GRAVETTE -- The city of Gravette invites residents and visitors to join together to celebrate Gravette Day, the 129th anniversary of the city's founding, on Saturday, Aug. 13.
The Gravette Kiwanis Club will hold its annual pancake breakfast at the Gravette Middle School cafeteria from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. The all-you-can-eat menu includes pancakes, sausage, coffee and orange juice and costs $5 per person. Children five years old and younger may enjoy breakfast at no cost. Proceeds will benefit the Kiwanis scholarship and community service programs.
The Gravette Day 5K, sponsored by the Gravette Gym, will begin at 8 a.m. at Old Town Park. Registered participants may pick up their packets at the Gravette Gym beginning Wednesday, Aug. 10, between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m., or at Old Town Park the morning of the race. The first 72 participants will receive a Gravette Day 5K shirt. Water and first aid stations will be positioned along the route, and the GHS boys basketball team will assist with the event. Awards, including gift cards from Grand Savings Bank, will be presented at 9 a.m. at the Old Town Park pavilion. Proceeds from the event benefit the Gravette Police Department's Shop with a Cop program.
Tours of the Gravette Historical Museum will be given from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A car show will be held at the old bus barn property at the corner of Fourth Avenue S.E. and Charlotte Street S.E. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Donations for entry will be accepted, with proceeds benefiting the museum. Car show awards will be presented at 2 p.m. For more information about the car show, contact Shane Hargrave at 479-256-1602 or message Gravette Cruise & Car Meet on Facebook.
Tickets for the museum's basket raffle may be purchased in the museum annex between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the raffle drawing to be held at 2:30 p.m. Prices are $1 for one ticket, $5 for six tickets and $10 for 13 tickets. The winning ticket holders must be present at the drawing to be eligible to claim their prizes.
An art show will be held in the Gravette Civic Center and is open to artists from around the area. The show will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Categories include paint, drawing and 3D art, as well as youth categories. Judging will take place at 10 a.m., with winners announced at the opening ceremony. Peoples Choice voting will remain open throughout the show, with the winner announced at the closing.
Longtime Hiwasse residents Robert and Geneva Hamilton will serve as the grand marshals for this year's "Celebrating Community" themed parade. The parade will begin at noon at the intersection of Charlotte Street S.E. and Highway 59 North, travel north to Main Street, east to Sixth Avenue S.E. and then south back to Charlotte Street. Parade trophies will be awarded for best use of theme, most festive and overall best entry. Following the parade, the Bank of Gravette will have two money drops on Main Street, one for ages 5-13 and another for ages 14 and older.
Mayor Kurt Maddox will open the afternoon festivities at 1 p.m. on the main stage at Kindley Park. Winners of the 5K, parade and art show will be announced and awards will be presented for the youngest and oldest attendees, as well as the person who traveled the farthest to attend Gravette Day. A pep rally will be led by GHS cheerleaders. The main stage is sponsored by Teasley Drug.
The Kidz Zone at Kindley Park will open at 10 a.m. and close at approximately 6 p.m. Food and merchandise vendors will be located throughout the park. Gravette Day shirts are available for purchase at City Hall and the Gravette Public Library until the end of business Friday, Aug. 12. They may also be purchased at the Kindley Park gazebo on Gravette Day. Youth XL -- Adult XL shirts are $8 each and Adult 2XL -- 3XL are $10 each.
Rackensak will take the stage from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Band members Vince Turner, James Miller and Gravette native Kevin Bonner play a variety of music, including blues, rock, country and pop.
Pageants will begin at 3:30 p.m. and will include Pretty Baby, Tiny Tot, Little Miss Toddler, Mr. Tiny Tot, Tiny Tot, Little Mister, Little Miss Petite, Little Miss, Miss Tween and Miss Preteen. Miss Teen Gravette evening wear competition and crowning will take place at 7:30 p.m. The casual wear portion of the Miss Gravette competition will take place at 5:15 p.m. with evening wear and crowning at 6:50 p.m. The pageants are sponsored by KKT Dynasty Group LLC.
For more information about Gravette Day activities and application forms, please visit www.gravettear.com or email [email protected].