall. Shirts, at a cost of $10 each, are available in sizes Youth Large through Adult 3X.