Ozarks Rambles: Arkansas Ozarks region offers music, seasonal fun

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Way down yonder, in the land that time forgot, is the Ozark Gateway region which includes Stone County, Ark. There are many quaint and unusual fall festivals to intrigue the traveler. |ret||ret||tab|

Mountain View, Ark., home stomping grounds of Jimmy Driftwood, features one festival that stands out the 18th Annual Bean Fest and Outhouse Race, held Oct. 28.|ret||ret||tab|

No, that's not a misprint, the Beans and Cornbread Cooking Contest also hosts an annual outhouse race. The event draws dedicated entrants from Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas.|ret||ret||tab|

According to Kim Morris-Rosa at the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, there are two classes of racing outhouses: the stock class and the "modified gas class." |ret||ret||tab|

While it might seem an awkward segue to move smoothly from the Best Cornbread and Beans Cooking Contest to racing outhouses, it could be said that one begets the other.|ret||ret||tab|

The cooking contest was judged on the best cornbread and the best beans. Free beans and corn bread were served after the official judging.|ret||ret||tab|

There was live entertainment on the 100-year-old Courthouse Square, some of the acts included: Cash's White River Rats Hoedown; the River Rats; and the Ozark Foothill and Rhythm Cloggers. Professional and amateur musicians gathered on and around the historic Square throughout the weekend in constantly changing impromptu jam sessions to entertain festival fans.|ret||ret||tab|

Plan for next year's event. For the Internet enabled, the Web site for the downtown fun is at |bold_on|www.mtnviewcc.org/festivalinfo.htm, and the toll-free phone number for the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce is: 1-888-659-2859|ret||ret||tab|

Other Ozark Gateway region attractions that stand out for a fall foliage tour include the White River Scenic Railroad, Mammoth Spring, many state parks and the Ozark National Forest. A special attraction for my autoharp-playing spouse Marti is the Ozark Folk Center State Park, located an easy one mile out of downtown Mountain View. The whole area is known as the Ozark folk music capital of the world.|ret||ret||tab|

For a complete schedule of remaining events during the 2000 fall and holiday season, you can write to the Ozark Folk Center, PO Box 500, Mountain View, Ark. 72560; or call (870) 269-3851.|ret||ret||tab|

The Ozark Folk Center's 27th Annual Harvest Festival, which concluded Oct. 28, was named an "Editor's Choice Event" by Senior Group Traveler Magazine in 1997 and 1998. |ret||ret||tab|

More upcoming events to be held at the center: |ret||ret||tab|

Second Annual Hammer Fest, sponsored by the Blacksmiths of Arkansas will take place on Nov. 4, and includes Springfield's Kirk Sullen, a blacksmith from Bass Pro Shops.|ret||ret||tab|

The National Bluegrass Fiddlers Championship on Nov. 3-5; and the Fifth Annual Fall Cowboy Gathering, on Nov. 10-11, with concerts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The events will feature Way Out West music, poetry, stories and Western merchandise vendors. Admission fee information is available at 1-870-269-3851.|ret||ret||tab|

Thanksgiving in the Ozarks, Nov. 23-25, features a family Thanksgiving buffet, a gospel concert, and holiday crafts and old-time traditional music concerts. |ret||ret||tab|

Ozark Christmas Celebration will be held Dec. 1-3, with holiday crafts, caroling, and the Ozark Mountain Christmas concerts of traditional holiday music.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Kenny Knauer is a past organizer of the St. Pat's Parade, a participant with the parks, greenways and open spaces committee of Vision 20/20, and a long-time member and volunteer on the steering committee of Founder's Park.)|bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

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