Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Forest Festival Almost Upon Us

With each passing tick of the clock, the 18th Annual Forest Festival draws closer.

Freddie Horne, with the Gurdon Community Development and Entertainment Club (CD&E), spoke with members of the Gurdon Rotary Club, giving them an update on how plans are going for the event.

Horne began by praising the city's Street Department for the clean up work it's done so far. He said their efforts make the city look good and show pride in the community.

This kind of cooperation from the city and county government help make the festival a success year after year, he said.

To date, some 100 arts and craft vendors have requested space, with the final number expected to be around 120, Horne said.

There will be pony rides this year, something a bit different than years past. And for the first time, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AG&FC) will have its traveling aquarium on hand.

This, Horne said, is a popular attraction as it shows a wide variety of the fresh-water fish that can be found in Arkansas's rivers, lakes and streams.

The CD&E Club has been trying to get the aquarium for years, but there's always been a scheduling conflict, he said. But by working with Rick Frazier, an officer with the AG&FC, the aquarium will be on hand for this year's festival.

Horne said this is a good display, one adults and children both enjoy.

Once again, entering the festival parade will be free to those interested in having a float or vehicle involved. Horne said the floats don't have to be fancy and commercial floats are more than welcome. "We're here to recognize businesses and associations," he told the Rotarians.

The Griffin family is again sponsoring the Eric Griffin Memorial Run, a 5-k event for area runners, but the fun begins at 7 a.m. with the Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast at the Senior Adult Center.

Mercantile is sponsoring this year's street dance. The dance will be the final event at the festival.

First State Bank is helping with the annual antique car show and festival T-shirts. Most of the shirts will be given to those entering the car show, with the remainder being sold to the general public.

International Paper, Charles Ledbetter Logging and Jesse Runyan are handling the logging games.

Piggly Wiggly will be picking up the tab on having the programs printed as well as donating items for the auction and sponsoring the annual Halloween costume contest for the younger children.

Horne said he and Terry Norris have traveled to several other festivals and car shows, recruiting the best they can get for the Forest Festival. They also work to attract a variety of vendors to Gurdon for the event.

The money raised during the festival goes to the CD&E Club and is, in turn, returned to the community.

The CD&E Club purchased televisions and videocassette recorders for Gurdon Primary School and kindergarten, bought a new power supply for the South Clark County Rescue Unit, supports Girls and Boys State, the Close Up Program and presents a CD&E Scholarship annually.

The group purchased video equipment for the Gurdon High School English department so students can be recorded and critiqued on their speeches.

"There's a lot of different things the CD&E Club uses the money for," Horne said.

He thanked the city's merchants for allowing Main Street to be closed off for the festival, but many have said their best days have been during the fete with more foot traffic in the downtown area.

This year's festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 31.