For more than 20 years, the Twin Lakes Area has been home to one of the biggest family-friendly community festivals, and the tradition continues this weekend. The 22nd-annual Red, White and Blue Festival is set for Friday and Saturday with the majority of the activities on the campus of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home.
This year, the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce has been handed the reins of the festival. Chamber President Dani Pugsley, Carter’s Jewel Chest owner Beth Carter and Rand Rodeo Company Producer Sonia Rand recently represented the festival as guests of the Talk of the Town on KTLO-FM. Pugsley says she was amazed just by the amount of people involved in its operation.
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The highlight of festival will be Saturday night to wrap up the event. The Red, White and Blue Fireworks Show is set to begin around 9:30 on the university campus. Musical accompaniment for the fireworks can be heard on Classic Hits 101.7 and streaming live at ktlo.com.
One of the ways money is raised for the festival is through the ticket sales for the Jewels for You pendant at Carter’s Jewel Chest. Carter gives the details on this year’s pendant.
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Tickets can be purchased at area banks, the chamber or Carter’s Jewel Chest. The winning ticket number will be announced on the stage shortly before the fireworks show.
Activities begin Friday evening at 5 with the vendors and the beer garden. One of the first events is the Ultimate Auto Group Jeep Night. Registration starts at 5:30, and the awards will be handed out two hours later. All Jeeps are welcome.
Live music will begin at 6. Marybeth Byrd will be the opening performer, and she’ll be followed by Ha Ha Tonka at 8.
One of the major activities with the Red, White and Blue Festival is the two-night rodeo at the Mountain Home Saddle Club Arena. The pre-show starts at 7:30 both nights, and the show begins a half hour later. Rand says for those that are not normally rodeo fans, this is the show to see.
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Rodeo events include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, ranch bronc riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, bull riding and the kids’ wild pony race. Admission IS $10 for thosE ages 13 and older, $5 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for children under 6.
Saturday’s activities begin in the morning with the Red, White and Blue 5k Race at the university. Registration begins at 6:30, and the race starts at 7. The cost to be a runner or a spirit runner is $30 for anyone preregistering and $35 on race day. For anyone just wanting a t-shirt, the cost is $15. For more information or to register online, go to redwhitebluefestival.com/5krun.
Another big activity in the festival is the Red, White and Blue Parade. Pugsley says there was a big change for this year’s parade with its movement to Saturday morning.
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Lineup begins at 9, and the parade starts at 10. All parade entries will need to enter off Arkansas Highway 178 and turn on to Bucher Drive. Hospital Drive must stay clear for emergencies. To learn where to line up, go to redwhitebluefestival.com/parade.
The Red, White and Blue Car Show begins at 11 with registration at ASU-Mountain Home. Judging starts at 1, and the awards ceremony is scheduled for 4.
Vendors will be open again Saturday from noon to 9. A kids zone, featuring a bouncy house, will be open from noon to 8
Live music starts back up Saturday at noon with the Studio H Dance Company. They’ll be followed by Nick Reed at 1, Ozark Nights at 2, Bob Possible and Friends at 3, Kicks ‘n’ Flips at 4, the Natural State Band at 5, Erin Walters at 6 and the Kattie Laney Project at 7. The Melodikats start at 8 and continue until it’s time to shoot the fireworks.
Donations are being accepted for the festival. To donate online, go to enjoymountainhome.com/payment, and in the “Applied To” box, select “Red White Blue Festival.”
This month, Our Community Cares, sponsored by Farmers and Merchants Bank, Danny Porter of Century 21 LeMac Realty and KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot, recognizes the Red, White and Blue Festival as one of the Twin Lakes Area’s biggest events. Learn more at ktlo.com/ourcommunitycares.
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