Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Music Performances Set At Mena Mountain

Arkansas's second tallest mountain will come alive with music performances, more than 100 arts and crafts vendors and children's games when Queen Wilhelmina State Park and the Ouachita Arts and Crafts Guild co-host the 10th annual Mountainfest, August 7, 8 and 9.

"It'll fill the hill," said Brad Holleman, park interpreter, who estimates last year's festival attendance at around 5,000.

Two country groups, the Talimena Drive Band and What-a-Band, will perform on Saturday, August 8, Holleman said, with the show beginning at 1 p.m.

Magician Tim McGowan will perform at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 7, and at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Holleman said. In addition, children's games, such as lollipop licking and water balloon tossing are scheduled.

Food vendors will be on hand offering such items as barbecue, hot dogs and hamburgers, Holleman said, and the park's full-service restaurant will also be open.

Among the arts and crafts on display beginning at 9 a.m. each day will be watercolor and oil paintings, jewelry, ceramics, quilts, crochet, wood and native American crafts.

Wares from most of the more than 50 Ouachita guild members will be included in the show, according to JoAnn Crider, the guild's Mountainfest chairman. The guild also operates an arts and crafts store at 501 Mena Street in Mena, she said. The store is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Queen Wilhelmina State Park is located on 2,681 foot-high Rich Mountain, 13 miles northwest of Mena via a section of Highway 88, known as the Talimena Scenic Drive, a National Forest Scenic Byway with six vista turn-outs between Mena and the park.

For more information on the festival and the park, call 501-394-2863 or write Queen Wilhelmina State Park, 3877 Highway 88 West, Mena, AR 71953.

For reservations in the park's 38-room lodge, call toll free at 800-264-2477.

For information on Mena attractions, accommodations and restaurants, write the Mena- Polk County Chamber of Commerce at 514 Sherwood Ave., Mena AR 71953 or phone toll-free 800-210-9084.